Whale watching in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel, Azores): a guide to do it while being a responsible tourist

Did you know that different types of cetaceans live in the Azores? Some of them are residents, others on their migratory routes (depending on the season), the point is that watching whales and dolphins in freedom inside their habitat is one of the top activities in Ponta Delgada, on the largest island of the Azores, São Miguel.

In this guide we share with you everything you need to know to do whale watching (whales and dolphins) in the wild, in the most respectful way possible, from a boat leaving from the capital of the largest island of the Azores, Ponta Delgada in São Miguel.

Book your boat trip to watch whales and dolphins in the wild from Ponta Delgada here

For everything else about what to do on the island, we recommend our complete guide to São Miguel.

Sao Miguel (Azores) Travel Guide: things to see and do in 3, 5 or 7 days (a week)

Why go whale watching in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel, Azores Islands)?

If you are travelling soon to the Azores paradise, you will most probably land on the largest island of the archipelago, São Miguel, and stay near its capital, Ponta Delgada. If this is the case or even if you are already exploring this island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, you should know that one of the activities you can’t miss is go whale watching in their habitat, right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago is home to sperm whales, common dolphins, spotted dolphins and gray dolphins and you will be able to hop on a boat to greet them, from a distance and with respect, of course.

At Randomtrip we do it every time we visit the archipelago and we have already been able to greet a blue whale (the largest mammal in the world), three sei whales (the third largest in the world) and several dolphins. The most important thing is to make sure that you go with a company that respects the rules of sustainability and animal protection (safe distance from the boat to the cetaceans, speed limits, etc.) so in this guide we will tell you our experience that will make you not want to miss it and what you should take into account before booking your whale watching tour.

What species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can I watch in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel, Azores Islands)?

In the waters surrounding the Azores archipelago you will be have the chance to see more than twenty species of cetaceans, resident or migratory. Among these species, the one you will most want to see from the boat is the beautiful sperm whale, symbol of the Azores and whose photogenic tail emerging from the sea is an image to which all of us who embark on a whale watching adventure desire.

But there are many more! In the Azores you can see the giant blue whale, the largest mammal in the world, and also the Sei Whale, Pilot whales, Humpback whales and even killer whales (orcas), although the latter are very rare.

What is the best time for whale watching in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel, Azores Islands)?

April to October is usually the best time for whale watching, although actually in these Atlantic waters there is are chances of whale watching throughout all year, so you can be lucky in any month you visit the archipelago. In fact, if your dream is to greet the largest mammal in the world, the impressive blue whale, you should know that it usually travels through the Azores between April and May and can reach 35 meters in length! Inês saw it with her mother and sister in March in São Miguel and in Randomtrip we saw other species of cetaceans (like the sei whales) in the island of Pico in May.

Here is a table with the different types of cetaceans and the probability of seeing them for each month of the year in the Azores, according to this report from the Ocean Azores Foundation.

Is seeing whales guaranteed on the whale watching tour?

Everyone hopes to see a sperm whale or other kind of whales during a whale watching boat tour. It is important that you adjust your expectations when you do this tour because you are doing something beautiful and responsible which is trying to observe an animal in its habitat but, for that reason, it is a lottery if the animal comes to greet you or not. Almost all operators advertise that they allow you to do the tour again for free if no cetaceans are sighted, but it is practically impossible not to see dolphins (which are also cetaceans) so in practice that clause is more of a marketing tactic than a guarantee of seeing whales.

How long is the whale watching tour in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel, Azores Islands)?

The whale watching tour usually lasts about 3 hours during which the boat in which you sail is in constant contact with the various lookout points that are on land and communicate if they see something “big” to make your experience the best possible and you can see as many species as possible.

How to do whale watching in a responsible way?

Whale watching in the wild in a respectful manner should include the following rules:

• Approach of animals with reduced and constant speed
• Minimum distance of 50 meters from the animal
• Avoid the presence of several vessel s(maximum 3 vessels) within a radius of 150 meters around the group of cetaceans.
• Never more than 30 minutes with the same animal/group of cetaceans.
• Ethical commitment to animals and the environment
• Drone use is prohibited without explicit government permission.

We recommend you to take a look at this guide made by Ocean Azores Foundation on how to do whale watching in a sustainable and responsible way in the Azores.

During the whale watching tour, respect the behavior indicated by the center and be suspicious if these measures are not applied.

Is it possible to swim with whales and dolphins?

Swimming with whales is strictly forbidden in the Azores except with a special permit (for research and similar activities). You can read the legal text here.

Swimming with dolphins is allowed under a series of rules, although unfortunately, these rules do not guarantee the welfare of the animals and we hope that they will also prohibit this activity in the future. At Randomtrip we strongly advise you not to participate in swimming with dolphins tours. If you want to understand the reasons, we recommend you to read this open letter from the company with which we did the whale watching tour in Pico Island.

