Espaço Talassa | Whale & Dolphin Watching     
Since 1989, Serge Viallelle, has criss-crossed the Azores sea. He has discovered and has got to know the impressive community of dolphins and whales that frequent waters of the middle of the Atlantic. He met "João vigia" a old retired whaler and Alexandra Teles, together they open in 1991 the first Azorean whale watching company on the harbour of Lajes do Pico. Before to embark, we will open up for you the doors of this still unknown world through a 30 minutes power point presentation. Coming back from the sea, the cetacean expert who lead the trip will review the 3 hours spend on board, if you still have soem question you can have access to our specialized library or meet our resident biologist Each trip at sea is a different story, but thanks to our exclusive "vigia", the lookout of Queimada and to our embarked hydrophone, it is very rare that we don't meet some of the 27 sea mammal species registered in the Azores. Out at sea we take part actively in the study and the protection of these last leviathans, we contribute to the collection of data necessary for some research project as for exemple the Azorean Photo ID project: http://www.espacotalassa.com/photo_id/photo_id.php Responsible travel: By choosing Espaço Talassa, you are choosing to limit your ecological footprint. For 10 clients who embark with us, we plants a tree to partly compensate the ecological deficit and the CO2 emissions related to our whale watching activity Solidarity tourism:Espaço Talassa thinks that it is right and educational that the meeting with cetaceans should be accessible for local population. "Solidariedade “is a project which allows inhabitants of Pico, students of any age, youth card holders, and unemployed to meet whales and dolphins which cross south of Lajes do Pico by paying a symbolic sum of 10 €: http://www.espacotalassa.com/03_gb/02_ethics/responsible_travel.htm
MonthsApril • May • June • July • August • September • October DurationHalf-day (3-6 hours) • Full day (6-9 hours) • Multi-day Vessel typesRigid inflatable Times and pricesDaily whale watching, "Whales and dolphins from Queimada" from euros 37 Package 7 days whale watching "Dolphins, whales and men" from euros 499 Package 7 day swim with dolphins "danse with dolphins" from euros 595 About our skippers and naturalist guidesPlease visit. http://www.espacotalassa.com/03_gb/15_staff/index_staff.htm FacilitiesAccess to wheelhouse • Carbon neutral • Naturalist guide(s) as well as skipper • On board hydrophone • On-site visitor center / museum • Onboard research • Posters / displays / maps • Public participation in research • Reading material available • Support conservation • Use a code of conduct We frequentlyWatch whales and dolphins Baleen WhalesBlue Whale • Bryde's Whale • Fin Whale • Humpback Whale • Minke Whale • Sei Whale Toothed WhalesDwarf Sperm Whale • False Killer Whale • Long-finned Pilot Whale • Pygmy Sperm Whale • Short-finned Pilot Whale • Sperm Whale Beaked WhalesBlainville's Beaked Whale • Cuvier's Beaked Whale • Gervais' Beaked Whale • Northern Bottlenose Whale • Sowerby's Beaked Whale • True's Beaked Whale Ocean DolphinsAtlantic Spotted Dolphin • Bottlenose Dolphin • Risso's Dolphin • Rough-toothed Dolphin • Striped Dolphin Other wildlife and points of interestObservation frequencies can be classified into 3 level : - Often : Physeter macrocephalus, Sperm whale - Delphinus delphis, Common dolphin - Tursiops truncatus, Bottlenose dolphin - Stenella Frontalis, Atlantic spotted dolphin - Grampus griseus, Risso's dolphin - Globicephala macrorhynchus, Short-finned pilot whale. - Randomly : Stenella coeruleoalba, Stripped - Pseudorca crassidens, False killer whale - Hyperoodon ampullatus, Northern bottlenose whale- Zyphius cavirostris, Cuvier's beaked whale - Mesoplodon bidens, Sowerby's beaked whale - Mesoplodon europaeus, Gervais' beaked whale - Balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale - Balaenoptera physalus, Fin whale - Balaenoptera borealis, Sei whale. - Rare : Steno bredanensis, Rough toothed dolphin - Orcinus orca, Killer whale - Kogia breviceps, Pygmy sperm whale - Megaptera novaeangliae, Humpback - Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Minke whale - Balenoptera edeni, Bryde's whale, Mesoplodon densirostris, Blainville's beaked whale, Globicephala melas, Long-finned pilot whale, Lagenodelphis hosei , Fraser's dolphin. AddressRua dos Baleeiros
Town / CityLajes do Pico
State / CountyAzores
Zip / Postcode9930
CountryPortugal
WebsiteTel+ 351 292672010
 Karen Debler Best Whale and dolphin watching in Europe Traveled: 2013-06-02, Reviewed: 2013-07-01
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
I have been to Lajes do Pico and Espaco Talassa 3 times now. The team is incredibly motivated to give you the best whale and dolphin watching possible. The organization - from accomodation and transport to trips- is well done with fair pricing and friendly and helpful staff. All skippers take extreme care not to disturb any whales or dolphins and are very knowledgeable how to approach them. I saw 9 different species of cetaceans in one week, the diversity of the Azores is simply stunning. But the quality of the encounters counts most and that`s where Espaco Talassa makes a real difference to me. I`ll definitely come back!
