Whale watching in the Azores (2024)

By far the mostsought-afterspecies to spot whenyou’rewhale watching in the Azores? The blue whale. Swinging by in spring, they arethe cetaceans everyone’s here to see. While your eyes are on the horizon, keep an eye out for humpback whales, fin whales and sei whales too.There arearound 28 species of cetaceans in total, which probably explains the high sighting rate most tours can boast. Do keep in mind they’ll consider a trip successful if you spot dolphins though. Striped, bottlenose,Risso’sand common dolphins are the regulars in these waters – though Atlantic spotted dolphins can sometimes appear in early summer. False killer whales are an interesting spot if you’re lucky enough.

Hop on to one of theOcean Emotionboats if you’re staying on the island of Terceira. Their speed boats deliver that up close and personal experience we’re all after. But there’s a couple of things to note. Not the comfiest rides, the ribs tend to knock you about a bit in the swells. Children andtravellerswith aches in places they’d rather not jolt about will want to opt for the cabin cruiser. The onboard bathroom and partially covered deckisa big plus. Facilities aside, Ocean Emotion pride themselves on their responsible whale watching, take part in research projects and partner with conservation specialists locally. They also do a rather nice line in whale watching packages. You can combine whale watching, swimming with dolphins,snorkellingfor wildlife, a sunsetcruiseand a poke aroundthe inlets in the Azores for €215. Bargain.

Basic whale watching tour cost:€50 in winter /€55 in summer –3 hourtour.

By now you might be wondering where the intel is on theSãoMiguelwhale watching tours. Look no further.Terra Azulare the team to take you out. You’ll be hopping on board theteam’s Zodiac for a3 hourwhale watching tour. On board biologists clue you in to species facts and the wider eco-system off the coastline of the island. On land lookouts scan the horizon for the crucial blows that clue the captain in to where the whalesare hanging out. As part of the basicpackagethey include a tour around theIsletofVila Franca do Campo. The stunning volcanic crater – and the surrounding wildlife are worth a look. As with the other top tour operators, there’s a few packages to choosefrom. The one that will likely catch youreye?A full day tour which combines a full3 hourwhale watch in the morning, a slap up seafood lunch and an afternoon of volcanoes, craters, island history and the chance to hop in a thermal spring.