During the night, National Geographic Endurance repositioned from San Miguel to Pico Island and early in the morning the ship parked alongside in Sao Roque do Pico, the largest community on the island. Guests were able to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Criacao Velha, featuring the Pico Island vineyard culture that has developed and been preserved since the 15th century.
We visited Cachorro, a spectacular ancient village situated atop an 18th century lava flow where all the buildings are constructed from the local volcanic stones. Then we toured the vineyards which are densely crisscrossed by volcanic stone fences, and we took a trip to a winery which included wine tastings of local Pico wines. There was also a hike offered through the UNESCO vineyards. Finally, there was a trip to Lajes do Pico where guests had an opportunity to see the Whaling Museum, featuring the impressive history of whaling around the island.
In the evening, captain Oliver welcomed the guests onboard while the ship repositioned to the neighboring San Jorge Island, the location of tomorrow’s activities.
