The notebook of Pico and Faial
See the coast under another light.
Duo of islands between major volcanoes, black vineyards, Horta harbour, whales, craters and ferry crossings.
At your own pace
Identity summary
4 to 8 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn
Recommended car
Island · Mountain · Coast · Nature
Variable accessibility
Rhythm supported
General presentation
Pico and Faial
Duo of islands between major volcanoes, black vineyards, Horta harbour, whales, craters and ferry crossings.
Mount Pico, Vineyards of Pico and Horta give the most telling landmarks of Pico and Faial. Together, they make up a destination where island landscapes, mountain reliefs, coastlines and natural spaces meet, with atmospheres that change over the course of the stages rather than just one uniform decor.
See all
For a stay of 4 to 8 days, it is necessary to plan a fairly sustained day. Also to be anticipated: weather-dependent crossings and demanding ascent. A car is usually the easiest way to connect different sectors. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be checked step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Mount Pico
- Vineyards of Pico
- Horta
- Caldeira do Faial
- Capelinhos
Before you choose
- Weather-dependent crossovers
- Expensive ascension
- Useful car
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
World Heritage
Paysage viticole de l'île du Pico
On the black lava flows of Pico, the vine grows in small dry stone enclosures that protect it from wind and spray. The contrast between basaltic walls, Atlantic and low plots gives the site a very mineral look, particularly legible when the light shaves highlights the grid of currais.
Remarkable location
Pico
Pico is dominated by its volcano, whose silhouette rises above coastal villages, lava fields and vineyards surrounded by black walls. The island speaks to both walkers and travellers attracted by the raw Atlantic landscapes, with a weather that can quickly transform the mountains and coastal roads.
Nature
Mount Pico
Mount Pico is seen as a mental as well as a physical ascent: clean lines, wide panoramas, constantly changing sky. The passages give an acute understanding of the island mountain, beyond the cliché of the summit. A prepared walk turns the place into a relief and concentration experience.
Place
Horta
Horta is distinguished by its intact port character: docks, compact houses and repeated views of the bay. The city is well read by the traffic between center and sea margins. It is an effective stop to grasp the materiality of an island daily connected with water.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
