Whale Watching & Islet Vila Franca do Campo Tour

It all starts at the yachting marina, in Ponta Delgada, where years of experience and dedication are translated into a briefing on security, respect for the animals, and living science. After that, be prepared for three hours of intense encounters at sea with splendid cetaceans or a funny school of dolphins. The shooting and the photos taken by the crew will perpetuate these moments.

The stop at the Vila Franca marina is a pit-stop for a delicious picnic. After, a 15-minute crossing to an islet whose almost untouched beauty granted it the name of «The Princess’ Ring». Its interior guards us in a primeval, protective circle, where transparent waters offer themselves to the exploration of their colored bottom. It is also a sanctuary for birds that will reveal unique specimens before the return journey.

Difficulty

Languages

Transport Type

BOAT

VAN

Tour Starts

Ponta Delgada

Minimum Age

Season

Available in high season

Transport Type

BOAT

VAN

Tour Starts

Ponta Delgada

Languages

Minimum Age

Season

Available in high season

Trip Overview

Magnificent Whales & The Princess Ring

Price

117€

Duration

Full day

High Quality Service

Clean & Safe Certified Company

Exceptional & Educational Nature Experience

Free Cancellations

Gallery

Itinerary

Harbor of Ponta Delgada +

This great adventure starts at the Marina of Ponta Delgada, in our shop. Our staff will welcome you for the check-in.

Setting sails +

After the check-in, you will be directed to the boat where our marine biologists will give a briefing. They will tell you about the species that you might see, whale watching history in the Azores as well as how we respect the animals.
Then, we are ready to navigate and look for cetaceans in the wild. On the way, have a look at the coast of our beautiful island, full of magical landscapes.

The deep Atlantic +

That is where you will encounter the biggest animals. Whales are living in the deep ocean. Some of them simply pass by our waters during their migration.
Prepare for awe-inspiring moments where time suddenly freezes and natural magic happens right in front of your eyes.

Welcome back to land +

Back to Ponta Delgada harbor, we will remind you of all the species you saw.
Inside our shop, you can see some curiosities about cetaceans that we keep with us, such as krill or also keratin plates from baleen whales.

The Princess Ring +

From Vila Franca do Campo harbor, we will sail to São Miguel’s Crown Jewel in a traditional fishing vessel. The trip is just about 15 minutes.
Explore the islet. There, you can snorkel or simply rest inside the crater of this Natural Reserve. The volcanic crater is classified by Birdlife International as an important location for bird nesting. In order to protect it, there are only 400 visits per day, to preserve and take care of its nature.

Select your departure

117€ per adult + 7.02€ Online Fee

Why Futurismo

35 Years of Experience

Founded in 1990, we are one of the most experienced companies in the whole Azores Islands.

Pioneers and Leaders

We have pioneered nature-based adventure travel in the Azores, striving to keep helping the Azores take the right path in tourism.

Proudly Azorean Local Experts

Our team is made up of people who live, breathe, eat, and sleep in the Azores. This is our home and we are eager to share it with the world.

MORE ABOUT US

117€ per adult + 7.02€ Online Fee

Premier Whale Watching Operator

Experienced. Passionate. Respectful.

WCA Certified

Our ethical tourism practices recognized worldwide

Cetacean Sighting Guaranteed

98% chance of spotting whales or dolphins. Didn’t see any? Join another tour for free

21.000+ Sighting Records

30 yrs of scientific research. Collabs with 20+ universities

Top-notch Vessels

Best and biggest Whale Watching fleet in the Azores

KNOW MORE

100% stays in the local community

20% to local small companies

Full time, year round, employed guides

What people think about

4.4

68 reviews

jel s 08/10/2026

(Translated by Google) Out with Futurismo for the 2nd time on a whale watching tour. (1st time… Read more

Valentine Reinschmidt 01/10/2026

(Translated by Google) I appreciated the kindness and simplicity of our guide who also shared with… Read more

