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  • ⭐ 4.9 / 5 (69 REVIEWS)

Rescued Donkeys Daily Care Experience

Starting at €15 | 1.5 Hours | Parties of 2 to 8 | Água do Alto (São Miguel)

Quick Details

For those who prefer a hands-on encounter, enjoy lots of laughs helping out at the Água de Alto Donkey Association in São Miguel. Over 1.5 hours, help with day-to-day tasks required for the welfare of the animals, which may include feeds, bath time, grooming, cleaning hooves, clearing field shelters and paddocks, sweeping yards, and leading animals between pens and paddocks. The association’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome donkeys, focusing on education and protection from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Ages 2+, free entry under 2. Available in Portuguese and English.

Adult & Child

Ages 02 & Older

€ 15

Young Child

Under 02

Free

Enjoy an Happy Rescued Donkeys Tour!

For those that prefer a hands-on encounter, enjoy lots of laughs at the Água de Alto Donkey Association. Helping with the daily chores will give members of your group a meaningful experience. Helping with the day-to-day tasks required for looking after the welfare of the animals may include feeds, bath time, medication, mucking out, grooming, cleaning hooves, clearing field shelters and paddocks, sweeping yards, leading and herding animals out of pens and paddocks, and assisting with outreach therapy visits. The mission of the donkey association is to help donkeys in need of rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing. The focus is on providing education and protection from animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect, as well as developing a future sanctuary for donkeys that need a forever home. Authentic and responsible tourism helps guests engage more deeply with the Azores, and the locals love meeting new people, sharing the donkeys and community in a friendly way with visitors from all over the world.

What is included

  • Arrival and welcome
  • Hands-on encounter with donkeys

What is not included

  • Transportation to the farm

Itinerary

  1. Welcome – Arrival at the meeting point in Água de Alto
  2. Introduction – Meet the donkeys and learn about the association’s mission
  3. Hands-On Chores – Help with feeding, grooming, cleaning hooves, or clearing paddocks
  4. Connection Time – Bond with the donkeys through the day’s tasks

Highlights

Real hands-on animal care, not just observation. Feeding, grooming and cleaning hooves offers genuine, meaningful involvement in the donkeys’ daily welfare.

A cause with real purpose. Every visit supports rescue, rehabilitation and education against cruelty, abuse and neglect — past guests describe it as an incredibly meaningful cause.

Unexpected affection from unlikely animals. Past guests consistently describe being surprised by how lovable and affectionate donkeys can be, even letting them eat straight from your hand.

Breathtaking views alongside the work. Reviews repeatedly mention the stunning views from the hills of the donkey rescue as an unexpected bonus.

Meeting point

  • After booking we will send all the details of the farm, location (meeting point) and contact.

Google Map

Person leading a small donkey on a sunny day, with another person in the background.
Everyone needs to do this!!! Izzy Leitzell

I can’t recommend this experience enough!! It’s rare you meet someone so knowledgeable and passionate about their craft, and so kind and down to earth at the same time! Bethany is the definition of someone doing gods work and she truly makes you feel so welcome! The donkeys themselves are, simply put, so much fun to be around! They make you feel like a little kid with the amount of fun they bring out of you! This was definitely one of the most memorable and unique experiences we had on our whole trip, and we would do it again in a heartbeat!! 10/10

– June 15, 2026 – Verified booking
Person kneeling beside a donkey on a grassy field under a cloudy sky.
Happiness with Rescued Donkeys Jacqueline Fernandes

Bethany was truly an amazing hostess and gave us a wonderful morning “walk with the donkeys”. Her passion for the animals, her knowledge about the history of the area and her connection to the community was truly inspiring. I am always so grateful to meet people like Bethany who dedicate theirs lives to the care and welfare of animals, especially donkeys, who have endured abuse, neglect and cruelty. If you are an animal lover and want to connect with a beautiful Azorean village, please consider spending a morning with Bethany and her sweet, affectionate and beautiful donkeys. It is a worthwhile experience and an incredibly meaningful cause. Thank you Bethany for a wonderful morning! We will definitely be back❤️🫏😊

– June 06, 2026 – Verified booking
donkey tour azores
highly recommend it to anyone looking for something special! Silvia Ronin

After living here for over two years, I was excited to discover something so unique and booked it right away, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had on the island. From the very start at the meeting point, Bethany made us feel incredibly welcome, and the experience unfolded naturally from there. It was truly eye-opening to learn about agricultural life in the Azores, while also gaining a deeper appreciation for these amazing animals. We heard the donkeys’ individual stories, learned about their pasts and daily care, and even got to enjoy some funny moments thanks to their mischievous personalities. Overall, it was a perfect mix of fun, learning, and emotional connection. I would absolutely come back again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for something special.

– April 03, 2026 – Verified booking
azores donkeys tour
We had an amazing time! Alyssa

We had an amazing time interacting with the donkeys and getting to know the donkeys themselves! Bethany is a wonderful host with so much passion, and did a great job showing us a little bit of the their corner of the world. The location is beautiful, and everyone is so welcoming and friendly- I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time!

– August 28, 2025 – Verified booking
azores donkeys tour
This experience was extraordinary! Ricard Épouse Girardot

I have a newfound love and admiration of donkeys. This experience was extraordinary! I never knew how lovable and affectionate donkeys could be. I’m missing all of them already! I got to meet and hug the donkeys, help with feeding (even letting them eat from my hand), and brush a few of them. Bethany is leading an amazing rescue. On a side note, the views from the farm are out of this world. I cannot wait to return to the island to see the donkeys!!

– September 25, 2025 – Verified booking
azores donkey tour
Can’t recommend this experience enough! Tina

Bethany is truly an Island treasure with a vast amount of knowledge of its history and agriculture. Her donkey rescue is filled with donkeys that clearly adore her and the guests she brings to interact and learn about them. Not only is she an advocate for their wellbeing, she advocates and helps many others across the island. The views from the hills of the donkey rescue are breathtaking and the experience is amazing. She is so personable and helpful too. Can’t recommend this experience enough. Definitely go do it!

– October 05, 2025 – Verified booking

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