Lava Homes

The picturesquely located, highly stylish Lava Homes accommodation can be found on the north of Pico Island, on the outskirts of the small rural community of Santo Amaro, roughly a 45 minutes’ drive from Madalena, the island’s largest town. Santo Amaro used to house one of the most important shipyards in the Azores. The port of this small municipality repairs ships to this day. Elevated on the “Terra Alta” hillside, the Lava Homes complex contains 14 accommodation units with one, two or three bedrooms, respectively. Each of the holiday homes affords some magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean and the neighbouring island of São Jorge. Some houses even overlook Pico Mountain, or the slopes of the picturesque coastline. The Lava Homes site was once home to a small settlement of traditional lava stone dwellings and animal pens, the ruins of which have been converted into tasteful and stylish holiday homes. The former ruins’ floors and walls have been integrated into the modern accommodation, and given comfortable, modern amenities with a combination of building materials such as cement, wood, and glass. The Lava Homes facility is dedicated to the principle of sustainability, protection of nature, and preservation of the historical-cultural heritage and local identity of the former settlement. All residential units are equipped with photovoltaic modules, pellet heaters for heat on cooler days, while cooling on hot days is provided by ventilation water tanks. The latter’s content is subsequently used to water the plants. Rainwater or spring water from the surrounding area processed in an activated-carbon filter system is used for drinking water.
The Caminho das Voltas footpath, a former navigation route, runs through the complex, giving holidaymakers a direct route from accommodation down to the “Terra Alta” lookout point or even the beautiful Baia do Canto bay.
The stylish and tasty “Magma” restaurant, located just inside the complex, invites guests to dine there, too.

Location (approx.): At the edge of the village of Santo Amaro, village centre: 2 km, small grocery market with organic products as well as artisan school with shop in the village centre, natural bathing spot “Piscina da Terra Alta”: 3 minutes by car, natural bathing spot “Poça Branca” with restaurant: 12 minutes by car, small bathing beach with black sand 8 minutes by car, airport: 33 km, place São Roque with large supermarket, restaurants, and natural bathing spots: 19 km, Madalena, the island’s largest town: 40 km
Equipment: Wi-Fi (free of charge) throughout the accommodation, heated outdoor pool, yoga room, communal garden, attached restaurant “Magma” with sun terrace, small grocery shop also selling Azorean artisans’ work, bicycles for rent, private parking
Accommodation: 14 accommodation units in total, three of type T1 with one bedroom each, eight of type T2 with two bedrooms each and three of type T3 with three bedrooms each; all holiday homes with Wi-Fi (free of charge), air conditioning and heating (electric heating and wood stove), fully equipped kitchenette (with stove, oven, refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, toaster, blender, and various kitchen utensils), private bathroom (with shower, bidet, towels, personal hygiene utensils, and hair dryer), living area (with cable TV, stereo, and telephone), fire extinguisher, smoke detector, washing machine, clothes rack, clothes iron, ironing board, vacuum cleaner, balcony and/or terrace with garden chairs (deck chairs), garden table, some with outdoor barbecue, all units with views of the Atlantic Ocean and the island of São Jorge
T1 holiday homes
Casa do Outeiro: 80 m², open-space room with two large glass fronts, sitting area, dining area, fully equipped kitchenette, separate bedroom with double bed, bathroom with shower, towels, toiletries and hairdryer, private terrace
Casa da Canada: 80 m², living room with large sliding glass door, sitting area, dining area, kitchenette, separate bedroom with double bed, private bathroom with shower, bidet, private terrace
Casa do Pôr-do-Sol: 80 m², two floors with connecting staircase inside the house, kitchenette, and open-plan dining and living area upstairs, large sliding glass doors, bedroom with double bed and private bathroom downstairs, private balcony, and terrace; since Casa do Pôr-do-Sol is built on a slope and has two floors connected by a staircase, it is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or for young children.
T2 holiday homes
Casa da Eira: 100 m², open-plan living room with seating area, fully equipped kitchenette, 2 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 1x with two single beds), private bathroom, spacious private balcony with stone oven barbecue.
Casa da Baía do Canto: 100 m², living and dining area, fully equipped kitchenette, large sliding glass doors, 2 bedrooms, private bathroom; all rooms with views (of the Atlantic and the neighbouring island of São Jorge, as well as of the house’s namesake, Canto bay; sunset views in good weather), spacious private balcony with deck chairs and stone-oven barbecue
Since Casa da Baía do Canto is built on a slope and has two floors connected by a staircase, it is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or for young children.
Casa da Queijaria: 100 m², the former “cheese factory” restored into a modern accommodation offers an open-space living room with sitting and dining area, fully equipped kitchenette, large sliding glass doors, 2 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 1x with two single beds), private bathroom and a private balcony
Casa do Piquinho: 100 m², open-space living room with sitting and dining area, fully equipped kitchenette (with dishwasher), 2 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 1x with two single beds) private bathroom, private balcony (with deck chairs), and views to the peak of Pico mountain, this cottage’s namesake
Casa do Curral: 100 m², open-space living room with sitting and dining area, fully equipped kitchenette (with dishwasher), 2 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 1x with two single beds), private bathroom, private balcony (with deck chairs); this cottage is named after the animal-food containers (currals) once found in this area
Casa das Poças: 100 m², two floors with connecting staircase inside the house, open-space living room with sitting and dining area, fully equipped kitchenette (with dishwasher), 2 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 1x with two single beds) private bathroom, private balcony (with deck chairs) Since Casa das Poças is built on a slope and has two floors connected by a staircase, it is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or for young children.
Casa do Ilhéu: 100 m², two floors with connecting staircase inside the house, open-space living room with sitting and dining area, fully equipped kitchenette (with dishwasher), 2 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 1x with two single beds) private bathroom, private balcony (with deck chairs).
Since Casa do Ilhéu is built on a slope and has two floors connected by a staircase, it is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or for young children.
Casa da Colina: 100 m², open-space living room with sitting and dining area, fully equipped kitchenette (with dishwasher), 2 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 1x with two single beds) private bathroom, private spacious terrace (with deck chairs), views to the sea and to the Pico mountain. Since Casa da Colina is built on a slope, it is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or for young children.
T3 holiday homes
Casa da Vigia da Baleia: 120 m², living area, dining and sitting area, fully equipped kitchenette (with dishwasher and barbecue), large sliding glass doors, 2 private bathrooms, 3 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 2x with 2 single beds each), spacious balcony (with deck chairs)
Casa da Terra Alta: 120 m², open-space living area with dining and sitting area, fully equipped kitchenette (with dishwasher and barbecue), large sliding glass doors, 2 private bathrooms, 3 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 2x with 2 single beds each), spacious balcony (with deck chairs)
Casa da Floresta: 120 m², open-space living area with fully equipped kitchenette (with dishwasher and barbecue), large sliding glass doors, 2 private bathrooms, 3 bedrooms (1x with double bed and 2x with 2 single beds each), spacious balcony (with garden chairs)
Meals: Breakfast (served in the restaurant Magma), lunch and dinner can be booked in the restaurant and are payable on site
Miscellaneous: Bicycles for rent z(for a fee)