Built in the regional lava stone of Pico, the Casa da Atafona is nothing if not sturdy and hard working. In fact, this century old house was originally used to keep farm implements and the name “Atafona” actually means horse mill in the local dialect. But if in the past this was a place of work, now guests will find it a perfect place to rest taking in the glorious Pico triumvirate of seaside, countryside and village.

Even the most world-weary of nerves will surely find this a place to recharge the batteries. You can take your pick from the vast ocean or natural swimming pools for a refreshing dip. Relatively nearby you have the glorious mountain and only a few kilometres away there are precipitous cliffs where the land meets the sea and where the whales come to play (unsurprisingly, whale watching is one of the highlights of a stay here).

With such an abundance of natural wonders, it almost seems irrelevant what type of house you stay in, but with the decoration of the Atafona based on traditional items from the island, such as exposed ceiling beams and stone oven and the setting is made for a simple, yet utterly comfortable and pleasurable self catering stay. The 'summer room' even takes in an enormous window, where you can watch the sea and the passage of boats to and from São Jorge Island.