São Miguel: Azores Whaling & Lookout Legacy Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Taking you back to how ancient azorean whaling traditions were, and how they transitioned to nowadays wildlife observation & research, and even to a unique sport!
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Eat light, your personal water supply, sunscreen and chap-stick for the Sun, and warm clothing since temperatures may vary. Light food is permitted, and a Camera is essential, specially for photography lovers - protect any personal equipment!
English is the official language, but our team is multinational and will do their best to accommodate your preferred language (this is not guaranteed).
What To Expect
Meet us at the Marina of Vila Franca do Campo for check-in at the specified time. The tour starts with a short briefing and presentation about the local Whaling culture, then visit the authentic 1945 whaleboat “Senhora de Fátima”, the single fully operational and sea-worthy evidence of the era in São Miguel. Take a van tour to the whaler lookout “Vigia da Furada”, and learn the ancient 1830 whale spotting techniques which helped evolve Azorean Whale Watching to one of the world’s best. Experience searching for whales yourself using specialised long-range binoculars in the lookout role! Visit Ponta Garça’s 1957 Lighthouse, for a lighthouse keeper guided tour with interesting facts about the building, its importance for maritime activities and sea men, and to appreciate the beautiful island and ocean views. Then head back to the Marina for check-out.
Options
With 12PM Pickup
Pickup included
Meet Us at the Marina
What‘s Included
Local Whaling History Session
Lighthouse Keeper Tour
Guided Van Tour (air-conditioned) & Whaler Lookout Tour
Knowledgeable Guide
Insurance
Personal Water supply
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Past Present Future
danny392019,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The whale legacy tour was my favorite tour, it was replete in history and science; Miguel is an encyclopedic expert bridging past, present and future. When we will return we will do the whale watching tour.
Definitely recommended
Isabelle Dietzel,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A super nice day with a great crew who prepared us very well for the tour and also gave great explanations during the tour. We are very happy as we have seen both whales and dolphins ... A complete success!
A Truly Magical Experience from Start to Finish
Tiggylynn,Sep 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00From the moment we booked with Terrazul Whale Watching Azores, the professionalism and care were evident. The experience began with a short but thought-provoking film about the importance of protecting our oceans – a powerful reminder of how deeply interconnected we are with the natural world. After a clear and reassuring safety briefing from Matteo, we were offered raincoats. That might sound unnecessary on a hot, blue-sky day, but I was very grateful for it when a surprise sea wave decided to join our wait for a whale breach – just part of the fun! The boat itself was by far the most comfortable RIB I’ve ever been on – and I’ve been on quite a few. Alex, our captain, navigated the waters with real skill, while Matteo’s passion for the ocean and its creatures was absolutely contagious. Their teamwork and knowledge gave us both a sense of excitement and safety throughout the tour. We were on the 12:30 sailing and were incredibly lucky to witness numerous spotted dolphins and four separate sightings of three different whale species. The thrill of seeing such majestic animals in the wild left us all buzzing with excitement on the return trip. One small piece of advice: put your phone down and live in the moment. Some people were so focused on filming that they missed the sheer joy of watching playful dolphins jump around us. The memories I took away from this trip are truly irreplaceable – and no video could ever do them justice. Huge thanks to the entire Terrazul team for creating a genuinely unforgettable experience. I’ll treasure this memory for a long, long time.
Playful whale
Martin L,Aug 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing trip with great skipper/biologist duo. Saw a whale very close up in playful mood and no idea how many dolphins!!!
Unforgetable experience
SheyML,Nov 3, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The experience was very rewarding. The first reservation had to be postponed due to bad weather, they contacted us to change the day. Finally, the excursion was possible, 3 hours of enjoyment. The workers are exceptional, very pleasant and with very pleasant explanations. Highly recommended and we would repeat without a doubt
Whaling Watching an amazing experience
LoveTravel747454,Sep 7, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was an amazing experience from the onset. The staff was friendly, informative, engaging and fun. We experienced seeing a variety of whales along the way. We would highly recommend this experience while vacationing in São Miguel.
Very good experience
X8512ZNmiguelp,Aug 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went with my partner and we had a great time, we saw many cetaceans and the guide was very attentive to everything and everyone.
So amazing!
aljanaaaaaaa,Feb 14, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything was great. We were very lucky! We saw dolphins, blue whale and sperm whale. The woman who accompanied us has great knowledge and we were able to learn a lot. The whales are spotted by radio and no longer droned. You should pay attention to that! We were excited!
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