Mount Pico

There are secret islands in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. Nine of them, actually. The Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal, even though they're nearly 900 miles off the coast of Lisbon. Mount Pico, on the island of Pico, is actually the highest point in the European country. The volcanic archipelago is covered with farmland. Small fishing communities line the coasts. Travelers were first introduced to the remote islands when they became a refueling stop for flights between Europe and North America. Direct flights from Boston and New York eventually followed. The Azores are finally being discovered by North Americans without Portuguese heritage. It's about time. Ponta Delgada, the little capital, mixes historic buildings with modern hotels and restaurants. São Miguel, the main island, is full of hiking trails and hot springs. Pico Island is famous for its wine. While seven other islands are just waiting to be explored. With mild climate, thanks to the jet stream, the Azores are a year-round destination. Go before the secret gets out. This detailed guide includes: Places: islands, cities, neighborhoods, towns, hidden villages Stay: hotels Eat: bakeries, coffee shops, ice cream stands, pizzerias, restaurants, teahouses Drink: beach bars, rooftop bars, tapas bars, wineries Do: abandoned hotels, aqueducts, bamboo groves, beaches, botanical gardens, bridges, chapels, churches, fountains, fumaroles, gardens, gates, hikes, lakes, marinas, mountains, natural swimming pools, nature preserves, public parks, roads, sculptures, squares, statues, tourist offices, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viewpoints, windmills Transportation: airports, car rentals, ferries, parking lots

There are two major reasons to visit Pico Island: hiking and wine. Though there are trails all over the island, Ponta do Pico is the biggest (literally) draw for hikers. Mount Pico, a dormant stratovolcano, is the highest mountain in not only the Azores, but in all of Portugal. The wine is equally impressive. The vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the basalt stone walls that surround them. So the two reasons to visit Pico Island are very good ones. Pico Island is in the Azores' Central Group of islands. You can see and easily visit two others, Faial and São Jorge, from here. The Black Island (the black volcanic soil says it all) was discovered in the 14th century, though it wasn't settled until the 1480s. Volcanic eruptions kept deterring people, though. It wasn't until the 18th century that the lava flow ceased, Verdelho grapes started thriving, and whale hunting became popular. Pico found its groove. Similar to São Miguel, tourists are now flocking to Pico. They're lured by the humid and mild climate, rarely exported wine, bucket-list hikes, and whale-watching trips. Madalena, the tiny main town, blends history and nature on the west coast. While Pico's east coast feels like it's still waiting to be discovered. This detailed guide includes: Places: towns Stay: hotels Eat: bakeries, pizzerias, restaurants Drink: tapas bars, wineries Do: churches, mountains, natural swimming pools, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, windmills Transportation: airports, car rentals, ferries