The Azores: An Archipelago of Astounding Beauty in the Atlantic

Rising 2,351 meters above sea level, the summit of the Ponta do Pico volcano on the island of Pico is Portugal’s highest peak. Visible even from the neighboring island of Faial, it dominates both the landscape and the geography of Pico—its presence unmistakable from every vantage point. At the top, hikers (who must have a permit and tracker) are rewarded with a 500-meter-wide, 30-meter-deep crater and breathtaking panoramic views.