Hiking Criação Velha Vineyards

No discouragement flourishes, no thought grows dark while we walk through this green-painted space decorated with carmine coloured fruits, where the breeze is a breath and the sun a warm quilt stretched over the cliffs.

By the light of pure, clear air, we will visit the vineyards spilled over the slopes, but also furrows, barrel ramps by the seaside, shelters, and wine cellars – all that makes the wine culture a special, complex world.

By the shade of the cane fields, which sometimes hide the decency of robust cellars, we will discover the sea salty air mixed with the fresh smell of the grape must, in a unique visual, olfactory universe…

Difficulty

Languages

Transport Type

FOOT

Tour Starts

Madalena

Minimum Age

Season

Available in all season

Transport Type

FOOT

Tour Starts

Madalena

Languages

Minimum Age

Season

Available in all season

Trip Overview

Unesco's Favourite Vineyards

Price

45€

Duration

Half day

Small Groups

For Nature Lovers

Full of Culture & History

Free Cancellations

Gallery

Itinerary

Candelária +

This trail is a linear route connecting Candelária to Madalena.
From Madalena, we will reach the trail. It is located in an area that was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004. This trail is particularly rich in elements of the wine culture.

Vineyards +

You will discover what makes Pico’s wine culture so special. And how this unique landscape was created.
Walking over a 1,500-year-old lava field, you will also be able to enjoy the view over the rock islets facing Madalena. From there we can see Pico Mountain and other geological formations.

Select your departure

45€ per adult + 2.7€ Online Fee

Why Futurismo

100+ breathtaking experiences

Venture beyond the extraordinary. Unrivalled adventure.

Azores travel experts

Largest tour operator in the Azores with 30 years of experience.

Environmental education

At Futurismo, we think that educating and raising awareness among the young ones is very important for the future.

MORE ABOUT US

45€ per adult + 2.7€ Online Fee

Premier Whale Watching Operator

Experienced. Passionate. Respectful.

WCA Certified

Our ethical tourism practices recognized worldwide

Cetacean Sighting Guaranteed

98% chance of spotting whales or dolphins. Didn’t see any? Join another tour for free

21.000+ Sighting Records

30 yrs of scientific research. Collabs with 20+ universities

Top-notch Vessels

Best and biggest Whale Watching fleet in the Azores

KNOW MORE

100% stays in the local community

20% to local small companies

Full time, year round, employed guides

What people think about

5.0

39 reviews

P-O Clément 29/09/2026

Amazing wine tour with a great guide, Silvia. She was super nice and taught us many things about… Read more

Mohamed Laroussi 27/09/2026

Maria was phenomenal! Her passion, knowledge, and genuine attention made the tour exceptional. She… Read more

Charlotte M 24/07/2026

(Translated by Google) After a fantastic trip with Futurismo to São Miguel Island last year, we… Read more

Marianne Prugger 12/07/2026

It was a great day with Maria- she is a perfect guide with an impressive knowledge of Pico-… Read more

Marianne 12/07/2026

It was a great day with Maria- she is a perfect guide with an impressive knowledge of Pico-… Read more

