Pico Tours
Whale and Dolphin Watching in Pico Island - Half Day
4.5

Whale and Dolphin Watching in Pico Island - Half Day

By Aqua Açores
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Ages 1-85, max of 64 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: Portuguese, English
More


  • All Fees and Taxes
What's not included
  • Bottled water


Start:
  • Aqua Açores, Lda - Whale and Dolphin Whatching, Avenida Marginal - Núcleo Náutico, 9930-121 Lajes do Pico, Portugal
    Our meeting point is in our shop WHALE WATCHING CENTER located at the entrance of Lajes do Pico harbor 30 minutes before the tour starts. You can find picture of our store on the gallery.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 289301P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 64 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 289301P1

    From
    $55.55
    per adult (price varies by group size)
    Select date and travelers
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Aqua Açores
      180
      Lajes do Pico, Portugal
      Joined in June 2012
    • espria11
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing!
      It was a great tour! The people vom Aqua Acores were very friendly to us as well as to the dolphins. No aggressivley persuing. Just gentle and calm watching and respectfull behavior. I really liked that.
      Written September 14, 2024
    • fredericlE9269TU
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very good!
      Perfect, nothing to complain about :) Friendly staff, good equipment, and good effortin finding the animals
      Written March 22, 2023
    • MarianaS2321
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Not to be missed
      Friendly staff. They give you anything you need! From sunscreen, to plastic bag to protect your things. Good guide. Amazing experience
      Written August 17, 2021
    • cloes00
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      It was such a nice trip! The guide gives a lot of information. You must do this when you are in Pico. We loved it!
      Written September 14, 2020
    • beentheredonethat02
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      My friend and I had a magical experience seeing sperm whales, a turtle, seabirds and four species of dolphins on our trip to Pico. We were lucky with the weather so it was a wonderful experience, out on the wide open sea - seeing these incredible creatures in their nature environment. Our tour guide was highly informative and gave us a briefing before we went onboard, warning us we might not see any whales (which is obviously just a question of luck, as nature does not exist for us humans)! However, we did see sperm whales. If you get motion sickness then be aware that you are out on the water for about three hours, and the guides are keen for you to see as much as you can. The boat often picks up great speed and when it is stopped to observe the animals, you may feel ill if you are prone to motion sickness. Our guide, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, was clearly passionate about the animals, her job and the island...An infectious enthusiasm that almost made me want to move to Pico myself. She was also very keen to answer any questions we had. When we returned, we got free tea, water and crackers and lazed about by the port in the sunshine, and we didn't feel hurried on at all. All in all, an incredible experience that will live for a long time in my memory. Indeed, I feel emotional writing about it days later.
      Written June 23, 2019
    • ajpalmer91
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE AND UNSAFE!
      I visited Pico at the beginning of June 2018. I was solicited at the airport with a 20% coupon to use their services. I booked myself the following morning on the 9:30 am tour. Showed up for the 3 hrs tour. 2 hrs into the tour and not a single whale, lots of dolphins but no whales. There was another couple there who had been on the tour the day before who had not seen a single whale and returned at a discounted rate hoping to see some. We were at end of the tour when Sara the guide shouted out that she could see a whale in the midst. I was sitting towards the front of the boat at the time. With no warning whatsoever the boat accelerated so fast it started to create massive waves. The boat went over the wave and I shot up into the air about 2 ft and landed on my arm breaking my radius. There was nothing to grab on to when I landed. I also bruised severely my tailbone. 2 month laters I am still in a cast and have problems sitting in a car or in a chair. Sara took me to a clinic to be checked out and Paula their office administrator came to the hospital. Paula told me that their insurance would take care of everything and asked me for copies of the bills that I incurred for the accident along with my bank account as they would be reimbursing me with a bank transfer. As of today, 7-20-18 I had not been paid so I followed up with Paula only to get an email from her stating that their insurance would not cover the accident. The amount was so reasonable that the company should have just paid it rather than involve the insurance and string me along for 2 months promising me I would get reimbursed. The dishonesty in all of this is that Paula had the 2nd hospital in Horta bill their insurance directly but yet had me pay for the first clinic in Pico, the ferry and the prescription with the impression that I would be reimbursed promptly after sending her copies of the invoices. Why pay for part but not all? There were so many other companies along Lajos for the same price with no need for a coupon and safer boats. The coupon at the airport was just a scam to get you to sign up. Shop around and find a company with a boat where people actually have a seat and something to grab on to to feel safe at all times. Breaking my arm ruined my vacation and I was no longer able to climb the Volcano which was the real reason I went to Pico in the first place! Spent 2 whole days between Pico and Faisal (going back and forth on ferries) to be seen by a doctor, specialist and to get a cast on. DO NOT RECOMMEND!
      Written July 20, 2018
    • Morag V
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      "Wonderful opportunity to witness marine life in their natural environment!"
