Dolphin watching in the Algarve, Portugal

Did you know that you can spot dolphins in the Algarve? As soon as I read about this, I knew I had to book a dolphin tour. After doing some research, I decided on the company Wild Watch Algarve. They have a great reputation online, and they offer a fantastic guarantee: if you don’t see any dolphins on your first trip, you can go on another tour for free. It’s a great offer because, as with all wild animals, you can never be sure whether you’ll spot dolphins or not.

The dolphin tour departs from Ferragudo, a charming town in the municipality of Lagoa, which primarily serves as a residential area for Portimão. However, it’s gaining popularity among tourists, especially thanks to the dolphin tours. The company’s headquarters is easy to locate, but make sure you arrive on time — they won’t wait for you if you’re late. And don’t underestimate the morning traffic in the Algarve; it can get quite congested.

The adventure begins as a rigid inflatable boat gently takes you out of the port before speeding up across the vast ocean. It’s an incredible feeling, almost like flying over the water. If you’re planning to book the tour, be sure to avoid seasickness — it can get pretty bumpy when the captain accelerates.

Before we spotted the dolphins, we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a whale surfacing for air from a distance. Unfortunately, my camera and I weren’t prepared for the moment, so I don’t have a picture of the whale, which is a real shame. Fortunately, the company filmed the entire trip, so the breathtaking whale encounter is captured in the video.

Throughout the journey, we kept searching for the whale, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find it again. Once a whale surfaces for air, it can stay submerged for hours without resurfacing.

After the whale sighting, the captain decided to head towards some dolphins, having received information about their location. We were all buzzing with excitement, eager to see these incredible creatures. The last time we saw dolphins was back in Gibraltar in 2014, so we were really looking forward to this.

We spotted them from a distance, and everyone quickly jumped up to get ready with their cameras. As we got closer, the dolphins appeared, and they were nothing short of mesmerizing. I could have easily spent hours just watching them. The captain shared some fascinating stories about dolphins, including one that blew my mind: some dolphins sleep with their eyes open, tricking other animals into thinking they’re awake and alert.

There were other boats trailing the group of dolphins, but the captain skillfully anticipated where they might dive next. He was incredibly experienced, almost always predicting the dolphins‘ next move. It was truly remarkable to see the dolphins swimming right alongside the boat, almost as if they were playing with us. Dolphins are such beautiful, intelligent creatures.

After nearly an hour of observing the bottlenose dolphins, the captain received word of another group nearby. He gave us the option to either continue watching the bottlenose dolphins or head toward the new group. Naturally, we chose to search for the other dolphins and left the bottlenose group to enjoy their peaceful swim.

The other group of dolphins we encountered were common dolphins, easily recognizable by the light yellow coloration on the front of their bodies. Unlike bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins don’t always swim in tight groups, which made them a bit harder to follow and photograph. With a group of dolphins, you can often capture great shots since there’s usually one dolphin emerging from the water. However, when photographing a single dolphin, it becomes trickier to predict when they’ll surface again, making it more challenging to get that perfect shot.

After spending nearly another hour with those beautiful creatures, it was time to say goodbye to the dolphins. On our way back to the port of Ferragudo, we passed many of the Algarve’s stunning cliffs. From the sea, they looked even more breathtaking than when viewed from the land, offering a completely different perspective of the coastline.

As the final highlight of our dolphin watching tour, we sped back to the port at high speed — an absolutely exhilarating feeling. For some, it might have felt a bit too fast, but I could have ridden like that for hours!.

All in all, I absolutely loved the entire trip. After the tour, the crew invites you back to their office for some snacks and drinks — a perfect way to relax and recover from the excitement. While you’re unwinding, they show you the videos they filmed during the excursion. The best part? About a month later, you receive a link to your personal dolphin watching video, which makes for an unforgettable memory of your time with these amazing creatures.

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