Whale Watching: Dolphins and whales
hOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME
Place: The Azores
The Azores is one of the best places in the world to see whales and dolphins. This is a very exciting opportunity and it is common to sight Sperm whales. Blue whales and 10 other species of dolphins and whales occur in these waters and we see dolphins and whales on 99% of our trips to sea!
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Dates:
Choose a date that suits you
(April - Sept)
One week holidays - Start Saturday
Cost from £560 7 nights hotel, transfers, 5 whale watching trips and local guide
( excluding flights - low, medium and high season prices available)
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Accommodation
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See a Blue Whale!
Whale watching in the Azores gives you a good chance to see the Blue Whale, the biggest mammal on earth! as well as fin and sei whales. Several other whale species and 5 different species of dolphin live whoin these waters during the summer months too. Our trips are arranged from The base for observation cetacean’s in the Azores.
This holiday adventure is with one of the most established whale and dolphin companies on the islands They have been taking groups to see the whales and dolphins for 20 years and offer a high standard of professionalism and expertise on the water. You will be hosted by the local team including the resident marine biologist and be part of a group on the boats .
Whale watching in The Azores is unique and offers some of the best sightings as we are assisted by the "vigia", local land based lookouts. Before the ban on whale hunting , these look outs were used to hunt the whales. However now they are employed in ethical tourism and we can meet the animals as they pass the island as the lookouts will direct the boats to a sighting that can be 20 km away!.
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Whale watching in the Azores in the early summer months is the best time to see the " Baleen" Whales (largest whales) on their migration routes to the feeding grounds of the northern Atlantic passing close to the islands of the Azores. It is possible to observe Sei, Fin and Blue Whales, at this time, as well as Short Finned Pilot Whales, orca and of course Sperm Whales (many of whom are resident species here) and 5 species of dolphin, Sea Birds, and Marine life, such as Turtles and Manta Ray "Spyhopping" sperm whale next to boat Best Whale Sightings
The Azores is renowned for the abundance and diversity of marine life there to discover!! It is extremely rare to not see dolphins and whales on your trips to sea. Northern Bottlenose whale breaching summer 2009 We can provide a data list of May and June observations by our whale watch company 2003 - 2009 for full records of sightings. We shall work with the team at the Whale Watch Base using their knowledge and skill to gain the best advantages to see the Whales.
Their research base has a wealth of information and resources and it is possible to learn about the many research projects being conducted around the Azores. The Base use Rigid Hull Inflatable boats to get us close to the action quickly.The boats are very sturdy and can move easily even if the sea is choppy. Lookouts, "the Vigia" on the shore guide us from the local harbour out into the ocean on the south side of the Island. They direct the boats by radio contact.
Best Sightings for Blue Whales in the Azores!
May 2010 has been an amazing month for Blue Whales. We have had sightings almost every day !! Our guests are having a "whale" of a time and are very happy.
"Once upon a Blue"
The statistics charts have shown more Blue Whales this year than we have known in 20 years! Every season during the months of April and May, the baleen whales are migrating from the warm waters in the south, were they mate and have their young, to the cold north waters were they feed. During this migration they pass in the Azores.....We think there is alot of Krill ( the food of the largest mammal on earth ) So they are staying near our island for longer to feed before continuing their migration.!
New You Tube link to see some stunning underwater footage with the dolphins
See in main body of text under unforgettable experience
We are offering an exciting new program of swimming with dolphins holidays and whale and dolphin observation. Prices range from £790 for a week. Click holidays tab above for more info
Testimonials
***** I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on! do it and enrich your life! I returned home feeling more alive and inspired than ever before.
Dawn McClean, London
****"The Dolphin Connection team were great, the skippers had a lot of sensitivity to the animals and guided us to have some sensational encounters underwater and from the boats with so many dolphins and whales. I will be back!!" The company has a very responsible ethos and this this precious, unspoilt part of the world is being well preserved.
Howard Brown- Cheltenham
*****Simply being in the boat with just sea and sky, waiting for a whale to surface is a memory in my top drawer. It was at those times I felt closest to my late husband. The highlight of the week, for me and my children, was seeing orcas. Magical.!
The whole holiday made me realize how little we all need to enjoy life.
I loved the fact that all the drinks were in glass bottles. Pulling large pieces of plastic out of the sea while out on the trips was a surprisingly powerful experience of caring for our ocean. There are so many environmental issues to consider. We have been organic, vegetarian recyclers for many years now. This holiday helped take us one step further.
Vivien Ryder and family, Yorkshire