      While staying on Pico, my husband I went on the 9:00am whale watching tour out of Lages. We were on the Oceanos inflatable, that only had nine of us aboard. We were only out of the marina maybe 10mins, when we came across a pod of approximately 150 Spotted Dolphins. They were absolutely amazingly fast! The captain gave them a lot of space, but the dolphins wanted to play with us! Although we were hoping to see some Sperm Whales, we were not disappointed. The crew on board are really knowledgeable and explained in detail what we were seeing. I would highly recommend this excursion with the very professional team at "Aqua Acores".
      Written July 18, 2018
    • Nuno B
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very good experience!
      We enjoyed our first whale watching at Azores near pico island but we bought the tickets in BelaVista because they have a partnership with aquaacores and they were very helpful!
      Written June 28, 2018
    • Susana F
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Average
      I would have given a worst rating if it weren’t for the knowledge and that they truly drove us to the whales but they didn’t position the boat properly I felt cheated out of the experience. I hope they make the effort for ir is truly a great experience with those magnificent animals. I
      Written May 3, 2018
    • Cristina S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whale watching with knowledgeable guides
      On the spur of the moment, we booked a whale watching trip with this group. Sara, our guide, did a great job explaining everything to us. The company has spotters on land to guide the boats and we saw two different kinds of whales as well as two different types of dolphins! Dress warmly, though they do give you a waterproof jacket for over your clothes and a life jacket. After the hot tea and crackers were very appreciated.
      Written May 1, 2018
    • Hilde V
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      A bit disappointing...
      We went on a boat trip with Aqua Acores last week. The trip had been cancelled the day before because of the bad weather, so at first we were really pleased that the boat left the harbour that day. Looking back now, it would have been better if they had cancelled the trip that day as well... What was good about the trip? Well, we actually saw a couple of dolphins. And the captain of the boat was very competent. He really knew what he was doing. What was not good about it? First of all we were very badly informed about the terrible conditions on board. We got soaking wet because of the high waves and in combination with a very strong wind, it was not a nice experience! If they had told us on beforehand to not only bring a rain/wind jacket with us, but some decent water resistant clothes, it would have been a lot better. If you are icecold, you cannot enjoy the dolphins anymore. Secondly our tour guide Christiana only showed up a couple of times to give some very brief information about the 2 types of dolphins we came across. The rest of the time she stayed behind the glass screen together with the captain. When they suddenly spotted a ‘blow’ of a whale, she said it would be a very hard job finding it in these weather conditions. (Why do you organise a whale trip anyway then??) What also bothered us is that we had to be in the harbour by 8h30, but then we had to wait for about 45 minutes for some passengers of another company.... So we arrived back in the harbour at 12h30 instead of 12 o’clock and we had to cancel an activity in the afternoon. Although we knew that we had to be realistic about our chances of seeing a whale, the fact that we didn’t spot one, made matters only worse. So will I do this again? Yes, certainly! But only when the weather is warm enough and with another company.
      Written April 10, 2018
    • Marlene M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      An excellent team
      We were very well welcomed, everyone was really nice and most of all very professional. Plus we were lucky to see 6 different species. It definitely was a good day. Highly recommendable.
      Written September 26, 2017
    • Chi-Psgl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whales and dolphins
      We were very lucky: the sea was calm, the weather was good but not too clear (full sun would have been tough!), and we were able to see 5 whales, two manta rays and many dolphins of several different species. Our guide was Marcio, a young but expert marine biologist, who spoke good English and promptly pointed the cetaceans, and explained differences between the species and habits. We were worried that getting close to the animals would be dangerous, or could disturb them. Any worries faded as we saw them: it was a wonderful experience! The expedition lasted about three hours, and we'd warmly recommend it.
      Written September 12, 2017
    • francophile5310
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Brilliant trip
      Obviously this type of trip is very dependant on firstly the weather & secondly how many animals are encountered. The staff in both the office & on the boat the 'Moby Dick' were all very friendly & helpful. We were supplied with rain jackets & life vests & a biologist on board explained all about the different species. It was such a beautiful day with calm seas that just being on the boat was great. We saw 3 species of dolphin, 3 types of whale including a blue whale & a turtle. A truly magical morning.
      Written July 3, 2017
    • taha h
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A journey of a life time
      What can I say 😎😊 I was welcomed with a big smile and open arms. The team was extremely professional and courtios, safety was paramount through out. I would give them 10 out of five as they are an example to be followed and it would be a previlage to go on another adventure with them. I would highly recommend and will surely return 😄😄 Ps I got to see BLUE WHALES, Finn whales and common / resus dolphins and a letherback turtle. Oh and the Portuguese man of war was everywhere 🤠🤠
      Written June 26, 2017
    See all 180 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles97 reviews
    Excellent
    72
    Very good
    14
    Average
    6
    Poor
    3
    Terrible
    2

    These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
    This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

