Our Azores vacations & tours
Responsible Travel's vacations in the Azores are built on local expertise and passion for protecting this incredible archipelago. Each one of our fantastic Azores vacations supports communities and local conservation initiatives.
Our family-friendly whale watching vacations in the Azores are among the most ethical and successful in the world. Huge numbers of whales, including the majestic blue whale, visit the deep, nutrient-rich waters off this Portuguese archipelago. Our expert boat crews explain whale behaviours while tracking sightings for conservation projects.
Join our island-hopping trip and we will guide you as you trek volcanic landscapes, sample the renowned wines of Pico while supporting local vineyards, or try activities like coasteering and canyoning, knowing that our experienced guides work closely with the Azorean Ocean Department to keep rivers and coasts clean.
Our family-friendly whale watching vacations in the Azores are among the most ethical and successful in the world. Huge numbers of whales, including the majestic blue whale, visit the deep, nutrient-rich waters off this Portuguese archipelago. Our expert boat crews explain whale behaviours while tracking sightings for conservation projects.
Join our island-hopping trip and we will guide you as you trek volcanic landscapes, sample the renowned wines of Pico while supporting local vineyards, or try activities like coasteering and canyoning, knowing that our experienced guides work closely with the Azorean Ocean Department to keep rivers and coasts clean.
Our top Azores vacations
Whale watching in the Azores
From
£635 to £935
8 days
ex flights
Classic whale watching trip in the Azores archipelago
Tailor made
Azores tour, island explorer
From
£695 to £995
7 days
ex flights
Dolphins, whales and explore fiery volcanic islands!
Tailor made
Azores walking vacation, Portugal
From
US $3225 to US $3600
8 days
ex flights
Walk to Cete Cidades and the Fire Lakes
Small group2024: 11 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 20 Jul, 10 Aug, 7 Sep, 2025: 10 May, 31 May, 14 Jun, 5 Jul, 19 Jul, 9 Aug, 6 Sep
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Island hopping in the Azores, small group
From
US $2980 to US $3790
14 days
ex flights
An easy walking vacation on the Azores
Small group2024: 16 May, 2 Jun, 16 Jun, 7 Jul, 21 Jul, 4 Aug, 18 Aug, 8 Sep, 22 Sep, 10 Oct
Blue Whale Discovery Vacation, Azores
From
£865 to £995
7 days
ex flights
Come see Blue Whales in the Azores!
Tailor made
Azores multi activity vacation
From
€950 to €1260
7 days
ex flights
Week of fun activities exploring Sao Miguel Island
Tailor made
Azores family adventure vacation, whales and dolphins
From
£955
7 days
ex flights
Learn about dolphins, whales & fiery volcanic Islands!
Tailor made
Blue whale watching in the Azores, Pico Island
From
£1190
8 days
ex flights
Best time to see Blue Whales on Pico, Azores
Small group2024: 27 Apr, 4 May
Blue Whale tour in the Azores
From
£1295
8 days
ex flights
Visit the Azores at the best time to see Blue Whales
Small group2024: 27 Apr, 4 May
About our Azores vacations
Family vacations in the Azores
At the heart of Responsible Travel’s family vacations in the Azores are the incredible boat trips to see whales and dolphins. Skippered by experts in ocean life, these trips are truly collaborative – the sightings, and photos you take, help to build a greater understanding of this unique marine environment. On land, our experienced guides plan fun hiking and mountain bike routes that are mindful of the volcanic landscape, complete with dips in geothermal hot springs or forest pools.
Swimming with dolphins
Admiring dolphins from the boat is one thing; actually being in the water alongside them is a different experience altogether. Responsible Travel’s swimming with dolphins vacations are wild encounters, accompanied by our experienced guides who will provide training to ensure that both animal and human have the best possible time. The best time to swim with dolphins in the Azores is between May and September, when the sea is warmer and calmer, although you will still need a wetsuit. Large pods of common dolphins congregate here, as well as bottlenose, Risso’s and striped dolphins.
Whale watching in the Azores
Responsible Travel’s whale watching vacations in the Azores have high viewing success rates. Skippers – experts in marine life as well as minimising their impact on the whales – are guided by spotters in the vigia towers that stud the islands’ coasts. The Azores are one of the best places in the world for whale watching, and between April and June large numbers of baleen whales, including huge blue whales, can be seen in these deep, dark waters rich in krill and plankton. Our whale watching tours by boat have helped replace the historic, bloody whaling industry that was once the major economy in the Azores.
Tours & vacations in the Azores
Responsible Travel wildlife vacations in the Azores are all about cetaceans. This remote Portuguese archipelago is surrounded by waters of such depth and nutrients that whales and dolphins are in their element, thankfully now protected rather than hunted largely due to the growth of sustainable tourism. It’s possible, though rare, to see whales while walking in the Azores, but we still recommend exploring the islands if you can. Vineyards, hot springs, crater lakes, hills hazy with hydrangeas and smoky volcanic fumaroles are all part of the attraction. Our active adventure vacations feature a mix of whale and dolphin watching and hikes, along with mountain biking, kayaking and canyoning that puts preservation of the Azores first and foremost.
[Family vacations: amoswright]
[Swimming with dolphins: iStock]
[Types of vacations: Guillaume Baviere]
