Whales and Dolphins in the Algarve (2023)

FAQs

What time of year are dolphins in Algarve? ›

The best time to spot schools of dolphins is from June to September. In spring and at the end of the summer from September onwards it's cold out on the sea in the morning; bring a warm jacket. Usually, the sea is calmer in the morning, and spotting dolphins is easier.

The best way to see dolphins in the Algarve is to go on a dolphin watching tour. By boat you will go to deep sea, at least 10 kilometres from the mainland. These tours are possible during the whole year, but the best time is during spring and summer.

In the 2021 season, we had seven encounters with two whale species in the Algarve! The Minke Whale is one of the smallest baleen whales species, and can be seen all year round in the Algarve as our waters are temperate. They tend to be curious animals, so they approach boats quite often!

The Algarve is known as a top destination for sea-lovers. And it's not only the beaches, spectacular natural rock formations and the caves that appeal the visitors, but also the ocean wonders including the whales and dolphins of the Algarve. Common dolphins surfing on the waves.

If swimming with dolphins is your dream, it will come true here at Algarve Zoomarine in Portugal, the only place in Europe where you can do this, just 30 minutes from Faro airport and 2 hours from Lisbon.

While in most locations, bottlenose dolphins can be seen all year round, the peak for dolphin watching activity is reached during the summer months, mainly from June to September. Dolphin watching vessel off the coast of Portugal.

The further you go towards the west, the colder the water gets. For example, on the west coast the sea water temperature is usually between 17 and 20 degrees, while east of Tavira the sea water temperature can reach up to 26 degrees. Also, the sea is warmer in the summer than in the winter.

A mild climate, with sunshine for about 300 days a year. A clear sea, almost always warm and calm.

The California coastline between Santa Barbara and San Diego is home to one of the densest populations of dolphins in the world, according to the Dolphin Project. Bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and short-beaked “common” dolphins have been known to form megapods in the thousands.

The underwater world awaits the divers with rocky reefs, soft and hard corals and in good conditions also with morays, conger eels, octopus, seahorses, sea needles, sea spiders, a variety of colorful nudibranches etc. If you are lucky, you may encounter rays, file and trigger fish, squid and cuttlefish.

Are there sharks in Portugal Algarve? ›

Are there sharks in Portugal? The easy answer is yes, and probably more than you would first think. Don't panic though, they're mostly hunting small fish such as sardines and mackerel. Sightings are quite rare, and Portugal has a safe history of no recorded shark attacks.

Anchoring the south of Portugal, the Algarve is famous for its cliff-backed beaches, mouthwatering seafood and picturesque villages. It's also a remarkably easy-going region, with a welcoming vibe for every kind of traveler.

If you are looking for a beach holiday, then the Algarve is the perfection destination. You can swim in the ocean comfortably from March until October. And in the winter months, you can take long refreshing beach walks.

Summer Whale Watching (June, July, August):

The Summer months are the best months to witness the world's largest animal…the BLUE WHALE!

The orcas that roam the Portuguese and Spanish coasts are known as Iberian candorcas, a subpopulation of the Atlantic candorcas. These orcas live in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar during the spring and summer and then move along the Portuguese coast to Galicia Spain.

Go to their website http://www.zoomarine.pt/en/prices-dolphin-emotions (it's in English) and you can find out. Be sure to be sitting down. Not sure in pounds sterling but it is 164 euro. The cost of the admission is included in that price.

The most common species you'll find are the common dolphin and the bottlenose dolphin. Also, visit the stunning caves and other rock formations in the region, between Albufeira Marina and the famous Benagil cave or “Algar de Benagil”.

The coastline of Lagos, Algarve, is known for its stunning rock formations, caves and secluded beaches. Did you know that the Atlantic along the Algarve is also known for wild dolphins? Yes, it is, and you can go and observe them closely on our boat tour with dolphin watching Lagos.

Where is the most common place to see dolphins? ›

The risk for mosquito activity is extremely high. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when spending time outdoors to prevent bites. The risk for mosquito activity is high.

The “culprit” of these lower temperatures, is a weather phenomenon typical of the Portuguese coast, which experts call upwelling. Due to the winds, the warm water in the surface is diverted, causing the upwelling of deep and colder ocean waters.

January is the coldest month in the Algarve, but compared to the cold winter months here in the Netherlands, the temperatures are still very mild. The Algarve has a Mediterranean climate, which refers to the countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

Praia do Vale de Centeanes is where you'll want to go to see some of the clearest water in the Algarve. On a clear day, it's easy to see the bottom of the ocean without even setting foot in the water. This beach is located near Carvoeiro, so it won't be hard to travel from here to Praia da Marinha or Praia de Benagil.

The best times to visit the Algarve

Avoid the scorching sun and large crowds by visiting the Algarve between late April and early June or from mid-September to late October. The spring season may still be a bit too cold for swimming, but it's the perfect time to sit on the beach and enjoy the water's aesthetic appeal.

Dolphins are most active at the crack of dawn, between 10 am and noon, and from 2 pm till dusk. A great pair of telephoto lenses or binoculars can be invaluable tools to spot dolphins easily.

If you're wondering when is the best time to take a dolphin cruise, it's recommended to go when the boats are less crowded and the water is the calmest - Morning or Noon. When the afternoon rolls around, the temperature rises and the wind kicks up. Having calm water allows for better visibility.

