Set in the middle of the Atlantic, halfway between the United States and continental Portugal, nature created an archipelago of 9 volcanic islands. Known for being the “Hawaii of Europe”, in this oasis of marine life, anything is possible. From swimming with the largest fish in the world, the whale shark, to diving surrounded by dozens of mantas, blue sharks or incredible “baitballs”. The Azores present added geological interest, with impressive arches formed by ancient lava flows and deep caves. Out of the water, green fields filled with “happy cows”, volcanic calderas or natural hot water pools make this an incredible experience.
Over 6 unforgettable days we will swim on 3 different islands in the central group: Faial, Pico and São Jorge. It is from one of the most visited marinas in the world, in Faial, that we travel daily to some of the most remote and richest marine biodiversity sites that the Azores have to offer. The Capelinhos Volcano, Princess Alice Bank (45 miles from the coast), or Ponta dos Rosais offer such different swimming, with incredible underwater views, that will keep you coming back to these waters year after year.
At the end of this swimming holiday you will be able to continue your odyssey through the western group of the Azores islands, on 5 day trip around the islands of Flores and Corvo (under confirmation).
Are you ready to embrace this adventure across the mid-Atlantic?
We meet at Horta Airport, on Faial Island, where our swim guides will be waiting for you. From here, there is a short 15-minute transfer to the Hotel, where you will check in.
After a welcome lunch with the other swimmers of the group, we will do a briefing to introduce the week ahead.
During the afternoon, we will walk to Porto Pim Beach for an acclimatization swim and experience the calm waters of this bay with volcanic sand.
Today marks the beginning of our adventure in the Azores Islands. Departing from Marina da Horta, we will travel to the Morro de Castelo Branco Natural Reserve, a breathtaking rock formation resulting from a coastal volcanic eruption that occurred around 30 thousand years ago.
After lunch, we will visit the Capelinhos Volcano and learn about the history behind the grandeur of the volcano, which last became active in 1958.
Heading to the west end of the island, today we will swim around Ponta dos Capelinhos, from where we will see the lighthouse that had to be deactivated due to the volcanic phenomenon that occurred in the region. Seen from the sea, we will be dazzled by the uniqueness and inaccessibility of this place.
On the return boat trip we will make a short stop at Porto do Varadouro for a delicious lunch overlooking the sea.
Arriving on land, we will visit the Caldeira, a volcanic crater on a monumental scale measuring 2km in diameter, surrounded by the primitive Laurissilva forest.
You will never forget the fourth day of the trip. Departing from the marina a little earlier than usual, we will sail by catamaran for around 3 hours until reaching our destination, 45 miles from the coast, Banco Princesa Alice. Considered one of the best diving and snorkeling places in the Azores, this will be a very special swim in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by mantas (Mobula tarapacana) and, occasionally, tunas and barracudas.
A light lunch will be served on board the boat.
During the return journey there is a good chance of seeing groups of whales, dolphins, turtles or other cetaceans.
Known as “the sleeping dragon”, due to its 53 kilometers in length, the last day of the adventure is spent in São Jorge, the most central island of the archipelago. Along this impressive swim you will be able to see the spectacular cliffs, more than 200 meters above sea level, that so characterize the extreme northwest of the island.
We will return by boat to Faial, where we will have lunch at the most famous café in the world, Peter’s Café Sport.
At the end of the day we will attend the briefing of the channel crossing.
We will say goodbye to everyone who will take the flight back home and continue our journey to the western group of the Azorean islands of Flores and Corvo for those who want to continue their journey through the Atlantic paradise (under confirmation).
Payment is made in two instalments. A 30% deposit (non-refundable if the traveller cancels) to secure the booking, and a second payment of 70% up to 60 days before the start of the trip. You may also choose to pay for the entire trip in a single payment. If the booking is made less than 60 days before the date of travel, payment must be made in full.
Most of our trips can accommodate guests who cannot swim; however, please note that this is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
This trip is for those who love adventure, making new friends and feeling life pulsing through every moment! If you come with an open mind, a relaxed attitude and a desire to experience the world in a different way, get ready for an unforgettable experience.
It’s important to bear in mind that, as this is an adventure trip, the unexpected can happen. You might come across animals you don’t usually see in your daily life, the internet might be patchy, and the food might not be quite like your mum’s – and that’s absolutely fine! It’s these little details that make the trip special and authentic. And thank goodness it’s like that – if everything were the same, it wouldn’t be worth leaving home.
If you invite a friend to come with you, it’s essential that you let them know about this. At SwimTogether, we don’t want grumpy travellers. Here, a good attitude and a willingness to make the most of every moment are essential!
We usually stay in twin rooms, which may have a double bed or two single beds. Where possible, we book double beds for couples. Those travelling alone are usually accommodated in rooms with single beds.
On some occasions, you may choose to stay in a single room. Subject to availability, we can arrange for you to have a room to yourself for an additional charge, the amount of which may vary depending on your travel dates. Please contact us for further information.
The trip is confirmed once all the necessary conditions for it to take place have been met, namely reaching the minimum number of travellers and finalising all organisational details (bookings, transfers, activities, and so on). As a rule, confirmation takes place several months before the scheduled date, although this may be delayed until a maximum of 20 days before departure. It is possible that, at the time you make your booking, the trip has already been confirmed.
You should only book your flights once you have paid for the trip and confirmed with SwimTogether that your booking is finalised.
We will then provide you with our recommended flights.
Of course you can, but you’ll be on your own until you meet your tour guides and the group at the hotel on the day the adventure begins. If you’d like, you can also extend your stay and stay on for a few more days after the SwimTogether trip has finished. In either case, you can arrange to extend your stay directly with us, so you won’t have to worry about changing hotels and/or rooms.
