FAQ MOST FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS
ACTIVITIES Pico island (we recommend)
- Bicycle riding
- Cave tours (volcanic tubs)
- Guided tours (2, 4, & 6 hours) mountains, coast & island
- Museum's, whalers museum, center for science (old whale factory), wine museum & vineyards
- Pico mountain climbing, 3 hour climb each way, self or guides available. Pico mountain has a ranger station & you must sign in at station & they will furnish you with GPS
- Scuba Diving & snorkeling
- Trail walking (3 to 15km) of mountains & coast
- Whale /Dolphin watching tours (4 hour trips)
AIRPORT INFORMATION (Pico)
- Airport is located 37 km form Guest House
- Taxis are available at airport
- Rent a car are available at airport, summer months we recommend reserving your rent a car early. Refer to folder links to other web sites.
BICYCLE FREE USE details
- Guests must make a 6 night stay reservation to be elegable for free use of bicycles
- Guests who do not reserve a 6 night stay can make special arrangements to use bicycle
- Bicycles are available on a first come first basis
- Guests who use the bicycles do so at there own risk
BEST MONTHS TO VISIT PICO ISLAND & AZORES
- If you plan to climb Pico mountain, whale watch, & walk the beautifull Pico trails. The mid Atlantic weather has a lot to say when the best time is to visit Pico
- The best months overall are June, July, August & September.
- You will find that for climbing Pico mountain that July & August months are the best weather to do this.
- You must keep in mind that climbing Pico will depend on the weather, the weather can be unpredictable, overcast and rainy one day and the next day perfect.
- The best weather month overall is August. The end of August is also when the famous whalers festival (Our Lady of Lurdes) occurs. This festival is a celebration of the protector Saint of the whalers.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO GUEST HOUSE
From Pico Airport:
- Drive to main road that goes around the island (Estrada Regional) and drive toward the village of Sao Joao for about 45 minutes or 37 km.
- When you reach the center of the village on right side of road is a single large tall tree. Look straight ahead at the hill in front of you and you will see a salmon colored house with a large canvas sign that says Guest House.
- Turn left at next road (Ramal Salazar) by Cafe Silva (a sign is posted Miradouro da Papapva Guest House), drive up the hill to Guest House
From Madalena Ferry Dock:
- Same as above directions except drive for 30 minutes & about 24 klm
From Cais do Pico Ferry Dock:
- Get on main road that cross across the island (Transversal) Drive about 30 minutes or 20 km until road ends.
- Turn Right on main road (Estrada Regional) that goes around the island. Drive about 6 km to center of village, look for Cafe Silva on right side of road, look for sign on rock wall that says (Miradouro da Papalva Guest House) at that spot turn right on road (Ramal Salazar) drive up the hill to Guest House.
ITEM'S AVAILABLE FOR OUR GUESTS USE AT NO CHARGE
- The following item's are available for our Guests at no charge on a first come first serve basis
- Backpacks
- Beach towels
- Walking sticks
FERRY SERVICE INFORMATION
- Ferry service between Pico, Faial and Sao Jorge island
- Pico & Faial ferry fees about 4.00 euros
- Pico & Sao Jorge ferry fees about 10.00 euros
- Ferry schedule for Pico & Faial about every 3 hours, 20 minute ferry ride
- Ferry schedule for Pico Sao Jorge about 3 times per day, 45 minute ferry ride
- Taxis available at ferry docks
- Rent a car near by ferry docks
- Not necessary to purchase ferry tickets ahead in advance
- Ferry web links refer to folder links to other web sites
GUEST HOUSE DISTANCE TO FERRY DOCKS
- Madalena ferry dock to Guest house 24 km, 30 minute drive
- Sao Roque ferry dock to Guest house 25 km, 35 minute drive
GUIDED TOURS VERSUS AUTO RENTAL
- Guided tours can range from 10 euros to 60 euros per person this will depend on the tour you choose. There is a village tour of Sao Joao (2 hours), a mountain tour (4 hours), around the island tour (6 to 8 hours)
- The cost of a auto rental with full insurance coverage can cost 50 euros to 90 euros per day, this will depend on the vehicle you choose
- The costs between the guided & auto rental can equal out at the end of the day about the same
- The advantage of the guided tour is that you will be taken to more sites with a verbal explanation of its history etc
- The advantage of renting a car is that you have much more freedom
GUEST HOUSE LOCATION TO LAJES
- The Guest House is located 9 km from Guest House
- Taxi is available at Guest House
- Super market is located in Lajes 8 km from Guest House
KITCHEN & BARBECUE USE
- Enjoy a fully stocked outside kitchen and Barbecue.
- Enjoy a meal with a beautiful ocean view while relaxing in our gazebo and it may be your lucky day and see whales and dolphins swimming by. Time permitting you can coax your hosts in cooking one of their tasty local dishes.
- Kitchen usage must be reserved in advance
- We provide any assistance you may need in barbecuing
- Gazebo eating are is an open area
- Refer to folder virtual tour outside guest house & see pictures kitchen, cooking, barbecuing & eating are
RENT A CAR INFORMATION
- For rent a car web links refer to our web site folder, links to other web sites
LINKS TO OTHER WEB SITES
- On our main web page site in folder links to other web sites you will find the links necessary to view the ferry schedules, fees etc. and airlines links, whale watching etc.
Restaurants
- Restaurant 5 minute walk from our Guest House (best in the island for fish)
- Various restaurant, Madalena & Lajes
WHALE/DOLPHIN WATCHING Lajes
- For Whale/Dolphin web links refer to our web site folder. links to other web sites
- Whale watching was originally started in Lajes Pico by Mr. Serge of Espaco Talassa from France
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