Private Seafari Boat Trip : Full Day

Blue water, close wildlife, zero crowds. This private Seafari boat trip off Faial Island is built around wildlife time with a marine biologist skipper named Silvio, plus big ocean views to Pico, Capelinhos, and São Jorge.

What I like most is the small, private pace with Silvio guiding your day, not a cattle-car schedule. I also love the short 15-minute in-water skills refresh, so you feel ready before you start hunting for sea turtles, coastal fish, sharks, and the playful groups of dolphins and marine birds.

One consideration: this is weather-dependent, so plan for a possible change of date if conditions are not right.

Key things that make this Seafari special

• Marine biologist guide and skipper (Silvio) running the day, from briefing to wildlife search
• Private time on the water so you can focus on what you want to see
• A short 15-minute in-water skills refresh before wildlife spotting
• Flexibility for early departures if you want feeding activity and bait balls
• Whale shark timing is seasonal (mid August to October)
• Lunch included in a quiet bay by a secret desert beach setting on Faial

A Private Seafari From Faial Island: Built for Wildlife Lovers

If you want a full day at sea that feels personal, this is the setup. The trip runs about 7 hours and stays centered on Faial Island’s coastline, where you can look for marine life while also enjoying wide, ocean-level views of nearby islands and volcanic scenery.

The value here is the way the day is managed. You are not just taken from point A to point B. You plan the day with Silvio and adjust your itinerary to match your interests, whether that means more time for sea turtles and coastal fish or aiming for the more dramatic sightings that happen at certain times of year.

This is also a trip that makes sense for photography and “quiet observation” styles of travel. When wildlife is close, you want time to watch, not just time to pass by. And when wildlife is not close, you want a skipper who can keep looking, calmly and intelligently.

Meet Silvio, the Marine Biologist Skipper, and Get Your Gear Sorted

Before heading out, you start at PicoBicadas, 9950-305 Madalena, Portugal. At arrival, you can choose and try your snorkeling equipment if you need it. Then Silvio gives a briefing about how the day will work and what you are aiming to spot.

That prep matters more than it sounds. A lot of “wildlife” boat days get messy because people are still figuring out masks and tubes while everyone else is already scanning the water. Here, you get a chance to set up so your attention can stay on the sea.

Silvio is also the point of difference because he is not only the skipper. He is the marine biologist leading the experience, which helps explain why the trip emphasizes wildlife and why the schedule can flex. In the one glowing piece of feedback for this experience, the guide was described as very kind, prepared, and affectionate toward a 14-year-old, and the group even mentioned being able to chat in Catalan. That’s the kind of human touch that makes a long day at sea feel easier.

The Day at Sea: From a Quick Skills Refresh to Wildlife Scanning

Once you’re briefed, you head out for a short 15-minute in-water skills refresh in a pristine coastal area. This is not a long training program, but it’s enough time to check comfort, basic technique, and comfort with the gear.

After that, the day becomes a wildlife-focused search. You are out with your private group, so your pace is controlled by the guide and the sea conditions rather than by a big crowd. The overall target list is broad but specific enough to be exciting: sea turtles, coastal fish, sharks, plus the frequent presence of dolphins and marine birds.

One smart thing about this style of trip is that it treats snorkeling as part of a broader plan. You are not snorkeling randomly. You are snorkeling and observing while the boat and skipper keep working a route that matches what is most likely at that time.

As the day unfolds, you also get flexibility. If you want to focus on specific events or special sea life, you can adjust the schedule and itinerary. That makes the day feel more like a customized expedition than a fixed tour.

Early Morning Option: Feeding Activity, Bait Balls, and Big-Name Targets

If you love the idea of a “start early, go hard” ocean day, there is an early timing option: leaving at 5:30 AM. The point of that start time is to improve your odds at observing feeding events and looking for bait balls.

This is also when the trip can tilt toward specific targets. With an early departure, the itinerary can focus on spotting sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, and other sea life you’re aiming to encounter.

Two practical notes if you choose this style. First, an early wake-up changes the feel of the day, even if the activity time is still around 7 hours. You will likely want a calm morning mindset and bring the attitude of someone who enjoys chasing a moment rather than demanding it arrive on schedule.

Second, bait balls and feeding activity are not guaranteed sightings. What you get is a plan designed to match those chances. You are still at the mercy of the ocean, but at least you are working with a skipper who is thinking in terms of timing, not just geography.

Whale Sharks and Tuna: The Seasonal Window You Should Plan Around

This trip gives whale shark time special attention, but only during a specific season. The operator states that whale sharks are possible only from mid August to October.

If your personal checklist includes whale sharks, this is where timing matters most. You’re not looking at a “maybe” that works all year. You’re looking at a defined window, and you can time your vacation around it.

The experience also mentions tunas, and the goal is to spend as much time with them as possible. That matters because tuna sightings tend to be all about movement and patience. When the boat is positioned right and conditions align, time on the water becomes the difference between a quick look and a real encounter.

