Lisbon: Dolphin Watching with a Marine Biologist - Ocean Safari

Recommended by 99% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Lisbon, Portugal

High interest

Booked 3 times today.

2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Lisa_F ·

Oct 2025

This was a truly wonderful experience. The two man team were excellent, the boat was perfect and the dolphin experience was simply fantastic!! Completely fun and enjoyable, plus a maximum of 12 guests !!

· Roberta_S ·

Apr 2026

Amazing guide very knowledgeable and friendly. Expert level boat driver my son and I loved it!! Wear something warm if going in the am and of course sunglasses.

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Overview

Lisbon is situated at a unique point where the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean meet. This means that you can get a number of marine animals right in the city. Embark on a cruise in a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) in search of dolphins that call the area home. Sail along the Portuguese Riviera and keep your eyes peeled for dolphins as well as sunfish, jellyfish, and even sharks.

A marine biologist provides commentary onboard
See key landmarks, like Belem Tower, while you sail
A central meeting point makes for a hassle-free experience
A small group means more attention from your guide

What's Included

All Fees and Taxes
Lifejackets and seat in the Boat
Public Liability Insurance
Marine Biologist tour guide and crew
Motion-sickness pill if necessary

Comfortable clothes, jacket and shoes
Photography camera
Guarantee: SeaEO cannot be held responsible if you don't see dolphins. Sighting success - around 95%

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

SeaEO Tours
Doca de Santo Amaro Gate, Av. Brasília 3, 1350-353 Lisboa, Portugal
Doca de Santo Amaro, GATE 3 Harbor under the big red bridge If you come from Lisboa, you will have to pass over or bellow the train tracks

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Docas de Santo Amaro

Farol do Bugio

Lisbon

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate

Customers will keep seated on comfortable Jockey seats, but will be able stand up in the boat to enjoy the wildlife encountered.
Big boats tend to make people seasick, that is why we work in a fast and safe RIB of 8,5m in which you will feel the ocean breeze.
If you still think you might get seasick, make sure you avoid having a milk or yoghurt-based breakfast. Eat properly and include bread and an apple to avoid getting seasick. (We also have pills if necessary).
Not suitable for babies under 5 years
Customers who present any of the conditions described above will be denied access and will not be refunded.
We will only give 5 minutes tolerance after the time of the tour.
Clientes que apresentem qualquer condição acima descrita serão vedados o acesso e não serão reembolsados.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Gwladys_D

I am 14 and it was fantastic to see so many donphins. Sid and Sarah are very nice and experimented. Its very guaranted for see dolphins. I very recommend this activity.

Reviews

5.0

based on 839 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Worth the money if the dolphins show up.

Jason_M, Apr 2026

Unfortunately we didn’t manage to find any dolphins, but they are wild, so finding them isn’t guaranteed.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you very much for your review and comment. As you know, although we have 96% success rate, we can never guarantee dolphins. We are glad you choose SeaEO Tours.

Must try!

Roberta_S, Apr 2026

Amazing guide very knowledgeable and friendly. Expert level boat driver my son and I loved it!! Wear something warm if going in the am and of course sunglasses.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much Roberta! We are glad you had fun!

Amazing!

Devarati_M, Mar 2026

Sid and Bart are great! They are knowledgeable, take care of their guests, understanding (we ran late due to issues with public transport), communicative (messaged in advance to ask if we could possibly change the timing of the tour due to bad weather conditions) AND We got to see the dolphins 🐬- which was absolutely amazing!!! 😍 they are also helping to keep our planet clean for all of us 😁🌍

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you so much. We are glad to read your comments and review, which are dearly appreciated.

Dolphins in a rib on the Atlantic

dechalk, Oct 2025

Firstly, even if you don’t see dolphins, the ride on the rib along the Tagus and into the Atlantic is a great experience. Bouncing along the waves is like a rollercoaster, but not on rails so a little more exciting. But you will see dolphins. We saw two pods, common dolphins and the much larger bottlenose dolphins. They swam beside the boat, ahead of the boat, and often swam underneath. This is a real bucket list type activity and a must do for any visit to Lisbon.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your review and comment. we are glad you enjoyed the experience! SeaEO Team

It was much chillier than...

Kait_K, Oct 2025

It was much chillier than I expected, but otherwise completely magical. We saw a common dolphin mama and her baby!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you very much Kait. Yes, we always recommend bringing a warm sweater or jacket, and we remind all our guests the day before. We are happy you enjoyed.

Very nice experience. Was...

