Sesimbra: Arrábida Dolphin and Whale Watching tour with biologist
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Setubal District, Portugal
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Head out onto the Atlantic Ocean for a dolphin- and whale-watching tour from Sesimbra, with a 100% guarantee of sightings. With a biologist on board, look out for pods of playful dolphins and majestic whales, and take in the beautiful coastal scenery of the surrounding Arrábida Mountains. Enjoy a swim in the turquoise waters of a secluded bay and visit the Marine Center to learn more about conservation efforts.
- Explore the protected marine area, home to many species of dolphins and whales
- Enjoy a welcome drink of local wine
- Snorkel masks are provided in this dolphin watching tour
- Stop to swim and snorkel in the pristine waters of a secluded bay
What's Included
- Environmental Management Charge (Reef Tax)
- National Park fees
- Welcome drink
- Biologist & local guide
- Snorkeling masks - if weather/sea conditions allows swimming
- Bottled water
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Av. dos Náufragos 3, 2970-152, Portugal
Meeting point at Bolhas Tours Marine Centre for check in at Porto de Abrigo de Sesimbra (harbour), 100 meters before the marina area. Second shop on your right after Tic-Tic restaurant just at the entrance of the marina area next to the small pine trees.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Ribeira do Cavalo Beach
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Bolhas Tours is a licensed Marine Center for Dolphins and Whales Watch, with the license onº 8/2016 issued by the ICNF Institute of Portugal - Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests, by chosing a certified tour operator you will be helping on the conservation of sea life and ecosystems.
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 3 paying adults
- Minimum of participants apllies for the tour (6)
- Private tour available
- Hotel Pick-up and drop-off available under pricing request directly with the supplier
- Previous known clinical conditions - advise operator before booking
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Marie_S
Amazing experience for the whole family-highly recommended! We saw plenty of dolphins, playing around the boat! Fun fast ride with the rib-motor-boat and a plus to also explore the caves and secluded beaches, incl snorkling stop on the way back! So friendly and experienced guides! 10 out of 10 in rating :-).
Reviews
4.9
based on 249 reviews
Lorraine_C, Oct 2025
Excellent 10+++
Excursion was beyond our expectations.
Seen 3 pods of dolphins… 2 huge Byrde whales… well organized…personalized experience…Highly recommend
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Was our pleasure to have you with us in such an amazing day! All thje past week has been like this, just incridble sightings of Tropical whales :) Looking forward to meet you in a near future and all the best! Yours sincerely, Pedro@bolhastours
Helen_W, Sep 2025
Amazing we got to see dolphins and whales up close and in an intimate environment with a knowledgeable guide and great captain.
I have done a lot of boat trips but this is the best ever
We saw a huge pod of pilot whales and were able to spend ages in their company
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your fantastic review Helen! 🐬🐋
We’re thrilled you enjoyed seeing dolphins and whales up close and had a memorable time with the pilot whale pod. We hope to welcome you back soon for another amazing adventure at sea! Rosa@BolhasTours
Anonymous, Jul 2025
Wonderful experience on the water, guides were very helpful, it was exciting to see dolphins in their natural environment
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your time on the water and that our guides could make the experience even more special. Seeing dolphins in their natural environment is always magical, and we’re happy we could share that moment with you. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon! Rosa@BolhasTours
Justin_S, Jun 2025
Fantastic experience yesterday with Pedro. Though the boat is quite small it was a very smooth and safe ride. The guides know their stuff and soon got us out and up close with dolphins. They then adapted the tour to follow up on a lead to see the very rare Iberian Orcas that were passing through the area, staying out a little longer to take thr scene in. Superb all round and worth every penny.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your amazing review Justin! 🐬✨
We're thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience with Pedro and the team. It was indeed a special day — encountering both dolphins and the rare Iberian Orcas is something truly unforgettable!
We’re happy you felt safe and enjoyed the adaptability of the tour — we always do our best to make each trip memorable.
Hope to see you again soon for another ocean adventure! Rosa@BolhasTours
Marcus_L, May 2025
Good tour. Got to see lots of dolphins right beside the boat. Also took us to some nice beaches where you could swim if you wanted too. A and shot of port to celebrate. Guide seemed very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review Marcus!
We’re really happy you enjoyed the experience — seeing dolphins up close, exploring the coastline, and sharing a celebratory shot of port are what make the tour so special! 😊
It’s great to hear our guide’s knowledge stood out too. We hope to welcome you aboard again sometime soon!
Best regards,
Bolhas Tour Team
Paul_S, May 2025
What a amazing experience big shout out to Rosa made us feel really welcome cant thank u enough. We will be coming back for sure.
