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Full-Day Whales & The Princess Ring Islet: Whale Watching Tour with Lunch and Snorkeling
4.6
78 Ratings
Islands
Full Day Experience with Whales, Local Cuisine, and the Islet of Princess Ring. Cherish a boat tour observing whales, savor a local meal at a restaurant near the sea, followed by a traditional fishing boat ferry ride to survey and snorkel at the Vila Franca do Campo Islet!
Full Day Experience with Whales, Local Cuisine, and the Islet of Princess Ring. Cherish a boat tour observing whales, savor a local meal at a restaurant near the sea, followed by a traditional fishing boat ferry ride to survey and snorkel at the Vila Franca do Campo Islet!
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Azores Whale Watching TERRA AZUL - Meet us at the Marina of Vila Franca do Campo for check-in at the specified time.
The day starts with a short briefing on Cetaceans (Whales and Dolphins), local species, behavioral patterns, and onboard safety. Everyone will then follow the Guide and Skipper to their designated boat for an approximately 3-hour…
- Azores Whale Watching TERRA AZUL - Meet us at the Marina of Vila Franca do Campo for check-in at the specified time.
The day starts with a short briefing on Cetaceans (Whales and Dolphins), local species, behavioral patterns, and onboard safety. Everyone will then follow the Guide and Skipper to their designated boat for an approximately 3-hour Marine Wildlife tour.
At 11:30 it is time to return for a local food lunch at a seafront village restaurant - at walking distance.
At 13:30 meet us back to be provided with snorkeling gear, and a ticket to travel 10 minutes on a converted traditional fishing boat to the islet’s inside, now self-guided and free to explore the natural reserve Princess Ring, just outside the Marina of Vila Franca do Campo, and perfect for exploring, bathing, swimming and snorkeling.
From then, boats depart back to the Marina on every hour until 17:30 - be sure not to miss it! We’ll be waiting for you at our Base for check-out and returning your snorkeling gear.
Know before you go - eat light and bring personal water supply, swimsuit, towel, warm clothing, sunscreen and chapstick. Light food is permitted, a camera is essential - protect any personal equipment.
What's Included
- Admission to Islet of Vila Franca do Campo natural reserve
- Guided Marine Wildlife Tour
- Insurance included
- Snorkeling gear provided: Mask and Tube
- Local cuisine lunch: Entree, main course, drinks, and dessert
- Admission to Islet of Vila Franca do Campo natural reserve
- Guided Marine Wildlife Tour
- Insurance included
- Snorkeling gear provided: Mask and Tube
- Local cuisine lunch: Entree, main course, drinks, and dessert
What's Not Included
- Personal Water supply
- Personal Swimwear
- Personal Water supply
- Personal Swimwear
Additional Information
- IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT it is not possible to control animals’ behavior in the wild, or to guarantee that you will see a specific species at a specific time frame.
- English is the official language, but our team is multinational and will do their best to accommodate your preferred language (this is not guaranteed).
- At the Islet, all…
- IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT it is not possible to control animals’ behavior in the wild, or to guarantee that you will see a specific species at a specific time frame.
- English is the official language, but our team is multinational and will do their best to accommodate your preferred language (this is not guaranteed).
- At the Islet, all individuals are responsible to comply with the natural reserve’s rules.
- No Children under the age of 4
- Special Dietary Restrictions must be notified upon reservation for required adjustments
Location
Azores Whale Watching TERRA AZUL
From Ponta Delgada city center by auto, head East along the coast and follow directions to Vila Franca do Campo. Once in Vila Franca do Campo, descend towards sea level and the Marina where our Base and Yellow Boats are stationed, and Free Parking can be found.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(78 Ratings)
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Safari68116757735
Sep 5, 2024
Super nice whale watching experience with great scientists - book again immediately - 100 out of 100 points 🐳☀️🙌🏼 - Super nice experience, very nice professional people - great explanations during the boat trip. We got lucky and found dolphins and sperm whales. You felt safe and in good hands. Lunch was ok. The island can also be visited (2h) enough - the underwater world is more than expected (different colorful fish). We thought at Booking Referral that after the whalewatching trip you had somewhere else to stop for lunch and go from there to the island - but you came back to the base at noon and took the ferry to the island. Therefore whale watching 100% great and we would do it again immediately. The full day trip you can organize yourself if you don't necessarily want lunch :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W4259nekoenv
Aug 6, 2023
A unique experience with a lot of happiness - We had a great trip.
There was a large (free) parking lot at the location with toilets.
Part 1 = whale and dolphin watching.
Note: the tour guides also said that we were exceptionally lucky with how much we had seen.
