Whale-Watching Tour in the Azores, Azores Islands is an amazingĀ tour which starts from one of the Azores Island piers, where you can choose to embark on this journey on a recreational inflatable boat or a beautiful catamaran. As soon as the boat sails, you will begin to feel the salt of the Atlantic waters splashing your face, while the waves shake the vessel from side to side. Look around and delight yourself with the wonderful landscapes that these nine small volcanic islands have to offer, while you wait for the desired moment in which the guides of the trip shout “Whale in sight! Whale in sight!”.
The main attraction of the Azores Islands is the sighting of whales and dolphins, and currently the archipelago is one of the largest whale sanctuaries in the world. Between resident and migratory species, you can see 24 different types of whales. This place is so attractive for these giant mammals because the waters of these small islands abound with food for them.
The most common species you will see are sperm whales, but there are other not so frequently seen species such as blue, fin, pilot, humpback, and minke whales. Thousands of tourists a year come to the waters of the Azores waiting for one of these wonderful animals to stick out their fins above the surface of the water to admire their majesty and greatness, and to take a few good souvenir photos with them, of course.
Activities to do
Among the many activities you can do in the Azores islands, in addition to the main one that is watching the cetaceans, there are some others just as joyful, like swimming with playful dolphins, going on a jeep safari to see some of the hidden wonders of the islands, take a tour around some isletsā¦ Donāt just settle for whale-watching, contact one of the many agencies that are in charge of these tours and make the best out of your trip; prices vary between 55ā¬ (61 USD) and 85ā¬ (95 USD).
In the evenings you can also have a delightful dinner in one of the different places around the islands, and enjoy delicious dishes prepared with local ingredients, accompanied by a glass of good wine and very nice people.
Interesting facts
- Each island has its special characteristic, for example, SĆ£o Miguel is the largest of the nine, with its cosmopolitan atmosphere and its mountainous landscapes that include beautiful lakes. Pico is a combination of fascinating and unusual vegetation, and natural pools taken out of any swimmerās dream. Graciosa, on the other hand, is an island that offers unique landscapes, with windmills, hot springs, and islets that litter the water surrounding it.
- You will be surprised once you find out about the wonderful opportunities you have to observe some dolphins during the tour, and if you are lucky it is possible that some of them will stay close to your boat, jump a little and feed.
- If you’re very lucky, you might see other beautiful marine species, such as the super-fast marlin, swordfish with its long, sharp bill, loggerhead turtles and sharks, and seabirds such as Cory’s shearwaters and roseate terns.
When to go
From May to September are the best months, which also give the benefit of the balmy summers, when the average temperature is 59-71ĀŗF (15-22ĀŗC). This is also the time for festivals.
How long
If you go just for whale-watching, from five days to a week will be sufficient. Stay longer if you can, to practice all the activities the Azores islands offer, and enjoy this unspoiled and peaceful archipelago.
Planning
The Azores are a two-hour flight from Lisbon, and a five-hour flight from Boston. Tours tend to visit different locations depending on where the whales are, and each day is spent at sea, until about 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Inside information
Youāll want to record what you see, or at least capture some pictures for later, so think carefully about investing in a waterproof camera and/or video equipment.
Websites
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