About Pico

Pico is the second largest island in the Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. With a landscape dominated by exotic plants and its namesake volcano, Pico is one of the best islands in the Azores for hiking and mountain biking. Wine production also plays an important role in Pico’s culture, with UNESCO protected vineyards in the towns of Lajido, Cabrito and Madelena, which are all well worth seeing. Pico boasts the finest natural swimming holes in the archipelago, too, and the longest lava tube in Europe, which reaches over 3 miles, so there’s plenty to enjoy whilst exploring the island. Given Pico’s central location in the Azores, it is a good departure point for the rest of the archipelago. From the island’s main port on the north-central coast, numerous ferry routes are provided to most of the other islands.

About Terceira

Terceira is part of the Central Group within the Azores archipelago, home to the second largest population of the island chain. A land of sleepy fishing villages and historic towns, ‘the island of never-ending festivals’ comes alive during the summer months, with its calendar jam-packed with vibrant celebrations, ranging from the religious to the raucous. The most thrilling of which involves bull-running from April to September, offering a fascinating insight into traditional life on Terceira. UNESCO has rewarded Angra do Heroismo, the largest settlement, a place on the World Heritage list for its magnificent 17th and 18th Century architecture, cobbled streets and one of the finest public libraries in Portugal. Terceira’s main ferry terminal is in Praia da Vitoria on the east coast, which is reachable from almost every island in the Azores, aside from the tiny Corvo to the far northwest, with the routes operated by one of the best ferry companies in the archipelago.