Pico Island cultural tour: Wine, whaling, banana plantation
Wine terraces, a whaling museum, tide pools, and the interior plateau in one day
The Banana Trip is a full-day private cultural tour departing from Faial island to Pico, led by a certified local guide in English or Portuguese. You'll explore the South coast vineyards, visit the Whaling Museum and natural tide pools at São João, eat a traditional lunch in Lajes village, cross the Pico Central Plateau, and finish at a working banana plantation to see if fruit is ready to harvest. Ferry tickets, private transportation, and lunch are included. The tour runs 12 hours and suits all fitness levels.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Full day cultural tour of Pico island
- Learn about Pico wine history
- Visit natural tide pools at São João
- Guided visit to the whaling museum
The experience
The day starts with a ferry crossing from Faial to Pico, where your guide meets you and begins explaining the island's wine culture and the UNESCO-protected vineyard landscape that terraces the South coast. The volcanic stone walls and narrow plots tell a specific story about how Pico's growers adapted to the terrain, and your guide walks you through that history as you move through the region. You'll stop at São João to explore natural tide pools (a chance to see the shoreline up close), and then head to the Whaling Museum, a heritage site that anchors the Azores' whaling past into the present day.
Lunch happens in Lajes village, a traditional meal included in the price. After eating, the tour moves inland to the Pico Central Plateau, the interior of the island where the landscape shifts from coast to elevation. This is where the "Banana Trip" name comes from: the final stop is the guide's own banana plantation, where you'll see whether a bunch is ripe and ready to harvest. It's a working farm, not a museum, so what you find depends on the season.
Private transportation means no shared van or group schedule: the day moves at a pace that works for your group, and the ferry tickets are already arranged. A certified guide in your language (English or Portuguese) handles the logistics and the storytelling. The full day is 12 hours from pickup on Faial to return, and the price covers all transport, entry, and food.
What’s included
- Private transportation on Pico.
- certified local guide in English or Portuguese.
- round-trip ferry tickets between Faial and Pico.
- traditional lunch in Lajes village.
- entry to the Whaling Museum.
- access to the banana plantation.
Before you book
Lasts 12h, runs every day at 06:50, from € 228 per person, with a live guide in English and Portuguese and as a private tour.
Prices and times updated 6 days ago
Operated by Our Island
Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the day moves at your group's pace and the guide tailors stops to your interests: ideal if you want to linger at the vineyards or ask detailed questions about whaling history without keeping a shared group on schedule. It suits anyone who wants the cultural story of Pico (wine, whaling, agriculture) woven together in one day, with a local who knows the island and can explain why things are arranged the way they are.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Portuguese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.
What is the Whaling Museum and what will I see there?
The Whaling Museum is a heritage site on Pico that documents the Azores' whaling history. Your guide will lead you through exhibits that explain the cultural and economic role whaling played in the islands' past.
Can I swim or wade in the tide pools at São João?
The tour includes a stop at natural tide pools at São João where you can explore the shoreline. Bring appropriate footwear for rocky surfaces. The guide will point out what to look for in the pools.
What happens at the banana plantation at the end of the day?
The final stop is the guide's own working banana plantation. You'll walk through it and check whether a bunch is ripe and ready to harvest: what you see depends on the season and the growing cycle.
Is the ferry between Faial and Pico included in the price?
Yes, ferry tickets are included in the tour price. The guide meets you on Pico after the crossing and coordinates the return ferry at the end of the day.
How long is the full day, and what time does it start?
The tour runs 12 hours total. Pickup happens on Faial and includes the ferry crossing. Your guide will confirm the exact departure time when you book.
Is lunch included, and what kind of food will we eat?
Yes, a traditional lunch is included in Lajes village. The meal is part of the cultural experience and is built into the day's schedule.
Pico Island cultural tour: Wine, whaling, banana plantation
12h · EN · PT · at your hotel
from € 228 per person