Whale Watching Tour Faial - Azoren
A once-in-a-lifetime experience on the Atlantic
06.03.2025
07.; 16.; 23.06.2025
02.07.2025
What can I expect from the three-hour Whale Watching Tour on Faial – Azores? Here you will find all the important information about the boat tour, whether photos are taken, and my personal conclusion.
Table of Contents
Information
Whale watching is a must-do activity for many visitors to the Azores – and on Faial, the chances of spotting several different species of whales and dolphins are especially high.
The 3-hour tour with Experience Azores can easily be booked online or paid for directly on-site (cash or card). A life jacket, rain jacket, and waterproof overtrousers are included free of charge.
As part of a collaboration, I was able to join 3 out of 5 whale watching tours free of charge – this article is therefore marked as an advertisement.
Arrival
Before boarding, every guest was asked to sign a safety form. After that, we received a 30-minute briefing about the different whale and dolphin species living around Faial, which ones had recently been sighted, and how to recognize them.
Then we walked together to the large inflatable boat, where everyone could choose their own seat. The most important rule: stay seated while the boat is moving – standing up was only allowed with permission from the crew.
Boat Tour
Soon after leaving the harbor, we headed out onto the open sea. Skipper Pedro stayed in constant radio contact with several spotters on land, positioned in lookout towers to scan the ocean. Thanks to this teamwork, there was an impressive 90% chance of spotting whales.
And then the magic began:
- With some patience, the first whales appeared – sometimes just part of the back, sometimes the tail fluke as they dove down.
- With incredible luck, you might even witness a humpback whale breaching out of the water – truly breathtaking!
Dolphins also showed up, occasionally swimming close to the boat and playfully jumping alongside us.
Since I joined five tours in total, I was lucky enough to see an amazing variety of species: humpback whale, sperm whale, blue whale, fin whale, sei whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, atlantic spotted dolphin, and even short-finned pilot whales.
After about three hours, we made our way back to the harbor.
My Travel Diary
Your personal companion for your adventures – with plenty of space for photos and notes!
After the Boat Tour
Once back on land, guests could hand in their equipment. As a nice little souvenir, everyone received a species booklet, with the animals we had spotted ticked off. To round things off, there were also cookies and a drink waiting for us.
Photos
During the entire tour, guests were free to take as many photos and videos as they wanted. If you wanted to be in the picture yourself, you could simply ask fellow guests or the crew.
My Review
The whale watching tours on Faial were truly unforgettable. Skipper Pedro is extremely passionate about what he does, very friendly, and always makes sure his guests have the best possible experience. He’s supported by a wonderful and professional team.
What I loved most:
- small groups with a maximum of 12 guests
- getting close to the animals, while always keeping a respectful distance
the high chance of spotting different species
If you don’t get seasick easily, I can highly recommend this tour. For me, it was a unique and breathtaking experience I will never forget!
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