Kim Plunkett A Trip of a Life-time Traveled: 2013-05-18, Reviewed: 2013-06-03
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
Serge and the team at Espaco Talassa are incredibly knowledgeable, enthusiastic, helpful and committed to giving their clients the best possible experience whilst at the same time ensuring that the whales & dolphins encountered are approached and treated with the utmost respect. On each trip we were educated and informed about the marine-life we saw and also about research and conservation issues. Whenever the crew felt that our presence was having a negative effect on the whales & dolphins, the decision was made to leave the area. As we encountered many species of cetaceans with calves and juveniles, this was of particular importance. The crew even did their part in cleaning up the oceans by slowing down to remove plastic bags and containers floating by! After each trip there was a debriefing where we could ask further questions and learn more about what we had encountered.
. In 5 boat trips, I saw a blue whale & calf, fin whales & calf, sperm whales & juveniles, pseudo orca, pilot whales (including a week old calf!), bottlenose, common and Risso's dolphins, all with calves and juveniles, plus striped dolphins, flying fish, sunfish and loggerhead turtles. Truly a trip to remember! I cannot recommend Espaco Tallaso highly enough and am saving for my next trip. David Cunniffe Even better than hoped for Traveled: 2013-05-18, Reviewed: 2013-05-30
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
I was expecting to see some cetaceans, probably a couple of species of dolphins and hopefully a Sperm whale or two; I was completely unprepared for the 9 species that I tallied, and also the most amazing, close-up encounters.
The first thing that struck me was the preparation and then the de-briefing for each daily trip; Serge and his team are obviously very committed to doing this job as responsibly as they can, given that they tried to give their clients the best whale watching experience they could. This was so much more than a dash in a RIB to get as close to a cetacean as possible. Each trip was used as an opportunity to explain, not just about the animals themselves, but also about conservation and research methods. For most of the group I imagine that the highlight of the week was the sighting of the Blue whale with juvenile. For this encounter, the crew held well back, concerned not to worry or harass the animals, whilst at the same time trying to give us opportunities to take those once-in-a-lifetime photos. I would unreservedly recommend Espaco Talassa and Dolphin Connection to anyone wanting a truly memorable whale-watching experience. pamela rigler SIMPLY THE BEST!! Traveled: 2013-05-18, Reviewed: 2013-05-26
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
We had an amazing trip which far exceeded our expectations.We saw five species of Whale including Blue and Fin both with calves and five species of Dolphin also with calves.Numerous sea birds,Turtles,flying fish the list goes on.
