Pico Alto, literally translated to the High Peak, is the highest point of Santa Maria, one of the 9 islands in the Azores. This elevation reaches 587 meters above sea level, or 1 925 feet. From up there, you can enjoy one of the greatest views over Santa Maria Island with the green pastures, patches of vegetation, some picturesque villages, the coast, and the infinite Atlantic Ocean.
Discover more about this beautiful place. How to go, what to do, and more historic facts about this must-visit during your holiday on the Yellow Island.
What is Pico Alto?
Pico Alto is the tallest mountain on Santa Maria, the island of the sun. It resulted from a phase of intense volcanism created by submarine eruptions about 5 million years ago. This singular peak on the island captures the clouds, creating a humid area with lush vegetation.
In this area, you will encounter native vegetation reintroduced by authorities, such as Azorean Heather (Vaccinium cylindraceum) and Azores Laurel (Laurus azorica). In terms of fauna, you can watch many birds around the vicinity. Observe the famous and mini Regulus regulus sanctaemariae, an endemic subspecies only present in Santa Maria. There are some unique arthropods of Athous pomboi, Donus multifidus, Tarphius pomboi, or Tarphius serranoi.
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At Pico Alto, three different planes have already crashed: a Douglas C-54 in 1945, a Piper Aztec in 1964, and a Boeing 707-300 in 1989. On the trail around the peak, you can find a monument in honor of the 144 passengers who died during the incident.
Plan Your Visit to Pico Alto
How to Get to Pico Alto
Pico Alto is located in Santa Bárbara parish, on Santa Maria island.
From Vila do Porto, the main town on the island of Santa Maria, take a rental car or a taxi following the main road (EN1-2A) eastwards until you cross the village of Almagreira. When you get out of the village, take the secondary road on the left until you reach the parking lot. In total, it takes about 17 minutes by car to cover 10km from Vila do Porto.
Around Pico Alto, there is the PRC02 SMA hiking trail to discover the area by foot. This is a loop of 6.2km, medium difficulty level and about 2 hours walk. Another great way to explore Pico Alto.
State programmando un viaggio alle Azzorre? Questi articoli vi aiuteranno: Come raggiungere le Azzorre 🗺️ | Aeroporti delle Azzorre 🛬 | Voli tra le isole ✈️ | Traghetti tra le isole ⛴️ | Quale isola scegliere? 🏝️ | Quali compagnie aeree volano sulle Azzorre? 🛩️
Il momento migliore per visitarlo
The best time to visit Pico Alto in Santa Maria depends on how you are planning to reach it. If you drive, the walk to the top is quite short, so you can go pretty much any time of day. However, if you plan to hike, start in the morning or early afternoon to manage your time comfortably. Aim for a morning start to avoid the midday heat and complete your trek before sunset for safety.
Consulta tutti i nostri articoli sul clima delle Azzorre durante tutto l'anno 🌤️ ☔️: Gennaio | Febbraio | Marzo | Aprile | Maggio | Giugno | Luglio | Agosto | Settembre | Ottobre | Novembre | Dicembreember
Suggerimenti per i professionisti
For hikers, remember to take water, snacks, a rain jacket, a hat, and sunscreen, depending on the weather. Although this is not a difficult trail, you should wear proper hiking shoes and wear layers of clothing.
Also, don’t miss the casemates of Pico Alto, a historic touch to your visit to the island’s highest peak. The Portuguese Air Force built these facilities in 1956 during the Cold War following the Warsaw Pact. They designed the site specifically to host a new radar station. Even though they are not fully operating nowadays, they serve as a radio transmission.