Nunzio_L, Oct 2025

Very nice experience. Was very funny sailing to the ocean and even have the luck to meet dolphins. Staff is very kind, respectful of timing.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much! we are glad you enjoyed the experience. Kind regards SeaEO team

Wonderful and completely fun experience!!

Lisa_F, Oct 2025

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you very much for your review and kind words. We are glad you had fun and enjoyed the experience we prepared for you. Seeing dolphins in their natural habitat is a must! Best regards, SeaEO Team

Highlight of my Lisbon holiday

Priti_S, Sep 2025

Amazing experience and had the chance to see multiple colonies of dolphins up close. The guide was very social and tour was informative and fun

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you very much. We are glad you had fun and enjoyed the experience. Kind regards SeaEO Team

Wonderful experience

Clare_W, Jul 2025

Wonderful experience - so glad we booked this trip. So much fun & really informative. Seeing the dolphins in their natural habitat was amazing. Would highly recommend.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you so much Clare

Great trip

Lauren_H, Jul 2025

The staff were really friendly and loaned us jackets as it gets really cold in the wind! There isnt a bad seat on the boat so there’s no fighting over the view. We spotted dolphins (with babies!) within half an hour. We had no luck out as sea as conditions were too rough but this didn’t spoil our experience. We really enjoyed the speedboat experience as a bonus!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you very much for your review and comments which we appreciate. Kind regards SeaEO Team

Great day out

SiobhanEvans1969, Jul 2025

Had a great day out. Saw multiple pods of dolphins. Sea birds also enjoyable to watch. The crew were lovely and always aware of your safety.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you very much for your review. we are glad you enjoyed the experience. Kind regards SeaEO team

Fantastic dolphin boat ride

Megan_H, Jul 2025

Amazing trip & the dolphins got so close to the boat. The boat is designed so it gives an up close experience with no passengers getting in your way

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you so much. We are glad you had a nice time with us. Kind regards SeaEO team

Amazing, Incredible Dolphin Day!

Howard_S, Jun 2025

This was a trip highlight. There were 8 of us, 2 children, a teenager and 4 adults. We all loved it! Llthe boat alone was fun as was the information learned. We spotted MANY MANY dolphins. This is a family treasure.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much. Kind regards. SeaEO Team

Fantastic trip with dolphins

Gwladys_D, May 2025

I am 14 and it was fantastic to see so many donphins. Sid and Sarah are very nice and experimented. Its very guaranted for see dolphins. I very recommend this activity.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you very much for your review and comment. We are glad you had fun. Kind regards SeaEO Team

An experience we will never forget

vishal_a, May 2025

It was an experienc that my wife and I will always remember. We planned it a day after her birthday and we could not have planned anything better. I would recommend this to any traveller who are visiting Lisbon and I have listed the positives below (there were no negatives): 1. The Crew: SeaEO team is just brilliant - they know what they are doing and are both friendly and professional. They knew the conditions would be rough during our booked time so they offered to have us join an earlier slot ensuring everyone's saftey. Our group had kids and the crew made sure they constatly spoke to them and made them feel comfortable on a speed boat. Their committment to their work is another big positive - due to the conditions it was proving difficult to find dolphins but the crew spend additional time in the sea and covered a huge area to ensure we see not only dolphins but also some rare fishes in their naturar habitat. 2. The experience: the whole experience was great and full of learning. The crew took the time to explain how to find dolphins in the sea and we learnt the science behind it. It was our first time on a speedboat and we loved it. Riding the waves, going from one end to another, eploring the sea and trying to find dolphins is a big part of the experience and is as enjoyable as finally finding the dolphins. We had a blast. 3. The dolphins: Finally, the dolphins! Finding the dolphins after an adventure is a feeling I cannot describe in words. This is something we can only experience.

Response from Host, May 2025

Thank you so much Gayle. We are very happy you had fun and enjoyed the experience with us. Kind regards SeaEO Team

Great experience

Michael_S, May 2025

Amazing experience. Our guides were very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. We were able to see several dolphin pods on our trip. They also pointed out additional sea life and commentary that was interesting and relevant. You can tell they have a love and respect for our oceans and the life in them.

Response from Host, May 2025

Hi Michael, thank you very much for your review and comment. We are very happy you had fun. SeaEO Team

Wonderful tour guides. ...

Jill_O, Apr 2025

Wonderful tour guides. Very nice and very knowledgeable. Got close up to two different dolphin pods. Amazing to see them in their natural environment!

