12 Dolphin Watching by Speedboat in Portugal That Fill Up First

1.Albufeira: Benagil Caves & Dolphin Watching Speed Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 6,316 reviews · 2 - 2.5 hours · from $40Our pick

Cruise 18 kilometers of Algarve coast from Albufeira with a skipper and live guide, entering Benagil Cave for a few minutes, pausing to swim when conditions allow, and searching for dolphins. Ana, Ruben, and Diogo are among the crew members frequently assigned to this lively 2 to 2.5-hour outing.

“Thoroughly enjoyed every second of the trip Ana was very informative and interesting We were lucky enough to find a pod of dolphins which was great. Unfortunately, weather conditions prohibited entry into the caves but was still enjoyable and definitely worth the money”

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2.Funchal: Whale and Dolphin Watching Speed Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 526 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $56

From Funchal Marina, you’ll spend 2.5 hours on a fast, small-group RIB with an English- or Portuguese-speaking guide, land-based spotters, and a skipper who knows where to look. Expect close-to-water views, possible splashes, Madeira’s dramatic coast, and a free second trip if no cetaceans appear.

“Francisca, Filipe, and the spotter (I can’t remember their name!) were all excellent. We saw a few different species of animals and multiple spottings. Francisca talked us through the animals, about the species, what they looked like, any special features to look out for, and (most importantly) which direction to look at. The team seemed to care about the animals and the ocean - we stopped for a minute to collect a large piece of garbage that was floating. Depending on the animal, some may be further away from the boat and some may get up close. Either way, I recommend trying to watch the animals with your eyes vs…”

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3.Pico Island: Azores Whale & Dolphin Watching on Zodiac Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 408 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $53

Join Aqua Açores in Lajes do Pico for a 2.5-hour Zodiac trip with a skipper and marine wildlife guide. You may see sperm or blue whales, pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds. Vania and Monica have led past outings, but guides vary. Bring warm clothes and expect spray.

“Really a really great tour. We could watch three sperm whales and many pilot whales and dolphins. We were well looked after on the boat. All around a great experience!”

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4.From Calheta: Whale and Dolphin Watching RIB Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 298 reviews · 2 hours · from $70

Join H2oMadeira at Calheta Marina for a two-hour RIB trip led in English or Portuguese. A spotter helps find dolphins and whales, while the small boat gives you fast access to wildlife and clear views back to Madeira.

“We saw 1 Dolphin then a group of 3 later on. Sadly no Whales but we saw a flying fish. The boat crew were brilliant and did a spot of crazy driving which was very fun. 10/10 😊”

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5.Albufeira: Dolphins & Benagil Caves RIB Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 241 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $34Best value

Join an English, Portuguese, or Spanish-speaking crew for a 2.5-hour RIB trip from Albufeira Marina. You will cruise the Algarve coast, search for common and bottlenose dolphins with a marine biologist, and approach Benagil Cave when sea conditions allow. Guides such as Miguel, Laura, André, and Marcus keep the ride lively.

“We really got up close to the dolphins!!! Really cool!!!”

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6.Terceira: Whale and Dolphin Watching in a Zodiac Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 230 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $82

Set out from Angra do Heroísmo in a fast zodiac with a skipper, marine-life guide, and radio help from a spotter on Monte Brasil. Look for dolphins, sperm whales, and other cetaceans while learning about their behavior. The tour costs $82 and runs about 2.5 hours.

“It was awesome. Guide was friendly and informative and we saw sperm whales and lots of dolphins! We would def do this again”

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7.Horta: University Startup Whale and Dolphin RIB Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 225 reviews · 3 hours · from $101

Join a 16-passenger RIB from Horta for a three-hour search for sperm whales, dolphins, seabirds, turtles, and seasonal whales. A University of Lisbon or Azores marine researcher explains what you see, while waterproof clothing, safety cover, and student research support are included.

“Due to a storm, we couldn’t go on the tour on our original date, but the communication about rescheduling was excellent – proactive, very accommodating, and they even made it possible for us to start the tour from Pico. The experience itself was fantastic: we saw two whales and dozens of dolphins up close. Our guide provided helpful background information about the animals, and it was clear that great care was taken to respect their and our wellbeing. Truly a memorable experience!”

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8.Cascais: Dolphin Watching Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 156 reviews · 2 hours · from $76

Meet João, Rui, or another multilingual guide at Cascais Marina for a two-hour speedboat search for dolphins, whales, porpoises, and seabirds. Morning departures usually bring calmer water. The crew explains marine life, respects viewing distances, and may extend the trip when sightings take longer.

“Great guides and experience! They explain everything and are attentive. We saw an amazing sight yesterday with ORCA’s and the entire boat and guides were in Awe and respectful of the whales. Wonderful trip!”

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9.From Faro: Wildlife and Dolphin-Watching Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $58

Join a small group of up to 15 people for a 2.5-hour Faro speedboat trip with an English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese guide. Cruise through Ria Formosa, reach Cape Santa Maria, and search for dolphins, whales, birds, turtles, and small sharks. Morning departures offer the best wildlife chance.

“Lorsqu'on a pu voir un groupe d'adultes accompagner un bébé dauphin j'ai été très émue, c'était vraiment une expérience exceptionnelle et inoubliable. On aurait dit que les dauphins se donnaient en spectacle en nageant ensemble de façon synchronisée et en sautant hors de l'eau à la verticale ou à l'horizontale. Vraiment je recommande cette activité à tous les amoureux de la faune.”

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10.Funchal: Guarantee Wild Dolphin&Whale Watching by RIB

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 28 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $70

Set out from Xpoint Madeira on a 2.5-hour RIB cruise with an English or Portuguese guide, searching for wild dolphins, whales, and turtles along Madeira’s coast. The small boat offers close views, while an optional 20€ swim may be possible with certain dolphin species.

“Fantastische activiteit, hele fijne gids en stuurman, heel veel respect voor de dieren, en veel dolfijnen met baby's gezien! Gids hielp ons heel prettig bij zeeziekte, echt een hele gave en fijne ervaring”

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11.Dolphins & Caves on Rib Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $34

Set out from Albufeira on a small RIB boat for a 2.5-hour coastal trip toward Benagil. Expect a safety briefing, sea caves, Algarve beaches, fast turns, and a chance to spot wild dolphins. Groups are capped at 18, and children must meet age and height rules.

“A small boat excursion with a very knowledgeable Ricky. Great views of and commentary about the various Algarve beaches and caves. A must do with them!”

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12.Dolphin Expedition Shared Speedboat tour with Biologist guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71Top rated

Join Pedro, Ana, Vanessa, and an expert captain for a three-hour Arade River and Atlantic expedition. You’ll see Portimão landmarks, São João do Arade Castle, and search open water for dolphins, seabirds, and whales with a biologist explaining the marine world.

“Been on a trip for more than 3 hours with 2 passionate guides. 2 species of dolphins seen provided also 30 km to go into the sea. Beautiful!”

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