Swimming with wild dolphins in Azores
| country: | Azores, Portugal |
| location: | Azores |
| departures: | 2008: 21 Aug |
| price: | From £1100 (10 days) excluding flights. We can help arrange flights from the UK |
read 24 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Are you thinking about an exciting adventure holiday to discover the underwater world of the 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 them. Watching their 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 in the water with the dolphins by fully trained aquatic rescue guides.
Our trips are 10 day, 9 night duration, offering 6- 7 boat trips.
You will be with a group of between 18-24 others, with a small group of 8 people on the boats. People travel independently, with friends or family. The groups are very diverse and sociable, a great way to meet new people. We regularly see 8 different species of dolphins and sperm whales are very commonly sighted. Some species are more playful and inquisitive than others.The Itinerary is arranged around the boat trips, other activities being optional with plenty of time for relaxation and reflection.
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. The complementary cultural tour of the island offers a wealth of knowledge about the Island’s history and the flora and fauna. 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. 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. This is our 9th year in The Azores and the holidays are full of fun, wonder and celebration. We look forward to hosting you there!
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 them. Watching their 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 in the water with the dolphins by fully trained aquatic rescue guides.
Our trips are 10 day, 9 night duration, offering 6- 7 boat trips.
You will be with a group of between 18-24 others, with a small group of 8 people on the boats. People travel independently, with friends or family. The groups are very diverse and sociable, a great way to meet new people. We regularly see 8 different species of dolphins and sperm whales are very commonly sighted. Some species are more playful and inquisitive than others.The Itinerary is arranged around the boat trips, other activities being optional with plenty of time for relaxation and reflection.
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. The complementary cultural tour of the island offers a wealth of knowledge about the Island’s history and the flora and fauna. 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. 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. This is our 9th year in The Azores and the holidays are full of fun, wonder and celebration. We look forward to hosting you there!
travellers' tales
The most memorable moment was the sound of wild dolphins approaching me in the water and then swimming directly under me. An image I will never forget... I can honestly say that this was our BEST EVER holiday as a family. (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. |