Libro guida delle Azzorre
Lingua e frasi delle Azzorre 🗣️ | Valuta e banche 💵 | Carte di credito e assegni di viaggio 🏧 | Guidare nelle Azzorre 🚗 | Elettricità 🔌 | Esperienze e tour 🗺️ | Salute e sicurezza 🩺 | Accesso a Internet e Wi-Fi 🛜 | Telefoni e servizi mobili 📞 | Uffici postali e acquisto di francobolli ✉️ | Giorni festivi 🏖️ | Shopping 🛒 | Ora e luce del giorno 🕒 | Guida all'osservazione delle balene 🐳 | L'isola migliore da visitare 🏞️
Attrazioni nelle vicinanze
Praia de São Lourenço
Praia de São Lourenço, on the northeastern coast of Santa Maria, is one of the island’s main attractions, shaped by a semicircular volcanic crater that now forms a picturesque bay. Surrounded by traditional terraced vineyards built from basalt stone, this beach is completely iconic.
This is one of the few beaches with light-colored sand in the Azores. Its crystal-clear, usually calm waters make it ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing. It also features a natural pool, a quiet and scenic spot for bathing, ideal for kids.
Praia de São Lourenço offers excellent infrastructure for all visitors. The beach area provides restrooms, showers, parking, and even a local bar. Miradouro de São Lourenço guarantees a postcard-worthy panoramic view that you cannot miss.
→ Articolo correlato: Le migliori spiagge delle Azzorre. Per saperne di più!
Barreiro da Faneca
Barreiro da Faneca, on the northern side of Santa Maria, is a unique geological phenomenon. Locals often call this protected area the ‘Red Desert of the Azores. Arid, clay-rich soil with intense red and orange tones defines the landscape’s character. The landscape is wavy, making it look like a completely different planet.
There, you can enjoy the desert almost to yourself, depending on the time of day and the season of the year, as many people go to Santa Maria to spend time on the beach. Plus, this is quite a small area, so once you have enjoyed the red rolling hills and taken plenty of pictures, there is not much else to do.
Barreiro da Faneca is easily accessible by car, with a road leading there. Alternatively, visitors can explore walking trails such as the Costa Norte trail (PR01SMA) or parts of the island’s long-distance route (GR01SMA), which go through the red clay landscape.
Vila do Porto
Vila do Porto is the capital of the island of Santa Maria and is located in the parish and municipality of the same name. Founded in 1432 by Gonçalo Velho Cabral, Vila do Porto was the first town in the Azorean archipelago. However, settlers founded the municipality of Vila do Porto in 1470. Five parishes: Almagreira, Santa Bárbara, Santo Espírito, São Pedro, and Vila do Porto – subdivide the municipality.
Quindi, se siete di passaggio sull'isola, assicuratevi di visitare le principali attrazioni di Vila do Porto, come ad esempio:
- Miradouro de São Lourenço;
- Pico Alto;
- Faro di Gonçalo Velho;
- Baía da Raposo;
- Grotta di Figueiral;
- Baía dos Anjos;
- Tra gli altri.
Praia Formosa
Praia Formosa lies on the southern coast of Santa Maria. It is famous for being one of the few beaches in the Azores with clear sand extending for about 1 kilometer.
The waters at Praia Formosa are exceptionally clear, warm, and shallow, making it ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The water temperature is suitable for bathing year-round. From Miradouro da Macela, enjoy the panorama of the beach, bay, and coast around.
Its water quality and facilities earn the Blue Flag every year. The beach provides excellent equipment for all visitors, including parking, showers, and toilets. A restaurant, seasonal lifeguards, and full accessibility for people with mobility issues complete the services. At one end of the beach, there is also a campsite, offering budget-friendly accommodation with direct access to the sand.
Praia Formosa is about 10 minutes by car from Vila do Porto, with easy access. In Agosto, Praia Formosa hosts the Maré de Agosto Festival. Held annually since 1984, the event attracts many people from Santa Maria and other islands.
