Admiring the gentle giants swimming peacefully in the deep blue waters surrounding the Azores islands was not always a relaxing experience. For centuries, Azoreans used to hunt sperm whales in order to sustain their own life and bring wealth to their land. Learn how we transitioned from whale hunters to whale watchers - a change for the better.

Whaling in the Azores: A means of survival

To live in such a remote location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in the last centuries is a double-edged sword. We might have a strategic position between two continents, but life here is quite rough. Sources of economic wealth were not so many, but when we turned towards the infinite waters around the nine islands, we thought it could benefit us.

Today, as other economic cycles began and awareness about the animals’ welfare stepped up, we see things through another lens.

Origins of Azorean whaling

It was in the 18th century that American whalers discovered that the ocean around us was full of sperm whales and taught our people how to hunt whales from their big boats.

The whales that mattered the most to whalers were the sperm whales, because of the Spermaceti – a liquid inside their head that was used for cosmetics and lubricants among other purposes. Most parts of the animals were used: the oil for lighting, the teeth and bones for scrimshaw art, or also the meat for feeding animals.

The Azorean diaspora and whaling

Conditions were very harsh on our islands. From the 19th century, Azoreans and Americans were strongly linked by their whaling practices. That is when we notice the beginnings of Azorean emigration to the United States which were full of opportunities for the hard-working Azoreans. After they learned how to efficiently hunt whales, they returned to the middle of the Atlantic to put in practice starting in 1864.

The precious knowledge brought by American whalers allowed Azoreans to elevate their economy with sperm whale products sold locally and exported around the world.

Adapting whaling techniques

Once back home, the practice had to meet some local adaptations.

Here, we have ocean literally all around us, which makes it hard to know which way to go, and where the whales are. So in order to send the boats straight to the whales and not spend too much time in hazardous situations, Azoreans used a system called Vigias (lookouts) to spot the animals from the coast and guide the whalers thanks to smoke signals.

We still use this technique nowadays to send our whale-watching boats in the right direction, although we use radio communication to be even more efficient.

Perils of whaling and utilizing the whales

Azoreans learned from the top whalers with much more financial resources, but on their home islands, the reality for Azorean whaling was different. From the huge American sailing boats, Azoreans were left with no choice but to go hunting animals much bigger than their local embarkations. It was a dangerous task only available to men who were brave enough to risk their lives to sustain their families.

Most whalers didn’t know how to swim and many perished in the waters around the Azores due to rough weather conditions or to the struggle with enormous animals.

Harpoons were launched manually to kill the animals, which required strength. Then, they would drag the whale floating at the surface to the land and process every part of it. This provided plenty of job opportunities for many islanders.

The decline of whaling

A transformative shift

From 1896 to 1949 – the peak of Azorean whaling history – around 12,000 whales were hunted and killed.

Many reasons led to the end of whaling time in the Azores. First, the local production was much lower than our counterparts from other countries as we used traditional manual techniques. While the Azores were hunting whales almost one by one, other whalers of the world with their factory fishing vessels led to the decimation of whale populations. Also, the demand for whale products decreased as new alternatives were found.

Last, there was increasing pressure from environmental organizations. By 1982, Portugal signed the International Whaling Commission’s moratorium to stop whaling for good. The last whale was officially hunted in 1987 by a resentful whaler from Pico Island.

Preserving a historic legacy

We are so proud to set an example for the rest of the world in ending the suffering of sperm whales in the Azores. But the whaling heritage is still in our veins. The whaling history is recent here, which means that some whalers are alive. This environmental transition changed their lives as well as the animal’s lives.

We still honor their bravery in taking part in the whale hunting times despite the high risks. The old whaling factories where the whales were once processed are now museums where you can witness this fascinating change of perspective towards sperm whales from money-makers to majestic companions sharing our waters.

Visit Museu dos Baleeiros in Pico Island or Fábrica da Baleia in Faial Island to better understand our history.

Whale watching: A sustainable future

From the end of the 20th century until today, we want travelers to experience responsible whale watching as a way of educating about marine biology, helping research to ensure the preservation of the 28 cetacean species present in the Azores, and contributing to the local tourism economy.

In the Azores, we have embraced a new tradition – one that allows us to Explore, Love, and Protect the incredible marine life that graces our shores.

