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São Miguel IslandSpeed & jet boat tours

Our most recommended São Miguel Island Speed & jet boat tours

From Ponta Delgada: Whale and Dolphin Watching Trip

1. From Ponta Delgada: Whale and Dolphin Watching Trip

Set off on a whale-watching day trip from Ponta Delgada and witness the marine mammals of the Azores. Look out for minke whales, dolphins, turtles, and more, and learn about the environment from your marine biologist guide. Begin with a briefing by your guide, who will explain the history of whale watching in the Azores. Learn about water safety, rules of observation, and respect for the animals. Depart from the Ponta Delgada harbor and sail into the Atlantic. Situated between Portugal and North America, the Azores are a permanent home or point of passage for more than a third of the world’s whale and dolphin species. Keep an eye out for sperm whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and Risso’s dolphins, which are present throughout the year, along with turtles, seabirds, and other marine life. In the summer months, spot dolphins, pilot whales, and striped dolphins. In spring, enjoy the opportunity to see migrating baleen whales such as blue whales, fin whales, and sei whales.

São Miguel Azores: Half-Day Whale Watching Trip

2. São Miguel Azores: Half-Day Whale Watching Trip

Enjoy a half-day whale watching trip in the Azores, one of the ‘top ten’ whale-watching spots in the world, and get the opportunity to meet the ocean giants in their natural habitat. Meet the boat crew and get a short briefing about safety and code of ethics and then put on your life vest and head out in the ocean. Listen as the crew follows the instructions given by radio from the lookouts placed in strategic points along the coastline using military-grade binoculars to find and communicate the position of the animals. Take comfort that the crew has a 99% success rate of sightings. If whales are spotted it´s time to enjoy the company of these magnificent animals, always keeping a safe and respectful distance. It´s usual that more than one group of whales and dolphins are observed per trip. On the way back to the marina, observe the geological formations of the island as the boat sails close to the coastline. If no whales or dolphins are spotted, you will receive a full refund, or you can book another trip for free.

São Miguel: Wild Swimming with Dolphins

3. São Miguel: Wild Swimming with Dolphins

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime treat as you swim with dolphins in their natural habitat, in the incredible environment of the São Miguel coastline. Relax in the company of trained professionals who will brief you on best practice in the high seas, and how to interact with the dolphins. Marvel at the rugged beauty of the São Miguel coast as you have unforgettable fun swimming alongside the dolphins, and return home with memories to treasure for a lifetime.

Terceira: Half-Day Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour

4. Terceira: Half-Day Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour

Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe dolphins and whales in their natural habitat. Gain fascinating insights from a team of professional skippers, biologists, and lookouts. Look out for up to 27 species of cetaceans in the Picos de Aventura, with an extremely high success rate of sightings. Benefit from a comprehensive briefing on cetaceans, sighting methods, safety rules, and codes of ethics for observation of cetaceans in the Azores before setting out. Experience an unforgettable journey as you admire the marine mammals of the Azores roaming the seas while having fun and receiving scientific insights.

Sao Miguel: Swimming with Dolphins

5. Sao Miguel: Swimming with Dolphins

Join the ultimate swimming experience on an encounter with wild dolphins in the clear blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Head out from the Azores in a Zodiac boat for an unforgettable adventure. This 2-hour activity is carried out in small groups and led by a qualified biologists or nature guides. Each swimming tour is preceded by a briefing in which one of the biologists explains how to swim with wild dolphins while respecting them. You’ll also learn how to enter the water and behave around the dolphins, how to use the mask and snorkel and how to get the most out of your swimming experience. Masks, snorkels and wet-suits are provided.

Pico Island: Azores Whale & Dolphin Watching on Zodiac Boat

6. Pico Island: Azores Whale & Dolphin Watching on Zodiac Boat

Uncover the beauty of the marine wildlife of Pico Island on this dolphin and whale watching tour. Stay safe with the use of a life jacket and keep dry with the use of a waterproof top. Approach the whales slowly and carefully to ensure the well-being of the animals.  Enjoy a short briefing before boarding the Zodiac boat in the town of Lajes do Pico. Snap some pictures of the shoreline as your cruise along. Look for birds, turtles, whales, and playful dolphins as you make your way to locations where they are most active.  Get an introduction to cetaceans (whales and dolphins) from your guide. Hear about other marine species, their natural habitats, communication styles, migration patterns and behavioral features. Return to your starting point on Pico island. 

