Cais do Mourato – Natural Swimming Pool, Basalt Coast and Coastal Trails

Cais do Mourato combines a striking coastal landscape with traces of settlement and wine culture. At its heart is the Piscina Natural do Cais Mourato: the natural seawater swimming pool lies within the protected landscape “Paisagem Protegida da Cultura da Vinha da Ilha do Pico” and is formed by black basalt rock. From there, views open out over the vast ocean and the neighbouring island of Faial. Those looking for a holiday apartment on Pico for a family holiday will therefore find a place where nature observation, coastal experiences and cultural discoveries can be combined.

Coast, natural swimming pool and lava field

The Piscina Natural do Cais Mourato offers an immediate experience of the volcanically shaped coast. The black basalt rock gives the bathing area its distinctive appearance, while the view stretches across the ocean to the neighbouring island of Faial. In 2025, the Cais do Mourato bathing area received the “Zero Poluição” award for its excellent water quality. For your travel planning, the natural swimming pool is therefore a clear point of reference if you would like to structure your stay around the coast.

The landscape also includes the Cais do Mourato–Cachorro lava field, which is considered to be of scientific and landscape interest. Cais do Mourato is one of the built-up coastal settlement centres in the protected area “Cultura da Vinha - Zona Norte”. This combination of lava, coastal surroundings and protected wine-growing landscape gives the place a distinctive character that sets it apart from a purely bathing destination.

Chapel and built heritage

At the centre of the Cais do Mourato coastal settlement is a 20th-century chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Desterro. It adds a cultural point of reference to the natural and coastal setting. The built heritage of Cais do Mourato in Bandeiras also includes wineries, distillation equipment, houses and tidal wells. Those travelling with children can easily incorporate such varied discoveries into their daily itinerary: time by the water can be followed by a leisurely walk offering insights into the history of the settlement.

The Caminho do Poço Velho is also part of the traditional settlement structure. The Cais do Mourato coastal settlement was accessed via this path. It is advisable not to automatically equate historical connections between paths with current access conditions. For current travel planning, the Caminho da Costa provides another clear point of reference: it connects Cais do Mourato with the coastal settlements of Cachorro and Formosinha.

Hiking, coastal route and cycling

The Caminho da Costa is aimed at travellers who would like to discover several coastal settlements along a continuous route. The connection to Cachorro and Formosinha offers a different perspective on the surroundings from a single stay at the Piscina Natural. This does not imply a specific route length or difficulty; you can assess the route according to your own daily plans. For cyclists, it is also interesting that the PICO GRANFONDO route passes through Cais do Mourato and then continues eastwards along the coast.

Which accommodation suits your plans?

When searching for a holiday apartment in Cais do Mourato, it is worth first deciding on your preferred pace of travel. If the coast, natural swimming pool and volcanic landscape are to be the focus, accommodation in this settlement is a suitable thematic starting point for planning your trip. If, on the other hand, you are primarily planning to explore cultural settlement landscapes or take a longer coastal route, you should take these interests into account when choosing where to stay and planning your individual days.

For further research at this level, you can also view Arieiro, Terra Alta, Bandeiras, Lajido do Meio, Ribeiras, Madalena, Cabeco Chao and Canto da Areia.

For the overarching travel overview: Pico.