Pico Alto

Pico Alto is the highest point on Santa Maria, an island in Portugal's Azores archipelago. It rises to roughly 587 metres above sea level and lies in the parish of Santa Bárbara, in the municipality of Vila do Porto. That is not a dramatic figure by world standards, but on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic it is enough to take in almost the whole landscape from the summit.

Where is Pico Alto and how do you recognise it?

The peak stands on Santa Maria, the south-easternmost island of the archipelago. Administratively it belongs to the parish of Santa Bárbara in Vila do Porto. A viewpoint, the Miradouro do Pico Alto, has been set up on the hill, and it is the main reason visitors come here. Do not confuse it with other mountains of the same name, such as Pico Alto in the Brazilian state of Ceará; the name is fairly common across the Portuguese-speaking world.

What can you see from the top?

The viewpoint offers one of the best panoramas of the whole island. You can pick out green pastures, patches of vegetation, small picturesque villages, the coastline and the open Atlantic stretching to the horizon. In clear conditions you can trace the shape of the island and see how different it feels from the other Azorean islands. Keep in mind that Azorean weather changes fast and the summit is sometimes wrapped in cloud, so the view is never guaranteed.

Why is Santa Maria geologically special?

Santa Maria is the oldest island in the Azores. It was built up from successive layers of volcanic material and marine sediments, and the Pico Alto massif took shape between two and five million years ago. That long history of erosion gave the island gentler relief than the younger islands, where fresh volcanic cones and calderas dominate. Pico Alto is therefore a good place to see the result of millions of years of natural processes.

How to plan a visit

Pico Alto is part of Santa Maria's tourist offer and is listed as a viewpoint in the official Azores lists of miradouros. The island also has walking trails around the parish of Santa Bárbara, so a visit to the summit can be combined with a hike. Pick a day with good visibility and check the forecast just before setting out, because a change of weather within an hour is nothing unusual in the Azores. Bring a windproof layer, since the hilltop can feel cooler than the coast.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is Pico Alto? About 587 metres above sea level (586.84 m), making it the highest point on Santa Maria.

Which parish is Pico Alto in? Santa Bárbara, in the municipality of Vila do Porto on Santa Maria island.

Can you see the whole island from the top? The viewpoint gives one of the best panoramas of the island: pastures, villages, coastline and ocean. Much depends on the weather and cloud cover.

How old is Santa Maria island? It is the oldest island in the Azores, and Pico Alto formed between two and five million years ago.

Is this the same Pico Alto as the one in Brazil? No. The Brazilian Pico Alto is in the state of Ceará and is an entirely different place with the same name.