Response from Host, May 2025
Hello Paul,
I’m so happy you enjoyed the experience! Your kind words truly mean a lot to me 🐬✨
We can’t wait to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
With love,
Rosa@BolhasTours
Breda_O, Oct 2024
Firstly, Pedro & Diego were wonderful, it was absolutely amazing to see the dolphins, it was a wonderful experience.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for your lovely review Breda! We're so happy to hear you had an amazing time with Pedro & Tiago. We look forward to welcoming you back for another fantastic adventure (: Rosa@BolhasTours
Peter_H, Sep 2024
We were thrilled with our experience. The guides were very good. Knowledgeable, clear, organized. We saw so many dolphins! We loved that the tour operators are very conscious to not interfere with the dolphin’s natural environment and behaviors. Despite some choppy waves, the boat ride was fine. We also enjoyed the close-up tour of the epic rocky cliffs and caves. We saw both common and bottlenose dolphins! The experience exceeded our expectations.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for your lovely feedback Peter! It was a pleasure having you on the tour, and I’m so glad you had a fantastic experience. We’re committed to giving our guests a memorable time while ensuring we respect the dolphins and their natural habitat, so it’s wonderful to hear that you appreciated that. Despite the choppy waves, I’m happy the boat ride was comfortable, and that you enjoyed the close-up views of the cliffs and caves. Spotting both common and bottlenose dolphins was definitely a highlight! We look forward to welcoming you again for another adventure!!! (: Rosa@BolhasTours
Lawrence_C, Sep 2024
Great experience. We saw lots of dolphins and it was beautiful weather for it. The guide was very informative. Would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you so much for your review Lawrence! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and had beautiful weather for dolphin watching. It's great to know you found the guide's information helpful. We hope to welcome you back for another tour soon (: Rosa@BolhasTours
Lala_S, Aug 2024
Seeing baby dolphines was a mémorable expérience!!! I really recommande this activity!
It was magical
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience Lala! We’re delighted that witnessing the baby dolphins made for such a memorable and magical experience. We look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure soon! Rosa@BolhasTours
Ata_R, Aug 2024
Super memorable experience! We were able to watch and stay with two types of dolphins for long stretches of time and dip in the emerald green waters of Sesimbra coast. Our guide Rosa and skipper Pedro were knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic making the tour even more enjoyable!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words Rasekhi! It was a pleasure having you on the tour, and I’m glad you enjoyed the time with the dolphins and the beautiful waters of Sesimbra. Pedro and I had a great time sharing the experience with you. Hope to see you again for another adventure! 😊Rosa@BolhasTours
Luke_S, Aug 2024
Me and my 6 friends had a great time on this boat tour. Mariana was a very good guide. She was very helpful and informative during the boat tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words Luke! We’re thrilled that you and your friends had a great time on the tour. It’s wonderful to hear that Mariana’s guidance made your experience even better. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure with Bolhas Tours soon! 😊 Rosa@BolhasTours
Diana_K, Jul 2024
We had a wonderful time!
The guide was incredibly friendly and spoke an English that was easy to understand, even with the wind on the boat. She gave us interesting information but didn‘t talk too much at all, so that you could really enjoy the calmness of the water and focus on the moment.
Best thing about the trip was of course seeing the dolphins (and even a whale!!) but we also enjoyed seeing caves and the special beach of Sesimbra.
We felt cared for regarding our safety (we had safety vests and the boat driver did a great job as well) and they also made sure we enjoyed the trip.
I would definitely recommend if you are in the area, thank you to the Bolhas Tours Team! 🐬🩵
P.S. The 24/7 assistence is indeed 24/7 😅 I made an accident call when I wanted to text them about a small question, and immediately got called back, and all my questions were answered perfectly.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review Diana!
We're delighted to hear you had a wonderful time with us. It's great to know that you found our guide friendly and easy to understand, even with the wind.
We always strive to balance sharing interesting information with allowing our guests to fully enjoy the serenity of the experience.
Seeing dolphins and even a whale must have been incredible! We're glad you also appreciated the scenic caves and Sesimbra's unique beaches.
Safety is our top priority, so we're happy you felt well taken care of and enjoyed the trip.
Thank you for the recommendation and for highlighting our 24/7 assistance—we're always here to help! 🐬We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Best regards,
The Bolhas Tours Team
Marie_S, Jul 2024
Amazing experience for the whole family-highly recommended! We saw plenty of dolphins, playing around the boat! Fun fast ride with the rib-motor-boat and a plus to also explore the caves and secluded beaches, incl snorkling stop on the way back! So friendly and experienced guides! 10 out of 10 in rating :-).
