Vila do Porto Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal)

Vila Do Porto is a quiet and subdued travel destination compared to other islands in the Azores, but that's part of the appeal. Most of the outright tourist attractions capitalise on the rich Atlantic waters. Operators at the marina in Vila Do Porto lead whale watching expeditions and swimming-with-dolphin tours, especially during the summer season, when the seagoing mammals are here in force and serve as major attractions for those on holiday.

Ironically, the island of Santa Maria receives few tourists, but undeniably has the best beaches in the archipelago. The Praia Formasa is the closest beach to Vila Do Porto, but there are stretches of gold-sand beaches all over the island.

Whale Watching

Address: Marina, Vila Do Porto, Azores, Portugal, PT
The waters of Santa Maria are home to 25 percent of the world's whale and dolphin species. In ages past, the entire Azores archipelago was known for its whale-hunting prowess, but there was a sudden shift toward conservation and whale watching in the 1980s. Today, tour operators around Vila Do Porto can arrange land-based and ocean-bound whale watching tours. Just head to the marina any day from May to October. At peak times, a tour can spot as many as seven or eight of these enormous gentle giants, with species including blue, humpback, minke, sei and sperm whales, amongst others.
Open hours: May to October, daily - 07:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Swimming with Dolphins

Eight inquisitive species of dolphin live in the Azores' waters, and tourists can venture out to swim with pods of Atlantic spotted, bottlenose and Risso's dolphins. Tour operators follow strict guidelines to ensure the dolphins' safety, taking small groups of tourists in semi-rigid inflatable rafts. The most popular swimming- with-dolphins tours are on other islands, but Santa Maria has its own offerings at the marina in Vila Do Porto. This is one attraction that you will remember forever.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Blue Azores Sailing

Tel: +351 0916 039 582
Blue Azores is the biggest company to offer sailing charters in Vila Do Porto. Guests board a 14-metre / 46-foot luxury catamaran and sail around the coast of Santa Maria. Along the way are excellent opportunities to spot dolphins and whales. Blue Azores also sails between Sao Miguel and Santa Maria, bringing tourists over for a mixed sailing and hiking excursion.
Open hours: April to October, daily - 08:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Praia Formosa Beach

Address: Praia Formosa, Vila Do Porto, Azores, Portugal, PT
Vila Do Porto may be one of the least touristy islands of the Azores, but it happens to have the best sandy beach in the entire archipelago. The golden Praia Formosa lies at the base of steep cliffs and fronts a broad bay, being located just a short distance to the east and perfect for swimming. The beach is sheltered by two large volcanic outcrops and features a number of very decent facilities, including accommodation and a few restaurants. Of note, the village of Almagreira is close by.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge

Manta Ray Diving

Address: Norte-Santa Bárbara, Vila Do Porto, Azores, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 0296 884 005
Scuba diving and snorkelling are popular in this area and there are more than 50 distinct dive sites offshore of Santa Maria, including the Baixa Ambrosia seamount, the Dollabarat area and the outlying Formigas Rocks. The most spectacular experience is the manta ray dive. These gentle beasts feed on clouds of glowing plankton after dark, making a night dive a must for anyone with an interest in scuba diving, while other night-time underwater attractions often include moray eels, octopuses and yellow jacks. Robert Paul Minderlein is the main dive operator in Vilo do Porto and offers scooter, drifting and tow diving, with the best time being between May and October.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Walking Tours

Out of all the islands in the Azores, Santa Maria is the most walkable. The best walking trails are situated just a few miles to the east of Vila Do Porto, in nearby Santa Barbara. Local travel agents can arrange treks to the top of Pico Alto, along with walks around the Sao Pedro hamlet and into the rustic countryside on the island's north-east coast, where the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Lourdes awaits.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 19:00
Admission: free for independent walks, charge for guided treks

Anjos

Address: Anjos, Azores, Portugal, PT
The island of Santa Maria is perhaps best known as the site where Christopher Columbus stopped en route to the Americas. Visit the village of Anjos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the north-west coast of the island, and see historical sites related to his visit. The quaint Our Lady of the Angels Chapel (Ermida de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos) marks the very spot where Columbus knelt to pray, and a statue memorialises this world-famous explorer.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 19:00
Admission: free