Consultate tutti i nostri articoli sui punti di interesse più rilevanti dell'Isola di Santa Maria: Praia Formosa | Barreiro da Faneca | Cascata di Aveiro | Miradouro Vigia da Baleia | Pico Alto
Informazioni complementari
La stagione migliore per visitare le Azzorre
L'arcipelago delle Azzorre vanta un clima unico che modella i suoi paesaggi lussureggianti, rendendolo una splendida destinazione per tutto l'anno. Con temperature miti e oscillazioni minime, ogni stagione offre qualcosa di unico. La primavera ha una media di 16 °C, l'estate raggiunge i 21 °C, l'autunno si raffredda fino a 18 °C e l'inverno rimane mite, con 14 °C.
→ Per una ripartizione dettagliata del tempo per mese, consultare i seguenti link 🌤️☔️: Gennaio | Febbraio | Marzo | Aprile | Maggio | Giugno | Luglio | Agosto | Settembre | Ottobre | Novembre | Dicembreember
Come raggiungere le Azzorre
L'arcipelago delle Azzorre è facilmente raggiungibile attraverso numerose rotte aeree. Lisbona e Porto sono i principali punti d'ingresso al continente, con voli diretti per São Miguel (PDL), Terceira (TER), Faial (HOR), Pico (PIX) e Santa Maria (SMA). Per trovare il volo migliore, utilizzare motori di ricerca come eDreams o Skyscanner. Queste piattaforme consentono di confrontare i prezzi e gli orari di più compagnie aeree in un'unica comoda posizione.
Per maggiori dettagli su come raggiungere le Azzorre, date un'occhiata al nostro sito guida completa. Ma se volete esplorare oltre la vostra isola di arrivo? Vi abbiamo pensato noi!
- Aeroporti delle Azzorre 🛬
- Voli tra le isole ✈️
- Traghetti tra le isole ⛴️
- Quale isola scegliere? 🏝️
- Quali compagnie aeree volano sulle Azzorre? 🛩️
→ Una volta trovato l'itinerario perfetto, prenotate i biglietti e preparatevi a vivere uno dei gruppi di isole più belli del mondo!
Elementi essenziali per il viaggio
Informazioni essenziali per il vostro viaggio alle Azzorre: Lingua e frasi delle Azzorre 🗣️ | Valuta e banche 💵 | Carte di credito e assegni di viaggio 🏧 | Guidare nelle Azzorre 🚗 | Elettricità 🔌 | Esperienze e tour 🗺️ | Salute e sicurezza 🩺 | Accesso a Internet e Wi-Fi 🛜 | Telefoni e servizi mobili 📞 | Uffici postali e acquisto di francobolli ✉️ | Giorni festivi 🏖️ | Shopping 🛒 | Ora e luce del giorno 🕒 | Guida all'osservazione delle balene 🐳 | L'isola migliore da visitare 🏞️
Strumenti e applicazioni utili
Il tempo alle Azzorre può essere variabile, quindi è utile utilizzare alcune applicazioni prima di visitare le isole. Spotazores fornisce le immagini in diretta delle telecamere delle principali attrazioni turistiche, consentendo di controllare le condizioni meteorologiche e di pianificare la visita. Per previsioni meteo accurate, utilizzare Ventoso o Windguru - forniscono le previsioni più affidabili.
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Conclusione
Pico Alto is like the crown of Santa Maria, and you cannot visit the Yellow island without stopping by its highest point, which is easily accessible. It offers an amazing panoramic view of the island’s diverse landscapes, from green pastures and scenic cliffs to quaint villages, all framed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Beyond its beauty, ancient volcanic eruptions molded Pico Alto into a significant geological landmark. It plays a significant role in the island’s ecosystem, hosting unique flora and fauna. The peak is also a site of historical relevance, from Cold War radar casemates to the tragic air crashes memorialized near the summit. Thanks to the hiking trail around it, you can discover the various faces of Pico Alto.
Visiting Pico Alto is a must to fully discover Santa Maria. You can easily fit this spot into your itinerary, whether you have only a short amount of time or plenty.
