Cetacean Watching Program in the Azores : July 3 - 9, 2005
Ecotourism trip: Cetacean watching
In the wake of dolphins and whales...
For a long time, men have been sailing in the wake of the kings of the oceans. Before, to hunt them, nowadays, most of the time, to observe them.
Mentalities have changed in some countries. How after killing cetaceans, some nations have turned to ecotourism?
The Azores, small Portuguese islands spared by mass tourism, are the perfect place to understand this change.
Once an important destination for sperm whale hunting, now one of the most interesting whale and dolphin watching spots in the world.
You will discover the two facets of the most representative islands for this activity: Pico and Faial.
Armed with your greatest respect, cameras or camcorders you will live magical moments in the company of common dolphins, spotted dolphins, sperm whales, rorquals ...
If the dolphins agree, you can go in the water with them...
To reach a specialist
Dive travelers : Frédéric Lavaud (voyageursdumonde.fr)
Travelers Spain/Portugal: Maria Cordente Ruiz
Ketologist Guide: Julien Marchal
Loyalty frequency program
If at the time of your registration for this guided tour, you have already completed with Voyageurs du Monde :
- 2 accompanied tours in the last 3 years, you will receive a discount of 3%
- 3 tours accompanied in the last 4 years, you will receive a discount of 4%
- 4 tours accompanied in the last 5 years, you will receive a discount of 5%
- 8 tours accompanied in the last 10 years, you will receive a discount of 8%
Your guide
Your program
D 1 - PARIS / HORTA / LAJES DO PICO
Departure from Paris to Horta on Air Portugal (change in Lisbon).
Arrival in Horta on the island of Faial, you will take the ferry to the island of Pico and after a quick transfer, you will settle in a typical family pension.
You will have time to visit the charming village of Lajes where you will stay and to meet Serge Viallelle. This Frenchman, a cetacean specialist, founded Espaço Talassa, a base for the observation and study of cetaceans in the Azores.
D 2 - LAJES DO PICO : Cetacean observation
This day will surely be full of emotion, it is dedicated to the meeting of the dolphins and whales of the Azorean sea. You will have lunch on land at noon, then leave by boat with Espaço Talassa.
Before each trip, you will be given a briefing on the cetaceans and afterwards, over a drink, you will be able to talk about these experiences with specialists.
Espaço talassa is the first whale watching base in the Azores. It was founded in 1991. Since the beginning, it takes care of the well-being of the observed animals. It participates in numerous studies on dolphins, whales and sea turtles.
Many specialists, photographers and professionals trust him.
The encounter with the giants of the sea is not without danger. Even if it is proven that whales are aware of the presence of boats at their side and that they are careful. Espaço Talassa is all about safety. Two people from the center and our guide accompany you on the boat and visual contact with the land is always maintained.
D 3 - LAJES DO PICO: observation of cetaceans and visit of the vestiges of the hunt
In the morning, an easy hike will allow you to see the Queimada lookout, a place used to spot cetaceans from land, formerly for hunting, now for observation.
You will visit the whaling museum in Lajes
In the afternoon, you will go back to observe cetaceans at sea with Espaço Talassa.
The Whalers' Museum in Lajes presents the whale hunt in the Azores. Through a library, a film, exhibitions ... you will discover how the Azorean hunters went to sea. This hunt has always been traditional, even in recent years, far from the massacres that have taken place in other countries. It has been stopped recently, the last sperm whale was hunted in the Azores in 1989!
D 4 - LAJES DO PICO / HORTA
In the morning, you will go to Madalena to take the ferry. On the way, you will stop in San Roque to visit an old whale reprocessing plant.
In the afternoon, you will visit the city of Horta and can relax on the black sand beach.
In the evening, you can have a drink at Peter's café sport, a sailors' hangout, and see its scrimshaw exhibition: engraving on sperm whale teeth.
Horta, the most important city of the island of Faial, is the obligatory stop for all sailors leaving for America. Its marina is cosmopolitan, you can hear many languages and see sailing ships from all over the world. It is a tradition that every ship that stops in Horta must paint on the harbor so that the rest of the journey goes smoothly. These works of art can be admired throughout the marina.