Our experience doing whale watching in the Azores

At Randomtrip we don’t miss the opportunity to greet these friendly giants whenever we can and as soon as we heard that the Azores was one of the ideal places to do it, we didn’t hesitate. The first experience was that of Inês with her mother and sister, when they set foot on the archipelago back in 2013. We decided to live this experience together in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) without knowing what awaited us and my hair stands on end every time I remember seeing that blue whale, more than 20 meters long, passing by our boat, peacefully .

More recently, together with the other half of Randomtrip, with Chris, we did this activity on the neighboring island of Pico. On the walk we were greeted by some “roazes” (Common bottlenose dolphin) which in fact can also be seen in Setubal where the Sado river meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Then we were joined by a group of more than twenty common dolphins that came to accompany our boat, very playful. During the three hours of the whale watching boat ride, the lookouts are in constant communication with the boat in case they see something “big” and suddenly, when we hear that our captain receives a warning, we arrive at the point indicated by the lookout and, in silence and expectation, we remain waiting for some clue or, rather, some footprint (do you know that whales leave footprints on the surface?). We look to the left of the footprint and…. Hello whale! There was a Sei whale, the third largest whale in the world. In total we saw three whales, and a very nice and big group of dolphins. All this with the magnetic mountain of Pico in the background. A full and happy day that we are looking forward to repeat.

We say goodbye to the whale with a full soul and if you want to do it too, book your whale watching tour here:

Book your whale watching in São Miguel here and your whale watching on Pico Island here

If you want more information about the Azorean island of Pico, here is the complete (and free) guide from Randomtrip.

Brief History of Whale Watching in the Azores

Although nowadays the observation of cetaceans has the goal of contemplating their beauty in their habitat, to show their importance in the ecosystem and to promote the protection of the oceans, it has not always been like that. In the past, whale watching was for… hunting. Whaling – the “baleação” – was a very important economic activity in the Azores (especially on the island of Pico but not only), for about 50 years and the numbers are shocking: between 1896 and 1949 about 12.000 whales were hunted. The activity was happily banned when Portugal joined the then European Economic Community (EEC) in 1986 but it was not until 1987 that the last sperm whale was hunted on the island of Pico.

In several of the islands of the Azores you will find “Museu Baleeiro” (whaling museum), spaces that try to portray the hard life of the baleeiros (mostly men), explaining from their daily life the very hunting in small and fragile boats, the baleeiros boats. A very hard activity where the lots of animals and some of the humans who dedicated themselves to it lost their lives. The target: products derived from sperm whales and other whales: oils for lighting and lubricants (mainly for export) and various types of flour (made from the bones). It is usually a visit where you will swallow dry many times, especially after having greeted the beautiful and majestic cetaceans in their Atlantic home. In Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, you can visit the“Fábrica da Baleia“, although the most complete museum is the Museu dos Baleeiros, in Lajes do Pico, on the island of Pico, where whaling had its greatest expression.

It is precisely in the town of Calheta de Nesquim (Pico Island) where the whaling activity is said to have started and the old photographs in the Casa dos Botes (the house where the boats sleep, the baleeiros boats) keep the witness of those years. Nowadays (and happily) the boats are used for regattas and it is very likely that, when visiting Calheta de Nesquim, you will see some young people training in the late afternoon. The islands of Pico and Faial often dominate the regional regatta championships.

Book here your whale watching tour in São Miguel

Hiking: The Whaling Route in São Miguel

If you like hiking, you can learn about whale history by walking. In São Miguel awaits you the whaling route, a 3.3 km trail in Capelas, where the whaling industry was most popular on the island, passing through several must-see places. Find all the info of the route, with its stops and map, in this link.

Checklist for the whale watching boat trip in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel, Azores Islands)?

Here is a list of must-have items you can’t forget to take with you on this whale watching adventure:

• A  reusable water bottle like one of these to carry water with you all the time and void single-use plastic.
• A good camera to register your adventures. At Randomtrip we carry a Sony ZV-E10 and a Gopro Hero12 Black (for underwater pictures)
• A Power bank: taking so many pictures will drain your batteries, so it’s always a good idea to carry a good powerbank. At Randomtrip we travel with these 2 (Anker 20000 mAh and  Anker 10000 mAh), which allow us to charge both our phones and our cameras.
• First aid kit: In our first-aid kit there is always a medicine against seasickness (such as biodramine for seasickness on boats), antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medication (and a probiotic to recover more quickly), antihistamines, painkillers and antipyretics and, of course, travel insurance. If you hire your travel insurance with IATI using this link you will get a 5% discount
• Water Shoes like these ones, ideal for not hurting your feet when entering the water or not touching the ground. Keep in mind that in the Azores you will find lots of volcanic rock pools or pebble beaches so you will want to carry your water shoes at all times to make it easier to enter the water.
• Hiking shoes because the best way to get to know the Azores is by hiking the trails. At Randomtrip we use these Columbia ones.
• Snorkel kit (mask and tube) like this one, a must to take on this trip to contemplate the seabed.
• Water proof dry bag like this one, very useful for keeping your camera equipment, cell phone and wallet safe from getting wet on any boat trip (or even if the tide comes in on the beach).
• Sun screen: always look for a Coral Friendly Sunscreen, i.e. one that protects your skin without harming marine ecosystems by avoiding ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are harmful to corals. Nor that it has been tested on animals.
• Mosquito repellent: like this one, it should have at least 15% deet
• Fast drying towel like this one which doesn’t take a lot of space in your luggage
• A hat or a cap (like this one) and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun
• Windbreaker waterproof jacket: like this one, to protect yourself from the sudden weather changes in Azores