Transfers vary depending on departure and arrival flight times. Normally, there is at least one transfer for the whole group on the outward journey and another on the return journey. Transfer times are arranged taking into account the recommended flights. On arrival at the destination airport, there will always be a driver holding a SwimTogether sign waiting for travellers. If you choose flights other than those suggested and arrive at the airport early, you may wait until the transfer time. The same applies on the return journey: if your flight is later but you wish to use the transfer to the airport, you may do so. Should you choose flights whose dates or times do not coincide with those of the transfers, we can arrange your transfer at an additional cost.
Throughout the trip, travellers will be accompanied by SwimTogether tour guides. They will also be travelling with other participants of various ages and swimming abilities, who may include young students, retired couples, solo travellers, groups of friends, experienced open-water swimmers or people who are not used to swimming outside a pool. Whatever the group’s composition, you can be sure you’ll find a mix of fascinating personalities from all over the world, united by a shared love of swimming and nature.
Travellers’ dietary requirements – including vegetarianism and severe allergies – are always taken into account, provided they are communicated in writing and well in advance. However, it is important to bear in mind that it is not always possible to accommodate all dietary requirements. Situations may arise where it is not possible to guarantee a fully suitable meal, and in such cases, it is the traveller’s responsibility to be mindful of their diet and take additional precautions, such as bringing suitable snacks or finding out in advance about the options available at the destination.
As we believe every traveller should have free time to enjoy the destination at their own pace, dinners are not included. This means that everyone can choose where, when and with whom they wish to eat. The average cost is around €30 per meal.
All guests must be aged 18 or over on the start date of our trips, or be accompanied by an adult who can swim if they are aged between 16 and 18. The price of the trip is the same as for an adult.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our adventures, and you must provide your policy details before departure so that, in the event of any health issues during the trip, we can make a claim on the traveller’s behalf. Your insurance must provide adequate cover for medical treatment abroad, medical evacuation/repatriation, luggage and equipment, as well as for the specific activities involved in your adventure. We also recommend that your policy includes cancellation and curtailment cover, in case you are unable to take part in the trip due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness.
Standard travel insurance may not cover all the activities included in your adventure, so it is essential to carefully review the policy details. SwimTogether can arrange your travel insurance at an additional cost - our proposal can be requested free of charge and with no obligation (request travel insurance).
Alternatively, there are providers specialized in adventure travel, such as IATI, offering a 5% discount to SwimTogether clients and coverage for a wide range of adventure activities.
Please ensure that the policy you choose meets your individual needs and covers all aspects of your trip.
We recommend that all travellers attend a pre-travel consultation or speak to their doctor between 4 and 8 weeks before departure. There are generally no compulsory vaccinations, but it is important to confirm this with your doctor and to check whether any specific medication is recommended for the trip. We also advise you to check the specific recommendations for your destination.
We can reserve all the seats for you and your friends. This is always subject to availability.
On our trips, we have a wide range of swimming speeds, with participants covering 1 km in open water in between 15 and 30 minutes. As a guideline, guests should be able to swim at least 1 km in 30 minutes. The average pace on SwimTogether trips is 15 to 20 minutes per kilometre, or around 24 to 32 minutes per mile.
One of the advantages of SwimTogether trips is that we accommodate this range of speeds on every trip. At the start of the trip, the guides lead an acclimatisation swim with all participants to group swimmers of similar speeds together. Usually, two speed groups are formed per trip, although this may vary depending on the group.
By dividing swimmers into smaller groups, we ensure that everyone swims at a comfortable pace. On most of our trips, we ask that swimmers be able to swim 1 km (0.6 miles) in 30 minutes to take part.
No. After all, you’re on holiday! If you need to take a break whilst swimming, you can always hop onto the support boat at any time. On trips where we use kayaks instead of boats, the guides will be able to advise you on the various options for getting out of the water and walking parts of the route, wherever possible.
Each group of swimmers is accompanied by its own support boat during each session. On most trips, these boats usually consist of a main semi-rigid boat and a kayak; however, when motorised boats cannot be used, the guides accompany the swimmers in support kayaks. The boats and guides are there to ensure safety, provide drinks and snacks, and assist with anything you may need throughout the trip.
One of the great joys of open-water swimming is the chance to appreciate the incredible variety of wildlife, natural topography and underwater landscapes that most people never get to see. The type of marine life you might encounter varies greatly from place to place. We’ve swum with everything from manta rays and whale sharks to laid-back sea turtles and unique fish.
This trip takes place in environments where wild animals are present in their natural habitat, with limited or no restrictions or control over their movements. Some species may be dangerous, poisonous or unpredictable. Observing these animals is a privilege, but safety must always be a priority. You must strictly follow the guide’s instructions and any signage in place.
We recommend that you consider your comfort level with regard to wildlife and discuss any concerns with the host before the trip, especially if you have allergies, phobias or other related health conditions.
Tap water in the Azores is completely safe to drink, so you can fill your bottle at the hotel and at various points throughout your trip.
The cost of flights may vary depending on the season, the number of stopovers, airline promotions, extras, and other factors. On average, the approximate prices are:
Domestic flight:
- Lisbon (LIS) – Horta (HOR) – Lisbon (LIS): approx. €300
- Ponta Delgada (PDL) – Horta (HOR) – Ponta Delgada (PDL): approx. €180
Please feel free to send us an email and we’ll be happy to reply: info@swim-together.com
This experience is fully booked. Add your guest and contact information to join the waitlist. We’ll contact you if a new availability opens up, and send you a new link to book.
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