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Overview

Spend seven nights in the cosmopolitan harbour town of Horta on our Faial whale watching holiday.

The Azores island of Faial is one Europe’s best destinations for whale and dolphin watching. The seas around the island are home to resident species of bottlenose, common and North-Atlantic spotted dolphins and sperm whales, with the big migratory sea-giants, blue whales and fin whales, passing through in the springtime.

You’ll spend your week in Horta – the charming capital of Faial, and you’re never more than a stones-throw from the marina for your four whale and dolphin watching trips. You’ll also have some time on dryland, exploring the island’s the magnificent volcanic landscapes, the historic architecture of Horta, and the neighbouring island of Pico – famous for it’s UNESCO-protected vineyards.

Peak season for the resident species is from April through to October, with the blues and fins usually sighted at the end of April/beginning of May. You can learn more about whale watching in the Azores on our blog.

Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1

You’ll begin your holiday by flying to the Azores, via Ponta Delgada or Lisbon. You’ll be transferred by our driver to your accommodation in Faial's main harbour town Horta.

Day 2

For your first morning on the island, you'll have a guided walking tour of the Horta - it's a great way to get familiar with the layout of the town and it's historic architecture. In the afternoon, you’ll head down to the marina where you’ll meet Pedro and his team before heading to sea on your first whale and dolphin watching trip.

Day 3

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 Porto Pim Bay – home to one of our favourite beaches in the Azores, and one of the best-preserved examples of a Fabrica da Belaia where you can learn more about the island’s successful transition from whale hunting to whale tourism and conservation.

Day 4

You’ll spend today on land, touring the island with our resident guide – including visits to Faial’s botanical gardens, Cabeço Gordo caldera, and Capelinhos: site of island’s last major volcanic eruption from September 1957 to October 1958.

Day 5

You'll return to the marina this morning for your third whale and dolphin watching trip. In the afternoon, you might like to visit the Museu da Horta to learn more about the island's colourful history, particularly the 16th and 17th Centuries when Horta’s natural seaport was safe-haven for traders shipping gold, cinnamon and pepper between mainland Portugal and her colonies in Brazil.

Day 6

You’ll taking the morning ferry to the neighbouring island of Pico for a guided tour. Pico is famous for it’s mountain (Portugal’s highest peak at 2,351m) and it’s UNESCO-protected vineyards.

Day 7

You'll return to the marina for your fourth and final whale and dolphin watching trip.

Day 8

You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

From £1700 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

Your accommodation is at Hotel do Canal, a comfortable 4 star hotel, just next to Horta port and your whale watching boat.

Azoris Faial Garden Hotel From £80 pppn
Hotel do Canal

Activities

Location

Faial Horta is one of the best whale and dolphin watching bases in…

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