Our guide and the boat crew gave us lots of information about our sightings and there friendly attitude and knowledge really made this a holiday to remember.Thank you all so very much. Pam and Derek Rigler. Rachel Jones Life changing experience Traveled: 2013-05-18, Reviewed: 2013-05-22
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
Serge and all of his team are friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and passionate about whale conservation. The skippers and guides in particular have a brilliant sense of humour and what they don't know about the species that visit The Azores isn't worth knowing. They were always just as excited as us when we saw any of the animals and with an unprecedented 12 different whale and dolphin species being seen in the space of 5 days, we realise we were extremely lucky. We would not hesitate in recommending this company to anyone who wants to experience whale and dolphin watching in The Azores. They do everything they can to make the trip enjoyable for you whilst showing enormous respect for the animals by keeping their distance so as not to disturb them. We are already planning our next visit.
carol Going back! Traveled: 2012-09-29, Reviewed: 2013-02-26
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
This was my first 'tourist' experience with the Dolphin/Whales and I wanted to make sure it was in the respect of the animal. After days of research I stubble across Espaco Talassa and choosing them and Pico for a week 'dancing' with the dolphin was the best experience I have ever had. The skippers are really caring, informative and responsible for the dolphin/whales well being, it is all about the animal well fair and our safety. We had a lot of fun and every day a multitude of encounter with the Dolphin. We also managed to see a Blue Whale and fishes of all sorts. I wish I could not recommend it to keep it as a safe secret but it has to be shared has it helps protect the dolphin and also it helps people understand what it is to see the animals in their natural environment and not in 'jail' for the 'tourist business'! I am going back, and back, and back!
Henry Edwards Unforgetable experience!! Traveled: 2012-06-10, Reviewed: 2013-02-21
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
Without doubt the best encounters I have ever had! Never seen so many variety of species,truly amazing!
Great team,highly professionals and conscious.Fun ride on very safe boats. Definitly an unforgetable experience and for sure I will be back for more :-) Thank you so much Espaço Talassa and hope to see you in the near future! Dee P Three years in a row Traveled: 2012-07-07, Reviewed: 2013-02-14
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
We fell upon Espaço Talassa completely by chance one year whilst on vacation in the Azures and a dream came true. We have since been three times. The staff are friendly and helpful as well as being professional and concerned about marine life, and are always around to answer questions and offer advice. Thanks to their competence we found, met and swam daily with different animals who welcomed us in their territory, providing moments that we will never forget. Every trip has been just as mind blowing as the previous. We have tried and tested elsewhere and NOTHING comes near to beating this experience. The only problem is that once you go you will want to go back!
Jean-Pierre Superbe Traveled: 2012-04-01, Reviewed: 2013-02-12
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
Même après une dizaine de séjours (!), on découvre de nouvelles raisons de revenir ... L'accueil d'Espacô Talassa et de la population locale, les paysages et l'ambiance, la qualité et la diversité des observations: que du plaisir ...
SOURY Simplement extraordinaire Traveled: 2005-09-11, Reviewed: 2013-02-11
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
Absolument rien à redire. L'équipe d'Espaço Talassa est ultra compétente. Le lieu se prête à des observations d'animaux résidents, et, selon la saison, des migrateurs. J'y suis allé à 5 reprises, ce n'est pas pour rien ! L'approche des animaux est extrêmement prudente et répond à une charte précise et éthique.
Je le recommande encore et encore ! Mayor Meilleur endroit sur terre Traveled: 2012-08-08, Reviewed: 2013-02-11
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
Clairement le meilleur endroit sur Terre.
Pas seulement grâce au professionalisme de l'équipe d'Espaço, à la diversité et au nombre des cétacés observés mais aussi pour leur philosophie, leur éthique, la sérénité de l'endroit et à l'ambiance qui y règne. J'ai beaucoup voyagé mais je ne me souviens pas d'un autre endroit où j'ai pleuré dans l'avion qui me ramenait chez moi... Du coup j'y suis allée trois fois et je rêve d'y retourner. Le plus vite sera le mieux !! Marisa Avila 100% Satisfaction Traveled: 2012-07-21, Reviewed: 2013-02-10
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
The best staff, great whale watching conditions as well as hospitality manners. Definitely the best!!!
Vera Lourenco Amazing! Traveled: 2012-09-07, Reviewed: 2013-02-10
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
Best experience of my life!! The staff is very professional, knowledgeable and friendly, I would definitely recommend Espaco Talassa to anyone! I can't wait to go back and do it again.
Alexandra Teles The best Traveled: 2012-06-03, Reviewed: 2013-02-09
Safe approach to whales / dolphins
Valuable learning experience
Trip meets expectations
Minimal impact on the marine environment
Own research / support for conservation
The best! Very profissional with us and the animals!
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