The Best Tours in the Azores

The Azores are an adventure playground: whale watching, crater lakes, hot springs, canyoning and volcano hikes. Many of the best experiences are much easier with a guide or boat operator, especially if you don’t want to drive narrow mountain roads in the fog. Here are the best tours in the Azores, mostly on São Miguel, with a few on the other islands.

Quick answer: the must-do tour is whale and dolphin watching. On São Miguel, add a day tour to Sete Cidades and one to Furnas (hot springs and stew cooked in the ground), and try canyoning. On Pico, climb the volcano with a guide.

Why take a tour?

You can see a lot of São Miguel with a hire car, but tours help in three ways. Guides know which side of the island has clear skies that day, they handle the driving and parking at busy viewpoints, and some experiences, such as boat trips, canyoning and guided climbs, need an operator anyway. If you’re short on time or arriving on a cruise ship, a tour is the easiest way to see the highlights.

The best Azores tours

Whale and dolphin watching

The Azores are among the best places in the world to see whales, with sperm whales year-round and blue and fin whales passing in spring. Trips leave from Ponta Delgada, Pico and Faial, last about three hours, and use cliff-top lookouts to find the animals. Choose between a fast inflatable and a steadier catamaran. See whale watching on São Miguel and on Pico. See whale watching in the Azores for the full guide.

The lookouts, called vigias, are old whalers’ towers where spotters still guide the boats by radio. April to June is best for the big migrating whales (blue, fin and sei), while summer brings calmer seas, sperm whales with calves and plenty of dolphins. Some licensed operators also run trips to swim with dolphins (never whales). You must be a confident swimmer.

Sete Cidades

The twin blue and green crater lakes, with viewpoints along the rim and a jeep or minibus ride through the crater. Most half-day tours stop at the Vista do Rei viewpoint, the small village by the lakes and the smaller crater lakes nearby. Morning tours have the best chance of clear views. See Sete Cidades tours. For the walks and viewpoints, see the Sete Cidades guide.

Furnas

Steaming fumaroles, the warm iron-rich pool of Terra Nostra garden (around 35 to 40°C), and cozido stew cooked underground for several hours in the volcanic heat. Many tours add the Gorreana tea plantation and the Lagoa das Furnas, where you can watch the stew pots being lifted from the ground around lunchtime. Bring a swimsuit and an old towel, as the water stains. See Furnas tours, or read the Furnas guide if you plan to go on your own.

Full-day São Miguel tours

Combine the highlights, including Lagoa do Fogo, in one day. Expect a long day with lots of short stops, so it suits people who want an overview. In recent summers, hire cars have been kept off the Lagoa do Fogo road, with a paid shuttle instead, so check the current rules. See São Miguel tours or all Azores tours.

Canyoning

Slide and jump through lush ravines with an expert guide. Operators provide wetsuits, helmets and harnesses, and trips are graded so beginners can join. You need to be able to swim. Most trips take half a day including transfers. See canyoning.

Climbing Mount Pico

Portugal’s highest mountain, and a tough climb. A guide makes it safer, especially in poor visibility, and many guided climbs start early to reach the top before the clouds build up. See guided Pico climbs. See Pico and climbing Mount Pico.

The summit is 2,351 metres high. Everyone, guided or not, must book a slot online through the official Pico Mountain platform, register at the Casa da Montanha trailhead and carry a GPS tracker. Numbers are capped, so summer slots sell out early. The round trip usually takes 5 to 8 hours.

Other good options

• Hot springs at night: some Furnas tours finish with an evening soak in the thermal pools. Poça da Dona Beija takes its last entry at 9:30pm, and tickets are sold online only, so book ahead.
• Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding: on the calm crater lakes of Sete Cidades and Furnas.
• Guided hikes: marked trails cover every island, and a guide is useful for the longer ones.
• Terceira: guided trips to Angra do Heroísmo and the volcanic caves. See Terceira.
• Faial: island tours to the Capelinhos volcano, where an eruption in 1957 and 1958 added new land to the island. See Capelinhos.

Choosing a tour

• Small groups: minibus and jeep tours get to the narrower viewpoints and feel less rushed.
• Private tours: worth it for families or groups of four or more, and the guide can change the route if the weather turns.
• Lunch: check whether the Furnas cozido is included. It often is.
• Pick-up: most São Miguel tours collect you from hotels in Ponta Delgada.

A sample four days on São Miguel

Day one: whale watching in the morning, then a stroll around Ponta Delgada. Day two: Sete Cidades, with a walk on the crater rim. Day three: Furnas, the cozido lunch and an evening soak. Day four: canyoning, or Lagoa do Fogo and the north coast tea plantations. Keep a spare day in case of bad weather.

Tips

• Weather: it changes fast. Good operators reschedule boat trips if the sea is rough, so plan these early in your stay.
• Clothing: bring a waterproof and layers, even in summer. The crater rims are cooler and windier than the coast.
• Seasickness: the Atlantic swell can be big. Take tablets before you board, not once you feel ill.
• Book ahead in summer: July and August are busy, especially for whale watching and canyoning.
• When to go: see the best time to visit the Azores.
• Cruise passengers: see Ponta Delgada’s cruise port.

FAQ

When is the best time for whale watching in the Azores?

The main season runs from about March to October. April to June is best for blue, fin and sei whales, while sperm whales live around the islands all year and summer usually brings the calmest seas.

Do I need a guide to climb Mount Pico?

No, but you must book a slot online and carry a GPS tracker. A guide is wise if you’re inexperienced or the forecast is mixed.

Can you swim with dolphins in the Azores?

Yes, with licensed operators on São Miguel and some other islands, such as Terceira, but never with whales. Some operators have stopped offering swims.

Is a tour or a hire car better on São Miguel?

Many people do both: a hire car for the viewpoints and tours for whale watching, canyoning and the Furnas cozido lunch.

More: the São Miguel itinerary, Azores island hopping and São Miguel hotels.

See also: Lagoa do Fogo and the Azores hot springs.

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