The 15 Best Tours in the Azores

From Ponta Delgada: Whale and Dolphin Watching Trip - Catamaran or Zodiac: choosing the right ride for your comfort

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,109 reviews · 3 hours · from $82Our pick

3-hour whale and dolphin watching from Ponta Delgada with a marine biologist, clear animal-spotting rules, and a second outing if none are seen.

“This was a wonderful first activity on my holiday to São Miguel. The weather was great and we did see some cetacean species out at sea. It was such a thrill to see the whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. The guides were very informative and knowledgable and I learned a few things that I didn’t know before.”

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Boat Tours in São Miguel, Cruises & Boat Tours, São Miguel Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in São Miguel

Azores: Whale Watching & Islet Boat Tour w/ Marine Biologist

2.Whale Watching & Islet Boat Tour w/ Marine Biologist

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,945 reviews · 3 hours · from $73

Marine biologist-led whale watching from Vila Franca do Campo with guaranteed sightings, zodiac comfort, and a volcanic islet loop on São Miguel.

“Enjoyed it very much. Our guide was very enthusiastic. We saw a sperm whale, pilot whales, and white spotted dolphins. Great trip”

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Full-Day, Lunch Experiences, São Miguel Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Van Tours, Van Tours in São Miguel

São Miguel West: Full-Day Van Tour with Lunch

3.São Miguel West: Full-Day Van Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,948 reviews · 8 hours · from $88

A small-group van day through west São Miguel, from Sete Cidades viewpoints to Boca do Inferno, lava coasts, and Lagoa do Fogo lunch.

“Had lots of fun and saw amazing views out amazing guide Sam changed the itinerary right on time so we’ll be able to see some great views we would have missed otherwise because of mist and had lots to tell”

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Full-Day, Lunch Experiences, São Miguel Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

São Miguel West Full Day Tour with Setes Cidades Including Lunch

4.São Miguel West Full Day Tour with Setes Cidades Including Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,605 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $90Top rated

A small-group West São Miguel day with Sete Cidades viewpoints, Mosteiros pools, Ribeira Grande, and Lagoa do Fogo, plus lunch and pickup.

“Joao was amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable and really cared about our experience. We learned so much about the Azores while experiencing its beauty. Joao was the reason why we fell in love with Azores and we would highly recommend booking this tour with him!”

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São Miguel East: Full-Day Van Tour with Lunch

5.São Miguel East: Full-Day Van Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,367 reviews · 8 hours · from $88

A small-group van day across east São Miguel, with Furnas geothermal stops, waterfall trails, Nordeste viewpoints, and included cozido lunch.

“Mario is a wonderful guide and driver! He shared so many interesting things. Even the rain didn't stop us from having a great time. Thank you.”

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São Miguel: Whale-Watching Cruise with Marine Biologist

6.Whale-Watching Cruise with Marine Biologist

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,311 reviews · 3 hours · from $76

Marine biologist whale cruise from São Miguel with ethical spotting, a fast search by lookout radio, and refund help if whales don’t show.

“It was so much fun exploring the waters on the zodiac boat. You go fast and it can be bumpy so not for those wanting a smooth ride. We saw so many dolphins and got to see two whales as well. Overall the team is excellent and really did all they could to make our time enjoyable.”

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Furnas Valley Tours, Lunch Experiences, Nordeste Tours, São Miguel Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Van Tours, Van Tours in São Miguel

São Miguel East Van Tour with Lunch: Furnas & Nordeste

7.São Miguel East Van Tour with Lunch: Furnas & Nordeste

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,210 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $90

Small-group East São Miguel day tour from Ponta Delgada, with Furnas geothermal fields, waterfall walks, and lunch cooked in the ground.

“Wonderful Eastern tour of the island. Spent sufficient time at each stop, not too long or short. Max was very informative throughout the tour. Very kind and cautious driver. Would recommend Max and this tour.”

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Canyoning Trips, São Miguel Tours, Tour Reviews

Canyoning Experience at Ribeira Grande

8.Canyoning Experience at Ribeira Grande

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 965 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Ribeira Grande canyoning in the Azores with disinfected gear, guided rappels, optional jumps, and a lush river setting in a small group.

“Paulo, Bruno and the rest of the team were amazing guides. My friend and I enjoyed this experience. All the equipment was clean and in excellent condition. We felt very comfortable and the team guided us through the entire process even though we had no canyoning experience prior to this. Highly recommend!”

