Azores whale watching and walking holiday

Planet

Exploring on foot

Walking is a central part of this holiday, with one full-day and one half-day guided trail included.

The walks allow guests to experience São Miguel at a slower pace, moving through forests, countryside and volcanic landscapes rather than simply travelling between viewpoints by vehicle.

Island accommodation is based in Ponta Delgada for all seven nights, avoiding the need to change hotels or take domestic flights during the holiday.

Ponta Delgada itself is compact and much of the historic centre, waterfront, restaurants and boat base can be reached on foot. Electric bikes are also available locally for guests who would like to explore independently.

Some accommodation options we use have introduced measures such as solar power generation, while São Miguel also generates part of its electricity using geothermal energy.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

The guided walks introduce visitors to the natural history of São Miguel as well as its scenery.

Local guides explain the volcanic landscape, native and endemic vegetation and some of the invasive species that have changed the island’s environment. Routes vary, but the emphasis is on understanding the landscapes being walked through rather than simply reaching viewpoints.

Our whale and dolphin watching excursions are operated by an established Azores-based company with a strong marine-biology and research background.

Many members of the marine team have qualifications in marine biology or related subjects and participate in cetacean research and data collection alongside their tourism work.

Traditional land-based lookouts help locate naturally occurring whales and dolphins offshore. Wildlife is not fed or artificially attracted, and sightings are never guaranteed.

Our whale-watching partner is also involved in local environmental and community initiatives, including outreach activities and beach clean-ups.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

All of the guides working on the included experiences live locally in the Azores, and many are native Azoreans.

Using locally based walking and marine guides gives visitors the benefit of people who know the landscapes, wildlife, history and culture of the islands first-hand.

Where practical, we work with locally owned and independent accommodation, restaurants and tourism businesses while maintaining enough choice to recommend properties that genuinely suit each guest.

The holiday deliberately includes free time in Ponta Delgada, and we encourage guests to explore independently and can recommend locally owned restaurants and other small businesses.

EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING PRACTICES

We prefer to work with established local partners with good reputations as employers.

During our own visits and conversations with staff working for our principal activity suppliers, employees have consistently spoken positively about their working environment, staff benefits and work-life balance.

Several partner companies also provide staff discounts and benefits through relationships with other businesses around the islands.

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION

We encourage guests to discuss mobility, health or other individual requirements with us before booking so that we can provide realistic advice.

Walking routes vary considerably in distance, gradient and terrain. We can usually recommend routes according to a guest’s preferred level of challenge, but natural trails may include uneven ground, slopes, rocks, roots, steps and muddy sections.

For whale watching, guests can normally choose between a larger catamaran and smaller RIB Zodiac, subject to availability and suitability. The RIB requires greater mobility and is not recommended during pregnancy or for guests with significant back or neck conditions.

Dietary requirements can be accommodated for the included full-day walking lunch with advance notice.