Algarve Dolphin Watching & Marine Life Eco Tour
Description
Spotting dolphins in their natural habitat is an extraordinary experience and on this 2.5-hour excursion off the coast of the Algarve, you will get the chance to see common and bottlenose dolphins, as well as the other marine life that live and play around the barrier islands of Ria Formosa and Santa Maria Cape, Europe’s most southerly point. Departing Faro you will travel aboard a comfortable and safe RIB boat with a nature guide in tow, who will give you fascinating facts about the extraordinary sea life of this lovely location. The boat trip is approximately 2 hours long and cruises through the calm waters of the Ria Formosa towards the big blue ocean, reaching 10 or 12 miles offshore. You will sail along the coastline of the Algarve, pass by the barrier-islands of Ria Formosa and Santa Maria Cape looking out for several species of cetaceans. After the exciting water adventure tracking the intense marine life, you will return to Ria Formosa where the tour ends.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The meeting point for your tour is at our offices at the shop Pure Nature Store - ground floor of the building of Ginásio Clube Naval de Faro (Nautical Club of Faro). Please be so kind and check in for your tour or activity with our team members at least 10 minutes before the departure time.
You'll find us our offices in the shop Pure Nature Store - ground floor of the building of Ginásio Clube Naval de Faro (Nautical Club of Faro). Please check in for your boat trip with our team members at least 10 minutes before the departure time of your boat trip.
Experience Ria Formosa - one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal on this boat trip. Cruise gently on a comfortable RIB boat as we depart from Faro sailing through the channels of the Ria Formosa to fully enjoy the beautiful landscape.
Here we will be able to spot the lighthouse and typical Algarvian houses as we cruise to exit Ria Formosa. Also on this island lies the most southern point of Portugal - the Santa Maria Cape.
The tour ends with stunning views of the old town of Faro along the way.
You can choose to disembark here, if you wish please be so kind to ask your skipper in advance.
The ending point of your boat trip.
The ending point of your boat trip.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 2 adults per booking is required
- A maximum of 12 people per booking
- Dye to safety reasons children under 5 years old can not participate
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Reviews(23)
This was a great trip highly reccomended and well worth doing. Our guudes were very knowledgeable, they took time and were very engaged. We saw a pod of Dolphins who swam alongside us for sometime.
Dear Guest, thank you so much for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear you had such a great trip and that our team’s knowledge and engagement made a positive difference. Seeing a pod of dolphins swimming alongside the boat is always a truly special moment, and we’re glad you got to experience it with us. It means a lot to know you found the tour worthwhile and memorable. We hope to welcome you back again soon to explore more of the beautiful Ria Formosa and Algarve with Formosamar. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Fantastic speed boat trip with clear instructions from two brilliant guides , very informative too and videos of dolphins and a memory which will last a life time .. one we’ll treasure
Dear Guest, thank you for sharing your fantastic experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the speed boat trip and that our team’s clear instructions and informative approach made you feel comfortable and engaged throughout. Spotting dolphins and capturing those special moments on video truly makes for unforgettable memories. At Formosamar, we strive to create meaningful and lasting experiences on the waters of the Ria Formosa and beyond, combining excitement with respect for nature. It’s wonderful to know this was a memory you’ll treasure, and we hope to welcome you back to Faro for another special adventure. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Amazing trip. Boat was safe and comfortable, guides were very knowledgeable and although we only saw a couple of dolphins, it was a great experience.
Dear Guest, thank you for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you found the boat safe and comfortable and that our team’s knowledge helped make the experience enjoyable. While dolphin sightings can vary, it’s great to know that seeing a couple still made the trip special for you. Every moment on the Ria Formosa has its own charm, and we’re so glad you had a memorable time with us. We hope to welcome you back again for another adventure in the future. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Roxana recommends dolphin tour. Saw the sunset and so many dolphins!! Amazing experience with Jose and Bea, They let us stay an additional 15 minutes as the dolphin pod was very friendly. An unforgettable experience!!
