The Climb




Finding the path
From our own experience, we know it can be confusing to find out where you are supposed to start climbing. When we arrived at the Visitor's Center at Cabeço das Cabras (directions here) it was closed, we were the only climbers and it was very misty with about 30m (100 ft) of visibility. There were no signs, neither was there any useful information available at the Visitor's Center. The only thing we saw was a couple of steps on the left side, behind the Center. We chose to go up here and try our luck, which we later found out was the right choice. Below you find the OpenStreetMap route to the top, which can come in very handy if you are bringing a GPS device.

View Larger Map

Navigating to the top
Once you have gone up the stairs behind the Visitor's Center, it takes a good while before you come across the first numbered pole. The first six markers are quite far apart, but after that they are rather easy to spot. When you have reached marker 2, you can check out a cave called Furna.

In total, there are 45 numbered, wooden poles that will guide you to the top of Pico. The poles are about 50m (164 ft) apart and are quite easy to spot, even when it is foggy. You will also find old metal poles along the way, which look a lot like the new poles from a distance. This can be confusing if it is misty since they take you up over a slightly different path.




The path
The first minutes of the climb, the path is basically soil or mud, depending on the weather conditions. After about 15 minutes, this turns into lava rock and remains like that until you have reached the peak. The fact that it is rocks, sometimes makes it hard to identify which way you have to go, even if you have already spotted the next pole. Use your own judgement on what your preferred route to the next pole is. Good hiking shoes are a must, since it is easy to twist/break your ankle without them.



Once you reach the crater on top, you will see Piquinho which forms the last part of the climb. This is the steepest and therefore hardest part of climbing Pico and might not be feasible for everyone. You will definitely have to use your hands here!



If you make it to the top of Piquinho, a spectacular view of the central islands of the Azores awaits you! Check out the video below to see what it is like to stand on the highest mountain of Portugal.



Am I fit enough to climb Pico?
You do not have to be an elite athlete to climb Pico, but it does require good fitness. In general, it is nothing more than a steep, uphill hike where you occasionally have to use your hands. We do strongly urge you to wear good hiking shoes that protect your ankles, since the lava formations you walk over are tricky and snow might be present.

How long does it take to climb Pico mountain?
You start climbing at 1.231m and the peak is at 2.351m, which means you need to climb 1.120m (3.675 ft). It took us about 2,5 hours to get to the crater at a fairly relaxed pace and another 30 minutes to climb Piquinho. It took us another 3 hours to get all the way down again to the Visitor's Center at Cabeço das Cabras. Depending on the weather conditions, the descent might take you longer than going up. All-in-all, you should expect the whole climb to take between 5-8 hours, depending on your fitness level.

30 comments:

  1. This is great info - thanks! We plan to go in August this year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy you liked it, thanks for leaving a comment. Let us know how it was after your trip in August!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great site. You are right that there is not much information on the web on how to climb. Thanks for providing a good prep site. We are going on September 6th to the Azores and then I am climbing on the 10th. Wahoo!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy to hear that, thank you! Enjoy the climb and let us know how it was on our Facebook page :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very good advice in here; thanks for this. We went to the top last week, and it was amazing! A few things I will add:

    -unlike some volcano climbs that are loose cinders and scree that is miserable to walk up, this climb is mostly on bedrock. It's pretty uneven, blobby rock, but it gives good traction if you have proper footwear. Really cool textures to it that can take your mind off the climb, especially the flow structures that look like melted toffee.

    -the poles mark the way pretty well. We had some fog near the crater rim, and had to stare for a while to find the next one in a few places. If the fog was really dense, this could be tricky. I felt better with our GPS, just in case.

    -Piquinho is a bit of a scramble, as suggested above, and might intimidate some people, but those used to this kind of routefinding and use of hands will be fine.

    -there is a steam vent at the very top which blows warm air out, something that surprised me. I was hoping it wasn't poison gas from an impending eruption! :) It is mentioned in the Wikipedia article.

