Whales & Dolphins of the Azores

Tour Code: PRT05

A 7-day holiday in search of whales and dolphins in the cetacean-rich waters of the Azores archipelago, focusing on Sperm Whales and dolphins.

7 days from
£2,495 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£2,395
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

On this 7-day holiday we go in search of whales and dolphins in the cetacean-rich waters of the Azores archipelago, arguably Europe’s top whale-watching destination. Here we join local expert naturalists on six half-day, morning or afternoon, whale and dolphin-watching excursions, using small, fast and manoeuvrable Zodiac-style/RIB boats. Our main focus will be Sperm Whales, which are present in Azorean waters year-round. There are several dolphin species here too, among them Atlantic Spotted, Striped, Common, Bottlenose and Risso’s. Picture yourself in a small boat, close to the water with these animals only metres away, waiting to hear their ‘blows’ as they exhale at the surface … wildlife experiences don’t come much better than this!

  • World class whale-watching – in Europe!
  • Look for family groups of Sperm Whales in August & September
  • Guided by local expert naturalists
  • Convenient & comfortable 4-star harbourside hotel
  • Potential for very close encounters from Zodiac-style boats
  • A chance to see Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, plus more unusual cetaceans such as beaked whales
  • A friendly ‘village’ atmosphere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

 

 

Grading

Zodiac style boat trips in search of whales and dolphins. Some easy/moderate birdwatching walks.

Far out in the Atlantic Ocean, midway between Europe and North America, the Azores archipelago marks the westernmost frontier of the European Community. Belonging to Portugal and stretching for more than 600 kilometres across the Atlantic, it consists of nine volcanic islands sweeping in a long arc along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, rising to just over 2,351 metres at its highest point, Mount Pico. Situated in a privileged position between the 36° and 40° North Parallel and 24° and 32° West Meridian, the Azores enjoys a mild climate and surrounding seas that are warmed by the Gulf Stream. Surrounded by the deep waters of the Atlantic, the islands shelve steeply into the sea creating an underwater topography that is perfect for attracting some of the most exciting animals on Earth — the great whales. Once a centre for commercial whaling, those days are happily long since gone and the Azores has instead become renowned for its superb whale-watching, and is now firmly established as one of the best places in the world for seeing both whales and dolphins. Indeed, 27 species of cetacean have been recorded in these waters!

Sperm Whales are found in the waters around the Azores all year round. Largest of the ‘toothed whales’, Sperm Whales seem to conjure up every superlative in the book. They have the biggest brains on Earth, and are one of the deepest and longest-diving animals — typically foraging on squid at depths of about 300 to 800 metres, but regularly dive (descending at a staggering 3 metres a second!) to depths of between 1,000 and 2,000 metres. Sperm Whales are relatively easy to identify at sea and we will be looking out for their ‘wonky’ blow, which comes out off-centre at an angle of 45° from a blowhole positioned on the left-hand side of their enormous head. Sperm Whales prefer to give birth in latitudes of less than 40°, making the Azores an ideal location, and we should see females with calves during our August trip. We will hope to spend some time watching the whales travelling, breaching or ‘logging’ at the surface, and we may even be lucky enough to hear their subsurface sonar through hydrophones as they close in on squid hundreds of metres below us!

As well as Sperm Whales it is also possible to see a good variety of other cetaceans in the Azores. Common, Bottlenose, Risso’s and Striped Dolphins, as well as Short-finned Pilot Whales, are seen here all year round, while Atlantic Spotted Dolphins visit the islands during the summer. We also have a chance of seeing other, rarer cetacean species — perhaps Sowerby’s Beaked, False Killer or Northern Bottlenose Whales.

During this holiday we will be based on the island of Pico, in a comfortable 4-star hotel situated within a few minutes’ walk of the harbour and, during our 6-night stay, we will offer six half-day, morning or afternoon, whale and dolphin-watching excursions, weather permitting. Following the traditional Azorean method of finding whales, ‘spotters’ will be on the look-out at strategic positions on land, ready to inform our guides the moment any large whales are seen. Once we hear the word, we will go into action quickly, setting out to sea in fast and manoeuvrable Rigid Inflatable Boats for trips lasting about three to four hours; the thrill of being close to whales measuring up to 30 metres long in a small craft is one of the world’s top wildlife experiences!

Most of our time will be devoted to whale and dolphin-watching, but we will find a couple of half days on each tour on which to look for some of the region’s birdlife. During the summer, Pico supports a breeding colony of Cory’s Shearwaters, and the Azores Bank and Princess Alice Bank are among the few places in Europe where Wilson’s Storm-petrel may be seen without having to spend an extended period at sea! We may also, at any time, encounter other marine-life at sea, such as Portuguese Man O’ Wars, sharks, turtles and flying fish. These small unspoilt islands are friendly places, where you can start to feel at home within a short time, and faces become familiar quickly. Offering in addition some delicious food and wines, excellent local guides, and a rugged and fascinating geography, the islands of the Azores are a real pleasure to visit. 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Faial; then ferry transfer to Pico.
Day 2/6
Whale and dolphin-watching boat trips from, and some birding and sightseeing on, Pico.
Day 7
Fly London.
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    A comfortable 4-star hotel in Madalena, on Pico. All rooms have private facilities.

  • Food:

    All breakfasts are provided. Allow £30 a day for lunches and dinners which are not included.

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Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2024

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 15th Jul – Sun 21st Jul SPACES £2,495
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Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,395
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£325

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For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

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  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
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