The Azores are nine small islands in the centre of the immense Atlantic Ocean. Each of the islands is a small world, they all have traits in common, just as they all have particularities, although the friendliness of the inhabitants is multiplied by nine. In the immense blue Atlantic, in the cradle of mother nature, these pearls present their visitors with a panoply of adventures, and as you would expect, most of them are in water (sea or lagoons). Stick around and get to know your adventure of tomorrow.
Swimming with Dolphins
Dolphins are sociable, intelligent animals and usually walk in groups. Swimming with these wonderful creatures, in a natural environment like the Azores and in the middle of the sea, is one of the greatest experiences you can have. This activity is done at the surface of deep water and involves the use of a mask, tube and fins. For a more rewarding and animal-friendly experience, we recommend that you hire a company that is experienced in this activity.
Diving Trips
The location of the Azores gives access to a diversity of diving spots, which can be coastal, in natural shelters of bays, underwater banks, caves, coastal shallows or even deep-sea areas. In addition, the centrality of the islands and the transition of currents that occurs in this part of the Atlantic, allows immense species to circulate in the waters, many of them large pelagics. Jamantas, blue sharks, and more than 600 different fish species make the Azores a destination of great potential for the practice of this activity. The cherry on top of the cake: there are sunken ships and archaeological remains on the seabed of our islands.
Diving with Sharks
Yes, you read that right. In the Azores you can dive with sharks, in fact, this is one of the few places in the world where you can dive with one of the fastest animals in the ocean, the Blue Shark. This is a very popular activity for the adrenaline that it provides and it can be done on several islands in the archipelago, however, the most popular place to do this is the Condor seamount, located a few miles off the island of Faial. This type of diving is only allowed with experienced divers.
Whale & Dolphin Watching
Whale and dolphin watching will allow you to observe whales, dolphins and other species that will make your experience memorable. As the Azores is one of the best places in the world to do this activity, here you can observe around 25 species of cetaceans. The famous Moby Dick (sperm whale), an animal that can reach 18 metres in length, the Blue Whale, the common whale, the loggerhead turtle, the common dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin and the spotted dolphin are some of the highlights that you can observe up close.
Boat Trips
This activity is an excellent way to get to know the coastal landscape of each island in the Azores. There are several companies that specialise in this type of activity and go around the nooks and crannies of the islands, giving you a perspective of the islands that you wouldn’t get on land. You can even dive from the boat into the sea and, if you don’t dive, there are boats with a glass bottom to see the bottom of the sea on some islands.
Big Game Fishing
The Azores have the perfect conditions to carry out several types of fishing. Big Game Fishing is probably the modality that most attracts fishing enthusiasts. Some of the world records for catching large pelagics have been obtained in the Azores. The large pelagics appear at a short distance from the coast and attract anglers from all over the world, who resort to companies specialized in this modality. This type of fishing is catch and release, in other words, the fish is caught and then released using techniques that guarantee the return of the animal to its natural environment.
Sailing
The Azores, throughout history, has always been a reference point and a stopping point for sailors who venture across the Atlantic. The sea currents and the winds attract most of the sailors and all the islands have infrastructures that allow them to stop their navigations. A reference point in this area is the Horta Marina, the oldest in the Azores and the fourth most frequented marina in the world.
Surf and Bodyboard
The location of the Azores archipelago and the morphology of its coasts provide excellent conditions for surfing and bodyboarding. These sports can be practised throughout the year in the islands due to their beach breaks, point breaks and reef breaks that are perfect for the practice of the sport. The water temperatures are excellent and do not vary during the various seasons of the year. The Azores host year the World Surfing Championship, and the participants are amazed by the tubular waves.