    -all in all, it was the highlight of our 2 weeks in the Azores, which is saying something since we had such a good time on our trip. So just do it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What if Pico wakes up while we are on top of it (oops!) are we gonna be totally screwed?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am against climbing most mountain peaks that should be kept as sacred sites. Imagine all the pee and poo and all the other things that climbers leave behind on mountain peaks and slopes. I hope my opinion is respected.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Any opinion is respected. But wouldn't you agree that mountains are part of the world and one should be able to enjoy them to the fullest? Climbing a mountain is harmless in comparison with other human activities on this planet. Most climbers love nature and the outdoors and do everything to protect and preserve it.

      Delete
  8. We are planning a trip to Pico in november. Would love to climb Mt.Pico then as well. But so far, pretty much all the websites say the guided tours end in september. What do you think? How unlikely is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lieke. If you still want to go up in November without a guide, you should keep a close eye on the weather and make sure to let someone know (hotel/police, more information here:http://climbingpicoazores.blogspot.com/p/important-information.html). Also, make sure to bring lots of warm layers and rain-resistant outerwear. I personally think it is doable if the weather allows, but as always; safety first!

      Delete
  9. Sofia and Jordy,
    Can you provide information on how to hire a guide? I am visiting in the summer of 2017 and am starting to prepare for the trip. I want to make the climb while there. Most likely I will need to climb with a group, definitely with a guide, but not with my husband. He would be okay going up, but he says he won't climb down - hahaha! Anyhow, any info you can provide on how to hire a guide would be most helpful.
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. One of the companies we know of can be contacted on +351 912 966 996 / tripixazores@gmail.com. Have so much fun!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello
    If you guys need more contacts i can give you! I live at Horta and i'm a nature guide at Natural park of Faial. so i know almost all the guides from Pico! Just ask what you guys need!

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Ruben, do you think it's okay to camp up on Pico this time of the year?

      Delete
    2. Hi Ruben- my husband and i are headed to the azores next month and looking for a guide. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. anzaldov@gmail.com.
      Thank you in advance.
      Veronica

      Delete
    3. http://www.tripixazores.com/

      Delete
    4. Jordy,
      Thank you for the link!

      Delete
  12. I can not respect a ridiculous opinion...but it did get a chuckle out of me so not a total waste.
    I live in California and have hiked Half Dome a few times and have only heard horror stories how much harder Mount Pico is.
    I'll be in Pico in a couple days and will put this hike to the test. I'm in Sao Jorge right now and can see Mount Pico and can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Adam, looking forward to your thoughts after climbing Pico. It's definitely a shorter hike than Half Dome but more technical for the feet. Good luck!

      Delete
  13. Hi, we tried today to climb the mountain but where discouraged by the horrible weather. We'll try again tomorrow which is the last day we have left in Pico and I was wondering whether you think that with a strong wind (30 to 50 km/hr) but a sunny day is still doable... What do you think about it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As with any climb, safety comes first. That said, I think it is possible if you are very fit. Make sure to pay even more attention to your foot placement and bring hiking sticks if possible to help yourself balance. It might be smart to stop climbing at the crater and skip the top, which can be super windy. When you're in doubt throughout, turn around. Also make sure to let people know you are climbing so they know you're up there in case you're not back by nightfall. Good luck!

      Delete
  14. Thanks Jordy! Eventually we decided to go despite all the disincentives we received by the staff of the mountain house (they also made us sign a "non safe climb" paper so we would have had to pay for the rescue ourselves - in case of need). It was a bit rainy but we decided to try and in case we found it too hard to come back but the rain stopped as soon as we finished all the paperworks at the house and we got really lucky with the weather eventually, after the first half an hour of climbing we found the sun and we only got one shower at the very end of the hide. We still had the strong wind as expected but as you said it was manageable if you are a bit fit, we didn't have sticks and we reached the pick nonetheless. I enjoy hiking and trekking but I'm not a pro, however i found the wind much less stronger than the one I'm used when hiking on a ridge of a mountain. In any case thanks for your suggestions and support. This blog is extremely useful because even though the hike is doable, you still need to be prepared and it's difficult to find good information,com especially since most of them are totally exaggerated!

