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According to our statistics, both trips have the same success rate and the same species. Whales don’t check the clock. If you’re an early riser or staying near Lajes, go in the morning. If you’d rather have a slow breakfast or are coming from the other end of the island, go in the afternoon.

Each trip lasts approximately 3 hours. Included in the price:

• Expert guide on board throughout the trip
• Waterproof jacket (in case of spray or rain)
• A drink at the end (beer, water or soft drink)
• One ticket per person to the Museu dos Baleeiros in Lajes do Pico

Waterproof trousers are not included but are available for purchase at our base. Our boats accommodate between 12 and 24 passengers depending on the vessel assigned.

Yes, you can book one or more individual sea trips without committing to a weekly programme. Select your dates and number of participants directly on our reservations page.

For bookings of 4 or more seats, group rates apply automatically when you select your dates on our reservations page. No need to contact us in advance.

For safety reasons, the following individuals cannot join our sea activities:

• Pregnant women
• Children under 5 years old
• People with back or heart conditions
• Anyone who has undergone surgery within the last 6 months

Our boats are fast semi-rigid vessels and sea conditions can be demanding. If you have any doubts about your fitness to participate, please contact us before booking.

Zodiacs only, and that won’t change. On a big boat you sit higher and further from the water, with more people and engines that are louder underwater, which disturbs the animals more. On a zodiac you’re close to the water and the encounter is more direct. You also get a bit wetter, it’s true.

Safety always comes first. Azorean weather is famously changeable, and we prefer to make the final call as close to departure time as possible rather than cancelling hours in advance based on a forecast alone. Our team assesses conditions on the day, combining forecast data (we use Windguru) with direct observation of sea state, swell and wind. If we cancel, you will be offered either a full refund or the option to reschedule to another available date, whichever you prefer.

Sea activities & outdoor experiences:

• More than 4 days before departure: full refund
• 2 to 4 days before: no refund, but we reschedule within the current season
• Less than 2 days before or no-show: no refund, no reschedule

Accommodation & packages:

• More than 7 days before check-in: full refund
• 7 days or less, or no-show: no refund

All requests must be made in writing to espacotalassa@espacotalassa.com. We strongly recommend travel cancellation insurance, often included with major credit cards.

If your flight is cancelled and you can’t reach Pico, send us your booking reference and proof of the cancellation. We look at every case and do our best to find a fair solution. We always recommend travel insurance for a trip to the Azores: delayed or cancelled flights are not rare, and insurance covers costs that we can’t.

If you are unable to participate due to illness or hospitalisation, we may offer a full or partial refund upon presentation of a valid medical certificate. In cases of family emergency, contact us as soon as possible and we will assess the situation individually to find a fair solution.

There is no “best” season: it depends on the species. We go out from mid-March to the end of October. On average we see 3 to 4 species per trip, and less than 1% of trips come back without cetaceans. On those rare days there’s always something else: turtles, seabirds, sharks, and Portugal’s highest mountain as a backdrop. Month-by-month data is on our sightings statistics page.

Since 1994 we have recorded 28 cetacean species in the waters around Pico, one of the highest diversities in the North Atlantic. On a normal trip you can count on 3 to 4. Sperm whales are here all year; the other species come and go with the seasons. Our sightings statistics page shows what we’ve been seeing lately.

Yes, very much so. Sperm whales are here all year, and species like the Atlantic spotted dolphin arrive around June. But from mid-March to May, and in September and October, you get the same encounters with far fewer boats at sea. The animals are calmer, there are more seats available and the mood on board is different. In August, Lajes has traffic jams too, only at sea.