Whales and Birds of Sao Miguel

2025 sees a welcome return for one of our most-popular holidays: say hello to the Whales and Birds of Sao Miguel.

Since taking their first tentative steps into the world of eco-tourism in the late 1980s, the islands of the Azores are now widely considered to be Europe’s number one destination for whale and dolphin watching.

Today’s ‘whale-tourism’ is key to the ecology of the north Atlantic, helping to support cetacean studies and conservation across the Azores. And trips to sea are so much more than simply whale watching – in the capable hands of our resident marina biologists, you’ll learn about the natural habitats of the Azorean populations of Sperm whales, the behavioural patterns of Atlantic spotted dolphins, and you’ll see how different cetacean species communicate.

Thanks to their mid-Atlantic location, the Azores are also a welcome refuge for a wide variety of marine birds, migratory species and occasionally the odd vagrant. Cory’s shearwaters and storm-petrels are regular visitors to the Ilhue d’ Vila: an extinct offshore volcano, and you’ll have a chance to visit this important nature reserve. On land, you’ll also explore eastern Sao Miguel’s laurisilva forest: the protected natural habitat for the Priolo bullfinch – one of Europe’s most-endangered native bird species.

We’ll also include a hire car, with time to explore the magnificent landscapes of Sao Miguel at your leisure: the beautiful twin lakes at Sete Cidades, the central Fogo volcanic massif, and the famous hot springs at Furnas.