Location: Lajes do Pico
Top Things to do in Lajes do Pico
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What to do and see in Lajes do Pico, Portugal: The Best Places and Tips
Lajes do Pico (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈlaʒɨʒ ðu ˈpiku]) is a municipality in the southern part of the Azores. The municipality is located is on the southern part of the Pico Island. The population in 2011 was 4,711, in an area of 155.31 km². It is bordered by Madalena to the west and by São Roque do Pico to the north.
Restaurants in Lajes do Pico
1. Espaco Talassa - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
Espaço Talassa the original dolphins and Whale Watching in the Azores. Since 1989, we always have in mind that Homo sapiens dream could be cetacean nightmare
Reviewed By Lysanne - Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Friendly reception, very good video presentation and explanation beforehand. Good gear and powerful Rib. We were out on a day with a good amount of swell, making it difficult to spot whales and dolphins, but even so, the spotters/crew managed to find 2 fin whales, common and striped dolphins and 2 loggerhead turtles (one of which was taken on board to be tagged by Susana). Susana was great always keeping us informed about what we were seeing whilst looking after a sea-sick passenger. The side of the rib nearest the mammal had to remain seated whilst the other side could stand and this worked really well with good visibility of the mammals for everyone (on a trip with a Sao Miguel company this wasn't the case). Very competent company and Susana was a superb guide.
2. Cowfish Dive Center
Overall Ratings
5 based on 64 reviews
Azores Dive O'Clock is certified by Sports Portugal, and licensed for maritime leisure activity. We own a 7.5mt long Zodiac boat, with an 250cv power engine set up for scuba diving
Reviewed By AlanJames2015 - Kineton, United Kingdom
Pedro was a great dive instructor. I'd been in contact with him for a long time in advance of our trip, and he was as helpful in person as he had been beforehand. As it turned out, by the time we got to the dive centre it was our last day on the island. It was rainy and a bit miserable, and I think he would have preferred to have had a cup of tea at home. But he very patiently gave me and my family (two teenage boys) our first ever lesson and took us out to see some wonderful sights. I'd been looking forward to seeing the cannon from an 18th-century wreck which I achieved as a highlight of the whole trip. The fish were abundant and colourful and the whole experience was superb. I would recommend Pedro and Cowfish Dive Centre to anyone going to Pico.
3. Museu dos Baleeiros (Whaler’s Museum)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 228 reviews
Reviewed By keith47 - Westcliff-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Yes, some people may not like the idea of whaling, but this exhibition does show the economic needs of the times and the methods used. Extraordinary feats of courage needed to do this dangerous work.
Many artefacts to be seen and the descriptions of the way of life in those times.
4. Epico
Overall Ratings
5 based on 39 reviews
Épico offers tailor-made experiences to discover Pico island in an epic way! If you like adventure, we invite you to climb to highest point of Portugal with our certified guides. We also offer walking trails, massages in nature, an experience between the cows, and much more! Each person is unique. Each experience also. We create activities according to your time and interests. Because epic people deserve epic moments!
Reviewed By Rui P - Lisbon, Portugal
I and some friends climbed Pico with the amazingly nice Mónica, from Épico. She was not only really professional but a real friend throughout the whole day. Suggesting what we should/could do on a bad weather day (that turned out to be amazing later), but...MoreThank you for you kind words! We're glad we were able to help contribuite to an amazing experience in Pico Mountain :) All the best to you. Cláudia Melo
5. Aqua Acores
Overall Ratings
4 based on 54 reviews
Established in 1996 by a local family, Aqua Acores offers visitors a rare glimpse into the world of enigmatic cetaceans and the abundance of marine wildlife living in the Azorean waters. Aqua Acores continues as a family business and strives to offer high quality whale watching, based first and foremost on the welfare of the animals and their environment. We are passionate about our island and culture. We hope to inspire people from different cultures and backgrounds to share the wonders of our ocean so as to bring awareness in order to protect the home we share with these beautiful animals.
