Whales & Dolphins of the Azores

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.