DOLPHIN TRAVEL GUIDE
The trips that actually find the pods.
The 12 setubal district dolphin tours travellers book most, gathered in one place. Where you go to find the pods, how long you stay out, who runs the boat, and what a seat on deck costs.
Spot dolphins around Setúbal with marine biologists on a stable catamaran, sip Moscatel, swim in blue water, and view from underwater rooms.
Most Popular“We didn’t see any dolphins for quite a while, but when we did, the guides stayed out longer so we could spend time enjoying them while they swam all around the boat—it was fantastic!”
Sesimbra dolphin and whale watching with a biologist-guided boat trip in Arrábida Marine Park, plus wine and a swim stop.
“Excellent 10+++”
Marine biologist-led dolphin and whale watching in Arrábida’s protected waters from Sesimbra, with chances to swim and explore caves.
“We loved the opportunity to be up close with a large family of dolphins, but the best part was the knowledge that our guide, Catarina , brought to the experience. Her background as a marine biologist made all the difference. Highly recommend!”
Sail the Sado River from Setúbal to spot dolphins in the wild, then cruise Arrábida’s coves and cliffs for big coastal views.
“The boat is very uncomfortable, you’re sitting straddling and there’s no shade. It would be fine for 1 hour max. But 2.5 hours was too uncomfortable. We saw a few glimpses of dolphins and obviously you can’t guarantee seeing them but we hung around for over an hour and then spent a good hour going…”
Dolphin watching in the Arrábida Marine Park near Sesimbra: small group boat trip from Lisbon, quick sightings, scenic coastline, and great value.
“An excellent experience all round. Picked up in Lisbon as scheduled. Arrived in good time to have a snack. Friendly guide and boat skipper. Spotted dolphins within about 5 minutes of leaving the port and then taken further out to sea as more `pods` had been reported. Then spotted many in the next hour. Returned…”
Sesimbra dolphin watching from Porto Abrigo: 3-hour small-group boat trip in English with wildlife education and chance for dolphins.
“We loved our morning on the boat seeing dolphins. It was an overcast day and quite chilly, even though it was a hot day in Lisbon (late July). Definitely check the weather in Sesimbra and bring or wear layers. After about 35 minutes on the water, we spotted lots of dolphins jumping and swimming alongside…”
A 3-hour dolphin cruise from Sesimbra with a marine biologist in the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park, small group, plus caves.
“We had such a wonderful time on the dolphin boat tour! Vanessa and her father were fantastic guides and shared lots of interesting information about the dolphins. We were lucky enough to see both species that live in the area, which was an unforgettable experience. It’s great to see that they follow the official rules…”
Wild dolphin spotting off Setúbal with Rotas do Sal. English-guided small-boat cruise plus a scenic coast ride for $48.16.
“Had a great time”
3-hour dolphin watching off Sesimbra in Parque Natural da Arrabida, led by local guides in English, with regional liquor tasting for 16+.
“It was simply brutal. The shyness of the sun only allowed us to enjoy even more of this tour off Sesimbra. The staff Francisco & Francisco were excellent hosts. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience. I highly recommend! I will repeat without room for doubt! Thank you!Auto-translated”
A small-group dolphin-watching boat trip from Sesimbra with onboard marine lessons, Arrábida caves and beaches, and possible time in the water.
“Very pleasant, the service was good, it was very attentive, very helpful, polite.”
Eco dolphin watching off Arrábida with plastic collection on the boat. Small-group trip from Sesimbra, 2.5 hours, English.
“Amazing experience, very safe for humans but also for animals, they take care of not disturbing them and keeping water free from plastic. For Kids this is a must. We enjoyed the morning watching how dolphins jump and swim. It was so nice”
Sail from Sesimbra to spot dolphins in the Arrábida Natural Park with a marine biologist guide, Cabo Espichel views, and a small local snack.
“We had an 3 hours dolphin tour with Mega Dive in September. It was an extraordinary and fantastic experience. We were accompanied by a professional and extremely friendly team: Diogo, a marine biologist, and skipper Henrique. They were very dedicated, courteous and coordinated with each other to ensure their guests an unforgettable tour.”
Every coast where the dolphins are, country by country.
