Responsible tourism in the Azores

Since activities such as hiking, mountain biking, whale watching, scuba diving and exploring volcanic landscapes are key to the Azorean economy, the islands take conservation, both on land and at sea, pretty seriously, making this a thoroughly satisfying place for nature lovers to visit.

There’s also active investment in renewable energy – the islands have generated hydroelectric power for well over a century, there have been wind farms here since 1988 and São Miguel currently harnesses geothermal energy.

And the Azores is the first archipelago in the world to be certified a sustainable tourism destination, complying with over 400 indicators and criteria as set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council . Which all goes to say, this is the kind of place where you feel greener just for having visited, and can't help coming home feeling inspired. .

Protected landscapes & habitats

The three inland reserves created in the Azores in the 1970s – Reserva da Lagoa do Fogo (São Miguel), Reserva Integral da Montanha da Ilha do Pico and Reserva Integral da Caldeira do Faial – protect deep blue lakes, laurisilva forests, a towering volcano and a pristine crater, two kilometres wide.

Further conservation initiatives have followed. There are specific regulations for the licensing of this activity and a code of conduct that defines the rules for how vessels approach cetaceans in order to cause the least possible impact. The department of the University of the Azores dedicated to the study of the sea has carried out several scientific studies on these species, some in partnership with foreign universities both from the European and American continents. All companies that offer this service have a biologist who monitors the activity and a lookout on land who uses binoculars to spot cetaceans and relays the information to the skipper at sea. The biologist also has the function of briefing tourists about this activity, showcasing the cetacean species that may be spotted in the Azores, the most important aspects of their biology, behavior and conservation status. The biologist can also accompany the skipper at sea to provide further information about the species sighted.

Whale watching companies can also contribute to research studies by providing information about the cetaceans sighted and photographs. Each island now has a sizeable nature park covering all the most significant mountain ranges and coastal habitats, and the remote, northernmost islands, Flores, Corvo and Graciosa, have been UNESCO Biosphere Reserves since the late 2000s. In 2013, the Azores joined the European Geoparks Network in recognition of its geological significance.