Reviewed By sdnl - Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands
We had a amazing 3 hrs morning tour with Aqua Acores. They supplied us with the raincoat and life jacket and then the Zodiac - with remarkable nice seats - went into the open sea.
We were enjoying the morning sun with almost no wind on a mirror lake Atlantic when suddenly the first whales appeared. I know when you can tell if someone witnessed a whale form nearby: they will tell you about the smell!
We spend around 1 1/2 hrs on the same area where 2 whales did a lot of effort to pose for our cameras. It was amazing!
When returning back to the harbor, some special dolphins greeted us farewell. What a great experience this has been!
6. Parque Florestal de Sao Joao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By CruisersRus - Mount Albert
This is a very nice, clean, well planned park, worthy of visiting and exploring. It can be easily missed as you drive south on route R1-2 towards Sao Joao from Madalena. Keep on eye out for well groomed grounds on both sides of the road as the R1-2 highway passes directly through the middle of the park, cutting it in half. You will see it just before entering the town of Sao Joao. On one side you find a kids' adventure playground with climbing apparatus, a conditioning and exercising course with several exercise stations that takes you through the woods, a paved & fenced soccer pitch, washrooms, a large deer enclosure and even an ecological research area where various species of trees have been planted for study. There is a nice ocean view as well from the soccer pitch. On the opposite side of the road are trails covering the various undulations of the landscape. Each of the trails have areas set up with picnic tables and BBQ pits. On this side of the road you will likely notice the lovely religious monument dedicated to those in the area who lost life and property from the volcanic eruption of 1718. If you are looking for a family outing on Pico, where grounds are super clean with lots of room and plenty of things to do, then this park is the one you want. For the adventurous there is also an excellent 8 km coastal trail that begins here and ends at the windmill at Ponta Rasa (separate review).
7. Fort of Santa Catarina
Overall Ratings
4 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By 1trekky - Carlsbad, California
On the edge of Praia da Rocha stands a medieval fort designed & built by a military engineer Alexandre Massai between 1629-1633.
The fort was built to defend the estuary of river Arade from the pirates. The fort is built on a trapezodial with the main gate towards the land between battlements separated by ramps. The great Lisbon earthquake of 1755 has damaged the fort
but it was reconstructed by 1790.
8. Vigia da Queimada
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
The look-out post of Queimada, was closed in 1984. It was le last one in the Azores used for hunting. It regained its original vocation "watching the sea" in 1991 when Espaço Talassa renovated it for a pacific use 2Whale watching". It cover some 50 miles from the east to the west and 20 miles from the north to the south on a 200 degree radius. The look-out post of Queimada is the only one in the archipelago that has 2 levels, what is for dolphin and whale fanatics an ideal tool. Visitors, mainly students or scientists who are interested in watching animals in their natural environment use the first level from May to October. They are assisted by experienced Lookouts posted in the second level.
Reviewed By Carsten G - Woerden, The Netherlands
the whale watching experience was very professionally set-up. Especially the extensive briefing up front and the quality of the guide made it absolutely worth while. It makes you realize that the people really care about the environment and the future of the whales.
9. Brizacores
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
BrizAcores diving center is located in Lajes do Pico. The local guides focus on a familiar, cosy atmosphere and customer tailored experiences - from romantic dinners to sailing and diving baptisms and courses, around the Triangle Islands. It has 2 boats, a Marlin 22 for short distance rides and a Bavaria 46 for long distances and liveaboards with a load capacity of 10 customers and 2 crew members.
Reviewed By Mark T - Torquay
Be very wary when you book this dive centre and in particular if you agree to use their "Liveaboard" on the boat the Fonsos.
We spent a week with this business in August 2015 which although had some good dives sites and enjoyable diving - the operator and boat have serious issues.
