Passeio de Carrinha • Cultura do Vinho • Ilha do Pico • Dia Inteiro

Set on Pico Island, part of the Azores archipelago in Portugal, this full-day wine culture tour invites travelers into a landscape that UNESCO has recognized as a World Heritage site for its exceptional vineyard landscape. Known as Criação Velha, these vineyards are woven into a rough volcanic terrain shaped by ancient lava flows, creating a remarkable and resilient agricultural environment seldom found elsewhere. This 8-hour guided journey is a deep dive into how locals have cultivated grapes in such a challenging environment and crafted a wine culture that has sustained the island economically and culturally for centuries.

Starting from Madalena, the island’s main port town, the tour winds through carefully tended vineyards where the jagged black basalt walls frame rows of vines that thrive despite the rugged soil. Visitors can see the unique stone enclosures that protect the grapes from ocean winds and salt spray, a distinctive feature of Pico’s viticulture. This landscape is not only vital for grape growing but also a living testament to the perseverance and ingenuity of the island’s wine producers.

The experience includes stops at traditional wineries where you can taste three distinct local wines, including the celebrated "licoroso"—a sweet, strong white wine that played a crucial role in the island’s golden era of winemaking that lasted over 200 years. Sampling these wines along the coastline, with Atlantic waves just meters away, imbues each sip with a sense of place. Additional highlights include a visit to the Wine Museum in Madalena.

Here, you’ll encounter an impressive garden of dragon trees (dracena draco), exotic to this subtropical climate, and learn the historical and technological evolution of winemaking on the island. A locally sourced lunch in a charming restaurant offers the opportunity to savor Azorean flavors paired perfectly with regional wines. The afternoon unfolds with a scenic drive toward São Roque on the island’s north coast.

Along the way, you’ll explore the old Lajido wine-producing center, where small ports, tidal pools, historic distilleries, and ancient wells reveal the intertwined relationship between Pico’s winemaking heritage and maritime activities. This tour is easy-paced and accessible, perfect for wine lovers and those curious about cultural landscapes shaped by human hands against a wild volcanic backdrop. Passeio de Carrinha offers a deeply engaging look at Pico Island’s wine culture that is impossible to replicate elsewhere.

The blend of natural beauty, unique geology, and rich history makes this an unmissable experience for outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate authentic local traditions and the stories that flow with every glass of wine.