The archipelago is one of the most isolated destinations in the world, with steaming natural hot springs, reefs, lakes and lava tubes. They include a number of dramatic black sand beaches and also Europe’s largest protected marine reserve (2024) covering the tidal zone around the islands up to the abyssal plains, containing deep-sea corals, over 450 (!) fish species from more than 140 families, sharks, turtles, whales and dolphins. In short, also an area of great marine, volcanic-oriented biodiversity.
“This part of the Atlantic Ocean, with its rich fishing grounds, offers dolphins and whales a nutritious environment and a protected place where the animals can give birth to their young close to the island slopes.”
Until the ban in 1987, commercial whaling still existed on Pico. Since then, whales and dolphins have grown in importance primarily as tourist attractions. Part of its history is preserved in the port town of Sao Roque as a whale museum. The original wooden boats are now used for regattas, which anyone can participate in.
The season with the best chance of spotting whales is between May and October, especially around Faial and Pico. This part of the Atlantic Ocean, with its rich fishing grounds, offers dolphins and whales a nutritious environment and a protected place where the animals can give birth to their young close to the island slopes. Altogether, as many as 25 species occur. Scientific research is also conducted on the islands, including into risso dolphins and porpoises (related to the beluga and narwhal).
There are also many species of (mainly migratory) birds, more than 30 of which use the archipelago as a nesting place, both around the coast and cliffs as well as in the laurel forests further inland.
And perhaps somewhat less appealing to the imagination, there are also all sorts of really extraordinary other wild life to be found, including various mollusks (Gastropoda) and crustaceans (Crustacea), insects such as arachnids (Arachnida) and centipedes (Chilopoda).