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for your kind words Marie! We're delighted you and your family had an amazing experience with Bolhas's team, enjoying the dolphins, caves, beaches, and snorkeling. We appreciate your high rating and look forward to welcoming you again😊Rosa@BolhasTours
Thu_N, Jun 2024
WE SAW A FIN WHALE AND SO MANY DOLPHINS!!!
This is one of the coolest tours that I've done so far. The two guides were so experienced and friendly, they know where to look for dolphins, (and whale!) and to approach them as not to disturb them. Please book with Bolhas Tour only. They definitely know, care fore and respect the nature. Plus point, we were offered a nice local wine at the end of the tour.
Pack water, hat, sunnies, and patience as some time we were just floating awaiting for the animals to show themselves. Take motion sickness pills if you're sensitive
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Hello Thu, Rosa here (:
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We are thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing experience with us and got to see both a fin whale and so many dolphins. Our team works hard to ensure a memorable and respectful wildlife experience, and it’s wonderful to know their efforts made your tour special.
We’re glad you enjoyed the local wine at the end of the tour – it’s one of our favorite ways to share a bit of our culture with our guests.
Thank you for recommending Bolhas Tours. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon! 🤩 Rosa@BolhasTours
Dan_D, May 2024
The seven of us (four adults, three kids) really enjoyed the trip today. The team are fantastic, very helpful, friendly and informative. The area is beautiful too and we loved seeing the bottlenose dolphins. We would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone. Thanks guys
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Hello Dan, Pedro here :) was our pleasure to have you and your family with us in this awsome tour with the bottlenose dolphins, specially with children to see this great dolphins at their natural habbit, how it as to be :) See you next time and have a great summer, we are always here for further more adventures! Yours Pedro@bolhastours and the Team!
Julie_K, Sep 2023
We saw two types of dolphin and then were told that Iberian Orca whales had been spotted so we got to see them too, a mother and baby. It was an unexpected but incredible addition to our trip. Absolutely exhilarating!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Hello Julie, was our pleasure to have you with us in this fantastic tour! Not very often we spot the Iberian Orcas and this was one of the days, always a fantastic sight! All the best and we will keep in touch for some more wildlife adventures :) All the best and see you soon :) Pedro, Rosa and the boys @bolhastours
Kathy_H, Aug 2023
Amazing experience. We got to see many dolphins including bottle nosed. The crew were really friendly and knowledgeable and were patient allowing us time to observe the dolphins and take photographs. We got to see caves, swim in the ocean and take in the beautiful scenery. A fantastic tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you so much for your kind words Kathy :) Looking forward for your next adventures with us at Bolhas Tours! See you soon,
Have a nice stay in Sesimbra and a great holydays,
Yours sincerely, all the Bolhas Team :)
DavidH_W, Aug 2023
Dolphin coming up next to boat was special
Tour started 1/2 hour late (as last guests were lost)
Tour guide was fun
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you so much for your review David. It is indeed a beautiful tour that we were glad to show to all families and their chidren. It builds up everlasting memories and their relation to nature becomes unique for life, thats our magical dolphin watching tour! See you soon for more adventures!
Ins_K, Jul 2023
Amazing tour! Saw lots of dolphins, explored some of the caves and part of the coast and dived into the ocean! Oh, and had some Moscatel to sweeten things even more 🤩. Pedro, Rosa, Dárcio and the rest of the team were fabulous and very accommodating to someone in our party with low mobility issues. Recommend 20/10 ❤️!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hello I K :) Was our pleasure to have you, hope to see you soon, obrigado e espero que continuem a ter uma otimas férias :) Beijinho a todos! All @bolhastours
Emma_P, Jun 2023
Staff very friendly and knowledgeable. Enjoyed the cruise along the coast looking at the grottos. A great experience for 3 hours.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Hey Emma :) It was really fun with you and your freinds, what about that sea scooter? lovely...:)
Hope all of you did a good trip back home, we will keep in touch for sure ! All the best to you all, and see you soon! Pedro
Meike_F, Nov 2022
We saw a lot of dolphins...soooo many und soooo wonderful!
Amazing tour in November - a bit cold but sunny :-)
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Hello Meike!
Was our pleasure to have you onboard with us in this tour, really glad you enjoy the tour and as usual our freinds dolphins did their daily show in big numbers :)
Now in November it is jacket ware time indeed :)
Looking foward to meet you again!
Best regards, Pedro
nigel_a, Sep 2022
great experience, good tour company, they were very considerate about dolphins but still managed to get amazingly close to the dolphins. great experience for whole family
Response from Host, Sep 2022
Hello Nigel, thank you so much for your words.
