Swimming with wild dolphins in the Azores
| country: | Azores, Portugal |
| location: | Azores |
| departures: | 2010: 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 3 Aug |
| price: | From £790 (8 days) excluding flights. We can help arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 27 travellers reviews
"On this trip I would love to plunge into the vast blue and feel the weightless sensation of the deep water, witness the awesome sight of dolphins from every angle and the sounds of their echolocation as they squeak and click to one another. It would be the ultimate sensory experience."
- Lisa, responsibletravel.com
- Lisa, responsibletravel.com
the amazing things you'll be doing
Are you thinking about an exciting adventure holiday to discover the underwater world of the dolphins? Then look no further than this amazing trip where you can swim with wild dolphins.
Looking into the crystal clear ocean depths wearing a mask and snorkel you can have encounters with these very curious and playful mammals and swim with wild dolphins. Watching the dolphins exquisite movements and listening to a symphony of sound you feel part of their magical world. You will be given expert guidance to develop competence and confidence when swimming with the dolphins by fully trained aquatic rescue guides.
Our swim with wild dolphins trips are 9 day, 8 night duration, offering 6- 7 boat trips.
You will be with a group of between 10-20 others, with a small group of 10 people on the boats. We have a new accommodation option this year so you can choose between a delightful hotel with restaurant, pool and transfers or a guest house with sea views which includes a car and self catering or eating in local restaurants. All holidays have the guides available and are fully supervised on the dolphin swim boat trips.
People travel independently, with friends or family. The groups are very diverse and sociable, a great way to meet new people. There is also the option to be more independent. We regularly see 8 different species of dolphins and sperm whales are very commonly sighted. Some dolphin species are more playful and inquisitive than others. The itinerary is arranged around the boat trips. You will be given lots of information about other activities on the island, aside from swiiming with dolphins, with plenty of time for relaxation and reflection.
Our holidays suit a diverse age range - enjoyed by all ages. The holidays are an opportunity to do something deeply memorable with family and friends. The holidays work well for anyone travelling independently as one feels part of the friendly group atmosphere. Our groups welcome everyone into the group, eating together and sharing in the activities on the boat, so everyone feels part of something special, with plenty of free time to relax and take part in the other activities. Some trips cater more for families so do ask us which groups are more children orientated and which are more adult. Feel free to call us if you want to see if this holiday would be suitable for you and meet your needs.
Other activities: Talks on marine biology and conservation, trips to the sperm whale museum where you can learn scientific biological info about the whales and about research projects in the Azores. The whaling museum documents the history of whaling which was stopped about 15years ago. Climb the volcano, and seeing a sunset or sunrise from above the clouds. There is a cultural tour of the island offers a wealth of knowledge about the Island’s history and the flora and fauna and wine tasting at the vineyards. Or you can take a jeep tour and explore the caves, the volcano and learn about the geology of the island. The nine Azores mid-atlantic Islands have an unspoilt charm and natural beauty. A seafaring culture full of wild tales of transatlantic adventures. They have a wild elemental quality and have escaped the ravages of commercial mass tourism. Breathing the air and swimming in a relatively pollution free ocean is very revitalizing.
The accommodation is in a luxury hotel on the cliff edge overlooking the ocean with a pool. Set in landscaped gardens it is a haven of tranquility where you feel the island's elemental origins and breathe the unpolluted air. The hotel restaurant under the vines serves delicious home cooked dishes of local fish and international meat and vegetarian dishes. Our team have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to guide you and respond patiently to anything you may need. There is also a Guest House option with dramatic ocean views, a self drive car included where you can either enjoy self catering or local restaurants.
Looking into the crystal clear ocean depths wearing a mask and snorkel you can have encounters with these very curious and playful mammals and swim with wild dolphins. Watching the dolphins exquisite movements and listening to a symphony of sound you feel part of their magical world. You will be given expert guidance to develop competence and confidence when swimming with the dolphins by fully trained aquatic rescue guides.
Our swim with wild dolphins trips are 9 day, 8 night duration, offering 6- 7 boat trips.
You will be with a group of between 10-20 others, with a small group of 10 people on the boats. We have a new accommodation option this year so you can choose between a delightful hotel with restaurant, pool and transfers or a guest house with sea views which includes a car and self catering or eating in local restaurants. All holidays have the guides available and are fully supervised on the dolphin swim boat trips.
People travel independently, with friends or family. The groups are very diverse and sociable, a great way to meet new people. There is also the option to be more independent. We regularly see 8 different species of dolphins and sperm whales are very commonly sighted. Some dolphin species are more playful and inquisitive than others. The itinerary is arranged around the boat trips. You will be given lots of information about other activities on the island, aside from swiiming with dolphins, with plenty of time for relaxation and reflection.
Our holidays suit a diverse age range - enjoyed by all ages. The holidays are an opportunity to do something deeply memorable with family and friends. The holidays work well for anyone travelling independently as one feels part of the friendly group atmosphere. Our groups welcome everyone into the group, eating together and sharing in the activities on the boat, so everyone feels part of something special, with plenty of free time to relax and take part in the other activities. Some trips cater more for families so do ask us which groups are more children orientated and which are more adult. Feel free to call us if you want to see if this holiday would be suitable for you and meet your needs.
Other activities: Talks on marine biology and conservation, trips to the sperm whale museum where you can learn scientific biological info about the whales and about research projects in the Azores. The whaling museum documents the history of whaling which was stopped about 15years ago. Climb the volcano, and seeing a sunset or sunrise from above the clouds. There is a cultural tour of the island offers a wealth of knowledge about the Island’s history and the flora and fauna and wine tasting at the vineyards. Or you can take a jeep tour and explore the caves, the volcano and learn about the geology of the island. The nine Azores mid-atlantic Islands have an unspoilt charm and natural beauty. A seafaring culture full of wild tales of transatlantic adventures. They have a wild elemental quality and have escaped the ravages of commercial mass tourism. Breathing the air and swimming in a relatively pollution free ocean is very revitalizing. The accommodation is in a luxury hotel on the cliff edge overlooking the ocean with a pool. Set in landscaped gardens it is a haven of tranquility where you feel the island's elemental origins and breathe the unpolluted air. The hotel restaurant under the vines serves delicious home cooked dishes of local fish and international meat and vegetarian dishes. Our team have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to guide you and respond patiently to anything you may need. There is also a Guest House option with dramatic ocean views, a self drive car included where you can either enjoy self catering or local restaurants.
travellers' tales
Being so in touch with nature, especially when in the water - an experience that will stay with me forever (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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We only work with local suppliers who employ 80% local people which means financial benefits to families here. The land based lookouts whose immense skill at tracking the animals previously earned money from whaling and now earn money from tourists. Many of their children skipper the boats and work with the small scale tourism.
 We have a 99% success rate with sighting dolphins and whales. This location is exceptional in its abundance and variety of animals, with super pods of up to 1000 dolphins. It is extremely rare not to be with the animals who come close to shore due to the geology of the island and the plentiful food supply. The in water encounters follow local regulations to protect the animals by licensed boat operators. There is a good spirit of cooperation amongst the boat companies and agreements to respect the animals as a priority. Our guides are fully qualified to ensure your safety in the water at all times and provide a full training to develop confidence in the water if needed. They also give you a lot of background knowledge about the marine life and the islands. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |