Visit the Azores, where volcanic islands meet the Atlantic, home to 28 species of cetaceans. Enjoy world class responsible whale watching year-round amidst stunning landscapes and rich marine biodiversity.
The Azores are nine unique volcanic Islands in the middle of the Atlantic ocean with many endemic species and stunning landscapes. Conditions around these Islands are excellent for many species of whales and dolphins. This biological abundance has fuelled the thriving Azorean whale watching industry and has put the islands on the map for those wanting to experience these majestic marine mammals in the wilds of the Atlantic Ocean.
Inhabitants of the Azores have a strong connection with these magnificent creatures, from historic whaling practices to the current whale watching tourism activities, cultural events and celebrations, and conservation efforts.
In the Azores,28 different species of cetaceans have been reported, which is roughly one- third of all the cetacean species in the world. This species’ richness is among the highest in the Atlantic and even on the planet.
Some of these species are sighted year-round, including sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins and Risso’s dolphins. Some others are present in the archipelago only seasonally, like Atlantic spotted dolphins, or just passing by along the islands during their migrations, like the big baleen whales such as the incredible blue whale, sei whale, and fin whale.
Current threats to primary cetacean habitat and the cetaceans are climate change; underwater anthropogenic noise from tourist activities, cargo ship traffic and navy activities; local and international fisheries in Azorean waters (overfishing), which can also lead to bycatch in fishing nets and driftnets causing entanglement; disturbance caused by tourist activities during the high season, which largely overlaps with the calving and nursing season of some cetacean species; and plastic pollution.
Visitors to Wildlife Heritage Areas can take part in outstanding wildlife watching experiences that put wildlife first. Staying in a Wildlife Heritage Area helps local communities invest in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, benefitting community well-being and driving forward sustainable practices.
Communities achieve Wildlife Heritage Area designation by playing a central role in protecting wild animals and their habitats. With support from responsible travel organisations and wildlife experts, these communities are committed to help turn the tide on biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, adopt a zero tolerance for wildlife suffering in tourism, and advocate for positive change through a willingness to collaborate.
Whaling holds a significant position in the cultural heritage of the Azores, playing a vital role in shaping the local identity. However, it was the emergence of the Azorean whale watching industry that truly positioned living whales as a natural treasure and symbol of the Azores.
Whale watching companies in the Azores are licensed by the local government and follow strict...
Sperm whale hunting was introduced in the Azores by North American whalers during the mid-eighteenth century, and Azoreans were recruited as crew. Soon they learned the profession and adapted it to shore-based whaling. It was directed from land by specialized lookouts, called “vigias”, who scanned the ocean.
Whalers used small boats, rowing or sailing, following the...
In the Azores, both public and private entities have developed several environmental education initiatives, with a strong focus on the “Eco-escolas” or “Escola Azul” programmes, which aim to integrate ocean literacy into the school curriculum. The FUNDAÇÃO OCEANO AZUL, through its Blue Azores programme, strives to equip children with knowledge about the ocean and raise student...
The Azores has experienced a remarkable shift from its historical legacy of whaling to a profound appreciation and celebration of its diverse marine life. In recognition of this transformation, many artistic and cultural institutions and events have emerged to commemorate and honour this newfound perspective and to celebrate cetaceans and the marine ecosystems surrounding the...
For the past five centuries, the people of the Azores have had a strong connection to cetaceans. It began with the use of stranded whales and captured dolphins as a source of food, but it wasn’t until the mid-eighteenth century, when north American whalers introduced sperm whale hunting to the region, that the Azoreans became actively involved as crew.
Whaling eventually...
The Azores holds the distinction of being the world’s first certified archipelago to receive the EarthCheck silver Sustainable Tourism Destination certification, in accordance with the standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). This recognition highlights the Azores’ commitment to sustainable tourism practices and the region is actively working towards...
Before any regulations came into force, a voluntary “code of conduct” was established by the operators, to agree on basic guidelines for a responsible whale watching activity. This was the foundation of the first legislation.
Nowadays, whale watching operates slightly differently on the different islands. For instance, the presence of lookouts (observers who find the cetaceans...
