Ferry from Pico to Faial

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 Faial

Faial is one of the Central Islands in the heart of the Portuguese archipelago, the Azores, in the North Atlantic. ‘The Blue Island’ is the third most populous in the Azores, so named for the long rows of hydrangea and blue and white housing. However, it’s colourful not only in landscape, but also in culture, with the principal settlement of Horta offering lively bars, a quirky marina and the fascinating Scrimshaw Museum featuring a comprehensive collection of maritime artefacts. For outdoorsy types, a hike to the Monte da Guia crater and the Whaler’s Chapel affords sublime views over the island and neighbouring Pico, while the surrounding blue ocean offers some of the best diving and whale-watching spots in Europe. Ferries sail to Horta on the southeast coast of Faial from almost every other island in the Azores, except the tiny island of Corvo in the northwest corner of the archipelago, making ferry travel one of the easiest ways to get around.