Portugal · DOLPHIN & WHALE WATCHING
Common dolphins work the Algarve coast all year, the Setúbal estuary has a resident bottlenose group, and Madeira gets pilot whales and sperm whales. These 15 are compared on boat size, trip length and what happens if nothing shows.
Review of Albufeira’s 2.5-hour Benagil Caves and dolphin cruise, with coastal views, marine biology, swimming, tips, and honest value advice.
“It was great - we saw dolphins and the cave was beautiful. Christian was really knowledgable and Jesus was a great captain!”
Speed along the Algarve coast from Albufeira to Benagil, enter its famous caves, pause for a swim, and search for dolphins for $40.
“Fantastic boat ride!! A bonus we seen dolphins !! The caves are amazing. The guide Ana very good !! Would definitely recommend this trip.”
Cruise Madeira’s coast on a hybrid electric catamaran, spot dolphins and whales, swim near Cabo Girão, and enjoy responsible wildlife viewing.
“Great crew. Friendly, knowledgeable and communicative. They did a good job finding some Sperm whales and Atlantic Spotted dolphins. Boat was comfortable and it was a pleasant 3 hours on the water.”
Search Madeira’s coast for dolphins, whales and turtles, then swim beneath Cabo Girão on a relaxed three-hour catamaran cruise from Funchal.
“Really enjoyable experience. Well organised and all the staff were very friendly and enthusiastic. We did get to see dolphins very close to the boat, which was lovely to experience. The boat is an excellent craft, quite exciting to travel on, especially on the rig at the front. Special thanks to the crew member who taught me how to dive off the boat, he was very patient and explained everything really well.”
Cruise from Albufeira to Benagil Cave, search for wild dolphins, enter sea caves, and swim off the Algarve coast for $34.
“This activity was very fun and of course the landscape was beautiful. The people working on the boat were very friendly and spoke fluently many different languages.”
Explore the Benagil Caves and Algarve coast by semi-rigid boat, with a chance to see wild dolphins on this 2.5-hour Albufeira cruise.
“Our tour guides, Diogo and the captain, Osvaldo were absolutely the best in entertaining us along the ride with historical facts, jokes and music. Osvaldo’s ability to steer the boat at high speed made the ride exhilarating while we felt safe. Diogo was friendly and serviceable. Always making everyone laugh with his jokes and offering to take pictures of us at the Benagil cave. The views of the caves, beaches and shoreline were amazing. To top it off, we were lucky to have seen a few dolphins frolicking and jumping in the ocean on our way back to the marina. Definitely recommend this tour when in the Algarve region. It’s…”
Watch whales and dolphins off São Miguel with a marine biologist, choosing a catamaran or Zodiac and getting a second trip if none appear.
“I loved it! We saw two species of whales and bunch of dolphins. Felt a bit sick because of sea sickness, but fortunately everything was good! Highly recommend this tour. We really enjoyed it.”
Review of Portimão’s Benagil Caves and dolphin cruise with a marine biologist, including route, swim stop, comfort, value, and practical tips.
“We had a great experience. Guides explained a lot during both dolphin watching and the caves. They had a lot of knowledge which was great! This was a really nice way to get best of both experiences in one trip. Would 100% recommend.”
Cruise from Lisbon to the Atlantic for dolphin watching, landmark views, live commentary, and an open bar, with no wildlife guarantee.
“Fantastic staff, drinks plentiful, lots of sightings of Dolphins. Lots of interesting landmarks along the way. Highly recommend.”
Search for wild dolphins, enter Algarve sea caves, and cruise to Benagil from Albufeira with a skipper and marine biologist.
“It was a very informative tour, and although the sea was a bit rough the tour can be highly recommended!”
Cruise Funchal Bay on a small luxury catamaran, watch for whales and dolphins, then swim beneath the cliffs of Cabo Girão.
“Both staff were absolutely quality, good laugh and a great tour! Saw pilot whales and dolphins at first spot and had a great swim in the beautiful waters! All the best with the new baby captain!”
Review of Madeira’s $93 luxury catamaran tour, with whale and dolphin watching, Cabo Girão, swimming, unlimited drinks, and small groups.
“Excellent staff very friendly and knowledgeable. Great variety of drinks and snacks. Unfortunately no dolphins or whales!”
Combine wild dolphin watching and Benagil Cave on a 2.5-hour Lagos speedboat tour led by marine biologists along Portugal’s Algarve coast.
“A beautiful day and wonderful crew. Don’t hesitate to book”
Search for whales and dolphins with marine biologists, then circle Vila Franca do Campo Islet on a fast, scenic Azorean boat tour.
“It was very windy and choppy but otherwise it was great!”
Review of Madeira’s 3-hour eco catamaran cruise from Funchal, with dolphins, whales, coastal views, practical tips, and honest drawbacks.
“I already did the west side but I did not mind doing it again as it was very enjoyable experience, I am also glad visiting the east side asI always wanted to walk above the clouds not just on airplanes! The views were like a dream come true, Both guides were excellent in describing everything.”
Pick a coastline, a cellar or a cave.