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Food, Food & Drink, Food Tours in São Miguel, São Miguel Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Small-Group Ponta Delgada Food Tour in Azores

9.Small-Group Ponta Delgada Food Tour in Azores

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 884 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $139

Taste Azorean foods in Ponta Delgada with a small-group walking tour, market stops, cheese tastings, and a sweet finish.

“Michael, our guide was a funny and entertaining man. Very interactive. However, as an American living abroad, I didn’t appreciate him constantly bad mouthing my nation”

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Bike Tours in São Miguel, Cycling Tours, Quad Bikes, São Miguel Tours, Sete Cidades Tours, Tour Reviews

Quad Biking – Sete Cidades from North Coast (Half Day)

10.Quad Biking – Sete Cidades from North Coast (Half Day)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 883 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $82

Half-day quad biking from Ponta Delgada to Sete Cidades, with rugged trails, big viewpoints, and lagoon crater views. English guided.

“This was an excellent experience!! I would give this 6 stars if I could. Felipe was an excellent guide and made sure to explain safety guidelines very well, showed us stunning spots around the island that I had never even heard of before (despite extensive research beforehand), and gave recommendations for good restaurants and stops for travelers. He even helped us with a flat tire after the tour! This was my partners and my first time driving a buggy and the path started with a good warm up to allow us to get used to driving, then we were able to zip along steep and bumpy dirt roads to many…”

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Canyoning Trips, São Miguel Tours, Tour Reviews

Sao Miguel: Caldeiroes Canyoning Experience

11.Caldeiroes Canyoning Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 751 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $82

Canyoning in São Miguel’s Ribeira dos Caldeirões: harnesses, wetsuits, zipline, optional jumps and abseils, plus photos, all in 2.5-3 hours.

“By far the best activity we did in the island!!!!!!! The views were incredible, the guides were great and they made us feel really safe throughout our experience! I would recommend it for sure. Everyone should try it.”

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Azores Whale Watching Tour – Ponta Delgada

12.Azores Whale Watching Tour – Ponta Delgada

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 740 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $78

Whale and dolphin tour from Ponta Delgada, guided by marine biologists on an open boat, with rain gear and a sighting refund.

“Excellent tour with good information. A fun morning! They prepare you well for the trip and make sure you will be warm and comfortable.”

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2-Day Experiences, Furnas Valley Tours, Nordeste Tours, São Miguel Tours, Sete Cidades Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

São Miguel 2-Day Tour: Sete Cidades, Fogo, Furnas & Nordeste

13.São Miguel 2-Day Tour: Sete Cidades, Fogo, Furnas & Nordeste

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 733 reviews · 2 days · from $146

A 2-day, small-group São Miguel tour hitting Sete Cidades, Fogo, Furnas and Nordeste, plus volcano views and optional hot springs.

“Amazing tour! I bought the 2-days tour and I can truly recommend it! Both days were great, we saw so many beautiful spots around the whole island, and what was the most important was the amazing guide Pedro, who is such a nice and warm person, having enormous amount of knowledge about the Azores and all the places we visited! Thanks to him the atmosphere during the whole tour was really nice and I really enjoyed my time in the Azores!🤍”

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Pico Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Pico Island: Whale Watching Experience from Lajes do Pico

14.Whale Watching Experience from Lajes do Pico

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 723 reviews · 3 hours · from $82

3-hour zodiac whale watching from Lajes do Pico. Marine biologists guide you to whales and dolphins away from crowds.

“Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides and great views of cetaceans. We saw five different species of dolphins and whales and huge numbers of shearwaters.”

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Full-Day, Jeep & 4x4 Tours, Jeep & 4x4 Tours in São Miguel, Lagoa do Fogo Tours, Lunch Experiences, São Miguel Tours, Sete Cidades Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Jeep Tour Full Day Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo with lunch and drinks included.

15.Jeep Tour Full Day Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo with lunch and drinks included.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 668 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $108

Full-day Jeep adventure from Ponta Delgada to Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo, with crater views, local lunch, and drinks.

“This jeep tour was easily one of the highlights of my time in the Azores. Our host was outstanding, full of fascinating facts about the volcanoes, the surrounding towns, and even the dirt rally events that take place there. We visited two volcanoes, one on the west side and one in the center of the island. The second spot had some cloud cover, but our guide knew exactly where to take us for incredible views despite the weather. Lunch was a short, pleasant walk to a fantastic restaurant right on the shore. The food was outstanding, fresh, flavorful, and perfectly timed after a morning of exploring. This tour blended adventure,…”

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