    DanaRabenstein
    2 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Couples
    When we booked, everything seemed very pleasant, and we were even assured that it would be a boat with benches. At least I sat on a bench, but my husband sat on the hopscotch saddles that older people with minor disabilities fear, crammed in between the other, much younger participants. Although we were among the first at the meeting point, in order to secure seats at the back of the boat, we were the last to be allowed on the boat, which meant that we were divided into the front (unsuitable for seniors and damaging to the joints) and the back (friendly for seniors and backs). But these are only the lesser evils at Aqua Açores. I was speechless, horrified and outraged by the way the "whaler" treated the dolphins, and especially a whale calf. The ship approached it to within ~3 meters, amidst cheers. It was impossible to determine where the mother was. This was more like whale hunting than whale watching and has absolutely nothing to do with the concern for animal welfare expressed on the website. Even the 50 meter distance from the animals stated on the Aqua Açores website is not what animal welfare organizations recommend, where 100 to 500 meters are recommended. But harassing this poor baby whale like that just shows complete disrespect and a lack of respect for the whales and dolphins. The loud screaming of the whaler and the participants also served to disturb the animals. We have taken part in whale watching tours on Terceira before, but this one leads us to the conclusion that there is no such thing as animal-friendly whale watching. In any case, I must advise anyone who cares about these wonderful whales and dolphins not to book with Aqua Açores.
    Google
    Written August 22, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    greta
    1 contribution
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Family
    The crew is nice and friendly, the skipper very skilled and the trip on the boat is really fun. The only problem is that they should call it ‘dolphin watch’ because you always see dolphin, and sometimes, if you are lucky, whales. I also think that they lied to us, because when I booked the tour i specifically asked the girl at the desk their statistic about meeting a whale (NOT dolphins) and she told me that in the last month they only missed whales for two days. I don’t think it’s fair to say that, even by reading other reviews you can understand why. If it’s ok with you to just see dolphins is overall a good experience
    Written July 31, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Isabelle D
    15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Couples
    We had a great tour and saw lots of animals. Sperm whales, a sea turtle, dolphins and even sei whales. The crew tried very hard to ensure that we had a great sighting, and they succeeded. At the end we were given a snack and drinks, as well as a small postcard with our names and the species of animals we saw. That was a very nice gesture. Thank you for this successful trip.
    Google
    Written April 29, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Alex S
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    We were lucky enough to see lots of sperm whales and some dolphins. The crew were happy to spend time explaining about the species we saw, and were happy to answer questions about the whales while we were on the boat. The boat ride was comfortable and I'd recommend it to eveyone.
    Written August 15, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Gary P
    London, UK42 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    First the positives: great flexibility, excellent pre departure communication and knowledgeable staff.
    The not so goods: trip only lasted 2h. They blamed this on some children starting to cry, which resulted in an early return (not really fair that others missed out due to some selfish parents. This trip is not really suitable for under 10s). Second we were last to board as customers from 'a partner' boarded first. This meant we had the last two seats at the back of the boat and ended up getting completely soaked from the spray, despite wearing water proofs.
    Otherall a positive experience. We did get to see dolphins and a blue whale.
    Written April 7, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    hockeydad65
    Denver, CO11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    we did a swim with the dolphins trip. So cool to see them up close. it is a different experience than the carribean version where you are with semi domesticated dolphins. This is off shore with a giant group of them swimming at high speed in open ocean. Loved all of it., but if you get seasick easily, it might not be for for you on a choppy day.
    Written July 8, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Anke G
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    They are very friendly during the boat ride the guide explaines what you see. We saw 3 kinds of dolphins and 2 huge spermwhales, they kept their distance to the whales as they should. Although the ocean very rough the captain did an amazing job! Staff was very friendly and we got a souvenir to show is what we saw!
    Written July 8, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    CLIPILK
    Lisbon, Portugal968 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2023 • Family
    The team exudes friendliness, the lecture in Portuguese and English is basic for those who are not familiar with cetaceans.
    The boat captain is experienced and the guide is enlightened and knowledgeable.
    It was very rewarding, and we were lucky to see dolphins and a family of sperm whales.
    Google
    Written October 26, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    63certo-me
    Londres, Reino Unido851 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent, both for its kindness and for its organization.
    They gave us a fantastic price for the 4 of us, it was fast and very well organized.
    Before the activity They give a clear explanation of what is possible to see or not.
    They are respectful of the sighting.
    At the end they give you a small snack which is appreciated.

    Days before we went for the same thing with Futurismo in Sao Miguel and it was a disaster, chaotic, a split, they don't explain what you will see until the end.
    It's 100 times better at Pico and with this family business.

    An absolute success
    Google
    Written August 24, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    MaryYouWin
    Cornelius, NC9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2024 • Couples
    Aqua Azores was a phenomenal host. They worked with us on our booking seamlessly through email. (We originally booked for a day that looked to have bad weather, but it was very easy to switch to another option.) We saw FOUR different species of dolphins on our 2.5 hour tour. It was incredible. Seeing these creatures up close in their habitat while keeping a respectful distance was everything I could have imagined. I was in heaven. I would've gone everyday if my husband would let me!
    Written September 3, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Whale and Dolphin Watching in Pico Island - Half Day provided by Aqua Açores

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