The Towers Cave, on Pico Island in the Azores, is the largest lava tube in Portugal, and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting Pico Island. The cave, which is the largest known cave in the Azores, was discovered in 1990, and the tourism project began ten years later.
An important note about the tour is that it is not accessible to people with limited mobility, as it involves climbing up and down some stairs, walking on rocks (which are slippery, by the way), and crouching down at times, all of which require a certain degree of mobility. At the same time, we do not recommend it for those who suffer from claustrophobia or are afraid of the dark. Unlike some caves, the Towers Cave has been preserved largely in its original state, so certain limitations are to be expected. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The tours Tours are held Tuesday through Saturday at specific times (four different times from November to March and five from April to October), so we recommend contacting the Visitor Center in advance to try to book the best time slot. In our case, we visited the center in the morning but there weren’t enough people to conduct the tour (3 people), so we had to return in the mid-afternoon when a group had already been scheduled. The opposite scenario can also occur, with the tour being fully booked (limit of 15 people), hence the importance of booking the tour in advance, especially during the high season. Additionally, the tour may be subject to weather conditions, so we recommend check the information on the website e buy your ticket in advance.
The tour lasts around 1h/1h30 and costs 8€ / adult (in 2022). This price includes the guided tour, a flashlight, a helmet, and a cap. In our case, we had an absolutely amazing guide who made the whole experience unforgettable.
Towers Cave Tour
Visiting Portugal's largest lava tube means visiting 450 meters of a cave with an extension of 5150m in total and around 1,500 years of history. In addition to the main tunnel, through which the tour takes place, there is a network of several secondary tunnels. As for the height, the interior reaches up to 15 meters, but there are parts of the guided tour that involve passing through areas that are only about one meter high.
The tour is an extremely interesting experience, as we walk along the uneven floor of the cave in its natural darkness, with only the light from our flashlights to guide us. Except for the initial section, which features stairs and level ground, the rest of the tour takes us directly through the lava tube, where we sometimes have to crouch down or climb over rocks.
Our guide explained how the cave was naturally formed and pointed out some features, such as stalagmites and the striated walls. She also pointed out areas where we shouldn’t touch the cave walls, because the natural oils on our skin react with the fungi on the rocks.
During the roughly 450-meter walk, the temperature remains pleasant, hovering around 15°C, but the humidity inside the cave is quite high. At the same time, even though we don’t notice it, the scenery outside is changing, making the exit from the cave an absolutely magical experience. This exit leads to the famous "Algar da Ponte", which involves climbing a flight of stairs.
Inside the cave, other interesting activities are also held, such as concerts, meditation sessions, and the aging of wine from Pico, which is left to mature there for several months.
Towers Cave is undoubtedly a must-see for anyone visiting Pico Island. Walking through the cave and learning about its history is an incredible experience that you shouldn’t miss.
Details inside the lava tube
