Swimming with wild dolphins in the Azores










Our bestselling swimming with dolphins trip is led and guided by research-led cetacean specialists who have expert understanding of the Azores’ marine life and ensure your dolphin encounter is a ‘wild’ one in every sense.
3 dolphin swim trips with training Expert guide on boat (max 8 guests) Marine biology talks add on whale watching explore the stunning island by jeep, hiking and nature walks Bathe in volcanic hot springs and see bubbling hot geysers Get active with kayaking, mountain biking and paddle boarding on the islands stunning lakes
More info
Based on 2 adults sharing a room; solo traveller prices available.
3 half day swimming with wild dolphins trips with marine biologist, 7 nights 4* hotel with pool, B&B, airport transfers, educational talks.
Option to add land tours/trips to sea
Option to add land tours/trips to sea
Description of Swimming with wild dolphins in the Azores
Price information
Departure information
This is a set itinerary with flexible departures through April - September.
Travel guides
Humans have long attributed divine qualities to these mysterious, marine mammals, who have been documented saving humans from drowning and sharks; as ...
Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Holiday information
Our top tip:
Get some snorkelling practice in beforehand, at your local pool - or even in the bath!
Trip type:
Private, with activities in groups. Min. age 7.
Activity level:
Moderate - swimming and snorkelling in the sea.
Accomm:
3* hotel with gym and 4* hotel with indoor/outdoor pool, restaurant, gym and health suite.
Solos:
Solo travellers welcome. Single rooms available with surcharge.
Included:
Accomm., breakfasts, transfers, 3 or 5 dolphin trips, tour guide.
Meals:
Breakfast included. Many local/ international restaurants nearby.
Dietary requirements:
Vegan options available for breakfast. We can also recommend local restaurants serving good vegan and vegetarian food.
LGBTQIA+
Our partners behind this holiday promote inclusivity on all their trips and across their business and we are all committed to ensuring travellers face no discrimination on any part of the trip they control.
Reviews
46 Reviews of Swimming with wild dolphins in the Azores
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 02 Oct 2022 by Mandy Saunders
Absolutely amazing, the best holiday we have ever had. Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Jul 2022 by Michael Bird
The animals put on a show for us including two leaping out of the water simultaneously... That must be one of the most exciting and spectacular animal encounters we've ever experienced. Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Jun 2022 by Olivia Bowden
10 out of 10, definitely want to go back! Azores has our hearts. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Jun 2022 by Susan Windsor
An amazing experience that far outweighed my expectations. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Sep 2020 by Anna Hughes
It is wonderful experience in beautiful place, also with full respect for the animals and environment. Fully recommend and I would love to come back one day again. Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Jul 2020 by John Gupta
I celebrated my 50th birthday on this truly incredible holiday. Our room had a fantastic view of the marina and we felt at times like we were on a luxury cruise. Swimming with dolphins in the wild was the main reason we went and I was not disappointed. Seeing the dolphins and whales in their natural environment was truly spectacular. Gaynor and Amanda helped make my dreams come true. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Sep 2019 by Katina Woolgar
The most exciting part of the holiday was going out in the catamarans to see the dolphins and whales Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Sep 2019 by Lynda Monger
Swimming with dolphins (common and bottle nose) in the Atlantic was truly an amazing experience and one to tick off my bucket list. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Sep 2019 by Carol Wallace
Every time we were on a boat on the sea was exhilarating and exciting, never knowing which animals we might see. A truly unforgettable holiday. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Sep 2019 by Emma Pedgrift
The most memorable part of the holiday was swimming with the dolphins! And hearing them talk under water. And the views of Sete Cidades, amazing. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Aug 2019 by Julie Whitehead
We really loved it; the place was very relaxed but enjoyable with great food. We loved our dolphin and whale experiences and we plan to go back. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Jul 2019 by Helen Edwards
The most memorable parts of the trip were swimming with the wild dolphins and being so close to the sperm whales along with exploring the interior of the island. Read full reviewReviewed on 16 Aug 2019 by Ross Cooper
Swimming with wild dolphins is pretty cool once you get the hang of it....9 out of 10 Read full reviewReviewed on 22 Jul 2019 by Jan Berry
All the activities with the boat operator were the most memorable part of the holiday, as well as the stunning terrain and beautiful weather. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Sep 2019 by Laura Quiggan
Seeing a mother and baby dolphin swim underneath me as a pod of Common dolphins swam by was the highlight of the trip. Read full reviewReviewed on 11 Sep 2018 by Patti Phillips-Wallace
Swimming with bottle-nosed dolphins was an amazing experience. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Aug 2018 by Julia Newton
Best holiday ever and would recommend to anyone who wants to live the dream of swimming with dolphins Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Aug 2018 by Ingrid Cicakova
Very strong connection with nature, very positive experience, good rest, nice green island. Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Aug 2018 by Linda Dempsey
When I asked my 10 year old daughter was this holiday better than Disneyland Florida her answer was an astounding YES. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Jul 2018 by Lisa Vink
Swimming with three different species of dolphin was the most exciting part of the holiday...Fantastic!!! Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Jun 2018 by Paula Power
Dolphins are wild and free and unpredictable to see/socialise - so it’s with having a few days planning to swim with them I had 3 very different experiences Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Jan 2018 by Lisa Maddison
To be honest it was the friendly welcoming atmosphere in the Azores and the amazing accommodation and the owner/host who wore many hats: lovely place to stay and will go back there and back to Azores. Read full reviewReviewed on 30 Sep 2018 by Matthew Coom
an amazing experience and you have to do it! Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Sep 2018 by Eric Sinclair
