Quick Details
Scheduled trips for 2024 June, July, August and September.
Check our online calendar!
Further dates are available upon request. Email us.
While the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, in the Atlantic ocean, has been making the news in recent years, the island of Pico is a hidden gem yet to be discovered by most!
The Azores islands are an internationally certified sustainable destination, nominated every year for several categories by the World Travel Awards. The remote island of Pico is yet to know the effects of mass tourism, welcoming each visitor to its black and green landscape in a distinctive and slow paced way.
Just like our authentic food and cultural experiences in Lisbon, our curated Pico trips focus on the foodways! The local gastronomy of the Azores, its unique volcanic Pico wines, and the people who make it all possible, but this time around also with a dash of adventure in an incredible natural setting! We will be far from the crowds but still intertwined with the local communities, curating exclusive food and cultural experiences and encounters you wouldn’t otherwise be able to live.
THE “TRIANGLE ISLANDS” OF THE AZORES
Pico Island is strategically located in the so-called Azorean Triangle, close to two other islands, Faial and São Jorge, that can be reached by ferry boat in as little as half an hour.
Pico has a very unique ecosystem due to the black Volcanic rock present all over the island. Thanks to the local’s tenacity who, against all odds, among other achievements, managed to grow fantastic grapes from rocks in the landscape of Pico Wine, which since 2004 has been considered a UNESCO World Heritage site!
Pico Island is also where you can climb the highest mountain in Portugal, Mount Pico, that reaches 2351 m / 7713 ft high.
WHAT IS OUR PHILOSOPHY? WHAT DISTINGUISH US?
I fell in love with these islands, especially with Pico, when I spent several months there living, working, tasting and exploring. These personal experiences allowed me to create natural connections that I have shared with small groups of travelers since 2021, through these cultural and culinary trips, which emerged organically as part of the fabric of my life – as happened to all OMC tours and experiences which are always authentic, eclectic and deeply rooted in the region and its people!
My background in Anthropology gives me tools to better understand how food and beverages are manifestations of local traditions and communities, embedded into a certain place or culture.
We facilitate access to experiences beyond what other commercial travel agents can book and that would be difficult for you to conceptualize alone or in a short time. Our organized activities have structure and fluidity. You’ll ‘live’ an authentic connection with people and local culture in a fun and relaxed way.
At OMC we preach and practice ‘transformative tourism’ meaning your experience has the potential to change you positively. Each time we organize one of our events we bear this in mind. We only work with small groups and exclusive experiences. We emphasize local narratives and personal stories rather than ‘universal’ theories. We believe we are all cultural actors and creators with our part to play.
Finally, it’s part of OMC’s spirit to be eclectic, which means we offer you experiences that range from traditional to innovative, from award-winning producers to exclusive and homemade meals cooked by natives, where the oral and popular knowledge dialogue with the ‘scientific’ one, where dominant narratives/products/wines are questioned by subversive ones.
Note from the founder, Sílvia Olivença, member of the Slow Food Foundation.
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- Fine dining with wine pairing at the award-winning winery Azores Wine Company. Backstage access during a private visit to the winery. Wine pairing with exclusive bottles which are not available in the market.
- Exclusive curated food experiences with natives: Exclusive curated food experiences with natives: harvest and lunch with locals; indulge yourself with a discover Portuguese cuisine with a homemade meal cooked by our Chef/hosts; meet a multigenerational wine producing family, know their history, visit their home (now an ethnographic museum) and taste their wine with a homemade meal.
- Discover the Unesco Heritage of Pico Vineyards, get to taste limited editions of Pico Wine and meet local wine producers who are at the forefront of this landscape and sustainable revolution.
- Sample a wine unique in the whole world, which goes for €600 a bottle: this is the same wine that Russian tzars used to drink, from vineyards with more than 130 years old. This wine has 18% alcohol but is not fortified – is this a miracle?!
- Climb and sleep on top of a volcano! (optional)
- Taste farm-to-table products and discover their terroir (namely a hydroponic small farm, cheeses with PDO status, PGI grass-fed beef, tropical fruits, coffee) and sample the uttermost fresh seafood: the diversity of the Atlantic Ocean on your plate including goose barnacles, the best tuna in Europe, and so much more!
- Behind-the-scenes cultural experiences, depending on the season: wine harvest, cooking up a feast for religious ceremonies (Espírito Santo Celebrations), cheese making, bread backing class, among others.
- Our favorite volcanic natural swimming pools, such a fun and refreshing experience.
- Dolphin and whale watching experience, with a sustainable local enterprise led by certified guides.
- Our amazing Azores Oh! My Cod hosts and philosophy, are available to you 24h/24h during this trip. Explore all highlights of our Culinary Trip to the Azores below by clicking in each category!
