PLANNING the climb
Climbing Pico Mountain
OUR ADVENTURE DAY
It is a pleasure to invite you to join us on this adventure to the summit of Pico Mountain! This is the most iconic and remarkable experience in the Azores , perfect for those who are in good physical condition , even without any mountaineering experience.
Our official meeting point will be at Casa da Montanha 1200 meters where we will hold a briefing with the entire group, we will check that everyone has the necessary equipment and is adapted to the day of climbing and we will receive our locators to begin our journey of approximately 7 hours to 2351 meters and return.
We will start on the western side of the mountain and the first part of the trail lasts between 20 and 30 minutes up to 1300 meters. It is important that all participants in the group complete this part without difficulty. A sharp change in breathing pattern and/or lack of balance are warning signs, as this is a sample of the unevenness and type of terrain that we will have in the next few hours on Pico Mountain.
The next stage, between 1300 and 1700 meters, is not very difficult as it is an area where we walk horizontally to the south, but the trail between 1700 and 2000 meters will have very slippery sections, with loose stones and unevenness that will require all our attention.
Reaching 2,200 meters, we will rest in the crater for a few minutes before attacking the summit, the famous “Piquinho”. This lava cone is intimidating at first sight. It is positioned inside the crater and has permanent fumaroles that will not let you forget that you are on top of a volcano.
Finally, the incredible feeling of reaching the Top of Portugal! Here we will have all the time to breathe deeply and enjoy the moment in the best possible way, whether it be contemplating, relaxing or taking lots of photos.
The moment when everything is worth it! If the day is not very cloudy, we can see up to 5 islands of the Central Group of the Azores: Faial, São Jorge, Graciosa, Terceira and, of course, Pico Island.
Many sighs, smiles and celebrations later, we will begin our descent. This is the part of the adventure that participants fear the most, but we guarantee that with our indispensable poles and concentration, everything will go perfectly.
The descent has fewer stops to keep your leg muscles active and also because motivation tends to drop during this phase. The steep incline will remind you and your knees of the climb for several days, especially when climbing stairs.
Back at Casa da Montanha, our starting point, the feeling of mission accomplished will stay with you for the rest of your life, knowing that you can always do much more than you imagine!
If you think you are ready for this adventure… Lets GO, GO CLIMB!
* Access to the Pico Mountain Nature Reserve has a maximum load capacity of 320 people per day and 160 people simultaneously, for this reason we emphasize the importance of making a complete reservation with personal data as soon as possible to guarantee access .
Read the Cancellation Policy .
The available places at the Pico Mountain Nature Reserve fill up quickly, especially for climbs during the months of July and August.
Climbing Pico Mountain
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
Equipment is one of the fundamental factors for a safe activity and therefore participants may be denied access to the mountain if they do not have the mandatory items (marked below with * ).
The weather conditions on Pico Mountain are very unstable and the trail is long, so consider protection against heat, solar radiation, cold and rain, regardless of the climbing option or time of year .
NECESSARY ITEMS ALWAYS
- Mountain Boots or Trekking shoes*
- Dryfast light T-shirt
- Polartec Jacket / warm layer
- Waterproof Jacket
- Trekking pants
- Comfortable socks and underwear
- Sunglasses
- Hat , Bandana and Buff
- Sunscreen
- Backpack
Our customers have a 10% discount at the Yupik Outdoor Store to equip themselves for the climb to Pico Mountain.
ITEMS IN CASE OF UNSTABLE WEATHER
- Waterproof jacket *
- Waterproof pants
- Waterproof backpack cover
- Hat and gloves
- Extra socks
- Change of clothes and shoes for the end of the activity (leave in the car)
SUGGESTED DIET
- Minimum 2 liters of water*
- Isotonic drinks
- 2 or 3 Sandwiches
- Dried fruits
- Chocolate and Fruits
- Boiled eggs
GIVE PREFERENCE
- Long sleeves and pants for sun protection
- Camel Bag
- Materials such as: merino wool, polartech, goretex, polyester
AVOID USING
- Materials such as: jeans, cotton, tight clothing, exposed skin.
- Prohibited: running shoes or other shoes.
- Boots that have never been worn, are old or have been stored for more than 6 months so that the sole does not come loose.
Body and Mind prepared
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING
Climbing Pico Mountain is only recommended for people with an active lifestyle and who include physical activities in their daily routine.
Unlike Mt. Everest, the physical and psychological fitness required to reach the summit of Pico can be achieved in a few months of training and dedication. For this reason, we encourage our less active clients to find a demanding physical activity that they enjoy doing and to train for 3 or 4 months before undertaking the activity.
Suggested activities for 3 times a week training:
Minimum 5km running training
10km indoor or outdoor cycling workouts
Volleyball, football, tennis, gym games, etc.
Important tip: Avoid elevators and escalators and opt for the stairs!
Specific cases as listed below should contact GOclimb in advance in order to find the best option for your climb:
Young people over 60 years old
Children under 10 years of age
Specific physical conditions such as malformation of the lower limbs, recent surgeries, others.
Specific health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and other cases.
Consult your doctor before signing up for the activity and be clear with the guide about your physical condition.
Private climbs are usually the best option for people who are unsure whether they are capable of reaching the summit or need to spend more hours than usual. Be respectful of your own body and the rest of the group.
Climbing Pico Mountain
CANCELLATION POLICY
In case of rain on the day of the experience, we will do our best to reschedule your activity. If there are no other dates available, the trail will be replaced by an All-Terrain Tour or Expedition to Unknown Caves.
We would like you to understand that we have stopped accepting another group because the day was already reserved for them.
The amount may also be kept as credit to be used within 1 year or refunded.
RETURNS IN CASE OF WITHDRAWAL:
07 days before the climb – 100% of the amount deposited
05 days before the climb – 50% of the amount deposited
03 days – 01 day before the climb – 30% of the amount deposited
Less than 24 hours before the climb – 00% of the amount deposited