Marina Galañena 20/09/2026

(Translated by Google) An absolutely magical and unforgettable experience! We were lucky enough to… (Translated by Google) An absolutely magical and unforgettable experience! We were lucky enough to go on a catamaran trip to see dolphins around São Miguel, and we loved it. Seeing these magnificent animals in their natural environment was truly exceptional. The crew was very friendly, professional, and attentive, providing plenty of information throughout the excursion. We particularly appreciated their respectful approach to the animals and the fact that the experience was primarily about discovering marine wildlife. The catamaran was very comfortable, and we were also able to fully enjoy the scenery and the beauty of the ocean. We were accompanied by our 6-month-old baby, and everything went very smoothly. The crew was attentive, and we felt comfortable throughout the entire trip. We 100% recommend this activity if you're visiting São Miguel! A wonderful way to discover the island from a different perspective and leave with incredible memories. (Original) Une expérience absolument magique et inoubliable ! Nous avons eu la chance de partir en catamaran à la découverte des dauphins autour de São Miguel et nous avons adoré cette sortie. Voir ces magnifiques animaux évoluer dans leur environnement naturel était un moment vraiment exceptionnel. L’équipage était très sympathique, professionnel et à l’écoute, avec de nombreuses explications tout au long de l’excursion. Nous avons particulièrement apprécié l’approche respectueuse des animaux et le fait que l’expérience reste avant tout une découverte de la faune marine. Le catamaran était très agréable et nous avons également pu profiter pleinement des paysages et de la beauté de l’océan. Nous étions accompagnés de notre bébé de 6 mois et tout s’est très bien passé. L’équipage a été attentionné et nous nous sommes sentis à l’aise pendant toute la sortie. Une activité que nous recommandons à 100 % si vous êtes de passage à São Miguel ! Une très belle façon de découvrir l’île autrement et de repartir avec des souvenirs incroyables. Read more

Claudon Déborah 05/09/2026

(Translated by Google) Amazing experience! We even got an extra hour on the Zodiac, what more could… Read more

Thomas Sliwa (Obluvion) 22/08/2026

(Translated by Google) One of the most beautiful experiences of the holiday was the boat trip with… Read more

Matteo Albertoni 19/08/2026

I did the whale watching + islet of Villa Franca tour and it was truly amazing. Of course the whale… Read more

Claire M 15/08/2026

We did the day tour for whale and dolphin watching + Vila Franca Islet. It was amazing from start… Read more

Marina Katic 27/07/2026

We had an amazing day on our honeymoon with our guide Adri. Took the whole day whale watching and… Read more

Mar Garcia 15/06/2026

(Translated by Google) Fantastic experience with this whale watching excursion! We saw dolphins and… Read more

Laure Montigny 23/05/2026

(Translated by Google) We took a boat trip to Pico Island in May and were lucky enough to see… Read more

David Olišar 22/04/2026

(Translated by Google) I used this company 3 times in one week, 2 times on a Zodiac and 1 time on a… (Translated by Google) I used this company 3 times in one week, 2 times on a Zodiac and 1 time on a catamaran. What I can definitely rate positively is the attitude of all the Futurismo employees. They were all very nice and it was clear that they enjoy their work. On the other hand, there were a few things that disappointed me. The first thing is that on the website they state that "duration - half day", which of course is not true. So that is a bit misleading and they should change it. Another thing I don't understand is why when I pay for whale and dolphin watching, you decide to spend 1 hour out of 3 sailing to see the island of Vila Franca. It is of course an interesting place, but not when I pay for whale and dolphin watching. Lastly, I was a bit surprised that when I booked a time slot from 8:00-11:00, the actual departure time was 8:45 and the return to port was 11:45. Anyway, I decided to give it 5 stars anyway. Futurismo more or less delivered what I expected. I really liked how they followed all the whale/dolphin watching rules and although it is important for them that their customers see as much as possible, the whales and dolphins always came first. And that's how it should be 👏🏻 🐋 (Original) Za jeden týden jsem využil tuto společnost 3x, z čehož jsem 2x byl na Zodiacu a 1x na katamaránu. Co mohu určitě hodnotit kladně, tak je přístup všech pracovníků Futurismo. Všichni byli moc milí a bylo vidět, že je ta práce baví. Naopak bylo i pár věcí, co mě zklamalo. První věc, že na webových stránkách uvádějí, že "duration - half day", což samozřejmě není pravda. To je tedy trochu zavádějící a měli by to změnit. Další věc, které nerozumím, je, proč když si zaplatím pozorování velryb a delfínů, rozhodnete se 1 hodinu ze 3 strávit tím, že se plujeme podívat na ostrov Vila Franca. Je to samozřejmě zajímavé místo, ale ne, když si platím za pozorování velryb a delfínů. V poslední řadě mě trochu zarazilo, že když si zarezervuji časové okno od 8:00-11:00, tak že reálné vyplutí je v 8:45 a návrat do přístavu v 11:45. V každém případě jsem se rozhodl dát i tak 5 hvězdiček. Víceméně Futurismo zajistilo to, co jsem od toho očekával. Moc se mi líbilo, jak dodržují veškerá pravidla pro sledování velryb/delfínů a přestože je pro ně důležité, aby jejich zákazníci viděli co možná nejvíce, velryby a delfíni byli vždy na prvním místě. A tak to má být 👏🏻 🐋 Read more

