There are certain wildlife experiences that have always been on my travel wish list, and seeing a blue whale is right up there near the top.
For years, I imagined that seeing the largest animal on the planet would involve travelling to some remote corner of the world and heading hundreds of miles out into one of the great oceans. Then I discovered the Azores.
Sitting far out in the Atlantic Ocean, this Portuguese archipelago of nine volcanic islands has become one of Europe’s great destinations for whale and dolphin watching. The deep waters surrounding the islands attract an extraordinary variety of marine life, while the islands themselves provide a spectacular backdrop of volcanic peaks, green hills and rugged coastline.
Whale watching also tells an important part of the Azores’ story. These islands were once closely associated with commercial whaling, but today the emphasis is firmly on watching, studying and protecting these magnificent creatures.
So if, like me, seeing whales in the wild is something you’ve always dreamed about, the Azores deserve a place on your travel radar.
🐋 Why Are the Azores So Good for Whale Watching?
The location of the Azores is a huge part of their appeal.
The islands rise from deep Atlantic waters and sit along migratory routes used by several species of whale. Combine that with resident populations of cetaceans and you have opportunities to see marine life at different times of the year.
More than 20 species of whales and dolphins have been recorded around the Azores, representing an extraordinary proportion of the world’s cetacean species.
That doesn’t mean you’re going to see all of them, of course. These are wild animals rather than performers appearing to a timetable, and for me that’s precisely how wildlife watching should be.
Sperm whales are among the species most strongly associated with the islands, while several species of dolphin can also be encountered. At certain times of year much larger migratory whales pass through Azorean waters — and that includes the animal I would most like to see, the magnificent blue whale.
📅 When Is the Best Time for Whale Watching in the Azores?
Whales and dolphins can be encountered around the Azores throughout the year, although what you might see varies considerably with the seasons.
Spring is particularly interesting because this is when large migratory baleen whales can pass through Azorean waters. These can include blue, fin and sei whales as they migrate through the Atlantic.
Summer brings warmer weather and generally more favourable conditions for getting out onto the water, while sperm whales and several dolphin species can be seen at different times throughout the year.
If there is one particular species you are hoping to encounter, I’d choose the timing of your trip carefully and speak to a reputable local whale-watching operator before travelling. There are never guarantees.
And nor should there be. For me, the anticipation of scanning an enormous expanse of Atlantic and wondering what might appear is surely part of the excitement.
🐳 What Whales and Dolphins Could You See?
The variety of marine life is one of the great attractions of whale watching in the Azores.
Sperm whales are probably the species most closely associated with the islands. They can dive to extraordinary depths in search of squid and have played an important, if sometimes uncomfortable, role in Azorean history.
Blue whales are seasonal visitors. These enormous animals can grow to around 30 metres in length, making them the largest animals known to have lived on Earth. Just the thought of seeing one surface alongside a comparatively tiny boat is enough to put this experience firmly on my bucket list.
Fin whales are another of the large migratory species that can pass through these waters, while sei whales and other cetaceans may also be encountered.
Then there are the dolphins. Bottlenose, common and Atlantic spotted dolphins are among those found around the islands, and sometimes it’s the dolphins rather than the whales that provide the most energetic encounters.
Sea turtles, seabirds and other marine wildlife add to the experience of simply being out on the Atlantic.
The important word throughout all of this is could. Wildlife sightings vary by season, weather and simple good fortune.
📍 Where Can You Go Whale Watching?
Whale-watching excursions operate from several of the Azorean islands, but São Miguel, Pico and Faial are particularly well known.
São Miguel is the largest island in the archipelago and a very convenient choice for a first trip to the Azores. It gives you the opportunity to combine whale watching with crater lakes, volcanic landscapes, geothermal areas and some superb walking.
Pico has an especially strong connection with whales and the history of whaling. Dominated by Mount Pico, Portugal’s highest mountain, the island is also one of the classic places from which to head out onto the Atlantic in search of cetaceans.
Nearby Faial is another excellent base. The town of Horta has been connected with Atlantic seafarers for generations, and the island makes a natural addition to a trip combining Pico and Faial.