What people think about

4.8

15996 reviews

Andrew Newbigging 21/09/2026

Helpful staff, nice boat, ran on time. Wet, wavy and no whales but plenty of dolphins and beautiful… Read more

Jamie Crosswell 21/09/2026

An amazing trip! The tour guide was so friendly, helpful and knowledgable. We managed to see so… Read more

Laura 20/09/2026

(Translated by Google) Before the boat trip, an informative, realistic, and honest briefing took… Read more

Léo Vicente 20/09/2026

Amazing experience with Futurismo! We were lucky enough to see dolphins, which was absolutely… 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

Mascha Schreurs 20/09/2026

(Translated by Google) We saw 2 types of whales and 2 types of dolphins. It was a super trip. They… Read more

Jennifer Rausch 19/09/2026

The staff was amazing. Waters were rough. We loved it - others in the group got sick. The staff was… Read more

Kuhhorn Carooo 19/09/2026

The team on Pico is just great, we had an amazing experience! Lynn, the guide, she is extremely… Read more

Patrícia Romeiro 19/09/2026

(Translated by Google) It was an incredible experience! We had the opportunity to see Atlantic… Read more

longgrey R 18/09/2026

(Translated by Google) Fantastic trip of over 3 hours. Saw a great many dolphins and a family of… Read more

J. K. 18/09/2026

(Translated by Google) We were absolutely thrilled with Futurismo! We booked two tours in total –… Read more

Leonie Hilscher 18/09/2026

(Translated by Google) Well organized! You can tell that the animals' welfare is their top… Read more

J Khiroun 18/09/2026

Fun experience on the zodiac. Saw lots of dolphins. No whales. It wasn't their season I'm guess. It… Read more

Harald Buck 17/09/2026

(Translated by Google) A fantastic whale and dolphin watching tour. The group size was manageable,… Read more

Alexander Pichler 17/09/2026

(Translated by Google) The staff were very friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, we didn't see any… Read more

Melissa Dawn Brown 17/09/2026

Dolphin and whale watching in Ponta Delgada! So… we saw a school of common and a school of… Read more

