Members save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide when you’re signed in
From Portimão:Dolphin Watch & Lagos Coastline with Biologist
Features
- Free cancellation available
- 2h 30m
- Mobile voucher
- Instant confirmation
- Multiple languages
- Features animalsFeatures animals
Overview
- Experience unforgettable moments with wild dolphins in their natural habitat
- Spot incredible seabirds & other marine species & learn from a biologist guide
- Learn about the history and geology of Lagos region from our multilingual guide
- Witness the beauty of Ponta da Piedade, Lagos Coastline & awe-inspired beaches
- Enjoy swimming in the blue sea and crystalline water at a tranquil bay (Summer)
Activity location
- Portimão
- Portimão, Faro, Portugal
Meeting/Redemption Point
- Restaurante Vista Rio - Hotel Riverside, 8400 Parchal, Portugal | After crossing the railway line, continue straight ahead. You will find a car park on your right-hand side. Alternatively, you can proceed along the cobbled street, where you will find parking on your left-hand side (this area is busier and may be full). Then, walk about 30 metres to the boarding pier, which is directly in front of the restaurant and swimming pool. Wait there for a crew member (please do not go down to the boat).
- Parchal, Faro District, Portugal
Check availability
Small-Group Tour
- 2h 30m
- English
Private Tour
- 2h 30m
- English
Limited to a maximum of 14 people. Includes a bottle of champagne and snacks. Enjoy this experience in a more intimate setting!
What's included, what's not
- Free car park at the meeting point
- WC Toilet at the boarding gate
- Tour guide - English, Portuguese, Spanish and French speaking
- Safety briefing
- Experienced captain
- Life jackets
- Insurance
- Bottled water
- Biologist on board
- Dolphin search
- Ponta da Piedade and Lagos Coastline
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Service charge
Know before you book
- Not allowed: Feeding animals, Luggage or large bags, Smoking, Touching marine life
- Not suitable for: Babies under 1 year, People with back problems, Pregnant women
What you can expect
Enjoy 2h30 of a unique boat tour that combines two experiences in one: responsible dolphin watching and seeing the Lagos coastline and the famous Ponta da Piedade headland. On the way back, and if sea conditions are favourable, enjoy a stop for swimming.
Departing from Portimão you will navigate into the open sea in search of wild dolphins then towards the West to Ponta da Piedade headland. Count on a captain with many years of experience and biologists who share a profound love for nature and marine life. As education plays a vital role in conservation, count on valuable information about the marine animals, their behaviour, and the marine environment.
The most sighted species of Dolphins are:
Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) - Conservation Status: Least Concern
(*Red List of Mammals of Continental Portugal, 2022)
Algarve waters teem with biodiversity, and therefore other marine species such as seabirds and jellyfish will also be spotted. (Sharks, whales, and turtles are very rare, so we don't even mention them!)
Be ready for a marine adventure and be open to an unpredictable, and unique experience:
The magic of observing dolphins and other marine creatures in their natural environment is thrilling and indescribable. But it is important to understand that these encounters are with unpredictable wild animals that roam freely in their natural habitat, the Atlantic Ocean. They cannot be summoned or controlled. Also, sea conditions, weather, and other natural factors can affect visibility and the likelihood of sightings. Sometimes, dolphins may be farther away, less active, or unsocial. With great team effort and experience, we have a 98% success rate in finding them.
Then you will have the opportunity to learn about Ponta da Piedade, translated to “Point of Pity”, particularly famous for high cliffs and intricate rock formations that have been sculpted by erosion over time. It is a natural wonder that holds a valuable set of historical, scenic and geological heritage and has a lighthouse that adds to its charm.
Admire the beauty of the coastline of Lagos, characterised by a mix of rugged cliffs, sandy coves, clear turquoise waters, sea arches and marvellous beaches. The golden cliffs contrast beautifully with the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, creating a breathtaking and photogenic landscape.
On the way back to Portimão, and if sea and weather conditions are favourable, we stop at a beautiful and tranquil bay for you to enjoy the landscape, socialise and swim in the crystalline waters of the Algarve!
Location
Activity location
- Portimão
- Portimão, Faro, Portugal
Meeting/Redemption Point
- Restaurante Vista Rio - Hotel Riverside, 8400 Parchal, Portugal | After crossing the railway line, continue straight ahead. You will find a car park on your right-hand side. Alternatively, you can proceed along the cobbled street, where you will find parking on your left-hand side (this area is busier and may be full). Then, walk about 30 metres to the boarding pier, which is directly in front of the restaurant and swimming pool. Wait there for a crew member (please do not go down to the boat).
- Parchal, Faro District, Portugal