São Roque Do Pico: Discover Paths, Culture and Nature

São Roque do Pico combines an impressive cultural history with old paths, natural bathing spots and hiking experiences. Those planning a family trip can combine different ideas for each day here: a visit to the Museu da Indústria Baleeira offers an introduction to the history of the whaling industry, while paths such as the Caminho dos Burros or the Garajau Trail place nature and exercise at the centre. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in São Roque Do Pico, you can therefore choose your location to suit your own interests in culture, water and walking.

Cultural history around São Roque do Pico

The Museu da Indústria Baleeira in São Roque do Pico is the first public industrial museum in the Azores. On display are objects used to cut up and process sperm whales, documents relating to the factory’s activities, and photographs of whaling activities and the port of São Roque do Pico. The exhibition is complemented by miniatures of sperm whales and whaling boats. The museum thus provides concrete insights into an important part of local industrial history and is suitable as a cultural highlight for a day of travel.

The Igreja Matriz de São Roque also makes a distinctive architectural statement. Its floor plan has the shape of a false Latin cross, while the façade is defined by two bell towers. The São Pedro de Alcântara Convent is classified as a building of public interest and dates from the 17th century. Those interested in religious buildings and historic townscapes will therefore find several different ways to explore São Roque do Pico culturally.

Old paths and hikes

The Caminho dos Burros is an old footpath for people and animals that was frequently used by travellers between Lajes and São Roque do Pico. Along the paved Ladeira of the Caminho dos Burros are five disused watermills. They are connected to one another and to the Ribeira Seca by a system of levadas. The path thus combines historical traces with visible elements of former water management.

Another option is the Ladeira dos Moinhos. This circular hiking trail begins near the Igreja Matriz de São Roque and is another option for planning your day. You can choose between this circular trail and the approximately 7.80 km-long Garajau circular trail.

The Garajau circular trail is approximately 7.80 km long and starts and ends at the natural pools of Furna in Santo António, São Roque do Pico. Along the Garajau Trail, you can observe, among others, common terns, roseate terns, Cory’s shearwaters, yellow-legged gulls, rock doves and Azorean wood pigeons. The scientific names of the two tern species are Sterna hirundo and Sterna dougallii; the other species mentioned are Calonectris borealis, Larus michahellis atlantis, Columba livia and Columba palumbus azorica. Those who enjoy looking more closely can therefore also include the trail in their travel plans with birdwatching in mind.

Water-based experiences at Cais do Pico

Piscina do Cais do Pico is a natural rock pool surrounded by a garden. Concrete access points and a children’s area are among the facilities described. The Cais do Pico bathing area also includes changing rooms in the garden, a car park and facilities for visitors with reduced mobility. This allows you to complement an active day of hiking with a different type of experience: instead of taking more paths, the focus can be on enjoying the water.

Those who prefer historic sites and shorter discoveries can include the church, the museum and the paths with the mills. Those wishing to plan a longer route and birdwatching will find a different focus on the approximately 7.80 km-long Garajau Trail. A holiday apartment or holiday home in São Roque Do Pico can thus be chosen according to your preferred daily rhythm, rather than just a single excursion destination.

More local pages for planning your trip

The following local pages are also available for further research: São Mateus, Piedade, Candelaria, Ribeiras, Canto da Areia, Santa Luzia, Lajes Do Pico and Cais do Mourato.

Back to the main travel overview: Pico.