Day 5 - HORTA : cetacean watching and swimming with dolphins
Full day of cetacean watching and swimming with dolphins. You will leave with Norberto who owns a diving center.
Swimming with dolphins is regulated in the Azores. Two people get into the water with only 5 species of dolphins.
Dolphins are free like whales, so it is not certified that this activity is possible during the outing. In any case, it is up to the center's manager to decide if you can swim with the dolphins. If you are lucky enough to be able to do so, you will enjoy this magical encounter.
D 6 - HORTA : diving or hiking and swimming with dolphins
In the morning, you will have the chance to do a scuba dive with Norberto. An opportunity to give you a glimpse of the Azorean sea bed.
In the afternoon, you will leave with him for your last sea trip, where if the dolphins agree, you will observe them in their own environment.
D 7 - HORTA / PARIS
Late morning departure from Horta for arrival in the evening in Paris with Air Portugal.
WORLD TRAVELERS
Cetacean Watching Program in the Azores : July 3 - 9, 2005
Day 1 (July 3rd)
- Departure from Orly to Horta, change in Lisbon with Air Portugal.
Schedules: Orly: 7:45 am - Lisbon: 9:05 am
Lisbon: 10:15 am - Horta: 11:50 am
- Transfer from the airport to the city of Horta
- Lunch in Horta
- Transfer by ferry at 15:00 to Madalena on the island of Pico
- Transfer from Madalena to Lajes do Pico
- Installation at the Espaço Talassa Lodge (around 5pm) It is a family pension near Espaço Talassa and 100 meters from the small port. Each room has either a sea view or a view of the largest mountain in Portugal: Mount Pico, and has an individual bathroom. Breakfast is taken at the Lodge.
- Stroll in the village of Pico: it is the occasion to walk along the sea, to admire the particular structure of the Azorean houses... Free visit.
- Briefing at Espaço Talassa (around 7pm): first base for the observation and study of cetaceans in the Azores, created in 1991. It offers whale watching trips and participates in research on whales, dolphins and sea turtles. Meeting with its founder Serge Viallelle. During this first briefing, he will talk about whale hunting and the rise of ecotourism related to these marine mammals.
- Evening meals: they are taken in restaurants offering traditional Azorean meals.
Day 2 (July 4th)
- Whale watching day with Espaço Talassa on inflatable motorboats: the most suitable boat for this activity and the Azorean sea.
From the land the lookout observes the sea and informs the groups (12 people per boat, including two people from Espaço Talassa) about the cetaceans to be observed.
Depending on the sea state, this day is composed of two trips of about 3
hours, return to the port for lunch.
- If the sea is bad and we can't go out, half a day can be dedicated to the visit of the Malcolm Clarke's museum in Sao Joao: scientist studying cephalopods (particular mollusks like squids, cuttlefishes...) and those who eat them: sperm whales.
- Evening meal in Lajes.
- Night at the Lodge.
Day 3 (July 5th)
- Visit to the whaling museum in Lajes
- Hike along the coast and near the lookout of Queimada where you may have the chance to see cetaceans from the coast. Espaço Talassa gives all the information about this walk if you ask for it once you are there.
- Lunch in Lajes.
- Cetacean watching trip with Espaço Talassa.
- Evening meal in Lajes
- Night at the Lodge.
Day 4 (July 6th)
- Transport to San Roque, visit of the old whale reprocessing plant.
- Transfer to Madalena
- Ferry to Horta
- Lunch in Horta
- Installation at the residencial san francisco.
- Swimming on the black sand beaches or walking in the marina of Horta.
- Evening meal in Horta
- Outing to Peter's café sport : meeting place of the sailors famous all over the world, visit of the scrimshaw museum : engraving on sperm whale teeth.
- Night at the hotel
Day 5 (July 7th)
- Day of observation of cetaceans or swimming with dolphins with Norberto, he is a former whaler who has converted to whale-watching. His main activity is scuba diving.
- Meals during a stopover for lunch.
- Evening meal in Horta.
- Night at the hotel
Day 6 (July 8)
- Scuba diving with Norberto
- Meals in Horta
- Swim with dolphins
- Evening meal in Horta
- Night at the hotel
Day 7 (July 9th)
- Transfer to the airport
- Return flight
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