Lagoa do Capitão with the peak of Pico Alto (Ponta do Pico) in the background. Photo: Staffan Rodebrand

Pico has a length of 42 km, a width of 15 km. The total area of 448 square kilometres makes Pico the second largest island. The population is about fifteen thousand with most people living in small villages scattered around the cost, with the main municipalities, or towns, at Madalena in the west, Lajes do Pico in the south, and S. Roque do Pico on the northern coast.
   Pico is considered the youngest island in the Azores because of its many young lava flows.
The highest point Pico Alto is 2351 m which is also the highest mountain in Portugal. The majestic mountain is said to be the most beautiful volcano in the world and is since 1972 a Nature Reserve. All the western part of Pico is dominated by the mountain. From the shoreline with villages, vineyards and terraces the forested mountainside rises to a central plateau. Here is a moor-like very wet landscape with a few small lakes. On the mountain slopes are large woods, pastures and fields, and in the lower parts small lava walled corrals in which grapevines grove.

Maps
» A general map with birding localities could be viewed here;
» Download or open a detailed and resizeable map here.

Birding localities

Close up of the small islets Ilhéu Deitado and Ilhéu Em-Pé (to the right) in the channel between Madalena, Pico and Horta, Faial (in the background). Photo: Staffan Rodebrand

Madalena harbour
From Madalena harbour you can look over the strait between Pico and Faial. The best place to watch seabirds and whales is Ponta do Arieiro just southwest of the harbour. From here you also can scan the small islands of Ilhéu Deitado and Ilhéu Em-Pé, where Double-crested Cormorants have been seen. Check the harbour area for waders, Roseate Terns, Ring-billed and Glaucuos Gulls. This would be your first birding when arriving to Pico from Faial and you can also spend your last minutes on Pico here, while waiting for the ferry return.

Other harbours
There is one good road circling the whole island mostly following the coastline. This road will take you near a number of small harbours many of which can host a few waders, gulls and the odd heron or duck. Try at first hand S. Mateus, S. Joáo,
Calheta de Nesquim, and S. Roque do Pico.

The tidal pool area at Lajes do Pico (part of the small town to the right) with the peak Ponta do Pico (2351 m) in the background. Photo: Staffan Rodebrand

Lajes do Pico and Ponta do Pargo
At Lajes do Pico just outside the town, is a tidewater area called Ponta do Pargo. It is a mix of low grassy parts and small tidal pools. In the south end is a small and narrow cove, and to the north is the harbour with a pier. Sometimes you have to walk out in the slippery areas to get sight of all birds that are hiding here. This is the premier site in Pico for herons, shorebirds, gulls and terns, and a lot of rarities have turned up here.

The mountain lakes
It is often worth checking the small lakes in the mountains for ducks and waders. There are a number of small lakes, some of them a little tricky to find. Except for the coast road that circle all of Pico there is two other major roads on the island. One is going roughly south to north between Lajes do Pico (about 3 km west of) and S. Roque do Pico dividing the island in an eastern and a western half. The other road is going from Madalena eastwards high up on the plateau passing north of the summit of mount Pico. About two km before this road hits the Lajes do Pico-S. Roque do Pico road you have a turnoff to the north reaching Lagoa do Capitão. There is more lakes further east, now along a set of smaller roads. Here normally Lagoa do Caiado and Lagoa Seca after about 4 km are the best. Further on but on a little more southerly detour is Lagoa do Paul. If you stay on what seem to be the major easterly rote you will pass three more small lakes about 8 km from Lagoa Seca. These are Lagoa da Rosada, Lagoa da Ilhéu and Lagoa do Peixinho. This road you are driving on will eventually end up in Piedade.
   Check the weather before taking a mountain tour. If there are lots of clouds hanging over the mountain there will probably be fog and no visibility at all up there!

Birds out at sea
Pelagic summer and early autumn birdwatching can be good at the Princess Alice Bank, a seamount about 80-90 km southwest of Pico and Faial, and at the Azores Bank which is only half the distance in the same direction. Especially Wilson's Storm-petrels seem to be regular here, often searching up the fishing boats for leftovers. For pelagic tours see the seawatching page.

Where to stay and getting around
It is probably most convenient to stay in Horta, Faial and make a daytrip to Pico. The ferry ride across the Canal do Faial from Horta to Madalena takes about half an hour. If you plan to rent a car it could be wise to book in advance since there are a limited number of cars. Both rental cars and taxis are available close to the harbour in Madalena. If you want to stay in Pico, there are plenty of options in Madalena, in Lajes do Pico, or in the countryside.
   Note that Pico is a large island, and if you plan to circle the island and check all the major localities you must make a real early start and take the last ferry back.

» Here you'll find a few more photos on Pico