Whale watching and swimming with the dolphins was such a memorable experience Read full reviewReviewed on 15 Aug 2018 by Hilary Knight
Swimming with common dolphins and watching them feeding was the most exciting part of the holiday. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Sep 2017 by Rosemary Adamson
The Dolphins! Sao Miguel is also a beautiful island. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Sep 2017 by Geertje Hermans
The first two times I got into the water to see the Dolphins. I was nervous about getting into the ocean from a boat, but as soon as I looked down and saw those beautiful animals swimming below and before me, all was forgotten. It was a very special experience I will not forget. Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Sep 2017 by Juliet Tomlinson
Swimming with wild dolphins was absolutely incredible. I loved seeing them close up under the water. It was also wonderful seeing them playing around the boat. A really special experience. Read full reviewReviewed on 15 Aug 2017 by Saskia Bosman
The swimming with dolphins trips were most memorable. Also the land trips were amazing. Absolutely unforgettable! Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Sep 2016 by Margaret Sibcy
Amazing, met all my expectations and more. I intend to return and do it all again along with taking in more inland trips. The swims with dolphins being the priority though. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Aug 2016 by Freya Ryder
Words cannot express the magic of swimming in amongst a pod of wild Bottlenose dolphins! Those moments will last a lifetime for me. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Jun 2016 by Margaret Robertson
Swimming in the water near bottlenose dolphins on one of our boat trips and on another trip swimming near a huge pod of common dolphins and their young - some very young! Amazing! Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Aug 2016 by Sharon Lardy
The highlight of the holiday was obviously swimming with wild dolphins. The teams were great and helped everyone aboard to overcome their apprehension. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Jun 2016 by Barbara Bilgre
The experience was spectacular. It was everything I had hoped for. Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Jun 2016 by Wendy Scott
Swimming with dolphins right next to the boat, under and around us - magical experience Read full reviewReviewed on 28 May 2016 by Mark Treadwell
We saw a Blue Whale, several Fin Whales & many dolphins. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Aug 2015 by Libby Aitch
One of the very best holidays we have ever had. We loved it. We all want to go again!! And we'd like to visit some of the other islands too. Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Aug 2015 by Sandra Blanloeuil
Swimming close to the dolphins, never seen as many dolphins in my life! Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Jul 2015 by Steff Murphy gray
It was one of our best family holidays and I would not hesitate to recommend it. We would like to go again!! Read full reviewReviewed on 31 May 2015 by Rosie Sutcliffe
Seeing whales and dolphins on each of our four trips out to sea. The sightings were awesome. A great holiday, both for the whale and dolphin encounters and beautiful scenery inland too. Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Sep 2013 by Lisa Newman
Just four words, really: out of this world. Oh - and unforgettable....The first time the dolphins came close to us in the water: being able to hear the clicks and squeaks as they sussed us out, seeing the bubbles they blew at us and watching them look us in the eye as they shimmied past. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Sep 2013 by Suzie Palmer
Superb. All I had hoped and more....it was good to be somewhere relatively free of tourism, and with a company which proactively thinks about limiting impact on the natural life and the environment...this philosophy helped make the experience special. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
The way the boats approach the dolphins follow local regulations to protect the marine life. We only use licensed boat operators who are very sensitive to the well-being of the dolphins and whales. There is a good spirit of cooperation amongst the boat companies and agreements to respect the animals as a priority.Research is ongoing on the boats, so these trips are helping to build our knowledge of these fantastic animals. Many of the skippers are professional photographers and maintain a comprehensive photo ID database, in particular sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales. The more we can learn about the whales and dolphins of the Azores the better we can understand things like their migrations and social structures. All this moves us closer to protecting them and the marine environment in a more knowledgeable, effective way.
Guests are encouraged to send in any photos they have taken on the dolphin swimming trips that can be used in the ongoing photo identification projects. Every trip has a huge emphasis on conservation and sustaining the marine environment so future generations may also have the privilege of seeing marine mammals in the wild.
People
We only work with local suppliers who employ at least 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 now earn money from tourists - an enormous change that we are passionate about supporting. Many of their adult children now skipper the dolphin swimming boats and work within the small scale tourism.Our dolphin swimming company offers presentations in local schools to educate the children about the marine life on their doorstep with an emphasis on conservation. They are also planning to host an Azorean Whale Festival to promote the islands as one of the key locations worldwide to see whales. We donate a percentage of it's profits to the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), helping to protect whales and dolphins worldwide.
All the activities we recommend locally are run by Azoreans and are designed to maintain good relationships between visitors and the local people. For example, we sell and promote only local crafts to our guests to support local craft makers and artisans and to spread tourism income to many islanders. Our favourite restaurants are all run by Azorean people, and we do recommend that our visitors try the delicious local cuisine while supporting sustainable local fishermen in particular.
As well as swimming with dolphins and whale watching tours we offer geological and cultural tours hosted solely by experienced local guides with an in-depth knowledge of their island and its landscape. We support the local vineyards where guests can sample the fantastic Azorean wine and take these locally produced gifts back to people at home.
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