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EXPLORING PICO ISLAND FROM HORTA: TWO GREAT WAYS TO EXPLORE THE AZORES
Written by Marina Noreck, SV Tivoli
 For Salty Dawgs anchored in Horta, Pico Island makes for an easy and rewarding day trip. Just across the channel from Faial, Pico offers dramatic volcanic landscapes, UNESCO-listed vineyards, excellent local wines, and charming villages, all within a short ferry ride.
About Pico
Pico is the second-largest of the Azores' nine islands, each with its own distinct character. While Faial is known for its vibrant sailing community, Pico is defined by two things: wine and volcanoes. The island is home to Mount Pico, Portugal's highest peak at 2,351 meters (7,713 feet), which dominates the skyline and is visible from Horta on a clear day.
Equally impressive are Pico's centuries-old vineyards, where grapevines grow within thousands of hand-built basalt stone walls designed to protect them from the Atlantic winds and salt spray. This remarkable landscape earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004 and continues to produce distinctive volcanic wines, particularly crisp white varieties. Best of all for visiting sailors, Pico is just a 25-minute ferry ride from Horta, making it one of the easiest and most rewarding excursions in the Azores.
Getting There
Pico's small anchorage has space for only a handful of visiting boats, and since each island in the Azores requires checking in and out with the local harbor master, we decided to skip the paperwork and leave Tivoli safely in Horta by taking the ferry to Madalena. The crossing takes just 25 minutes and costs €8 each way, making it an easy and inexpensive day trip.
Option 1: Explore Pico on Foot
Our first visit focused on Pico's famous vineyards, and it was surprisingly easy to explore without a car.
From the ferry terminal in Madalena, we walked directly to Terra Solar Brum, a charming winery where we enjoyed a pre-booked tasting (€30 per person). From there, we walked about half a mile down the road and spent the afternoon wandering through Pico's extraordinary basalt-walled vineyards which were created centuries ago to shelter the vines from the island's strong winds and salt spray.
The vineyard trail can be explored at your own pace. We walked approximately two miles round trip, turning around at Moinho do Frade, a picturesque traditional windmill. The full trail extends for more than five miles, so you can easily tailor the walk to fit your schedule and energy level.
After walking back to Madalena, we visited A Cooperativa (Pico Wines), which produces wines using grapes sourced from vineyards across the island. Although we were fortunate to secure a last-minute tasting, reservations are recommended during the busy summer season.
For those looking for a more casual stop, Spot Lavico is a wonderful local wine shop and small tasting room. Owner Carmen was incredibly welcoming, offering tastings, wines by the glass, bottles to take away, and excellent cheese boards featuring local products.
 We finished the day with a late lunch at O Cinco, one of the few restaurants in Madalena that remains open between lunch and dinner service. They were especially accommodating of our gluten-free crew member.
One stop we missed - but plan to return for - is Cella Bar, the island's iconic wine barrel-shaped waterfront restaurant about a 15-20 minute walk north of Madalena. It opens at 4:00 p.m., making it an ideal destination for an early dinner before catching the evening ferry back to Horta.
Option 2: Discover the Island by Car or Guided Tour
We enjoyed our first visit so much that we decided to return again the next day. We wanted to experience more of the island, so we booked a guided tour with José Costa of Pico Wine Tours.
At €60 per person for a five-hour private tour, it was an exceptional value for our group of five. Although José specializes in wine experiences, he happily customized the day to match our interests. Along the way, we explored lush farmland, volcanic lakes, traditional basalt "adega" houses, and spectacular viewpoints, including the road leading toward Mount Pico.
The highlight of the tour was walking through José's private vineyard while he explained how generations of Pico families have adapted viticulture to this rugged volcanic landscape. Hearing the history directly from someone whose family has farmed these vineyards made the experience especially memorable.
After the tour, we enjoyed lunch at O Petisca, a popular local restaurant known for its excellent buffet and traditional Azorean cuisine.
If you prefer to explore independently, renting a car is another excellent option. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed vineyard landscape at Criação  Velha, just south of Madalena, where you can drive or walk among the iconic lava-stone walls.
Fellow Salty Dawgs Ryan Gandy and Alexandra Kurtz aboard Daydream visited Furna do Frei Matias, a smaller lava tube cave that's well worth exploring - just be sure to bring a flashlight. Although Gruta das Torres, Pico's largest lava tube, was closed during their visit, the visitor center still offered informative exhibits and videos.
Michael and Ronna Benjamin aboard Exodus also rented a car and highly recommended the scenic drive along Pico's north coast. Their day included lunch at Magma and a stop at Cella Bar before returning their rental car and catching the ferry back to Horta.
Whether you choose a leisurely day exploring vineyards on foot or a guided circuit around the island, Pico is a destination that deserves more than one visit.
Tips for Visiting Pico
- Purchase ferry tickets in advance through Atlanticoline, especially during the summer.
- Bring your passport - it may be checked before boarding - and arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.
- Allow about 20 minutes to walk from the Horta dinghy dock to the ferry terminal.
- Reserve winery tastings ahead of time during peak season.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sun protection, as the vineyard trails offer very little shade.
- If you're traveling with alarger group, a guided tour may be more economical and convenient than renting a car (José Costa, https://www.picowinetours.com/en).
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The largest rally leaving the US East Coast each fall is the Caribbean Rally hosted by the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, the fleet departs from either 1) Hampton VA or 2) Newport RI, to head offshore to points south. 
I am happy to announce that the Salty Dawgs have a new Rally Director. Tracy Oliver (S/V GypSea) will begin serving in that position, commencing on July 1, 2026. 
The 2026 SDSA Azores Rally departed St. George's Harbour, Bermuda in early June with a lucky-number fleet of 13 Salty Dawg boats: Beta, Daydream, Deja Blue, Devona, Dragonfly, Exodus, Freestyle, Sonas, SparrowHawk, Think Twice, Tivoli, WanderCat, and Zia. For many, it would be their longest passage at approximately 1,850nm, with most boats completing the journey in about 12 days. Like all long passages, getting to the start was a feat unto itself.
Boat Type and Length: Passport 42
