Dolphin watching in the Algarve: The Season’s Beginning!
Find out which Dolphins call the Algarve home and where to spot them
Spring in the Algarve means temperatures are quickly rising – both of the air and the water. While surfers swap out their full winter attire for shorter options, the odd tourist can be seen going for a dip, and water sports start ramping up, it’s the region’s marine life that’s really feeling the difference. In fact, warmer waters mean they become fully active, relaxing, and playing in full view of us humans – all we have to do is be in the right place, at the right time, so let’s find out just where that is! (And make your stay at LUX MARE all the more memorable, for all the right reasons).
But first…
Which Dolphins can be spotted in the Algarve?
While Portuguese waters are home to a whopping 26 species of cetaceans, some are more sociable, while others are harder to spot – it all comes down to preferred habitat and migration patterns. Down south in the Algarve, two species of dolphin can be found year-round – common and bottlenose dolphins, along with three species of cetaceans often spotted off the shores of the Western Algarve: Risso’s dolphin, striped dolphins, harbour porpoises, and minke whales.
The large populations and sociable nature of these species mean that dolphin-spotting boat tours have an average sighting rating of 90%, ensuring that visitors get everything they hoped for and more… sometimes even in the shape of a more unexpected sighting.
Orcas, for example, can sometimes be seen in passing, hunting bluefin tuna migrating through the Strait of Gibraltar in spring and summer.
Which leads us on to…
When’s the Best Time of Year to Spot Dolphins in the Algarve?
Spring and summer are, undoubtedly, the best time of year to spot all marine life in southern Portugal, especially in the Western Algarve, all thanks to one very distinctive geographical feature: an underwater canyon. Known as the Portimão Canyon, this offshore rift plunges from 100 to 2000m, producing upwelling that attracts sea creatures of all shapes and kinds, from dolphins and whales to birds and fish. Increased upwelling, coupled with a lack of big waves and strong winds, provides the perfect conditions for marine mammals to thrive in this area in spring and summer, making it easy to spot them frolicking.
And the Best Time of Day for Dolphin Spotting?
Early morning or late afternoon, when they’re most active.
Concerned about Conservation?
The Algarve is actually home to many conservation organisations that make it their business to ensure that the sealife here is protected at all costs. In fact, projects run by the University of Algarve have made a significant difference to seahorse populations in the Algarve’s Formosa Lagoon, Zoomarine has its own rehabilitation centre for marine animals, the Oceano Azul foundation has successfully created a Marine Protected Area off the coast of Albufeira, and the AIMM runs research projects of all kinds with a specific focus on marine megafauna, such as cetaceans, turtles and sharks. Together, these organisations ensure that our impact on the region’s fauna is monitored and minimised, allowing the beautiful creatures to keep enjoying their habitat in peace.
Dolphin-watching tours must always have a marine biologist on board to ensure that every boat complies with best practices for interacting with the creatures, and tours are monitored to ensure that the animals are respected and safeguarded.
Want to learn more about the region’s sealife, or head out onto the waves to see it yourself? Our concierge at LUX MARE is on hand to book you any tour – whether private, guided by experts, or as part of a group experience. Simply let us know what kind of adventure you’re after, and we’ll take care of all the details to make it unforgettable.
