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Washington, DC to the Azores: Ponta Delgada and Pico for whales

Washington, DC → Ponta Delgada (Azores) → Pico

Mount Pico
"2010-08-09_Ponta_do_Pico_01.jpg" by Wo st 01 (There are 682 Pictures in my Category) See also Toolserver, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Ayuntamiento, Ponta Delgada, isla de San Miguel, Azores, Portugal, 2020-07-29, DD 126-128 HDR (Ponta Delgada)
Foto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Azores whales & dolphins Best season (general guide): Apr–Oct

The Azores are a group of volcanic islands in the Atlantic, and their waters are among the best in Europe for whale watching. This route spends three nights on São Miguel and three on Pico. From Washington, DC you'll connect to Ponta Delgada.

Ponta Delgada is the main town of São Miguel. Whale-watching boats leave from the harbour, and the crater lakes of Sete Cidades and the hot springs at Furnas are day trips.

Fly to Pico. Lajes do Pico was a whaling village, and its Whalers' Museum tells that story. Today, boats leave from Lajes to watch sperm whales and dolphins. The island's vineyards, planted in black lava stone, are listed by UNESCO.

Mount Pico is the highest peak in Portugal. You don't need a guide to climb it, only registration and a GPS tracker. Plan it for a clear day.

April to October is the whale season. Baleen whales pass in spring, and sperm whales are seen most of the year.

Pacing: book whale-watching trips with operators who follow the Azores rules for watching cetaceans. Trips may be cancelled in bad weather, so keep your plans flexible.

A hire car is the easiest way to explore São Miguel and Pico, as buses are infrequent. Flights between the islands can be delayed by weather, so allow a buffer before your flight home.

The climb up Mount Pico is steep and challenging, so bring good boots, warm layers and plenty of water. The weather can change quickly near the summit, and clouds often cover the peak.

Azorean food reflects the islands: cozido cooked in volcanic ground at Furnas, fresh fish and local cheeses. Pico's wines, grown in lava-stone enclosures, are worth tasting.

On São Miguel, the tea plantations on the north coast are another easy half-day visit.

Suggested outline

  1. Washington, DC

    Start

  2. Ponta Delgada (Azores)

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    Whale-watching boats, Sete Cidades and Furnas.

  3. Pico

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    Lajes whale-watching, the Whalers' Museum, vineyards and Mount Pico.

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Ponta Delgada (Azores) — Arrive; town· Washington, DC → Ponta Delgada, Azores (by air)
  2. Day 2 · Ponta Delgada (Azores) — Whale-watching boat
  3. Day 3 · Ponta Delgada (Azores) — Sete Cidades or Furnas
  4. Day 4 · Pico — Fly to Pico; vineyards· Ponta Delgada, Azores → Pico (by air)
  5. Day 5 · Pico — Whale-watching boat from Lajes
  6. Day 6 · Pico — Mount Pico climb (registered) or Whalers' Museum
  7. Day 7 · Pico — Travel home from Pico· Pico → Washington, DC (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Ponta Delgada (Azores)

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Pico

Nearest airport: Pico Island Search fares · Pico Island ↗

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