City break in Pico Island. Active leisure ideas for Pico Island - attractions, recreation and nightlife

One of the most interesting attractions of the island is considered to be the dormant volcano Pico, which the last eruption occurred more than three centuries ago and was so strong that lava flows reached the coast in several places. The height of the volcano is 2351 meters, and if you want you can go on a 2-4 hour tour where you will be able to climb to the top of the sleeping giant and enjoy the beautiful views of all the surrounding islands. The nature changes around while you are climbing to the peak. You will admire dense forests in the beginning, then bushes and finally 350 meters of frozen lava. Note that the rise is very energy-intensive, and can exhaust physically unprepared people. Many travellers stay overnight at the top for the magnificent sunrise.

If you are interested not so much in the heights as in the mysteries of the underworld, you can go on a tour to Gruta Das Torres cave. Here, in groups of 15 people, you have to overcome 405 meters of underground tracks which are nice even for untrained tourists. The cave has a lava origin and is very beautiful. There is an auditorium where anyone can watch a film about the history of the origin of this natural object at the entrance of this labyrinth of narrow tunnels and underground halls. All in all, there are 28 caves on the island, the biggest of which are Gruta do Frei Matias Oeste I, Silveira and Montanheiros.

Don’t miss a chance to see incredibly beautiful streams of lava, which can be found in the North in Mistério da Prainha, Mistério das Bandeiras and Mistério de São João in the southern part of the island. Arcos do Cachorro is a huge lava flow, permeated by a network of caves and grottoes stretching to the coast. Do you want to swim in freshwater and sunbathe away from the beach? Then go to the lakes Caiado, Paol or Captao, each of them is very beautiful. Do you want to learn more about local flora and fauna? Then you should go to one of the island reserves - Caveiro and Misterio da Prainha. There are a dozen routes of different categories of complexity - both for hikers and cyclists on the territory of each reserve. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

There are different species of marine creatures on the island. It is home to the largest community of whales. There are two dozen different species of them, as well as dolphins. Whaling on the island is prohibited for thirty years, and therefore the number of whales is only increasing to the delight of tourists who can watch these gigantic creatures for hours. There are sent boats to the habitats of giant marine mammals from all the major ports and beaches of the island. If desired, you can not only watch the whales but also enjoy the beauty of Pico from the sea and even pay a visit to any of the neighbouring islands of the archipelago.

There is a coral reef not far from the island, which is home to octopuses, stingrays, jellyfish and hundreds of different species of fish. There are quite rare among them - parrotfish, barracuda and needlefish. You can observe all this beauty by scuba diving. If you do not have a diver's license, you can get it on Pico and undergo training in the diving centre. Local waters are perfect for snorkelers and for those who want to learn water skiing or surfing. There are wide sections of the coast with secluded bays that will appeal to those who love relaxing holidays. You should look for discos at the major local cities, where are located bars and nightclubs designed for tourists.