Furna-Abrigo is a cave on the slopes of the majestic Pico mountain. The cave is situated right next to the signposted trail leading to the summit of Portugal’s highest mountain, roughly 30–40 minutes from its starting point at Casa da Montanha.

The 10 best places to stay on Pico

The cave is therefore a welcome stopping point on the way up, but it can also be a destination in its own right for less experienced hikers who do not feel confident enough to reach the summit of Pico.

Even on the way to Furna-Abrigo, situated at an altitude of 1,400 metres, you’ll experience a unique high-altitude environment devoid of trees, with only low shrubs.

The Abrigo Cave has the unique shape of a small volcanic crater, and you can walk right down to its floor. Thanks to its completely sheltered space, it historically served as a shelter from bad weather for travellers crossing the island of Pico on foot.

The cave offers breathtaking views of the entire west coast of Pico and the nearby island of Faial.

The climb to the cave and the entrance fee

The hike to Furna Abrigo is quite challenging and steep, but short; from Casa da Montanha, it takes around 40 minutes for hikers of average fitness.

In wet weather, you need to take great care, especially on the way down, as some of the rocks can be very slippery.

Unlike the ascent to the summit of Pico, there is no need to book entry to Furna-Abrigo in advance.

Simply turn up at any time whilst Casa da Montanha is open and pay the entrance fee of 5 eur.

As with the climb to the summit of Pico, you will be given a GPS tracker, so it is not possible to continue beyond Furna-Abrigo to the summit without incurring a penalty.

You can find Casa da Montanha’s opening hours on the official website:montanhapico.azores.gov.pt.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Pico.