    ReplyDelete
  15. (exaggerated in both ways, too easy or too difficult)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello! Great website - really helped me plan my climb the other day. Just wanted to add something I learned while registering for my climb: without a guide, you technically only are allowed 24hrs if you're doing an overnight. I started climbing around 12:30pm and was planning to be back around 2pm the next day and they told me that was too late, that I had to be back at 12:30. There's technically a fine if you're late, though I'm not sure how often anyone really enforces this. Likely it would be a bigger issue during the high season because they're at capacity for how many people can be on the mountain at once (which is the reason for the 24hrs rule). Again, not the case if you're with a guide!

    ReplyDelete
  17. i like the climing sport and i will join the climbing courses. thank for sharing the more information of climbing sports and technique.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello,

    I just want to share our hiking to Pico in beginning of September 2016 - maybe some tricks could be helpful for somebody.
    First of all -this is fantastic track and you will really enjoy it and remember for all your life.

    It is not very difficult - I would say average and will be pleasure if you prepare well.
    And here are the tricks to get pleasure from this hiking:
    - choose the time with stable weather on Pico [better August-September, except the case if you want to have more challenge]; we arrive on Pico 6 September and weather forecast was not perfect next day, but early in the morning we have seen summit without clouds and decided to go immediately [around 09:00] - and got a good weather.
    - wear "like a cabbage" - some T-shirts, and light jacket/pulover, and on the top windproof jacket; because the weather [usually wind] is different on different hight of the track; bottom it was light, then in the middle it was very strong, and on the summit it was nothing at all [except the top of the top]
    - take a sticks for nordic walking - they will really help you during the ascend and even more during the descent
    for us it save at least 30-50 min for all the way.
    - take a light but strong gloves [because some stones are sharp] and some cotton staff to wrap your head and more important ears [just to protect from wind]

    And enjoy the view from the top and be proud of this feeling when you stay on the top of Pico!!!

    Some photos from our hiking you can see here:
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/lxsjFNEsWHSznOLi2

    And short video here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93UPiwy01jI

    Alexey Morkvashentsev

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for all the info. I can verify it's still accurate as of 23 June 2018. I'd add that in good weather there is no shade for the entire climb and I ended up drinking all my 1.5 litres of water before returning to the Visitor's Centre. It took me 3 hours to the top, including Piquinho, and just over 2 hours back down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are thinking about doing the climb next week. Some have not trained for it and just started working out maybe 1-2 months ago on a treadmill. Do you suggest trying if you are overweight? Suggestions for preparing? Would you take your 15 year old up?

      Delete
  20. ****THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:****
    Portugal is the Biggest Racist country that i have ever lived in. I feared for my life there and i consider myself lucky that my family got out alive! I have never lived in such poverty (Sopas dos Pobres everyday) 40% unemployment rate and 60% of the population earn less than $932 USD per month, and that's considered Middle Class here! Within the European Union it is the worst of the worst place to live.

    The bottom line is the bulk of the People in our poor country exist in a brainless comma that is fed by Ignorance, anti-Spanish hate, and severe Racism of pretty much everybody that isn't Portuguese! And, Portugal started the Global Slave Trade in 1441 so it is definitely NOT a safe place for Blacks!!

    I found important websites that explain the Severe multi-generational Racism and Hate that exist in Portugal today, and i highly encourage all to read them and spread the word in order to avoid innocent, and desperate people from living or visiting there. Get educated on the Truths about Racist Portugal now.



    1) https://www.theroot.com/a-white-journalist-discovers-the-lie-of-portugal-s-colo-1790854283

    2) https://saynotoracistportugal.neocities.org/

    3) http://www.discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/routes/places-involved/europe/portugal/

    4)SOPAS DOS POBRES EVERYDAY IN PORTUGAL BECAUSE OF NON EXISTENT ECONOMY:

    https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/764453/sopa-dos-pobres-foi-criada-ha-anos-mas-ainda-existe-problemas-persistem

    5) http://www.ipsnews.net/2011/10/portugal-crisis-pushes-women-into-prostitution/

    6) https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/06/the-mystery-of-why-portugal-is-so-doomed/276371/


    Be SAFE friends. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Is it possible to wingsuit flying from Pico mountain?

    ReplyDelete