Dear guest, Thank you so much for your 5 star rating and such nice feedback. We're really glad it was an amazing experience. The dolphin watching tour is a magic moment and we're happy you could enjoy it with us. Hopefully we can see you again for another unforgettable experience! All of our team sends you kind regards.
Incredible excursion! We saw many dolphins and sunset as a bonus To do absolutely
Dear guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and 5 star rating! We’re happy to hear that you had an incredible experience and got to see so many dolphins and beautiful sunset as a bonus. It truly means a lot to us that you recommend the excursion. We hope to welcome you again soon for another unforgettable adventure! All of our team sends you kind regards.
It was a unique and different experience. I recommend it to those who are curious, since the probability of seeing dolphins is 100%. José Lopes and Diogo Aldeia who were the skippers are very friendly and welcoming!
Olá, Muito obrigado pelo seu feedback tão positivo! Ficamos muito felizes em saber que teve uma experiência única e diferente connosco. É ótimo saber que a observação dos golfinhos correspondeu às expectativas e que a simpatia e acolhimento do José e do Diogo fizeram a diferença durante o passeio. Obrigado pela recomendação e até um dia! Toda a nossa equipa envia-lhe os melhores cumprimentos.
The tour was amazing, we saw so many dolphins and the guides were amazing as well! Thank you José and Diogo! I will come back for sure and recommend if you are in Faro!
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear that your dolphin watching tour was such an amazing experience and that you were able to see so many dolphins during the trip. Encounters like these are always special, and it’s fantastic to know that the experience made such a positive impression. It’s also great to hear that our team helped make the tour even more enjoyable with their enthusiasm and care throughout the journey. Sharing these incredible moments at sea and the natural beauty around Faro with our guests is something we truly love doing. We really appreciate your recommendation and would be very happy to welcome you again on another adventure in the Algarve. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Fast boat, through the reserve,past the lighthouse and into the ocean. Guides went a long way out,searching for birds to guide us to the fish. Bingo, the dolphin were there. Approx 30 swam around the boat, and surfed the bow wave, fishing and enjoying. Meanwhile Gannet were dive bombing the fish zone, in numbers. We moved on, dolphins followed ,and the gannets found more fish ...
Dear Andrew, Thank you so much for your fantastic review! It sounds like you had an incredible experience exploring the reserve and spotting dolphins in action. Our guides always go the extra mile to ensure memorable encounters, and it’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed watching the dolphins and gannets in their natural habitat. We hope to welcome you back for more amazing moments on the water! On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you, our warmest regards!
What an amazing trip. we went out with Jose on 11th June and had the most amazing time. Jose was so knowledgeable and told us lots about the dolphins and it was just amazing to see them in their natural environment. we saw 3 pods! such a great company and would certainly recommend for this trip. loved it thankyou Jose and team x
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear that you had an amazing time on your trip with Jose on June 11th. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed learning about the dolphins and had the chance to see three pods in their natural environment. Your kind words about our company and your recommendation mean a lot to us. We'll make sure to pass along your thanks to Jose and the team. We loved having you with us and hope to welcome you back for another great adventure soon! On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you, our warmest regards!
We recently took a dolphin-watching water tour with this company, and it was an unforgettable experience. Our guides, Jose and Diogo, were exceptional. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and made sure we were comfortable throughout the tour. The boat was in excellent condition, and the tour itself was both thrilling and serene. We were fortunate to see several dolphins up close, which was truly magical. Jose and Diogo’s passion for the ocean and its inhabitants was evident and added so much to the experience. We felt safe, well-informed, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a unique and enjoyable adventure on the water. Thank you, Jose and Diogo, for making our day so special!
Dear Guest Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you had an unforgettable dolphin-watching experience with us. Jose and Diogo are indeed exceptional guides, and we're glad they made your tour both thrilling and serene. It's fantastic to know you felt safe, comfortable, and well-informed throughout. Seeing dolphins up close is always a magical experience, and we're delighted you got to enjoy it. Your recommendation means the world to us. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words to Jose and Diogo. Thank you for choosing our tour and for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon! On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you, our warmest regards!
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