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Phone: +351 292 392 614
Mobile: +351 962 669 678
Email: |
Bed and breakfast accommodation on Faial, the Azores
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Whale Watching around Faial and the Azores |
Whale watching activities occur during the entire year when the sea conditions allow it.
However, between April and September the activity is more intense due to the good weather conditions and the migration of many whales and dolphins.
To be sure of seeing Cetaceans during your trip, there are former whalers in look outs ("vigias" in Portuguese) at Faial and Pico watching for the Cetaceans all day.
All the boats have a marina biologist on board to inform you about the passing specimens and provide further explanations.
The Captain of the boat has to follow strict rules while whale watching, so that no Cetacean will be harmed or frightened. On board or before the trip you will be briefed about the whales/dolphins and their behaviour and the importance of such rules.
The species most seen in the Azorean waters are
- Sperm Whales
- Common Dolphins
- Spotted Dolphins
- Bottlenose Dolphins
- Risso Dolphins
There are 4 resident species which pass all the time between Faial and Pico:
- Sperm Whales - some families of females with their calves
- Bottlenose Dolphins
- Risso Dolphins living in the South of Pico
- Common Dolphins
The rest of the species pass trough the Azores at specific seasons. For example:
- The Baleen Whales like the Blue Whale, Fin Whale, Humpback Whales and Mink Whales (between April and May and September and October)
- The Spotted Dolphin arrives in the Azores between May and June and stays until September (more than 300 animals).
- The Pilot Whale also arrives around April.
Sometimes it is possible to observe False Killer Whales, Killer Whales, Biked Whales and Striped Dolphins - although this is rare!!!!
Other marine life includes the Cory's Shearwaters and Roseate tern,
Loggerhead turtles, sharks and sport fish such as Marlin, Swordfish, Tuna.....
Trips are organised twice daily, each lasting between 3 and 4 hours (it depends how far the whales are from the coastline). The morning boats leave at 8.30am and the afternoon ones at 3pm.
There are semi-rigid boats with 12 individual seats, and vessels with places for 12 and more tourists (with toilette and cabinets), which are the best choice for tourists with children, seniors or people with physical disabilities.
All boats carry life vests for all passengers and all other required safety equipment, and they are all equipped with navigation devices, marine radios and depth sounder.
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| Photos Courtesy of Suzana Morais |
Blue Whales and the Common Dolphin
courtesy to our guest Marit Van Daalen - May 2007 |
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Sailing Day Trips
| Scuba Diving
| Whale Watching Trips
| Swimming with Dolphins
| Walking holidays
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