ariane Girard-lamontagne 17/09/2026

(Translated by Google) Wow, what an adventure! 🐬 From the moment we arrived, we received a warm… (Translated by Google) Wow, what an adventure! 🐬 From the moment we arrived, we received a warm and enthusiastic welcome. We were given some explanations about their approach to animal welfare, as well as small actions we can take to reduce pollution, such as picking up litter. I really loved this initiative and I hope it will encourage others to do more! The pre-departure briefing was clear, especially regarding the fact that it would be rough on the boat… after all, we were in the ocean! We were given raincoats for those who wanted them, as well as a life jacket. At this time of year, our windbreakers were very welcome, as the raincoats would probably have been too hot. In fact, we barely got wet during the entire adventure. Before setting off, we were clearly instructed to raise our hands if we weren't feeling well. On several occasions, they also warned us that the sea would be rough for those prone to seasickness. And what an experience it was! Even the guide was filming because the scene was so impressive: over 200 dolphins were jumping around us! 🐬 A truly magical moment!!! Despite the numerous warnings, some people got seasick. Perhaps they simply didn't realize they didn't tolerate waves well. The team paused the adventure to allow some people to disembark. Some hesitated and ultimately stayed, but didn't seem to enjoy what followed: nausea, vomiting, and even tears… If you're hesitating, don't stay and don't take the risk! 😅 We then continued our journey in search of whales, but unfortunately, we didn't see any. The weather wasn't in our favor, and we had also lost some time. However, we were lucky enough to see some older dolphins, some of whom looked to be around 30 years old. They were larger and had several scars, which was truly impressive to see. The boat was comfortable despite the bumps in the waves. I can confirm one thing: it's a wonderful experience… but yes, it's a bumpy ride! 😂 And the impressive number of dolphins we saw will certainly remain one of the most magical moments of our trip. A truly unforgettable experience! 🐬❤️ (Original) Wow, quelle aventure ! 🐬 Dès notre arrivée, nous avons eu droit à un accueil chaleureux et dynamique. On nous a donné quelques explications sur leur façon de respecter les animaux, ainsi que sur les petits gestes que nous pouvons poser pour réduire la pollution, notamment en ramassant les déchets. J’ai vraiment adoré cette initiative et j’espère que cela encouragera certaines personnes à en faire davantage ! Les explications avant le départ étaient claires, notamment sur le fait que ça allait brasser en bateau… après tout, nous sommes dans l’océan ! Nous avons reçu des imperméables pour ceux qui en voulaient, ainsi qu’une veste de sauvetage. À cette période de l’année, notre coupe-vent a été très apprécié, car l’imperméable aurait probablement été trop chaud. Nous avons d’ailleurs été à peine mouillés pendant toute l’aventure. Avant de partir, on nous a bien expliqué de lever la main si nous ne nous sentions pas bien. À plusieurs reprises, ils nous ont également avertis que la mer allait être agitée pour les personnes qui ont le mal de mer. Et quelle expérience nous avons vécue ! Même la guide filmait tellement la scène était impressionnante : plus de 200 dauphins sautaient autour de nous ! 🐬 Un moment plus que magique !!! Malgré les nombreux avertissements, certaines personnes ont été malades en bateau. Peut-être qu’elles ne savaient tout simplement pas qu’elles toléraient mal les vagues. L’équipe a fait une pause dans l’aventure afin de permettre à certaines personnes de débarquer. Certaines ont hésité et sont finalement restées, mais ne semblaient pas vraiment apprécier la suite : nausées, vomissements et même des pleurs… Si vous hésitez, ne restez pas et ne tentez pas votre chance ! 😅 Nous avons ensuite poursuivi notre route à la recherche des baleines, mais malheureusement, nous n’avons pas pu en voir. La météo n’était pas en notre faveur et nous avions également perdu un peu de temps. Par contre, nous avons eu la chance d’observer de vieux dauphins, dont certains semblaient avoir environ 30 ans. Ils étaient plus gros et portaient plusieurs cicatrices, ce qui était vraiment impressionnant à observer. Le bateau était confortable malgré les impacts des vagues. Je peux vous confirmer une chose : c’est une très belle expérience… mais oui, ça brasse ! 😂 Et cette quantité impressionnante de dauphins que nous avons vue restera certainement l’un des moments les plus magiques de notre voyage. Une expérience tout simplement inoubliable ! 🐬❤️ Read more

Andrea Ahrens 16/09/2026

Many thanks for this afternoon. Especially to Lynn, we feel that you really love what you are doing… Read more

Christophe Schouller 16/09/2026

(Translated by Google) Excellent excursion for seeing dolphins and a lovely boat… Read more

Susi Fischer 16/09/2026

(Translated by Google) The trip was well-organized on-site, and the crew on the boat was very… Read more

What people think about

more than 2500 reviews

Intense in knowledge transmission. They excel in animal tracking with non-intrusive methods. I had an amazing, unexpected experience. Wonderful. They teach the importance of caring for and respecting our seas and oceans, which is crucial.

Alba Moreno Ruiz, Spain

Exciting excursion, friendly and knowledgeable staff, not too crowded catamaran. We saw two different species of dolphins and a sperm whale with its calf. Thanks for the wonderful experience!

Donatella Fracassi, Italy

A magical moment! We were able to easily see and interact with the dolphins. There was only our boat with 8 swimmers in total, making it even more enjoyable – a special time with the dolphins. Very clear explanations and a guide who listened and was very pleasant. We will be back 👍

Manuel Fernandez, France

During our vacation, we enjoyed both stand-up paddle and kayaking, resulting in an unforgettable experience. The staff were all incredibly friendly. They recommended restaurants after the activity with a personal touch. 100% recommended.

Andrea Jaramillo Lopez, Spain

An outstanding experience. The marine biologist and the driver were both incredibly passionate. We saw 2 dolphins and 2 sperm whales that dived. An unforgettable memory under perfect weather. Thank you for all these unforgettable moments.

Magali Loriot, France

It’s impressive that we haven’t found anybody during our walking tour. It was amazing the communion with nature. It feels that nature is still untouched.

Sievers, Poland

Whale Watching Azores Essentials

Explore, Love, and Protect: Unveiling the essence of Whale Watching in the Azores

The Complete Handbook

Responsible Whale Watching

Resident & Migratory Species

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