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- Flights and/or ferry to and from Pico island
- All activities, meals and costs not listed as included on the weekly OMC itinerary
- Travel insurance. Kindly note insurance is mandatory. If you don’t have your own travel insurance, we can arrange it for you
- Visa to Portugal, if applicable
- On-going trips to other islands before or after our Culinary trip (but we are happy to make suggestions!)
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We embrace a willingness to try new things! But we try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions (vegetarian, pescatarian, keto diet, and others) and food allergies (celiac disease, diary-free, and others). Please contact us about any specific restrictions or food allergies.
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We have chosen to do this experience in Pico because of its charms, but also because it’s a low-density destination. We give preference to accommodations, restaurants and other establishments that have been awarded the “Safe & Clean” seal by Tourism of Portugal (just like our very own company!), attesting to practices following the General Directorate for Health guidelines, while maintaining the quality of the experience.
We have a strong commitment to sustainability: all of our experiences/trips are designed to work closely with the local communities and are co-constructed and co-designed with them. Instead of aiming for a minimal impact on the community, we pursue a positive impact and a transformative type of tourism where local communities, businesses, local knowledge, and narratives are empowered and an essential part of what we do.
Silvia Olivença, the founder of OMC, who designed and is one of the hosts of this trip, is a member of the Slow Food Foundation.- We have chosen to do this experience in Pico because of its charms, but also because it’s a low-density destination. We give preference to accommodations, restaurants and other establishments that have been awarded the “Safe & Clean” seal by Tourism of Portugal (just like our very own company!), attesting to practices following the Directorate-General-Directorate for Health guidelines, while maintaining the quality of the experience. We have chosen to do this experience in Pico because of its charms, but also because it’s a low density destination.Furthermore, our guides are fully vaccinated against Covid and we give preference to accommodations, restaurants and other establishments that have been awarded the “Safe & Clean” seal by Tourism of Portugal (just like our very own company!), attesting to practises being in accordance with the Directorate-General for Health guidelines.
Travel Leaders & Narrators
Founder and CEO of Oh! My Cod, food host, clinical psychologist and anthropologist. Silvia traveled to Pico for the first time in 2017 and has been back as often as possible ever since. To say she has a soft spot for this island is an understatement. She likes it there so much that she even started doing group trips to have a fun and delicious excuse to keep coming back! After the success of the experiences organized during the summer of 2021, each year has been enriched with even more opportunities for great experiences.
Marina was born and raised in Lisbon. However, since she was 7 years old, her Summers were spent at her aunt’s home in the Azores. Most of her adult life has been spent abroad during which time she had the opportunity to broaden her horizons and create a beautiful family before returning home in 2021. Although she loves living back in mainland Portugal, she has always considered these islands, their people, their culture, their landscape and above all their food to be her biggest passion!
Working for Oh! My Cod since 2023, and leading gastronomic experiences in Lisbon, has opened the door to fulfilling her dream of returning to the Azores, her spiritual home, where she can share her love, passion and dedication with our guests.
Natacha is a Portuguese Chef, a certified skipper, a fisherwoman who loves to fish to cook. She is an expert on Portuguese ‘conventual’ desserts and passionate about Portuguese organic and biodynamic wines. Being a Pico lover, Natacha accompanied Silvia in the very first food and wine Pico expeditions, with former guests and friends, where the present food-travel model was tested and developed. Because of her studies, we will be meeting Natacha in Pico exclusively in August.
Together with the Locals, we will all become the narrators of this special island, while enjoying delicious local food and wine with a profound context.
Always, in the greatest company!
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Feel free to contact us for different dates. We are happy to organize private experiences with a tailor-made program catering to your or your group’s preferences!
If you have questions about this trip or would simply like to meet your travel guides, contact us! We’d be happy to chat with you or even schedule a Zoom call!
If you are a foodie and wine lover, also passionate about nature and discovering new places, join the adventure! This is a great opportunity to connect with new surroundings, meet new friends, relax, and learn about the Azores. We look forward to welcoming you to live and taste the Azores together!
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There are many different ways of getting to Pico Island
- You can fly directly from Lisbon
- You can fly to Faial or Sao Jorge and then get a 30m ferry to Pico (there are frequent crossings). Sometimes this option can be cheaper than flying directly.
- You can fly to Pico from the US with or without a stopover at Ponta Delgada (São Miguel Island and get a glimpse of this island)
Whether you fly directly to Pico or arrive there by ferry we will meet you at either the airport or the ferry port and take you to your accommodation via private transfer.
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Of course! You are most welcome to warm up the island for your travel mates before the Oh! My Cod Pico Experience begins. There’s lots to do in Pico and the other islands in the Azores. If you’d like to experience beyond our trip’s program, feel free to reach out to us for recommendations, at no extra cost.
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- A reservation requires a deposit of 17% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelledcancelled by the guest.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 61 days before arrival.
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We will present you with a weekly schedule that lists all activities however, the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.