Vila Franca Do Campo: Introduction to Scuba Diving Tour

7. Vila Franca Do Campo: Introduction to Scuba Diving Tour

Kick off your scuba diving experience with a small introduction session during which you will learn all about diving equipment, techniques and underwater communication. Then head out to the sea by boat, allowing a supervised and relaxed way to experience diving.  Your dive will take place at the Natural Reserve of Vila Franca do Campo Islet, an island formed by a volcano crater. Explore an area close to wrecked cannons from the 16th century and see how nature incorporated them into marine life.

Terceira: Whale and Dolphin Watching in a Zodiac Boat

8. Terceira: Whale and Dolphin Watching in a Zodiac Boat

The Azores are considered one of the best places for whale watching in the world. 28 species of whales and dolphins have been spotted there over the years. This unique 2 hour to 3 hour tour is the ideal situation for spotting whales and dolphins. With a 90% sighting success rate, the tour is assisted by a whale spotter located at the top of Monte Brasil. With long-range binoculars, they'll be able to guide the Skipper via radio, helping you to find the whereabouts of cetaceans (the animal family that these marine mammals belong to).

Sao Miguel: Snorkeling around Vila Franca do Campo

9. Sao Miguel: Snorkeling around Vila Franca do Campo

Go on a boat and embark on a snorkeling experience in the sea. Enjoy the marine life in a supervised and relaxed way.  Receive a brief explanation of the apnea basic concepts, equipment, and swimming techniques. These are theoretical and practical sessions, where safety procedures will be explained.  This activity takes place in the Natural Reserve of Vila Franca do Campo Island, close to the wrecked cannons from the 16th Century.  Come and see what the underwater world has to offer you with the greatest comfort and safety.

Rabo de Peixe: Sperm Whale Sanctuary Expedition

10. Rabo de Peixe: Sperm Whale Sanctuary Expedition

Set out on a speedboat expedition to see sperm whales, the largest of the cetacean family. On this learning adventure, explore the northern coast of São Miguel and its diverse flora and fauna. Discover facts about sperm whales from marine biologists as you look for them in their protected habitat.  Your tour begins with a briefing from marine biologists at the yacht club on the northern side of the island. You'll find out about the different species you might see, learn about the whale-watching history in the Azores, and understand how biologists and whale watchers respect the animals. Next, board the boat and set out for the Atlantic waters. Enjoy the beautiful coastal landscape and keep your eyes peeled for marine life. On the coast, you may see dolphins, Portuguese man-o-war, or turtles. As you enter the deeper waters of the sanctuary, stay on the lookout for sperm whales.  Finally, return to Rabo de Peixe Harbor. The team of marine biologists will tell you more about the species you just saw. Hear more about the cetaceans, their habits, and their routes to round out your tour.

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What people are saying about São Miguel Island

We saw Atlantic spotted dolphins, 12+ sperm whales, false killer whales that were hunting the sperm whales, and common dolphins. We got really lucky - we were warned that there was a chance we didn't get to see any animals. The guides were great and shared their excitement with us. The guide announcing couldn't hide her excitement and kept calling it a National Geographic Moment. It was so cool!! After our time on the boat we were driving on the island and saw the Futurismo spotters which was really fun to see after they helped the guides we were with find all of the animals we saw. Would totally recommend!

It's was amazing activity! Boat team made our day and given us great emotions. We've seen several groups of dolphins and wonderful landscape. Extremely recommend it!

It was great, my family and I had a great time. We were able to spot lots of dolphins and some whales. It was very special!

Outstanding staff. Professional staff to know navigating to find the dolfphins and whales. Very recommended activity

It was amazing! We saw so many different sea animals and it was so informative! Excellent experience!