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Beekeeper for a day: honey tour in Pico island

FARM EXPERIENCE WITH A LOCAL PRODUCER

From 160€ 150€

Quick Details

Prices

Adult

+17 years old

160€ 150€

Youth

12-17 years old

90€

Children

3-12 years old

90€

Infant

0-2 years old

60€

Meet the bees and discover the secrets behind Pico’s honey!

Curious about the flavors that bloom from volcanic soil? Join us for a unique food tourism experience on Pico Island, dedicated to honey. This bee tour is your chance to step into the world of Azorean beekeeping, while being guided by a local food expert and hosted by a Pico born producer, who learned her craft from her mother.

This is a real life, small-scale farm-to-table experience, perfect for lovers of slow travel and anyone looking to taste, learn, and connect with the land, in a meaningful way.

What to expect

Your experience begins in the centre of Madalena, where we’ll meet and drive to the countryside. We’ll introduce you to Ana, who is a proud Picarota (that is, a local from Pico) and lifelong beekeeper whose hives roam free in the hills near her family’s home. She’ll welcome us into her world, sharing the traditions and sustainable practices passed down through generations.

You’ll visit the hives and learn how honey is produced, how bees communicate, and how the island’s endemic plants shape the taste of this sweet nectar. From heather to wild mint, Pico’s flora makes its honey taste like nowhere else in the world!

Afterward, we’ll slow down for a guided tasting of Ana’s honeys, while we chat more about local food traditions. You’ll get to sample different varieties that encapsulate the aromas of the flowers that the bees have foraged. We’ll look into the flavor profile of each variety, including some floral, some herbal, some slightly mineral… all completely natural!

Weather permitting, we’ll also visit one of our favorite natural swimming pools, a stunning natural spot where the Atlantic meets the lava coast and where we can go for a refreshing swim, should you want to.

Throughout the entire experience, you will be guided by a Portuguese food and culture expert with cross-cultural sensitivity, who will help connect the dots between food, landscape, and Azorean life, offering stories and insights that help you savor more deeply.

If you like farm experiences and visits to producers, this beekeeping experience is a way to gain insight into this Pico way of life, shaped by nature, patience and a deep respect for tradition. You’ll meet real people doing work with care, and leave with a new appreciation for what it means to eat locally in the Azores.

What's Included

Introduction to Azorean apiculture
Insight into sustainable beekeeping practices
Beehive visit
Pico honey tastings
Beverages to pair
Optional visit at a local natural pool, weather permitting
Guided by a local food expert with transcultural sensitivity
Private transportation to and from Madalena ferry terminal

Dietary restrictions

This experience can be 100% suitable for vegetarians, gluten-free foodies, pescatarians, lactose intolerant, and keto diet travelers. Private food tour not required.
If you’re a group of Halal foodies please contact us for a private tour as we have an itinerary tailored just for you!

What to bring?

Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes
A reusable water bottle
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
Swimsuit and towel, in case the weather invites us for a dip in one of our favorite natural pools
And above all… curiosity! The bees will take care of the rest.

Meeting Point

On the tour day, you will meet the group near the Ferry Boat terminal in Madalena Village, Pico Island. The exact meeting point is a small statue of Gilberto Mariano da Silva.

As a reference, just in front, you will find a small water sports shop, in blue turquoise, named CW Azores. We will meet, across the street right in front of CW Azores where you will find the statue.

It’s a very central area so I think you will not have any problem finding it, but feel free to contact us if you need before the experience starts.

FAQ

How much walking is involved? I have some mobility issues. Is this feasible?

This experience is not suitable for a wheelchair.

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

Es war eine wunderbare Weinverkostung mit kulinarischen Highlights! Sylvia und Natacha sind Vollprofis! Der Kontakt mit dem Winzer und den "Weinbergen" war sehr interessant und man konnte sämtliche Fragen stellen.
Nora, Germany, May 2025

Silvia was an amazing tour guide, she knew about all the local places and had great historical stories to tell. Was amazing and catered to all our needs. I felt totally safe with her driving us around and enjoyed there was to offer. If I could, I would give her 10 stars.! Definitely would recommend this tour and if you can request her… do! She is amazing.
Ana, USA, Mai 2025

This tour should be the first thing you do when you arrive in Pico! The food and wine tastings were amazing, and Silvia was a wealth of knowledge. She provided great history on the island of Pico, its winemaking tradition, and was happy to provide recommendations for other food, activities, and travel.
Christopher Sweet, New York, June 2025