The summit
The Piquinho cone.
Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Guillaume Baviere from Helsingborg, Sweden — CC BY 2.0 · Jules Verne Times Two — CC BY-SA 4.0
Mount Pico is a dormant volcano on Pico Island in Portugal's Azores archipelago in the mid-Atlantic, about 13 km in a straight line east of the town of Madalena. At 2,351 m it is the highest mountain in Portugal, one of the highest in the Atlantic, and more than twice the height of any other peak in the Azores. Its regular volcanic cone rises straight from the sea, often wrapped in cloud or, in winter, topped with snow. Its last eruption, in 1720, came from vents on its flanks, and it has not erupted from its summit in recorded history. The mountain has been a nature reserve since 1972, and the vineyards at its foot, set among walls of black volcanic stone, were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. The climbing trail starts at the Mountain House at about 1,200 m, and the round trip usually takes 6 to 8 hours over steep lava slopes. At the top is a small crater with a cone inside called «Piquinho». On clear days the islands of Faial and São Jorge can be seen from the summit. Climbers must register at the Mountain House and pay a fee, and a guide is recommended. The weather changes fast, so bring warm clothes and plenty of water.
The Piquinho cone.
UNESCO site.
Trail start.
Pico Island, Azores, Portugal
Yes, at the Mountain House.
6 to 8 hours round trip.