Riding a new tide; from whaling to marine eco-tourism.
Portugal’s long association with whales has shifted in recent decades from hunting, to watching and preservation. Marinas all along the Algarve coastline offer whale and dolphin watching trips, however, it’s the waters around Portugal’s islands where the country’s best whale watching awaits.
The Azores island group is located in the central Atlantic, 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) off the Portuguese mainland. While this area was once a center of European whaling, in 1984 whaling ended and the Azoreans redeployed their ocean-going expertise into tourism. Of the world’s 80 whale species, over 20 can be found here, including sperm, humpback and sei whales. The best time to visit is from mid-April to mid-October when the seas are calmer.
Further south lies the stunning volcanic island of Madeira. A newcomer to whale watching, Madeira’s location makes it a superb place to experience migrating Bryde’s, fin and minke whales, while species such as sperm and short-finned pilot whales can be enjoyed almost year round.