Naturalist - Science & Tourism | Whale Watching — Attraction in Horta

My time with Naturalist was something I'll never forget! They were a wonderful bunch of people who were all both kind and super knowledgeable and passionate about wildlife, both marine and on the island. The briefings were great before each boat trip where we got to learn about each species we might encounter and we got to learn about all of the ongoing scientific research projects that the team is working on. We saw whales, dolphins, turtles, man-of-war's and many sea birds. Absolutely nothing can beat being on the water and seeing these animals! There are almost too many things to mention that set Naturalist apart for me - Fast communication with the team, educational talks from researchers themselves, kind and accommodating, full gear provided to keep dry and safe, perfect amount of time on the water, respectful of the animals and following the regulations, warm tea and a little complementary gift at the end of the bit trip and the range of tours offered. There's boat tours for the marine life, day tours around the island with super knowledgeable and lovely guides and an absolutely magical overnight tour to see Cory Shearwaters coming in from the sea to roost on the volcanic cliffs at the right time of year - unforgettable experience! I recommend going with Naturalist out to sea multiple times if you can because that really improves the chances of seeing different species and improves the odds of good weather. Fantastic experience that...

We only happened across Naturalist by chance because our first whale-watching trip in Ponta Delgada was cancelled. We are so glad that it worked out how it did.

The ethos and values of Naturalist are great to see and they genuinely care about what they are doing and the animals they work with - they seem to use their tour company as a means to conduct research, so many of the tour guides are marine biologists or similar with published research.

It was an informative trip. The guides took the time to explain to us about whales and those that we were likely to see based on what had been spotted by the lookouts. We then travelled for quite a while in a small zodiac-type boat, so please don't go into this expecting a large boat for 40 people. It's a small boat with probably 10-12 people on it, which, for us, was better.

We were lucky enough to see Sperm Whales, which was incredibly and the enthusiasm and excitement of the guides was equal to ours. They seemed to love every second of it as much as we did. We also had the opportunity to see some Risso's Dolphins as we travelled back to land and spent some time with a particularly playful group of Spotted Dolphins, including a little baby that was jumping out of the water.

Unforgettable. We would definitely recommend Naturalist. As much for the way they work and who they are as anything else, but, naturally, it helps that the tip was...

A truly exceptional whale watching experience with a real heart for nature. We went on a whale watching tour with Naturalist from Horta, Faial, and were lucky to have Gisela on board — a passionate marine biologist who works with her team on the island. Her deep knowledge of marine species and her love for the well-being of the animals were truly inspiring.

Instead of following the crowd to the usual whale watching spots — which can be overwhelming for the deeper-dwelling species due to the high boat traffic — Gisela took us to a quieter area. There, we had an unforgettable encounter with whales in a peaceful and respectful environment. It felt intimate, educational, and deeply respectful of nature.

Unfortunately, we missed our second tour due to a car breakdown, but we’re still incredibly grateful for the one tour we experienced. Watching whales in the presence of a scientist made the experience so much richer.

Naturalist is a company that puts the animals first, prioritizing ethical and sustainable whale watching. If you're visiting Faial, this is the team you want to go with — thoughtful, respectful, and deeply committed to marine life.

Highly recommended! Chris and...