| Whale Watching : Walking : Pico Mountain : Beaches and Snorkelling : Diving : Big Game Fishing : Birdwatching |
Whale Watching in the Azores
Whales and dolphins are observed in these waters year round, attracted by the abundance of food. The whale watching season begins mid-April and extends through October. During the early part of the season you can see many different varieties, included the biggest whale in the world - the blue whale. From Horta marina you can go out for a 3 hour trip on either a rigid inflatable, or a fiberglass motor catamaran. Each has knowledgeable marine biologists on board to keep you informed of the various sightings. The operators all follow a strict code of conduct, so as not to harass the animals, whilst allowing a good viewing. During the early months, April through June, there tend to be more varieties, as the different species migrate. For the rest of the summer the sperm whales continue to be sighted, along with occasional other varieties.
The whale species seen include Sperm, Short-finned Pilot, Blue, Fin, Sei, Humpback, Minke, Northern Bottlenose, Pygmy Sperm, Bryde's, Orcas, False Killers and beaked whales such as Sowerby's, True's and Cuvier's. Dolphin species include Bottlenose, Common, Risso's, Spotted and Striped dolphin. Other marine life includes the Cory's Shearwaters and Roseate tern, Loggerhead turtles, sharks and sport fish such as marlin and swordfish.
Whales and whaling play an important part in the history and culture of the Azores. American whalers visited the islands in the 1700's and by the mid 1800's a whaling industry had grown up throughout the islands. The Azorean whalers had a tough way of life and developed a reputation for being brave and strong. The whaling went on using the same traditional open boats and hand harpoons right up until 1985. Now whale watching has replaced whaling as a way to make a living from the sea. |
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Walking on Faial
Faial's lovely green, rolling landscape, with fields hedged with hydrangeas, invites you to stroll through the countryside enjoying its charms, and breathing in the clean, clear air. You can stroll through miles of countryside, accompanied only by the sounds of birdsong or the gentle lowing of cattle. One of my favorite walks is along the levada, which is a canal built high on the hillside, to channel water from the crater to the fields. The path alongside offers a very pleasant stroll on level ground, with magnificent views.
The crater rim is another nice walk, a little more energetic than the levada. As you circumnavigate the crater you watch Faial unfold below you, each section having markers to help you identify the villages you pass. The most dramatic walk has to be the one taking you around the area of the 1957 eruption at Capelinhos. The scenery there just takes your breath away and you can walk on land that is not even 50 years old! |
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Pico Mountain
A short ferry ride gets you across to Pico Island and its 2351 metres high volcanic peak. The climb, starting at 1200 metres, provides for magnificent views, across all of the islands in the central group - Faial, São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira. It is possible to camp in the crater for the night and sunrise viewed from the top of the peak is a spectacular and unforgettable sight. It can easily be climbed in a day and, as there are plenty of ferries, you could even have dinner in Madelena before returning to Faial. It is now obligatory to employ a guide, to protect yourselves and the nature reserve of the mountain. |
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Beaches and snorkelling on Faial, the Azores
If you enjoy being by the sea and swimming you will be able to spend many pleasant hours on the beaches and in the rock pools of Faial.
Pedro Miguel boasts two beaches, one of which has a shower and toilets, the other a small café for icecreams and snacks. Almoxarife beach has a seafront walkway backing a beach of sand and pebbles with shaded grass parking/picnicking areas behind. Also nearby are a choice of three restaurants, a café and a children's play area. Porto Pim, just a few minutes walk from the centre of Horta, has the ideal beach for families with children. A sand beach, safe shallow water, a restaurant, café, ice-cream kiosk, toilets, showers - everything you need, in fact. The quiet village of Faja da Praia do Norte, has a long sand beach situated beneath tall cliffs. Nearby are toilets, showers, barbecue facilities and a pizza restaurant. Varadouro is also nestled beneath tall cliffs, where you can hear the shearwaters returning to their roost at sundown. The area has a small beach one side of the bay and concreted-in rock pools on the other, providing a large, safe swimming area and children's splash pool. There are 3 restaurants all within easy reach of the bay area.
There are also many rocky bathing areas around the coast, the natural volcanic rock being made more comfortable by the addition of flat areas of concrete and swimming pool type steps for access in to the sea. |
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Scuba Diving
Diving in the Azores is a new discovery in the diving world. Within easy reach of the harbours we have deep, clean ocean with mild water temperatures (average sea temperatures are 17-22C). Visibility is generally very good at 20 - 25m. Dive types vary from offshore reefs and volcanic caves to drop-offs. Volcanic landscapes offer spectacular lava formations in the form of caves, grottos and chimneys. You will often encounter the big fishes of the Atlantic including manta and sting rays, marlin, swordfish and hammerhead and mako sharks. Frequently observed are parrot fish, mackerel, barracudas, tuna, trigger fish, moray eels, octopus, lobster, spiral tube worms, sea urchins and sea spiders. Night diving is spectacular and amazingly easy at selected sheltered spots along the coast.
Diving certification is required. Dive locations are chosen after assessing your experience and preferences but note that for cave diving and the more difficult dives, 50 dives experience or an advanced qualification is required. |
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Big Game Fishing
The waters between Faial, Pico and Sao Jorge are recognized as one of the richest big game reserves in the Atlantic. Species caught include Marlin, sharks, swordfish, Giant Blue-fin, Big-eye and Yellow-fin tuna. The principal fishing season takes place during the months of July, August and September. See www.azoresmarlin.com.
Fishing from the rocks and line fishing from boats you may catch trigger fish, common sea bream, barracuda, amberjack, bluefish bream, bonito, moray and mackerel. |
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Birdwatching
The main interest, on these oceanic islands, is the seabirds. 80% of the world's populations of Cory's Shearwaters nest on the Azores. During the day they soar over the ocean, interacting with the dolphins and tuna and following boats. At nighttime they return to the cliffs, where the soft layers produce ideal holes for nests. There are also Black-headed Gull, Bulwer's Petrel, Little Shearwater, Madeiran Storm Petrel and Common and Roseate Tern.
Around the shallow, lava rock pools you can observe Wagtails, Rock Doves, Turnstones, Dunlin, Little Egret, Whimbrel and other waders. In September there is a good chance of seeing a vagrant American wader. On the few sandy beaches you may see Kentish Plovers.
Land birds include the endemic Azorean Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Grey Wagtail, Blackbird, Robin, Sparrow, Goldcrest, Black Cap, Canary and Chaffinch, all of which are subspecies, endemic to the Azores. The Azorean Buzzard is the reason for the name "Azores". Early settlers misidentified it as a goshawk, the Portuguese word for which is Açor. Although some say it was because the birds were so tame they came to hand like goshawks. Whichever it is, the birds have been here for a considerable time and recently their numbers have been increasing. |
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