Whale Watching Worldwide

Portugal ‐ Azores Islands
Year Number of
whale
watchers
AAGR Number of
operators
Direct
expenditure
Indirect
expenditure
Total
expenditure
1991 Minimal N/A N/A Minimal Minimal Minimal
1994 1,000 58.7% N/A $31,000 $633,000 $664,000
1998 9,500 75% 6 $582,000 $2,788,000 $3,370,000
2008 40,180 15.5% 19 $2,691,580 $4,979,203 $7,670,783
Capital City: Horta
Whale Watch Locations:
01: Horta, Faial Island
02: Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island
03: Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel Island
04: Lajes de Pico, Pico Island
The Azores have become a well‐known destination for whale
watching activities in recent years. From 9,500 whale watchers in
1998, it is estimated a total of 40,180 tourists undertook whale
watching in 2008, an average annual growth rate of 15.5% over the
ten years since the Hoyt report.
Today whale and dolphin watching is recognized as a ‘very important’ local tourism activity that’s offered as
one of the islands’ main tourist attractions, according to the Direcção Regional de Turismo dos Açores
(Azores Tourism Board). The industry is mainly focused on three Islands: São Miguel (which attracts
approximately 40% of the Azores’ whale watchers), Faial and Pico (between 20‐25% each). Trips depart
from the localities of Ponta Delgada, Horta and Lajes de Pico, respectively. Trips from the islands of Terceira
and São Jorge have also been initiated in recent years.
Most trips run for a couple of hours out from the coastal ports and return, using high speed RIBs (rubber
inflatable boats) for up to 12 passengers. On average, the trips cost around $70 for adults and $49 for
children. Out of 17 local operators, 13 offer dedicated large cetacean and dolphin watching tours. The
opportunistic tours complement the trips with diving and nature cruises, visiting several of the closest
islands and with longer tours (half and full‐day trips). One international organisation and one local operator
run multiple‐day tours (of 8‐15 days in duration), mostly for tourists from Germany and the UK.
Both smaller and larger cetaceans are sighted (approximately 45% large cetaceans, 55% dolphins). The
Azores Islands have the privilege of hosting approximately 30% of the world’s cetacean species, a fact
promoted by the local whale and dolphin watching operators.
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