Our whale and dolphin watching holiday on Pico is based in the small village of Lajes do Pico. Dating from 1460, Lajes do Pico was the first real settlement on Pico and for many years was the island’s principal port and in turn the centre of the whaling industry in the Azores. Traditional hunting and culling of whales in the Azores was stopped in 1987. Three years later, the Azorean whale watching project ‘Men, Dolphins & Whales’ was created. The main aim of the project is to study and protect the marine environment and help educate the public about these magnificent mammals. ‘A Boca’ (Observation Base of Cetaceans in the Azores), the first Azorean whale-watching base in Lajes do Pico, was opened in 1995 in order to do just that.
Twenty four of the planet’s 80 species of whales and dolphins have been sighted off the coast of the Azores making this one of the best places in the world for whale watching. The most frequently spotted cetaceans are the Sperm whale, Short-finned pilot whales, Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin and Risso dolphin. Occasionally the False killer whale, Fin whale, Sowerby’s beaked whale and Blue whale are also spotted in the waters off Pico. The whale watching season on Pico runs from April to October, with the height of the season being in July and August. In 2005 99% of our excursions recorded sightings of dolphins and 69% sightings of whales. Each excursion starts with a 20-minute briefing by a marine biologist, introducing the cetaceans of the Azores and discussing their habitat, communication and behavioural patterns.
Day One - Tuesday: Arrive at Ponta Delgada airport and catch a connecting flight to Horta, Faial (1 hour). Transfer to Pico by boat (30-minutes) and onto the Pension Whale’ Come ao Pico.
Day Two: Depart at 0830hrs for a whale and dolphin watching excursion (3 hours). After lunch, depart for a tour of Pico visiting the island’s vineyards which cultivate the famous Pico ‘Verdelho’ wine, whaler’s museum, Sao Joao cheese factory and the lake of Capitao. Return to Lajes do Pico.
Days Three, Four, Five & Six: Depart at 0830hrs for a whale and dolphin watching excursion (3 hours). The afternoon is free.
Day Seven:Transfer to Pico airport for flight to Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel (1 hour). Transfer to the Hotel Vila Nova.
Day Eight: Transfer to Ponta Delgada airport for the return flight home.
* Saturday departures available from 03 May – 20 September
(Please note that a different price and itinerary applies)
Day One - Saturday: Arrive at Ponta Delgada airport and transfer to the Hotel Vila Nova in Ponta Delgada for the night.
Day Two: Depart from Ponta Delgada and catch your flight to Pico. Transfer to Whale’ Come ao Pico in Lajes do Pico.
Day Three: Depart Pico harbour at 8.30am for a whale and dolphin watching trip (3 hours). After lunch, depart for a tour of Pico visiting the island’s vineyards which cultivate the famous Pico ‘Verdelho’ wine, whaler’s museum, Sao Joao cheese factory and the lake of Capitao. Return to Lajes do Pico.
Days Three, Four, Five & Six: Depart at 0830hrs for a whale and dolphin watching excursion (3 hours). The afternoon is free.
Day Seven: Transfer to Pico Airport for flight to Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel (1 hour). Transfer to Hotel Vila Nova in Ponta Delgada for the night.
Day Eight: Transfer to Ponta Delgada airport for the return flight home.
Notes:
- The boats used for these excursions are mainly Zodiac boats (small, 6 metre long, rigid hull inflatables) carrying 7-12 people. These boats have been carefully chosen to allow safe and fast access to the whales and dolphins and do not disturb the mammals.
- We can not guarantee that you will see a whale but it is unlikely that you should be so unlucky
- Alternative accommodation on Pico can be arranged at a supplement. Please telephone us for a quotation.
Important: Children aged 4yrs or under, pregnant woman or any person suffering from severe back problems are not allowed on the whale watching boats.
Price includes:
- Direct scheduled flights with SATA International from London Gatwick to Ponta Delgada (Sao Miguel).
- Inter-island flights from Sao Miguel to Faial, returning from Pico to Sao Miguel.
- 7-nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis as detailed.
- All tours including entrance fees as detailed.
- All transfers in the Azores as detailed.
- Five 3-hour Whale and dolphin watching trips from the base at Lajes do Pico
*Alternative and more comfortable accommodation is in the 3-star Aldeia da Fonte, located approximately 10-minutes drive from the whaling base. No transfers included to/from the whaling base.
All holiday activities available on Pico >