It started with a briefing about what we could expect but also what was expected of us. The company puts the welfare of the animals first, which is very nice to see.
Then we lined up in order to enter the boat, the further forward the closer you sit. However, the seats in 3 rows were raised in the middle and there were strict rules about standing up so that everyone could spot the animals. It was chilly on the boat, but jackets were provided (life jackets were required).
Quite a long stretch of sailing, but we saw some really cool animals. The dolphins came right past the boat and we saw several species of whales ourselves!
The tour guides were very friendly and very knowledgeable. NOTE. THE GUARANTEE OF A NL GUIDE IS NOT 100%, WE WERE LUCK BUT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THIS.
Part 2 = lunch.
It was buffet style food. There were facilities for everyone (vegetarian etc). It was a large wedding hall where we had dinner, not very cozy, but nice and open, light and clean. We had a chicken soup with rice beforehand, seafood risotto, a chicken dish, a salad and mocha ice cream afterward. Wine and water were also served.
Part 3 = princess island.
We received a ticket for the crossing (note, this only runs every hour, so leave your meal on time!) and we were given snorkels for everyone. The island was very rocky and there was really no shade, keep this in mind! You could almost always stand in the water (at 162 cm the water was usually up to my waist.
In terms of snorkeling, there was a lot to see, but make sure you rub your back well because when snorkeling you always lie on your stomach, so our backs were burned. Make sure you bring enough water with you!
In short, a great experience, with both viewing and doing parts. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chef
Jul 26, 2023
Fun tour - Great tour saw lots of whales and dolphins and had time to swim in the islet. The lunch was OK, nice atmosphere but not much flavor.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_r
Sep 24, 2022
Well worth it - It was very well organized. I loved the intimate nature of the boats. Felt so close to the water and could see. Would recommend sitting on the outsides. Didn’t see whales but tons of different dolphins.
Review provided by Viator
Pilgrimonearth2014
Oct 21, 2022
Thank you, the future conservationists of our planet - Just being out with the Terra Azul team was good experience
Starting with Stephanie who contacted me to inform of weather change for the day I planned.She fitted us in a day earlier and was able to join this trip.
Daniel the counter staff was exceptional & helpful as we walked in to enquire a day early about car parking ,trip etc.
We had video briefing and had insight of the whales before our adventure.
Thank you to MaryLou and Jose’ for the searching , explanation throughout our journey.We didn’t see large whales however the dolphins put on a show to entertain us. The interaction of the team to us on our lookout was great. They were professionals hoping that we could see the whales. The eye catching view of the island from the Atlantic sea was great and informative explanation from MaryLou how the islands came to be and had an outside trip round the islet before return to shore
We had lunch & coffee before setting off to the islet literally 10 minutes by ferry boat.
Had a swim before return to the shore.This part we were on our own .
Overall a lovely day
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Caceyjane
Sep 25, 2022
Would recommend - Very informative guide, made sure everyone saw the animals when they were there. We saw 3 types of dolphins and one finwhale. Would have loved to see more whales but there are never any guarantees!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melanie_g
Jul 21, 2023
Don’t bother with the full day experience - We had an incredible experience on the morning whale and dolphin watching trip—it was educational and the company clearly respects the animals. The “full day” experience felt like a bit of a scam. The lunch offered was in a dark conference hall at the port and the food just looked sad, so we opted to pay to eat at the restaurant upstairs, which was great outdoor view of the beach/ocean and great food and drinks. Also the afternoon “trip” to the princess ring was simply the whale watching company giving you a snorkeling mask and pointing you to the public ferry to the island. If booking, just do the half day whale watching tour and enjoy the rest of your day as you wish.
Review provided by Viator
Emmabo9966on
Jul 3, 2023
Great trip, but don't buy the full day package! - We had a great time at each of the individual activities. The whaling tour was awesome and the snorkeling at the small island was spectacular! That said, I really don't recommend purchasing this as the full day package. You can get exactly the same experience if you just purchase the half day of whaling and then go get some lunch and go to the island yourself, and it will be MUCH cheaper. The second half of the day you're paying for is just that they arrange for lunch at a nearby restaurant and then buy you a 10 euro ticket on the same boat that everybody uses to get to the island. You can do that yourself!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Abigail_s
Jun 22, 2023
Seafood dinner was... - Seafood dinner was terrible. Basically just a piece of fish and potatoes. Very disappointing. Not a great venue.
Too expensive.
Boat trip was excellent.
Review provided by Viator
Rhowarth
Oct 12, 2022
Don’t purchase package - Definitely do not purchase the full day tour package with lunch and visit to the small island. It’s a rip off, you can pay 10 euro round trip to go to the island yourself. The lunch is definitely not worth 30 euro.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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