Manuela von Allmen 08/07/2026

(Translated by Google) The excursion from Pico (Lajes) was simply sensational! Our tour guide –… (Translated by Google) The excursion from Pico (Lajes) was simply sensational! Our tour guide – unfortunately, I've forgotten her name; she's originally from the Netherlands – was extremely knowledgeable and shared an incredible amount of fascinating and valuable information about whales and dolphins with us throughout the entire tour. It was immediately apparent how extensive her expertise and enthusiasm for these animals were. During our stay, we took a total of three whale-watching tours with Futurismo. The excursion from Pico (Lajes) was by far the best. In comparison, the staff in São Miguel could certainly learn a thing or two from the team in Pico. The difference in the quality of service, the information provided, and the overall experience was clearly noticeable. In my opinion, it would be a good idea for the São Miguel staff to participate in a tour in Pico themselves to experience firsthand how to create a truly exceptional whale-watching experience. ... A huge compliment to the entire team in Pico – I can wholeheartedly recommend this tour! (Original) Der Ausflug ab Pico (Lajes) war einfach sensationell! Unsere Tour-Begleiterin – leider habe ich ihren Namen vergessen, sie stammt ursprünglich aus den Niederlanden – war äusserst kompetent und hat uns während der gesamten Tour unglaublich viele spannende und wertvolle Informationen über Wale und Delfine vermittelt. Man hat sofort gemerkt, wie gross ihr Fachwissen und ihre Begeisterung für die Tiere sind. Während unseres Aufenthalts haben wir insgesamt drei Whale-Watching-Touren mit Futurismo unternommen. Der Ausflug ab Pico (Lajes) war mit Abstand der beste. Im Vergleich dazu könnten sich die Mitarbeitenden in São Miguel durchaus ein Beispiel am Team in Pico nehmen. Der Unterschied in der Qualität der Betreuung, den Informationen und dem Gesamterlebnis war deutlich spürbar. Meiner Meinung nach wäre es eine gute Idee, wenn die Mitarbeitenden von São Miguel selbst einmal an einer Tour in Pico teilnehmen würden, um zu erleben, wie ein erstklassiges Whale-Watching-Erlebnis gestaltet werden kann. Ein grosses Kompliment an das gesamte Team in Pico – diese Tour kann ich uneingeschränkt weiterempfehlen! Read more

Karin Witkam 01/07/2026

(Translated by Google) Fantastic organization that introduces you to the wonders of the ocean with… Read more

Francisco Santos 28/06/2026

Would recommend these folks any time. They were knowledgeable and approachable with questions. We… Read more

Denise 23/06/2026

(Translated by Google) Great day with Maria, small group, very informative and a good way to… Read more

Oliver Hinz 08/06/2026

Absolute bucket-list experience! Highly recommended! "I climbed Pico Mountain today and it was an… Read more

June Payne 22/05/2026

Excellent full day island tour with Maria. Would definitely recommend. Maria was very… Read more

Reg Filippi 11/05/2026

We had a fabulous day with our Guide Maria. Due to the difficult weather, she was able to include… Read more

Christine Stockton 07/05/2026

Very good to meet up with Maria Batista again. She was in good time to take us from hotel to… Read more

Lauren 02/05/2026

Thoroughly enjoyed our informative walk through the vineyards. I’m sorry to say I’m terrible with… Read more

SkyXpedition 29/08/2025

(Translated by Google) A wonderful team that not only enjoys what they do, but does it well! And… Read more

Tasmin H 20/08/2025

Been out to sea with them a few times now and am lucky enough to know some staff members by now.… Read more

Carrie Maio 13/07/2025

(Translated by Google) The tour was very well organized and the guide Janine was spectacular in the… Read more

