PORTUGAL
Portugal's best.
The 15 most popular dolphin watching tours across Portugal. What each day includes, who runs it, and the price you'll pay.
2.5-hour Benagil Caves and dolphin watching cruise from Albufeira with a marine biologist, photo stops, and a possible swim.
“Paalo was very good. Gave a lot of info about Sagres and Lagos . He was very friendly and chatty. The weather being fantastic helped us to enjoy the tour better Could be better Driving was a bit dodgy in sections Could have a bit more time in Lagis”
3-hour eco catamaran from Funchal with silent hybrid-electric dolphin and whale watching, onboard nets, two decks, and bar snacks.
“It was fantastic trip. Safe vessel and cruise, professional crew, we saw dolphins, everything went great.”
Speedboat from Albufeira to Benagil Caves for iconic views, a possible swim stop, and dolphin spotting along Portugal’s Algarve coast.
“Had the best time, so lucky the dolphins were there on my trip and got to watch the pod . Amazing . The guide was lovely informative& answered all questions . No option was offered to swim which we were informed it would be . This didn’t ruin the trip as it was nice .…”
3-hour Seaborn catamaran from Funchal to Cabo Girão for dolphin, whale and turtle spotting, plus swim time and sea views.
“Loved it. spotted Dolphins and Whales despite the rough sea and winds in the winter time. Was a nice relaxing experience. Smooth ride, and excellent and courteous crew onboard!”
2.5-hour Albufeira cruise to Benagil Sea Cave, coastal swim stops, and dolphin searching, with a multilingual crew and safety first.
“Skipper and crew were very knowledgeable and friendly. Checking that all passengers were OK and not feeling seasick. Luckily we saw dolphins 🐬 🥰”
Small-group Albufeira dolphin search and Benagil caves cruise with a swim stop. Semi-rigid boat, English crew, about 2.5 hours.
“The dolphins are not guaranteed. It's great to get out on the water! Caves are very cool, erosion is amazing!!”
2.5-hour Albufeira RIB cruise for wild dolphins, sea caves, and possible Benagil access, with an onboard marine biologist and swim stop.
“the only thing that could possibly have improved was the weather overall it was a lovely experience I would recommend a light jacket for the sea breeze but it was good”
3 hours of ethical whale watching off Ponta Delgada with onboard marine biologists, two boat options, and a second tour if you see nothing.
“The quide had so much great information So lucky saw a group of three Sei whales and a pod of about 200 dolphins So much fun watching them play and swim in our waves and they had babies beside them They were spotted Dolphins Great experience!!”
Portimão’s Benagil Caves and marine-biologist dolphin hunt. Cruise for caves, swim if conditions allow, and learn marine life on board.
“My second time on this trip (Yes the first back in November 2024) was that good - I had to do again! Nice size boat, experienced and passionate captain and marine biologists. Of course each experience is different when dealing with wild dolphins and whales but there were so so many dolphins from young to…”
Cruise Lisbon’s Tagus River to the Atlantic for dolphin watching, landmark views, and an open bar during a 2.5-hour outing.
“We had a brilliant time. We were so well looked after right from collecting our tickets. Our guide showed us lots of sights along the coast and explained their history as we journeyed out into the open sea. The boat ride itself was very enjoyable and we saw lots of sea birds which our guide…”
Luxury catamaran from Funchal with dolphin and whale spotting, plus snorkeling at Cabo Girão’s cliffs. Drinks extra.
“Great go do it we saw whales jumping and went for a swim”
Sail from Funchal on a luxury catamaran for a 3-hour dolphin, whale, and turtle search plus a Cabo Girão swim stop with unlimited drinks.
“We had a wonderful time aboard, we saw dolphins and it was heartwarming that the crew caught a plastic bag from the ocean to protect the turtles/fish. Exceptionally pleasant guiding from Margarita and Nico, they told us the ins and outs about Madeira, its geography and the sealife. Food and drinks were amazing, delicious cinnamon…”
Lagos speedboat combo tour with a marine biologist for wild dolphins, then Benagil Cave by boat from Marina de Lagos.
“We had a great time on our tour! We saw dolphins and the sea caves were beautiful!”
Madeira whale and dolphin watching on an eco catamaran from Funchal, with land spotters and hybrid-electric engines for quieter wildlife viewing.
“Comfortable catamaran, knowledgeable crew, saw pilot whales and dolphins, Cabot Girao and Camara da Lobos from the sea. 3 hours well-spent.”
Marine biologist-led dolphin watching from Lisbon on a fast RIB. Scan for pods near the Atlantic and pass Belém monuments by boat.
“Great value. Extraordinary to see dolphins “in the wild” & clearly not fussed by human presence. Guides extremely knowledgeable & personable & obviously very passionate about what they do. And amazing to reflect on being in a speed boat on the Atlantic Ocean. Overall experience I will treasure.”
