To swim or not to swim, that question no longer applies!
The Azores have always been one of the best cetacean-watching hotspots in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly around the volcanic island of Pico.
Moving through a wild environment, travellers can approach dolphins, protected mammals, while observing certain safety rules as well as the ethical code of conduct for environmental protection.
By offering journeys centred on nature and wildlife observation, Étendues Sauvages supports an approach to environmental preservation that keeps alive the wonder these places can offer.
Our local correspondent, awarded the silver medal of “tourism merit”, has upheld a very strict policy on swimming with dolphins since 2001. Having set up the first cetacean observation base at Lajes do Pico, he dreamed of getting the local government and the companies offering these same activities to adopt this code of conduct. “I’m convinced it’s possible to enjoy wonderful underwater encounters with dolphins by combining passion and respect,” he said at the time.
Sadly, 15 years later, the ecological situation caused by the growth of these tourist activities is worrying: “irresponsible and disrespectful behaviour from most whale-watching companies”, “a lack of enforcement of existing regulations” — he fears an irreversible impact on the species observed.
This is why we decided in 2018 to stop promoting swimming with dolphins as an activity. A first step towards a genuine awareness of environmental issues, driven by efforts to change swimmers’ behaviour. “Helping to conserve threatened species is also part of our mission,” our correspondent points out. Not encouraging poor behaviour and acting for responsible tourism is our guiding principle.
A genuine call to all tourism operators and local authorities to:
– stop swimming with dolphins, for the animals’ welfare but also to restore the image of whale watching in the Azores
– regulate swimming with sharks, an increasingly requested activity
Convinced that a different kind of tourism is possible, Étendues Sauvages invites you instead to choose whale watching with its brand-new programme: an 8-day adventure in Lajes de Pico, combining cultural visits, hikes through nature, cetacean observation and wildlife talks led by a team whose passion never wavers.
