Vinhas do Calhau

Joana, the manager, is so lovely, and the rooms are spacious, comfortable, and clean. It’s also a wonderful base for exploring Pico, with easy walks to the ocean and the historic vineyard trail. We had a lovely experience all around.

The villas are about 7km from Madelana, and they’re absolutely lovely. Vaulted ceilings, separate bedrooms, folding beds, and views over the ocean to Faial. I want one. The staff go above and beyond in spades. A car is recommended, though taxis are available, so it wasn’t a problem for us. Sadly, our visit is short. Also, a shout-out to the Road House Cafe, where we’re now having a drink before a burger and fries. Evening meals are simple, but it’s a place full of character.

The staff made this stay feel like being at home, and you can tell everyone is proud of their island and the hotel. Joana knows the whole island well and can point out the best restaurants, bars, and attractions, as well as places to avoid. Ana looked after us and kept making us laugh. On our last morning we were the only guests at breakfast, so Ana prepared it to order. The buffet itself was simple and delicious, and the coffee was great. Our original accommodation stopped responding to messages and calls, leaving us with nowhere to stay at dusk. We drove around looking at hotels and found Vinhas do Calhau. Reception was closed, but when we called and explained, Joana came back from home to help us. She rescued us. The two-storey room was cosy and beautifully decorated, with everything we could need: a full kitchen, dishwasher, mini-bar, aircon, eco wood burning heating, nespresso, large TV, powerful shower, comfortable bed, and an unbeatable ocean view towards Faial. Noah the cat also joined us for sunbathing on the terrace. This is the absolute best place to stay on Pico, possibly in all of the Azores. We’d come back to Pico just to stay here.

The reviews made the place seem compelling and real, and I’d been looking forward to staying here. Then I learned that payment was accepted only by wire transfer, with proof of payment required within 2 days. Wise flagged it as a potential scam when I tried to convert USD to EUR. That made me uncomfortable about going ahead, so we decided against the risk and booked somewhere else. I got scared away.