Recommendations to enjoy whale watching as a responsible tourist

• At Randomtrip we both have a tendency to get seasick on boats so if this sounds like you, we advise you to take a biodramine tablet 30 minutes before the ride to avoid seasickness and enjoy the experience to the fullest.
• Always respect the behavior indicated by the company, do not make noise, do not get up on the boat and be suspicious if the whale watching activity does not include measures of respect and sustainability (e.g.: reduced and constant speed of the boat and minimum distance of 50 meters from the animal; avoid the presence of several boats within a radius of 150 meters around the group of cetaceans or stay more than 10 minutes with the same animal).
• Never try to touch or feed an animal – don’t be an accomplice to animal abuse!
• Do not buy handicrafts made from sea animals or extracted from the sea (e.g. dolphin teeth, turtle shells, shark jaws, sperm whale ivory, …). The ivory trade, currently the only valuable product of the sperm whale, is still an argument for hunters. Buy local handicrafts made from alternative materials such as wood, stone or vegetable ivory.
• Respect the animals, other people and the island: do not play your music loudly on the boat (if you want to listen to music, wear headphones), do not leave trash, do not throw cigarette butts, etc. (if you find plastic, pick it up).
• Do not allow the disturbance, pollution and destruction of seabird nesting habitats. The “cagarros” (shearwaters) are a migratory bird that nests in the Azores and that on your trip will sound to you by their particular song of “awa awa” as if they were singing the chorus of the song Video Killed by Radio Star. In order to avoid situations where young shearwaters are captured or run over on the road, the Government of the Azores annually promotes the SOS Cagarro Campaign, which we recommend you to know when you arrive in the archipelago.
• Always travel with travel insurance: medical expenses, theft or problems with your plane on a trip can cost you a lot of money, so the ideal thing to do is to take out travel insurance. We always use IATI and we recommend it. If you purchase your insurance through this link you have a 5% discount.

Book now your whale watching tour to greet whales and dolphins in Ponta Delgada, on the Azores island of São Miguel.

And, if you prefer, this tour is a 2 in 1: whale watching and a visit to the beautiful islet of Vila Franca do Campo, an ancient submerged volcano where its flooded crater forms an almost perfect circle, with a small opening to the sea. Book this complete tour here

Where to stay in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel)

At Randomtrip we stayed at the Ladeira Loft (from 60€/night), a very spacious one-bedroom apartment, right in the center of Ponta Delgada (very close to the Graça market) and overlooking the Atlantic.

With more affordable prices, the Nook Hostel (from 40€/night), in the historic center, has apartments with 2 rooms, private rooms and dorm beds. Also among the cheapest options is the Holy Cow (from 50€/night) a hostel with rooms with private bathrooms and dormitories.

The Hotel do Colegio ( 55€/night), a beautiful hotel in a 19th century building, with swimming pool, in the center of Ponta Delgada, was the hotel where my mother, my sister and I stayed the first time we visited the island and we loved it.

Our friends Catarina and Ricardo visited São Miguel recently and loved staying at Casa da Graça (rooms from 70€/night), a hotel managed by the charming Vânia and Sergio who make you feel at home in Ponta Delgada, apart from the great rooms (and breakfasts):

If you want to treat yourself to a gin and tonic in a jacuzzi overlooking the sea without breaking the bank, then you want to stay at the Garoupas Inn (from 75€/night):

The Armazéns Cogumbreiro was the largest commercial establishment on the island, in a building from 1913, renovated, in the center, with spacious and bright rooms, also from 75 € / night.

If you want something more exquisite, the Azor Hotel (130€/night) has incredible rooms with views of the Atlantic.

Find more accommodations in Ponta Delgada here

If you want more information for your trip to the Azores do not miss our free Randomtrip guide of What to see in the 9 islands of the Azores:

Azores islands travel: best island to visit and things to do in the portuguese paradise

What are you waiting for to greet these beauties in their habitat? Book your half day whale watching boat trip to São Miguel, Azores.