Cultural immersion: traditional festivities and food on Pico island

IMMERSIVE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

From 150€

Quick Details

Prices

Children

0-16 years old

100€

Adult

+17 years old

150€

Embark on a journey to better understand Pico Island’s cultural heritage with our Traditional Food Ceremonies experience.

This unique opportunity aligns with local festivals such as the Festas do Divino Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit Festivities) among others, showcasing the island’s rich religious devotion and lively cultural traditions.

These festivals are not only a profound expression of Pico’s spiritual life but also a celebration that involves copious amounts of typical regional food from the Azores, local beverages, and communal joy.

We arrive around 8 AM, although preparations begin much earlier. Arriving just in time to add the final touches, those keen to get involved can roll up their sleeves and dive into the bustling kitchen activities or help decorate the dining space, actively contributing to the festive preparations.

Join us for a genuine Azorean celebration among the locals, feeling the culture of the island up close.

Depending on the event schedule, we can enjoy a refreshing break at a natural swimming pool before joining the communal lunch, a highlight of the day where you can mingle with the Picarotos (locals from Pico Island) and taste special dishes available only during these celebrations.

Highlights

Participate in the preparation and celebration of traditional Azorean festivals, experiencing deep cultural immersion.
Engage with Pico’s residents, the Picarotos, enhancing your understanding and appreciation of their traditions.
Help in the kitchen while exchanging fun stories with other folks who have joined the event’s preparations, and assist in setting up the event space.
Savor regional dishes that are specially prepared for these festivities, providing a taste of the local cuisine that is hard to come by during other times of the year.
Enjoy a leisurely pause at a natural swimming pool, refreshing yourself amidst the day’s activities.

What's included

Communal meal with several courses
Up to 3 different local wine tastings including liqueurs
Guided and mediated participation during the preparation and celebration of traditional Azorean ceremony/festival
Experience hosted by a local food expert with transcultural sensitivity
Private transportation

Dietary restrictions

Some of these celebrations may not have enough vegetarian/pescatarian options. Kindly contact us to confirm if we can have alternatives that will not compromise the gastronomic experience or the Azorean cuisine’s representativity.
This experience can be 100% suitable for gluten-free foodies, lactose intolerant, and keto diet travelers. Private food tour not required.

What to bring?

Comfortable clothes and shoes.
Bottle of water
Sun protector and hat
Curiosity

Meeting Point

Join us on the day of the tour near the Ferry Boat terminal in Madalena Village, Pico Island. We will gather by the small statue of Gilberto Mariano da Silva.

Directly opposite, you’ll see a turquoise blue water sports shop called CW Azores. We’ll meet right in front of this shop, near the statue.

This location is central and easy to find, but should you have any difficulties or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us before the experience begins.

FAQ

What is our philosophy and 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 cultural and culinary trips and tours, 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.

For more frequently asked questions about weather, alcohol, and dietary restrictions, please visit our FAQ page here.

Traveler's Stories
More than 6000 Five Stars reviews

A day well spent that made all the difference on our trip to Pico! We got to know places, wines and tasted local 'tapas' that without Silvia and Adriana would not have been possible or would have been extremely difficult! They took us swimming at an incredible place and even lent us a snorkelling mask. Because the weather allowed, we had a delicious volcanic wine tasting from a local wine producer among the black rocks and kiwis and with snacks accompanied by local people! Thank you so much!
Sofia, on Viator

Silvia gave us a thorough history of how grapes came to be on the island. We were taken on a walk through the wine fields but mind you these wine fields are not like ours in the States, these grapes are grown in lava beds. No soil! And boy, oh boy the wine produced from these grapes is fanatastic!!! Silvia then took us to a protected swimming area to either swim or not and eat small bites at the local restaurant right there. Crabs, limpets and favas beans with bread.
Dasya R., USA on Airbnb

An increadible experience! The place is incredible, with exuberant nature. It's difficult to choose the best part: the walks, the wine tests, the contact with the local culture, the swimming pools... Silvia, many thanks for the fantastic experience! We all came back delighted :)
Gabriel on Viator