If whale sharks are not your priority, you still get a wildlife-focused day. Dolphins, marine birds, turtles, and sharks are still part of the overall search plan. But if whale sharks are the headline, plan your dates accordingly and accept that you are still dependent on weather and real sea conditions.

Lunch in a Quiet Bay: Fresh Local Food on a Secret Beach Feeling

Midday is more than a meal stop. Lunch is included, and the details matter: it is described as fresh local and organic food, plus drinks, enjoyed in a quiet bay.

The setting is described as a secret desert beach of Faial. Even if you do not know the exact beach name in advance, the concept is clear. You are getting a calmer, scenic break from open water, with a lunch that is integrated into the day rather than rushed through on the dock.

This is one of the value drivers for the price. A private boat day can add up fast once you factor in food, snacks, and the mental effort of finding a place to eat while you are on an island schedule. Here, the meal is part of the experience plan, and it supports the wildlife day by giving you a steady energy reset.

Practical tip: treat this as a real lunch break, not a snack. Pack a little water in addition to what’s offered if you tend to get thirsty, and plan to enjoy the slower bay moment rather than immediately rushing back into gear time.

Views From the Water: Pico, Capelinhos, Monte de Guia, and São Jorge

One reason people fall in love with Faial is the way the islands line up in view when you’re surrounded by sea. From the boat, you get the chance to see the coastline and the volcanic features that define the area.

The experience specifically mentions views to Pico, the Capelinhos volcano area, and the Monte de Guia volcano, plus the broader picture of Faial and São Jorge from the sea.

These views are not just pretty filler. They change how you experience the day. You are not only looking at wildlife. You are also moving through an island geography that feels geological and dramatic, which is exactly what makes an ocean day on the Azores feel different from a typical coastal snorkeling trip.

If you care about photos, you’ll probably enjoy the “from the water” perspective. Boats naturally give you angles that you do not get from shore. And because your day is built around wildlife scanning, the visual payoff often comes in short bursts when the light and positions line up.

Value and Price: What You’re Paying For (and What That Buys You)

The price is $1,795.94 per group, with a maximum group size described as up to 6 in the pricing summary. The experience description also mentions private small groups with 4 people max.

So the first value step for you is to confirm the exact headcount cap when you book. That affects the per-person math a lot.

Here is the rough idea if you are deciding whether this fits your budget:

• If you fill 6 spots, you’re around $299 per person.
• If you’re closer to 4 spots, you’re around $449 per person.

Now the important part: what you’re paying for is not only the boat. You’re paying for a full private day with Silvio, wildlife-focused planning, gear setup support, a short in-water skills refresh, lunch with local organic food, and flexibility to aim for feeding events or seasonal wildlife like whale sharks.

If you are traveling as a couple or small family, private pricing can feel steep at first glance. But when you compare it to paying for a group tour plus separate food plus the stress of fitting your plans around someone else’s itinerary, the “per day, per group” structure can start to feel fair.

Who Should Book This Seafari, and Who Might Prefer Another Style

This trip is a strong fit if you want:

• A private boat day built around wildlife time
• Guidance from a marine biologist skipper who can adjust the plan
• A snorkeling-forward experience with a short skills refresh at the start
• A day that includes lunch and scenic island views without you hunting for logistics

It may be less ideal if you want a fixed, predictable route. The whole point here is flexibility. You might steer your day toward certain marine life based on timing and conditions, not a guaranteed checklist of stops that run on rails.

Also note the comfort reality of ocean days. The experience requires good weather, and if conditions are not right, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. That’s normal for the Azores, but it is still something to keep in mind when you are planning flights.

Should You Book It? My Practical Take

If you want the most wildlife-focused day possible on Faial, with a guide who thinks like a biologist and plans like a skipper, I’d book it. The blend of private pacing, early-morning option, and seasonal whale shark timing is unusual in a good way.

Book it especially if your group has at least a few people so the cost per person becomes more manageable, or if wildlife is the main event and you want a day that’s not split between multiple tour operators. And because the headcount cap may differ between the pricing summary and the private-small-group description, confirm the exact maximum when you reserve.

If you are flexible on dates and you’re excited about dolphins, marine birds, turtles, sharks, and the possibility of whale sharks in season, this is the kind of day that can become your favorite story from the islands.

FAQ

How long is the Private Seafari Boat Trip on Faial Island?

The experience lasts about 7 hours.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It is a private tour, with only your group participating. The maximum group size is listed as up to 6, and the description also mentions private small groups with 4 people max, so it is smart to confirm the exact cap when booking.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at PicoBicadas, 9950-305 Madalena, Portugal, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

What do we do during the trip besides wildlife spotting?

You can snorkel, and there is a short 15-minute in-water skills refresh before the team starts looking for wildlife. There is also a briefing at the base before departure.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, with fresh local and organic food and drinks served in a quiet bay at a secret desert beach of Faial.

When is the best time to see whale sharks?

The experience notes that whale sharks are possible only from mid August to October.

What happens if the weather is bad or I need to cancel?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. For cancellations, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.