I visited Pico in July 2014. Pico is an island part of the Acores archipelago, lying in the midway in the Atlantic, some 1500 km from mainland Portugal. Getting there however is rather easy, from Lisbon, with a long stopover on Terceira Island. Plane tickets are relatively afordable considering the distance. The stopover on Terceira island is long enough to get to Angro de Herismo site and to Algar do Carvao cave, which is on the TL.

The WH site is a very small part of Pico island, clusterd on the western end. It consists mostly of small walled fields forming huge networks along the coast. The wall are made of black basalt stones protecting the crops from the strong Atlantic winds and from salt sprays. There is no soil, and vine crops are inserted directly into the cracks of the volcanic rocks. Some building, villages and ports are found around those fields and are part of the WHS.

Scenary is magnificient, lying between sea and the Pico volcanic peak in the background. Faial island lies across the sea in the west.

Visiting the area can be easily done from Magdalena, a small town on the west end of Pico island. The site lies either north or south from Magdalena. The southern part can be visited by foot from the town. There is a small bathing place to relax mid-way (no beach on Pico, since it is a volcanic island, and bathing is only recommended in designated area as strong currents are common). For the northern part, a bicycle is a good choice. The scenary is rougher here, the vineyard are smaller, intersected by lava fields

A car is a must, since the entire island is about 50 km long and worth visiting. Other interesting activities are going swimming with dolphins and whale-watching, or a day trip to Faial island (several ferry crossing, lasting 30 minutes)

Altogether, visiting this site is very worth the long trip. Pico is a magnificiant and relaxing island. And with the stopover in Terceira a good way to tick two sites and one TL