It is indeed a great family tour specially for the kids who get to see this incridble dolphins in a pristine habitat, like all the places in the world should be. Looking forward to meet you in the near future! Yours sincerely, Pedro
Gary_S, Aug 2022
Enjoyable trip with family. Friendly crew looking for dolphins and whales. Would recommend this this to friends.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Hello Gary :)
Thank you for your review, looking forward to have you and your familily in the near future for some more adventures, all the best and have a great holydays!
Best regards,
Taniria
Laura_E, Aug 2022
An amazing trip, would live to do it again.
We got to see dokphins and Dock in a beautiful cove.
Staff were very friendly
Would recommend getting taxi or public transport to marina.
Wear sun cream as boats are open top, small and no cover from sun
Would not recommend if pregnant or have back problems due to speed of boat on waves.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Hello Laura, than you so much for your kind word and for your general recomendations. Those are also advertise on the buying process, the sea is the sea :) Thank you once again and we would love to have you many times again in our tours, everyday is a new day and adventure! :) Have a great holydays! Pedro and the team
Dan_D, Jul 2022
The crew was very friendly snd attentive. Appreciate the tour. They were able search for and find a pod of dolphins and then we had a nice swim along the coast.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Thank you Dan for your words, was a great tour with amazing weather and people ☺️ looking forward to meet you again!
Yours sincerely, Pedro
Rudolf_M, May 2022
12 people were cramped in a rubber boat and were seated like in a roller coaster seats. We were not given safety jackets which were very dangerous practice in case of people who can not swim. No toilet for 3 hours trip was no fun for old people and kids.
Response from Host, May 2022
Hello Mr. Rudolf, glad to ear your feedback about our tours so we can clarify some points.
Not often guests arrive late, you and your friend did, more then 20 minutes making all of the participants waiting for you so you would not loose your oportunity to see the dolphins. The safety briefing was already made and everybody were at their seats and ready to departure waiting for you. Kids were with lifevests (mandatory) adults only for more then 10 knots wind as briefed, no one choose to ware them (optional, available onboard) since the sea was flat calm and zero wind and no request or remark was made by you or your friend at the time. Avout the "rubber" boat it is an brand new 9 meter Italian made BWA Rigid inflatable boat (RIB) with a 2022` 300 Horsepower Suzuki engine with 14 jockey seats, the safest, confortable and fastest boats in the market used worldwide for Dolphin Watching experiences, Maritime Police or Search and Rescue operations (SAR) due to its sea safety and worthiness. At any point you refused to board, that was your option and we could easilty live with that, Also this boats do not have toillete as you from the peer could easilly see. If you felt you would need one you could have arrived on time to check in at our centre and used our toilletes as we always ask to clients upon arrival at our Nautical Centre. The families loved and felt safe with us as usual (some on that tour even left a 5 stars comments here) thats our moto and everybody loved this tour to see the bottlenose, a big group really close to the boat, children loved it. After the dolphins we went to visit the coast and the minute we stoped for the typical wine tasting you asked for toillete. Everybody in a respectfull way when asked by me if we could leave sooner so you could go to toillete agreed, shortening once again their tour beacause of your particular needs. Its really sad to see that the ones that were best respected with their needs fully acommodated left such a comment.
Hope this clarifies to you, to our clients and our thousands of friends what happened in the most factual and rigurous way.
All the best and since you didnt mention it we hope you enjoyed to see the dolphins as much as our dearest clients did.
Pedro
Prashanth_G, Apr 2022
Amazing experience watching dolphins. A good value for money. Tour guide was informative and friendly. Enjoyed the complementary wine on the boat.
Response from Host, May 2022
Hello dear friend, it was a pleasure to meet you and your lovely family, thank you for the kind words, looking forward to mee you again in the near future.
Best regards, Pedro and Ana
Geralinde_W, Oct 2021
Wow! What a wonderful experience. To get this close to dolphins in their natural habitat was incredible. So happy to had booked with Bolha Tours as the boat was comfortable and it was clear they really respected the animals as well.
Even if we had a bit or a foggy day, the experience was something that we will remember for a long time. I would highly recommend!
Response from Host, Nov 2021
Thanks for your lovely word.
Hoppe to see you once you back to sesimbra.
Best regards,
Bolhas team :)
Stphanie_S, May 2021
From the kindness of our guide to our experience at sea everything was perfect. Well deserved 5 stars !
Response from Host, May 2021
Hello Simao,
Thanks for your review. Hope to see you again.
Best regards,
Andreia Freitas
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