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you so much! We are glad you enjoyed and had fun with us. SeaEO Team

Perfect Morning

Shannon_P, Mar 2025

We can’t recommend this dolphin tour enough. It was such a special adventure for our family. We saw a pod of dolphins in the river in the first 10-15 minutes on the boat. We stayed with them for about 30 minutes before traveling out into the Atlantic. There we encountered another pod which had over 30 dolphins. They were very playful and curious about the boat. They swam around the boat for quite a while. We even saw a baby dolphin. The crew estimated it to be about 2 months old. So cool!

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you so much! We are glad to know you had fun! Kind regards SeaEO Team

Valentine’s Day dolphin adventure

Glenn_G, Feb 2025

It was a great adventure We saw two very shy Harbour dolphins out past the lighthouse, but did not see any in the river Despite the weather being cold and windy (which we expected) it was a lot of fun

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you so much Glenn! We are happy you enjoyed!

It was an excellent...

Jacint_D, Feb 2025

It was an excellent experience! We saw 4-5 pods, 2 species. Brilliant staff, fun ride and interesting commentary.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you so much. we are glad to know you enjoyed it. kind regards SeaEO team

Magical Experience with a 100 Dolphins!

Vaishali_M, Dec 2024

One of the best experiences ever! We would have seen like a 100 dolphins. Couldn’t believe it was all so real. Thank you so much for organising this. They even stopped for a us to see the sunset, such a sweet and special gesture.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Thank you so much. we are happy you enjoyed the experience and had a good time! Kind regards SeaEO Team

The best tour!

olivia_b, Nov 2024

WOW! One of the best experiences that me and my husband have ever had… we were so lucky the day we went, we must have seen 100 dolphins, plus a rare sighting of a fin whale and harbour porpoise! As there were so many dolphins and the whale pushing the fish to the surface we also saw a show from the sea birds plunging into the water to eat the fish… not only were the guides were friendly and informative, there were so passionate and were as excited us as to witness this “national geographic moment”, the guide’s words. As were so seeing so much wildlife the guide checked with us whether we would be happy to stay out longer and got to witness a beautiful sun set, accompanied by a glass of alcohol. Magic. I would 100% recommend this company to others.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you so much for your review! we are glad to see you enjoyed! SeaEO team

A magical, amazing experience with dolphins!

Amy_D, Nov 2024

Absolutely fantastic time! We saw three different species of dolphins! It was an incredible experience filled with a tremendous amount of info all about the curious world of dolphins, their behaviors, curiosity, and so much more! The crew is so incredibly friendly and thoughtful, even had jackets for those who were not prepared for the cold winds. Highly recommend this tour! One of my all time favorite bookings.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you so much. Your opinion means a lot to us. Kind regards SeaEO team

So so so cool!

Gary_M, Nov 2024

Amazing experience that surpassed all expectations!!! We got to see dozens of common dolphins surfing, doing tricks and riding right in the bow wave of the boat. The RIB is so much fun to ride and Bart and Sid are so friendly and helpful. Even just being out on the water in the sun is a great time! Would recommend to anyone who visits Lisbon.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you so much! We are glad to know you enjoyed!

Must do attraction!

Juhan_P, Oct 2024

Must do attraction! We had a small group where we had 10 year old, 42 year old and 70 year old. There was a thick fog in the morning on the river but as we drove out it cleared out on the ocean and all was perfect. The team and the hospitality and skills of the team were amazing!

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you so much! SeaEO team

Great tour

Nicholas_D, Oct 2024

Great guides funny informative and good fun. We didn't see Dolphins but they really tried hard to find them. Whilst looking they gave us information on the area and even some local wine.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you so much. We are glad you still had fun! Kind regards SeaEO Team

Great experience

Sally_P, Oct 2024

Great experience- enjoyed the rib ride and saw lots of dolphins . Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you so much. We are glad you had fun! Kind regards SeaEO Team

Superb tour

Linda_T, Oct 2024

We totally commend this activity. The tour was led by a knowledgable marine biologist. She and the skipper patiently toured the bay until we were rewarded with firstly sunfish waving their flippers and jumping and then many common dolphins. They swam close to the rib and under it with their babies. Later we saw bottlenose dolphins and a shark. The boat ride itself was exhilarating.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you so much! Kind regards SeaEO Team

The best trip to see dolphins

Charlotte_T, Sep 2024

The staff were kind, fun and knowledgeable. The boat was fast and we travelled out quite some distance until we saw many dolphins and the trip was worth every penny. We then stopped by Belem and were given some historical information about the area.