We're not newbie divers, there are 4 of us who have over 1500 open water dives between us. We have all dived all over the world, dived from Ribs and true liveaboards to day boats and know the difference in operators. This is the worst we have ever experienced.
So - the sample itinerary says you will dive Condor and Alice Banks - to go diving with pelagic's - so Manta / Sharks etc. What they don't tell you is that you have to give up a day's diving on other sites to visit these, and they are for 1 dive each.
So it's a big risk - we were talked out of shark diving and spent a day and night travelling to Princess Alice. To be fair a great dive site and we got lucky diving with 28 or so Manta's but we were disappointed as over a full week we only had 10 dives. When you consider a Red Sea Liveaboard will give you 3 sometimes 4 dives daily - this is very expensive for the diving you do.
The boat is not suitable for a liveaboard and is in effect a yacht with a dive platform. This broke on our trip (2nd time that season) and shows it's not really suitable. That meant missed dives and a cabin stinking of fibreglass fumes. To which I was personally told to sleep on the sofa as it was my cabin !
We only had 4 divers on the boat and you can only kit up 4 divers at any one time as space is very limited. God knows what this would be like with 8 divers ! This is not like a liveaboard I've experience anywhere else.
There are no racks for equipment, tanks and equipment are stored under the benches and around the deck in baskets as the boat is quite small. It's also precarious kitting up and walking down the steps to enter the water.
You can only get mains electric in a marina and so it's a challenge charging Dive cameras, torches, lights, computers etc and no consideration is given for this.
There is no "optional" menu that can be provided by the crew - well if there is, they didn't offer it and it's probably cheaper and easier to eat out.
The dive guides varied and we had 2 dives guided by a "friend" and not a qualified guide or instructor - fine, we're experienced to nav ourselves with a briefing etc - however, it would have been good to know in case of emergencies. We were not given dive briefings before dives other than with Gador who was the only excellent instructor on the holiday.
The other dive guide was also too interested in photography with his go pro than us and led us at a fast pace which we struggled to keep up with. On one dive, we were fortunate to make it back to shore with all divers having less than 10bar in the tanks. We were told not to mention it to the dive centre as it didnt give a good report on the instructor.
We actually only completed 10 dives over the course of a week and 5 of these were from shore ! so not really a liveaboard is it!
Clearly they are not safety conscious ! in fact not one of our group filled in a PADI medical questionnaire for the operator either - so their whole set of processes are slack.
We complained to our tour operator on our return and made the best of the holiday - the tour operator then ask the dive centre for comments to our concerns and Zeca the owner has tried claiming we had lied to get a free holiday. That showed their true colours and the fact we have photographic and video evidence of some of their issues clearly meant nothing to them.
It's simple - go to the Azores if you want different diving. There's some great life in the waters but generally you see much the same in the Red Sea. The character of the Azores is quaint and does provide something different. However, they are not geared up for tourism - which is actually a good thing and part of the appeal. All we ever ask is that the operators of these businesses - especially where safety and experience is essential, are brought up to speed. This dive centre is an accident waiting to happen, there will be issues here unless they look at themselves and become more professional.
Will any of us go back to the Azores - maybe, with Brizacores - not a prayer. Save your money, spend a little more and to the Maldives, Phillipines, Mexico etc or take the cheaper option and go to Egypt and the Red Sea.
10. Ponta do Admoiro
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By CruisersRus - Mount Albert
Ponta do Admoiro (Moir's Point) is one of those places where a prepared lava rock pathway takes you out beyond the immediate shoreline, past the larger lava rocks, until you reach the furthest edges of the landscape. Here you are alone with the sea in an area of natural pools and sounds of the ocean. In the off season, when we went, there was no one here but ourselves. To get here, you can drive directly (lots of parking space) or walk from the Misterios do Sul do Pico Hiking Trail (# PR-15), which passes by. Washrooms are available on site. Showers are also available in-season for those who use the natural pools. An out-of-season visit will be much shorter as the pools are not in use.
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