I wouldn’t necessarily choose an island purely on the basis of whale watching. Think about what else you want from your holiday and build the experience into a wider Azores itinerary.
For more ideas, take a look at my Azores Travel Guide, where I cover all nine islands as well as getting around, walking and other things to see and do.
⚓ From Whaling to Whale Watching
One of the most interesting aspects of whale watching in the Azores is the history behind it.
Whaling became an important part of life on the islands, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries. Azorean men became highly skilled whalers and sperm whales were hunted from small traditional boats.
Lookouts known as vigias would scan the Atlantic from high positions on the coast searching for whales. Once one was spotted, the whalers could be directed towards it. Thankfully, times changed.
Commercial whaling in the Azores eventually came to an end during the 1980s and a very different relationship with whales began to develop.
Instead of hunting them, people realised that the same local knowledge and remarkable ability to locate whales could be used to show visitors these animals alive in their natural environment.
That transition from whaling to whale watching is an important part of the modern Azores story. Some of the traditional lookout techniques have even survived, with land-based spotters still helping whale-watching boats locate animals out at sea.
It’s a fascinating example of how tourism and conservation can offer a different future for traditions that once revolved around hunting wildlife.
🌱 Responsible Whale Watching
Whenever we travel to see wildlife, I think we have a responsibility to remember that we’re entering the animals’ environment rather than the other way around.
Choose an established whale-watching operator that follows local regulations and responsible wildlife-viewing practices. Boats should maintain appropriate distances, avoid chasing or surrounding animals and allow the whales and dolphins to determine the encounter.
There is also a valuable scientific side to whale watching in the Azores. Sightings and observations made at sea have contributed to research into the cetaceans found around the islands.
For me, that’s how wildlife tourism should work — creating memorable experiences for visitors while helping us better understand and protect what we’ve travelled to see.
🎒 What Should You Take Whale Watching?
Even if the weather looks beautiful when you leave the harbour, conditions on the Atlantic can feel very different once you’re out at sea.
I’d take layers and a lightweight waterproof jacket, along with sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. A camera is an obvious addition, although I wouldn’t spend the entire trip looking through a viewfinder. Sometimes it’s better simply to watch.
Binoculars can be useful, although your guides and lookouts will generally be doing the serious searching.
If you suffer from seasickness, think about this before you head out. The Atlantic can be lively and a whale-watching trip isn’t much fun if you spend the entire experience wishing you were back on dry land! Most importantly, take a little patience.
Whale watching isn’t a zoo visit. There may be periods when seemingly nothing is happening followed by one of those extraordinary moments when a fin, tail or blow suddenly appears on the horizon.
🥾 Make Whale Watching Part of a Bigger Azores Adventure
As much as whales might tempt me to book the flight, I wouldn’t travel all the way to the Azores and experience only the ocean. These are magnificent islands in their own right.
Volcanic crater lakes, geothermal springs, waterfalls, mountains, tiny villages and miles of walking trails mean there is plenty to discover when you’re back on land.
Walking is actually one of the best ways of getting under the skin of the islands, and I’ve covered that in much more detail in my Azores Walking Guides.
You can also head to my main Azores Travel Guide for an introduction to all nine islands and advice on when to visit, getting around and what to see and do.
🌊 Would I Go Whale Watching in the Azores?
Absolutely. Seeing whales in their natural environment is one of those experiences that I still want to tick off my travel wish list, and the possibility of encountering a blue whale makes the Azores particularly appealing to me.
But there is something else about the islands that makes whale watching here so interesting.
This isn’t simply a place where tour boats happen to find whales. The relationship between the Azorean people and the ocean stretches back generations. The transition from hunting whales to protecting, studying and showing them to visitors gives today’s whale-watching industry a history and context that I find fascinating.
And perhaps one day I’ll finally be standing on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic when somebody points towards the horizon and shouts that a blue whale has been spotted.
This article was originally produced in collaboration with Azores specialist Archipelago Choice and has since been updated and expanded by Just One for the Road.
