Overview

Experience cetacean spotting at its best on our Faial Whale and Dolphin Watching Holiday.

The Atlantic Ocean has always been at the centre of life for the people of Faial. Since the first settlement of the islands in the 15th century, Faial and its main city Horta have played a key role in trans-Atlantic travel. ‘City’ is perhaps a misleading title. Relatively-speaking, Horta looks and feels more like a small, friendly town with a cosmopolitan, maritime culture. The historic Pousada da Horta is your home – literally a stone’s throw from city’s colourful marina, and the stepping off point your four whale and dolphin watching trips.

The waters around Faial are one of the best places in Europe to observe ocean wildlife. Resident pods of common and Atlantic spotted dolphins, families of sperm whales, loggerhead turtles, blue sharks and cory’s shearwaters can be seen from April through to October, with the big migratory sea-giants, blue whales and fin whales, passing through in the spring.

The sights on land are equally remarkable: the historic architecture of Horta, the cloud-tipped Cabeco Gordo caldera and the beautifully-barren Capelinhos peninsula. You’ll also have the opportunity to pop across the channel to the neighbouring island of Pico – famous for its UNESCO-protected vineyards and the vast 2351m high Mount Pico volcano, Portugal’s high mountain.

Itinerary

You’ll begin your holiday with a flight to Faial, via Sao Miguel or Lisbon. Our driver will collect you from your flight for the short transfer into Horta.
You’ll take a walking tour of Horta with our resident guide - it's a great way to get familiar with the layout of the town and its historic architecture. In the afternoon, you’ll meet Pedro and his team before heading to sea on your first whale and dolphin watching trip.
You’ll return to the marina this morning for your second whale and dolphin watching trip. Once you’re back on dryland, it’s a short walk to the summit of Monte da Guia: the extinct volcano overlooking Horta.
You’ll take a tour of the island with our resident guide, with visits to the Cabeco Gordo caldera and Capelinhos: site of island’s last major volcanic eruption in the late 1950s.
You'll return to the marina for a third whale and dolphin watching trip. In the afternoon, you might like to visit the Museu da Horta to learn more about Faial’s colourful history.
You’ll taking the morning ferry to the neighbouring island of Pico for a guided tour, with visits to the Frei Matias lava caves, Lagoa do Capitao and the UNESCO-protected vineyards at Criacao Velha.
You'll return to the marina for your fourth and final whale and dolphin watching trip.
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

From £2300 per person

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

INCLUDED: international flights, accommodation in twin/double en-suite rooms on a B&B basis, return airport transfers, four whale and dolphin watching trip, a three-hour walking tour of Horta, a full-day guided tour of Faial and a full-day guided tour of Pico.

Accommodation

Location

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