Whale Watching Trip from Lajes do Pico Pico Island Azores

Lajes do Pico, the whaling village of Pico Island

Lajes do Pico is a small harbour town on the southern shore of Pico Island and the place where Azorean whaling began in the 19th century. For generations, local men rowed open wooden boats out to sea with hand-held harpoons, guided by lookouts on the cliffs who fired rockets when they saw a whale blow. Commercial whaling in the Azores ended in the 1980s, and the same knowledge of the sea now powers one of the best whale-watching scenes in Europe.

The town keeps this story alive in the Whalers' Museum, set in the old boat houses by the water, and in the white chapel and stone streets around the harbour. Arrive a little early to walk along the seafront before check-in. If you are wondering how to get to Lajes do Pico, it is about 45 minutes by car from Madalena, where ferries arrive from Faial, and about 15 minutes from Pico Airport by taxi or rental car.

Sperm whales of the Azores

The sperm whale is the star of any Pico whale watching trip. The deep waters just off the south coast drop to well over 1,000 metres, and female sperm whales with their calves live here all year, diving for squid and surfacing to breathe for several minutes at a time. Watching one lift its broad tail before a long dive is the moment most travellers remember.

Your marine biologist guides explain how to read the blows on the horizon, why the whales stay close to Pico and how the boat keeps a respectful distance. Sightings are never guaranteed because these are wild animals, but the area is known as one of the most reliable places in the world for sperm whales. The best time to visit Pico Island for whale watching is April to October, when the sea is calmer and the light is long.

Dolphins and migrating whales

Dolphins are seen on most outings. Common and bottlenose dolphins often ride the bow wave of the boat, while Risso's dolphins, grey and scarred, stay in family groups close to the island. In summer, Atlantic spotted dolphins arrive with the warmer water, and loggerhead turtles and seabirds such as Cory's shearwaters add to the day.

In spring, from about March to June, large baleen whales pass the Azores on their migration north: blue, fin and sei whales can appear, feeding on krill before continuing their journey. This makes spring an exciting season for whale watching in the Azores, although the sea can be rougher. Whatever you see, the guides share photos and facts on board, so even a quiet day at sea becomes a lesson about the ocean.

The south coast of Pico and Mount Pico

The boat route follows the black basalt coast of Pico, where lava flows met the sea and froze into arches, caves and pools. Behind the shoreline rises Mount Pico, a volcano of 2,351 metres and the highest mountain in Portugal. On clear mornings its summit stands above a ring of cloud, and seeing it from the water is one of the special views of the trip.

Pico is also one of the quieter islands of the Azores, with small villages, stone walls and green pastures, so the trip fits well with a day of driving along the coast roads or visiting the lava caves of Gruta das Torres. Many travellers combine this tour with a stay on Faial across the channel. For things to do in Pico Island, a morning at sea followed by an afternoon exploring the coast is a perfect plan.