Duncan Codd 09/09/2025

Unforgettable adventures with a top-notch team. Futurismo made our Azores trip truly special.… Read more

coralie le thiec 01/09/2025

(Translated by Google) It was truly a magical adventure. Thanks to the whale watching systems on… Read more

Guillaume Tell 12/07/2025

(Translated by Google) An exceptional day spent with this animal-friendly organization. They have… Read more

Stéphane Thiollent 24/06/2025

(Translated by Google) We chose Pico Island from Lajes and we weren't disappointed. A reputable… Read more

Jacqueline Matthey 16/04/2025

(Translated by Google) The crew on board is incredibly attentive to those who wish to move around… Read more

Claudia Douieb 04/04/2025

(Translated by Google) We initially booked a whale watching tour upon arriving on the island, but… Read more

Yulia S 05/03/2025

On February 28, our huge dream came true thanks to the Futurismo - we saw whales! First we saw 2… Read more

Kurt Celie 15/09/2024

Great experience, surprising amount of different fish species around the Villa Franca islet. It was… Read more

María 09/09/2024

(Translated by Google) Maria, our guide, couldn't have been nicer. We saw two types of dolphins,… Read more

What people think about

more than 15.000 reviews

It was our first time with whales. Very enjoyable trip! Staff was very helpful and kindly answered all our questions. Thanks for the wonderful experience!

Martin Merimen, UK

Essencial Trip Information

What's Included

Insurance (personal accident and liability)
Life jacket (on zodiac boats)
Marine biologist guides
Pre-tour briefing
Raincoat and pants (if necessary)
Picnic in Vila Franca
Boat trip to and from Vila Franca do Campo Islet
Transfer back to Ponta Delgada by Boat or by Van/Bus

Why this Tour

Priceless encounters with giant marine creatures, tasting mouthwatering traditional food and swimming in a stunning oasis in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Interesting, no?

Insert a “check” on your bucket list for three of the most exciting and important experiences Azores has to offer.

Departure and Return

Departure Point

Portas do Mar, Shop 26, 9500-771 Ponta Delgada.
There are two paid parking facilities, both accessed via the same entrance ramp.

Departure Time

Please select a date on the calendar and arrive at the meeting point at the scheduled time for check-in and a short safety briefing.

Return Point

Returns to the original departure point by boat or by van, depending on the weather conditions.

How long does the Whale Watching Tour last? +

This is a half-day tour.

The estimated duration is approximately 3 hours, including check-in and a mandatory safety briefing, with departure taking place immediately after these procedures.

In some cases, the tour may last slightly longer if we need to travel farther offshore to improve sighting opportunities, whether to encounter more species or particularly special ones. The experience always takes priority.

What does the tour start time refer to? +

The tour start time refers to check-in time, not the moment of departure.

Guests should arrive at the meeting point at the scheduled time. After check-in and a brief safety briefing, departure will take place within 30 minutes of the check-in time, depending on group readiness and sea conditions.

Are the Azores a good whale-watching destination? +

The Azores are a great whale-watching destination, probably one of the best in the whole world. We have sperm whales all year round. Being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, lots of cetacean species pass by our islands during their annual migration.

What if the weather isn’t ok? +

If the weather doesn’t allow us to do this activity safely, we will cancel it and suggest an alternative date.

Can I use my drone during this tour? +

You cannot use a drone on our tours with other travelers.

Do you sell medication for seasickness? +

No, we do not sell anything on the boat. If you know that you get easily seasick, it is better to purchase adequate medication before the tour.

Cancellation +

Cancellations up to 48 hours before the tour, no penalties are applied.
Cancellations up to 24 hours: 50% of the total amount will be charged.
Cancellations less than 24 hours or no-show: full amount will be charged.
If the weather conditions do not allow the activity to be done safely, we will cancel it and contact you to suggest an alternative date or provide a full refund.

Booking confirmation +

You will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of successful booking.

What to bring? +

Comfortable clothes and shoes.
Your mask and snorkel.
Sunscreen, swimsuit and towel.
Hat, backpack.
Water and snacks (we do not sell food aboard).

Advisory +

Futurismo operates this tour every day of the week from June 15th to September 15th, onboard a zodiac boat.
On weekends and public holidays, we do not operate this tour.
Lunch: salad (meat, fish, vegan or vegetarian), 0.5L water, juice, Vila Franca do Campo queijada, biscuits.
We don’t recommend this tour for people with back problems and pregnant women.
This tour is always operated byin Zodiac boats.
If you have any food restrictions, please inform us at least 48h before the tour.