October to April is Dolphin Swimming Season in Azores Islands - a fantastic and unique Wildlife experience in the warm waters of the Atlantic! Watch Wild Dolphins underwater in the freedom of their natural habitat, one of the best connections to nature in a (limited) responsible alternative to swimming with animals in captivity.
Meet your guide and group at the Marina of Vila Franca do Campo for check-in, equipment set up, and short briefing introducing local species that can be observed, rules and responsible practice on tour, onboard safety, and equipment use. Follow your guide to your designated boat and go out to sea. Lookouts inland help to locate, while approaching our friends slowly, and very carefully, your guide evaluates if favorable conditions are met to allow the activity’s proceedings.
Always be ready and prepared to go into the water - 2 swimmers alternate in the water at safe distance during limited periods of time, and you do not want to miss out on each opportunity in which Dolphins can choose to come closer driven by their friendliness and curiosity.
Exclusively between late Autumn and Early Spring with water temperatures averaging between 16ºc and 22ºc, it is possible to swim with any of 4 different species of Dolphins - Common Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Striped Dolphins and Risso’s Dolphins.
On a second part of the tour, the boat will travel to a coastal location for snorkeling, to discover the characteristic marine fauna & flora in the island’s sea bed.