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Foodies, wine lovers, solo travelers, couples, and small groups of friends. We love working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and identities. This is a Lgbtq2s+ friendly experience.
If you are a foodie and wine lover, also passionate about nature and discovering new places, join the adventure! This is a great opportunity to connect with new surroundings, meet new friends, relax, and learn about the Azores. We look forward to welcoming you to experience and taste the Azores together!
FAQS
WHEN YOU JOIN OH! MY COD PICO EXPERIENCE YOU WILL...
AZORES GASTRONOMY
- Indulge in the local cuisine of the Azores islands
- Sample the most delectable sustainable tuna in the world
- Try local seafood delicacies, such as limpets, barnacles and giant clams
- Taste Azorean grass-fed PGI beef cooked in typical recipes
- We will visit Pico’s most renowned restaurants to taste its “land and sea”
- From simple family-style eateries with deliciously authentic food….
- …. to a multi-course fine dining meal with wine pairing at the Azores Wine Company
- Enjoy a group meal prepared by OMC Chef Natacha Dias that will give a broader view of Portuguese cuisine and wine.
- Visit an artisanal cheese factory and taste Azorean PDO cheeses
- Sip local coffee from the Azores
- Savor the islands’ tropical fruits
PICO WINE
- Discover the volcanic vineyards of Pico, a Unesco World Heritage site
- Learn the fascinating history of Pico wine (always with a glass in hand!)
- Taste Pico’s best wines, during at least 5 distinct wine tastings
- Meet well-established and awarded wine producers…
- … as well as a talented, new generation female winemakers who are at the forefront of Pico’s unique wine landscape and sustainable revolution.
- Get limited editions of Pico Wine and meet local wine producers.
This will be a full immersion into Pico’s wine culture – one of the most distinctive in the world!
AZOREAN PEOPLE & CULTURE
- Meet the people of Pico Island
- Enjoy a meal with a local family
- Understand the whaling history of the region
- Participate in the wine harvest with the locals (August & September trips only!)
- Be a part of, and maybe even help cook up a feast for the religious ceremonies of the Espirito Santo with the locals (exclusive to certain periods of the year)
- Discover the local handicrafts created by resident artisans (on fish scales, in wood, on lava stone, scrimshaw and others)
- Make new friends with fellow travel
WATER SPORTS
- Go whale-watching: this is one of the world’s top spots to do it!
- Swim in the most beautiful natural pools all around the island
- Snorkel in a stunning Marine Protected Area
- See dolphins during a boat trip
NATURE & ADVENTURE
- Climb Mount Pico, the highest mountain in Portugal (2,351 meters / 7,713 feet)
- Immerse yourself in nature as you explore Pico’s hiking trails (from the coastal lava fields to the verdant central high plateau)
- Walk and get immersed in the surrealistic Pico vineyards landscape, Unesco Heritage
- Admire centuries-old dragon trees at the biggest Dracaena draco forest in Macaronesia
- Visit a local hydroponic small farm
- Soak in the scenic views all around you: mountain, greenery, ocean… it’s all there!
All these activities are led by an OMC host or/and a local guide.
DAY-TRIPS TO FAIAL OR SÃO JORGE ISLANDS
Explore one of the neighboring islands: Faial or São Jorge. Depending on the day-trip destination you will:
- Sip local coffee from the Azores at a local plantation (São Jorge)
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Experience what living in a “fajã” is like (São Jorge)
- Enjoy a traditional meal cooked by locals in the luxurious São Jorge Island facing the ocean (São Jorge)
- Taste giant clams from a local lake (São Jorge)
- Swim in one of the best natural pools of the region (São Jorge)
- Lay down your towel on a black sand beach surrounded by unique landscapes (Faial)
- Taste a unique wine from the first vineyards planted at the foot of Capelinhos Volcano (Faial)
REST OR EXPERIENCE MORE
We have a great program lined up for you… but it’s not all rush, rush!
- Stay at our hand-picked accommodations
- Take it easy and recharge your batteries
- You can also soak up the sun …
- …and/or take a refreshing dip at one of the natural pools
- Apart from our scheduled activities and meals, you’ll have free time too!
We can help you to book additional activities such as:
- Massages
- Going fishing with a local fisherman
- Scuba-diving tours
- Snorkeling activities
- Excursion into a lava cave
- Visiting local museums
- Baking activities with a local
- Culinary workshops with OMC Chef Natacha Dias
ACCOMMODATION
- Stay at typical, hand-picked, local accommodations
- The majority of our accommodations will be in local properties with full amenities. You will be able to enjoy relaxing moments at home the way you wish.
- Don’t worry about packing and unpacking your luggage, as during the entire trip you will get to comfortably stay at the same accommodation
All photos/videos by Sílvia Olivença, Natacha Dias and Zara Quiroga, taken during our trips, except the two taken from Pico’s summit (credits to Tripix for the group picture and Kim Wolde for the overnight camping picture).