Denis Burger 11/07/2025

(Translated by Google) Fantastic Whale Watching Tour – Highly Recommended! We went on a whale… (Translated by Google) Fantastic Whale Watching Tour – Highly Recommended! We went on a whale watching tour with Futurismo Azores Adventures in Lajes do Pico, and it was absolutely fantastic – and significantly better than our previous experiences on São Miguel. The biggest difference: On Pico, you're immediately in whale and dolphin territory. Instead of long journeys, you spend most of your time actually observing the animals. On our tour, we saw four sperm whales, a family of over ten pilot whales, as well as two large groups of bottlenose dolphins and two groups of common dolphins up close – an unforgettable experience! We were particularly impressed by the exceptionally detailed and engaging explanations about the animals. The guides provide extensive information about the characteristics, lifestyles, and behavior of the various whale and dolphin species, are multilingual (German, Portuguese, English, Spanish), and answer all questions with great patience and expertise. Respectful treatment of the animals is also paramount. Before and after the trip, there's an informative briefing about the excursion and the animals. We also found it very positive that Futurismo actively raises awareness about the importance of not visiting dolphinariums, as dolphins in captivity only survive a few years. The tour takes place on modern inflatable speedboats. These are fast, maneuverable, and sit low in the water – making the ride not only more exciting but also allowing you to get much closer to the animals than on larger boats or catamarans. A clear advantage over larger tour operators. We took the tour with a German-speaking guide, which was a very welcome bonus. In conclusion: An unforgettable experience, professionally organized and with genuine respect for the animals. Futurismo Azores Adventures in Lajes do Pico is an absolute must for anyone who wants to experience whales and dolphins up close. (Original) Fantastische Whale Watching Tour – unbedingt empfehlenswert! Wir waren mit Futurismo Azores Adventures in Lajes do Pico auf Whale Watching Tour und es war absolut fantastisch – und deutlich besser als unsere bisherigen Erfahrungen auf São Miguel. Der größte Unterschied: Auf Pico ist man sofort im Wal- und Delfingebiet. Statt langer Anfahrten verbringt man den Großteil der Zeit wirklich mit der Beobachtung der Tiere. Bei unserer Tour haben wir vier Pottwale, eine Familie mit über zehn Grindwalen sowie zwei große Gruppen von Großen Tümmlern und zwei Gruppen von Gemeinen Delfinen aus nächster Nähe gesehen – ein unvergessliches Erlebnis! Besonders beeindruckt hat uns die ausgesprochen ausführliche und spannende Erklärung zu den Tieren. Die Guides erzählen viel über Eigenschaften, Lebensweise und Verhalten der verschiedenen Wal- und Delfinarten, sind mehrsprachig (Deutsch, Portugiesisch, Englisch, Spanisch) und beantworten alle Fragen mit großer Geduld und Fachwissen. Auch der respektvolle Umgang mit den Tieren steht hier an erster Stelle. Vor und nach der Fahrt gibt es ein informatives Briefing über den Ausflug und die Tiere. Sehr positiv fanden wir zudem, dass Futurismo aktiv sensibilisiert, keine Delfinarien zu besuchen, da Delfine in Gefangenschaft nur wenige Jahre überleben. Die Tour findet auf modernen Schlauch-Powerbooten statt. Diese sind schnell, wendig und liegen tief am Wasser – dadurch wird die Fahrt nicht nur aufregender, sondern man kommt den Tieren auch viel näher als auf großen Booten oder Katamaranen. Ein klarer Pluspunkt gegenüber größeren Tourenanbietern. Wir haben die Tour mit deutschsprachiger Betreuung gemacht, was zusätzlich sehr angenehm war. Fazit: Ein unvergessliches Erlebnis, professionell organisiert und mit echtem Respekt für die Tiere. Futurismo Azores Adventures in Lajes do Pico ist ein absolutes Muss für alle, die Wale und Delfine hautnah erleben möchten. Read more

Tim R. 06/07/2025

(Translated by Google) During our stay in the Azores, we took several tours with Futurismo, and… Read more

gary knutila 23/06/2025

Janine was our extraordinarily talented guide and host on this beautiful island. Her knowledge and… Read more

What people think about

more than 15.000 reviews

Essencial Trip Information

What's Included

Certified guide
Insurance (personal accident and liability)

Why this Tour

This trail stands out for its scenic and cultural diversity.

Since 2011, it has been part of an area of Protected Landscape for the Vineyard Culture and is one of the most emblematic trails of the island.

Indeed, it includes a great active vineyard area, where the walls streaking is in a perfect state of preservation.

Wander through a 1,500-year-old lava field and admire the unique vineyards made of black lava stones and special vines, resistant to the Azorean unstable weather.

Departure and Return

Departure Point

João Quaresma Maritime Ferry Terminal car park, 9950-340 Madalena | Free pick up in Madalena and Lajes do Pico municipalities (select this option during the checkout process). Our staff will contact you on the day before the tour takes place.

Departure Time

Please select a date on the calendar and arrive at the meeting point at the scheduled time for check-in and departure.

Return Point

Returns to original departure point.

Are there any pickup and drop-off locations I can use? +

Yes, please check the Departure and Return section presented on every tour.

Can I take my camera with me during this activity? +

Yes, but be aware that your material will be under your responsibility.

I am pregnant but I would like to do this activity. Is it possible? +

We don’t recommend this tour for pregnant women.

What if the weather isn’t ok? +

If the weather doesn’t allow doing this activity safely, we will cancel it and suggest an alternative date.

Cancellation +

Cancellations up to 48 hours before the tour, no penalties are applied.
Cancellations up to 24 hours: 50% of the total amount will be charged.
Cancellations less than 24 hours or no-show: full amount will be charged.
If the weather conditions do not allow the activity to be done safely, we will cancel it and contact you to suggest an alternative date or provide a full refund.

Booking confirmation +