Check the weather The best day for watching is a bright but cloudy day – high winds, heavy rain, mist, fog and bright sunshine make it hard to see what's on the surface of the water. 3. Make a day of it Whales and dolphins are wild and free so don't always show up when we want to see them.

What animals are in Algarve Portugal? ›

Larger animals such as the Iberian Hare, Red Fox, Egyptian Mongoose, Otter, Rabbit and Weasel are sometimes seen, while at night bats feed on insects - the Serotine bat is quite a common sight. Wildcat and Iberian Lynx are always worth looking out for, but they are very rare.

A common shark in these waters is the Shortfin Mako Shark. These sharks have been notably fished in Spain and Portugal. They can grow to about ten feet in length and 300 pounds in weight. They are not really considered to be dangerous to humans as there have been very few attacks on humans over the last few centuries.

Where do expats live in the Algarve? The majority of expats in Algarve are in Tavira, Vilamoura, Lagos, Faro, Albufeira, Alvor and Ferragudo. These towns also happen to attract a large amount of tourists each year, so they can get quite busy during high season.

The short answer is: yes, you can drink the tap water in Portugal. It isn't as nice as tap water from other parts of the world (Ireland and Scotland, for example), but it's perfectly safe to drink. You'll see plenty of Portuguese people buying bottled water, but that's just because it tastes nicer.

While it can transmit diseases and parasites, this only happens under some conditions. “They (mosquitoes) are here, but the diseases they transmit are not here. They need to find an infected person at the right time to bite and become carriers.

I have to admit, I've never had a problem with mosquitos in the Algarve. It's hot and dry so they probably won't be a huge battle for you. Just a note to anyone interested, if you ever have stagnant water near you that attracts mosquitos, dump some washing-up liquid into the water.

Normally the Portuguese eat toast with butter or a sandwich or croissant with a slice of ham or cheese. With this, they usually have Portuguese drinks such as drinking a milky coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice. The Portuguese usually eat just enough to get through to 11 am.

In the area you have selected (Portugal) tsunami hazard is classified as medium according to the information that is currently available. This means that there is more than a 10% chance of a potentially-damaging tsunami occurring in the next 50 years.

Praia da Manta Rota, Algarve.

Which part of the Algarve has the best beaches? ›

The best beaches in Algarve are between the cities of Albufeira and Lagos. In this part of the Algarvian Coast, you find beaches with crystalline blue water surrounded by yellow-orangish limestone cliffs dotted with caves and grottoes for which the Algarve is famous.

Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari have joined forces to let the world know that Dana Point is the Dolphin & Whale Capital of the World®.

Whales are never diurnal, but they can be crepuscular. This means they are most active during twilight hours which are both before sunrise and after sunset.

Monterey Bay, California

Enjoy year-round whale-watching in Monterey Bay. Running alongside California's central coast, the bay sees humpback and blue whales from April to December, and gray whales from December to April. The coast also attracts killer whales, who hunt gray whales during their migration north.

Of the world's 80 whale species, over 20 can be found here, including sperm, humpback and sei whales. The best time to visit is from mid-April to mid-October when the seas are calmer. Further south lies the stunning volcanic island of Madeira.

Matt Johnston was steering his boat near Sines, Portugal, when a pack of killer whales slammed into his boat — and actually tore off pieces of the vessel. Similar reports have been made in Portugal involving boat damage due to killer whales.

Scientists hypothesize that orcas like the water pressure produced by a boat's propeller. "What we think is that they're asking to have the propeller in the face," de Stephanis says. So, when they encounter a sailboat that isn't running its engine, "they get kind of frustrated and that's why they break the rudder."

During the summer, the locals are joined by transient pods who swell the numbers, increasing the chances of an exciting encounter. The calmer summer seas also make these marine animals easier to spot.

Mid-morning, between 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 p.m. to sunset are the best times of the day to spot dolphins.

They don't migrate as the waters of the Emerald Coast remain warm all year. From late spring to the end of summer, female dolphins from other areas flock to Destin when mating season rolls around. As such, this time of year is perfect for dolphin watching.

Do dolphins come close to shore? ›

Marine experts say dolphins “follow the food” and that warm weather means fish such as mackerel and herring remain nearer the shore rather than moving to colder waters further out to sea.

Morning is the best time of day for whale watching in California. Weather is the key component to ideal whale watching conditions. Typically, there is less wind in the morning making for calmer seas, which is most enjoyable for both marine life and boat tours.

Bottlenose dolphins are found in most oceans around the world, but their numbers are most abundant in the Atlantic Ocean. However, you'll also find the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, the humpback dolphin, and the spotted dolphin swimming in these waters.

Find a comfy spot and keep watching for tell tale signs The following signs often mean that there are whales or dolphins in the area: feeding birds circling above a particular spot, areas of still water or oily slicks (footprint), breaking wave crests or waves moving in the 'wrong' direction, big splashes and bursts of ...

You can spend time strolling or swimming on the beach. There is also a restaurant and a gift shop on the headland. Note that if you visit Ponta da Piedade during peak season in summer, you may not get a chance to swim due to heavy sea traffic.

Dolphin and Whale Watching in Lagos

A unique adventure to see and meet different cetaceans (Dolphins/Whales) in their natural habitat.

2. Praia do Camilo – sheltered Lagos beach for swimming. Sunset on Praia do Camilo, a perfect Lagos beach for swimming.