9 independent reviews for Azores family adventure vacation, whales and dolphins
Reviews for Azores family adventure vacation, whales and dolphins
Jenny Samuels review 3 Sep 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Whale and dolphin watching2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Pack for wet weather3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It definitely supports conservation as the revenue supports ongoing whale research. It provides jobs to local marine biologists (most popular degree at local university) and also to tourism. Tourism always has negative impacts on communities but the balance feels quite good in the Azores.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
ExcellentRachel Latimore review 21 Aug 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing Whales and Dolphins in the wild and kayaking in a volcano crater.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Have a go at everything on offer and appreciate international tourism is still a relatively new offering. English is no barrier and is well spoken across the island.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I hope so. The local guides were all very knowledgeable and delivered interesting tours.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Brilliant. A perfect choice for older children and teens.Jennifer Creevy review 7 Aug 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Our most memorable part of the vacation was swimming with Atlantic spotted dolphins. We swam with a ball of sardines and the dolphins were darting beneath us, feeding on the fish. It was like something out of a National Geographic documentary. Incredible, we will never forget it.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book at least 3 sessions if you want to swim with dolphins. They are wild, there is no guarantee, and even weather can disrupt the trips. Remember they are wild, be considerate, it's their home you are in!! Also, take a smaller boat out whale watching, it's much more exciting being closer to the water. For the land tours, take the long hike, and do visit at least one of the beautiful lakes in the craters, they are breathtaking.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Mostly I felt that we helped with the conservation efforts for the marine life. The marine biologists there do an incredible job and the trips are set up to enjoy the marine life but not to disturb. Also, having meals in local restaurants around the island felt like it helped local people. In terms of environmental impact, please remember your reusable bottles!!4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This was one of our favourite family vacations ever. If you are a family that likes activities, animals and an outdoor lifestyle, it's definitely one for you. It's not a sitting by the pool vacation!LIZ DEACON review 26 Jul 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The trips whale watching , swimming with dolphins furnas and Citades2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Make sure you book other activities before you go no chance to book once there are as everything v booked including places to eat . Choose a hotel with spaces to relax.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefit to local people and was an ecological way to see wildlife4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent once in lifetime experienceIngrid Bethell review 25 Jul 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Both of the whale watching trips, especially the rib trip, as we managed to see hundreds of dolphins come near the boat as well as four sei whales. Furthermore, both of the additional trips we did, especially the Furnas trip were very memorable thanks to the geothermal pool experience.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book two whale watching trips ideally 1 catamaran and 1 rib, however I would advise going on the rib as a priority for younger people (I am 13).3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I believe that our vacation didn't adversely affect local people, as we remained respectful of the environment around us and we supported local restaurants and cafés by visiting them. We also believe that our vacation maintained respect towards the whales and dolphins, specifically with the whales, the boats we went on were not within 100 metres of the whale, which is the correct distance. Instead, both the whales and dolphins came close to our boat, so we weren't intruding on their habitat too much.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Our trip was only short, 4 nights but packed with wonderful trips-2 whale/dolphin watching trips and 2 island trip visiting 2 different thermal hot springs. We also visited a pineapple plantation, war museum and the presidential gardens,which were all thoroughly enjoyable. The tour operator in the UK were efficient and planned the perfect itinerary for our short stay. The dolphin/whale watching trips were excellently planned by the local whale watching operator and the marine biologists were very knowledgable. Many thanks to you all ! We will be back!Susannah Grant review 20 Aug 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The canyoning and breathtaking scenery.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Bring the clothes you recommend ie waterproofs, trainers etc.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes because we had great interaction with local people and were respectful of the wildlife and fauna.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
10/10 - a huge hit for the whole family. Especially teens disinterested in traditional sightseeing tourism. Our 9 year old was able to do the canyoning and SUP for the first time.Claire Walmsleymoss review 14 Apr 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing beautiful dolphins playing in the water. And the geothermal pools2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Find out all the inforamtion about your trip before you go. It wasn't what I was expecting (although still lovely).3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefited local people and supported conservation, for sure. I'm not sure our environmental impacts were reduced though compared to any other tourist.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was nice and enjoyable, but didn't give me the experience I was hoping that would have been different to booking via any other travel agency.James Leaton review 23 Apr 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The boat trips were really good and we got lucky and saw Sperm whales on our third and final outing.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The weather is pretty variable - you are in the middle of the Atlantic so the waves and wind can mean whale watching is not possible - so expect resident dolphins but whales only as a bonus in calm conditions. The island is really relaxed and food and drink very reasonable, with some great restaurants.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
There were marine biologists on all the boats whose research is supported by the company.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A great family vacation with lots of activities without having to spend lots of time traveling around. Not the ultimate in whale watching on our trip, but overall a lovely place to be.Read the operator's response here:
Thanks for your great review James and so sorry your sightings were not the best they can be! The migrating Fin whales, Blue whales and Humpbacks arrived later than usual this year so sadly you were unlucky with sightings of the Ocean Giants. However, great you had good
sightings of other large species that are resident.
Paul Purslow review 6 Jun 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whale and dolphin watching trips - the full day marine biologist trip on the RIB was the best of all of the trips.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The trips on the RIB boats were much better than on the catamaran as the boat is much smaller and closer to the water so you get closer to the animals.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was fantastic - a brilliant family vacation with two children (6 and 9)Holiday Reviews
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