Observation of dolphins
Description
Unlike many cetacean observation activities, our priority is to provide an authentic and respectful encounter with wildlife. We operate alongside the impressive Nazaré Canyon, one of the largest underwater cannons in Europe, a zone rich in marine biodiversity that attracts several species throughout the year. We strictly follow good practices of responsible observation, ensuring that animals are never chased or disturbed. We believe that the real magic lies in observing the dolphins free, behaving naturally in their environment. In addition to marine life, this experience offers privileged views of the coast of Nazareth and the opportunity to navigate one of the world’s most iconic ocean areas, known for its giant waves and the extraordinary richness of the marine ecosystem. Every exit is different, each encounter is genuine and every moment is an opportunity to create a deeper connection with the ocean and nature.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(233)
We saw many dolphins and baby dolphins and had a lot of fun boating over the waves. Our guides were very nice.
Great excursion, our guide and our boat pilot did everything to show us the dolphins, they were great! We saw the dolphins very up close and in large numbers!! And as a bonus we got the thrills of the speedboat with impressive and very well-executed acrobatics! We highly recommend this agency, thanks again!
Great experience, at first only 2 dolphins from a distance-later a whole family that accompanied us. Shortly before the end, many more dolphins very close by. Tour therefore extended by 20 minutes… super
Saw the dolphins! One type but it was very nice!
A fantastic tour! The welfare of the dolphins is really taken into account, they are not called or hunted. We stayed with the dolphins for about 20 to 30 minutes and then left them alone again. The trip at sea is great in itself.
Nice trip and good guide . We saw several groups of dolphins. Short trip .
Amazing experience, highly recommended, very customer service oriented and extremely helpful.
We were quite disappointed with this experience. While we saw dolphins, it was very short-lived; not because of the accessibility of seeing them, but because we left 45 minutes after our scheduled departure and still ended exactly on time. There was little to no communication about the delay. We were only out with the dolphins 20-30 minutes out of a supposed 2-hour excursion. While our guide was nice, she offered no real commentary about the dolphins (outside of telling us the dolphin types we may see) or the sites we saw. Overall, we did not receive the value paid and would not recommend.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're genuinely sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We would like to clarify a few points about the tour. As part of our commitment to responsible wildlife watching, we are only permitted to remain with each group of dolphins for approximately 20–25 minutes. This is an important rule designed to minimise disturbance to the animals in their natural habitat. Regarding the delayed departure, this was caused by an unexpected issue at the fuel station before the tour. This is not something that normally happens, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and the lack of communication while you were waiting. We would also like to reassure you that the duration of the tour was not reduced because of the delayed departure. On this occasion, we encountered dolphins relatively close to the coast, and after the observation period we searched for another group but were unfortunately unable to find one. As these are wild animals in their natural environment, every trip is different and their location can never be predicted. We are pleased that you were able to see dolphins, although we are truly sorry that the overall experience did not provide the value you expected. Your comments about the onboard commentary are appreciated and will be shared with our team as we continually strive to improve. Thank you again for your feedback, and we wish you all the best.
Great experience. We spent 2 hours boating outside Nazaré, found 2 pods/schools of dolphins. Mia was a great tour guide and made sure everyone was having a good time multiple times. During the return-trip the guide took us past the cliffs and the fort, explaining the Nazaré-canyon and how big waves form. Towards the very end the boat operator had some fun doing high speed turns along the beach. Highly recommended for families without young children, couples or friends .
It is and remains nature and it is not on call. So no guarantee you'll spot the dolphins too. We were unlucky, that can happen. But the captain and guide did their best to find them and the trip was really fun.
Thank you very much for your kind review and understanding. As you mentioned, when working with wildlife in their natural habitat, sightings can never be guaranteed. Unfortunately, on this occasion nature had different plans, and you were a little unlucky. We are delighted to hear that, despite not spotting dolphins, you enjoyed the trip and appreciated the efforts of our captain and guide, who always do their very best to locate marine wildlife while providing a safe and enjoyable experience. We hope to welcome you back to Nazaré in the future for another adventure at sea. Kind regards, The Atlantic Safaris Team
