Whale Watching

Explore the vastness of the open ocean, full of secret beauty and greatness. Enjoy how sea life comes to you in an unexpected encounter.

Face-to-face encounters with astonashing creatures

Lying in the middle of the mystical Atlantic Ocean, the wonderful Azores islands are a permanent home or point of passage for more than a third of the entire world’s whale and dolphin species.
Dive into this lifetime adventure with ancestral creatures where science and emotion come together at their highest level!
This may be the best place on earth to observe these magnificent animals.

Explore, Love & Protect

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Get to know why you should book these tours with us

World-class operator

We are internationally certified by WCA as a Responsible Whale Watching operator and are globally renown for defining the standards for this activity.

98% sighting chances

We don’t stop at a 98% sighting success rate. Additional tours will be offered until you see a cetacean

A marine wildlife oasis

Raised from the deepest waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores is the home of big families of Sperm Whales and three dolphin species!

Jaw-dropping moments

Experience face-to-face encounters with astonishing creatures from the deepest waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Best fleet in the Azores

Experience a once in a lifetime adventure at high speed in our Zodiac boats or great visibility and comfort on our stable catamarans.

Face-to-face encounters with astonashing creatures

Big blue whales, jumping bottlenose dolphins, or breaching humpback whales, each day brings a new surprise and nature is very generous here!

Mysterious underwater world explained

Get to know every detail about the incredible marine wildlife and their hidden secrets thanks to our team of knowledgeable and qualified marine biologists.

Leaders in Whale Watching

1st Whale Watching Company in São Miguel (1990) and largest tour operator in the Azores.

Marine Biologist Guides

95% of our sea tour crew are marine biologists actively involved in scientific research.

Free Cancellations

You’ll receive a full refund if you cancel at least 48 hours in advance

Multicultural Team

Our guides speak several languages, including English, Spanish, French and German.

Investigating the Atlantic for 30 Years

With over 21.000+ cetacean sighting records, we collaborate in investigations for 20+ international universities

What people think about

more than 8000 reviews

The whale watch was beyond our expectations. The boat was fast and stable, the crew helpful, friendly, and professional. We saw over a dozen of sperm whales, a pair of fin whales, and a blue whale.

We also did a really excellent walking tour of Ponta Delgada and two excellent jeep tours. All were excellent and were well worth the time and the price. Futurismo delivered 110%.

Richard, USA

Plan your visit

FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the best season to do Whale Watching in the Azores?

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All year-round, we have sperm whales and several dolphin species. If you want to see the biggest whales in the world, the best season for whale and dolphin watching in the Azores is Springtime – March to June.
During this time of the year, baleen whales are migrating and passing by our waters. Thus, it is possible to see blue whales, fin whales, and sei whales among others.
The summertime is also ideal to spot pilot whales, beaked whales, or spotted dolphins for example.

How do you locate the whales and dolphins in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean?

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Futurismo has more lookouts than any other tour operator in the Azores so we always know where the animals are. Lookouts are people on the coast looking for cetaceans with binoculars.
Apart from this ancestral method, we can locate the whales and dolphins based on acoustic data thanks to our directional hydrophone which will allow us to hear and record sounds emitted by cetaceans audible to the human ear.

I travel with children and elders, is this activity indicated for familes?

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The catamarans are recommended for elders and children under 8 years.

What to wear on a Whale Watching tour?

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You can wear comfortable light clothes with a vest in the summertime, and a warmer coat and waterproof raincoat for the wintertime.

Is there anything I need to bring with me for this tour?

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Please check the “What to bring” section on each tour program. There you’ll find all the recommendations we have for you, specifically for that program.

What airlines fly to Sao Miguel, Azores?

Flying to São Miguel Island is quite easy and a good deal! There are low-cost companies such as Ryanair offering trips all year round. The easiest way to come, besides direct international flights, is through Lisbon (2h flight) and Porto (2h30 flight). Check the Getting Here page to learn more.

What to do in Sao Miguel when raining?

What is the best season for bird watching in São Miguel island?

Quick Facts

ABOUT SÃO MIGUEL ISLAND

Language

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The native language is the Portuguese, although the accent differs from between islands according to the cultural roots of the first settlers on the island.

The Azoreans easily master the English, French and German.

Currency

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The currency unit is the EURO (€).

Only banking institutions exchange money, which are open from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

The visitor can use credit cards, usually with the establishments that accept them affixed stickers that indicate it.

Transportation

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Air: All the islands of the Azores are connected by air, through the operator Sata Regional – Air Açores.

Sea: Maritime connections between all the islands are provided from May to October by the shipping company Atlânticoline, and the islands of Faial, Pico and São Jorge have connections throughout the year by Transmaçor and Expresso do Triângulo.

Land: On all islands there is a network of bus, taxi and rent-a-car services.