WORLDWIDE

15 Dolphin Watching Cruises Worth Flying For

131 tours  ·  from $25 a head

A cruise is the forgiving version: a stable deck, shade, and someone else watching the horizon for you. These 15 run from two hours out of a resort marina to a full day with lunch, priced and clear about how long you are actually among the pod.

Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise - Searching for dolphins, whales, and turtles
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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

1.Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,697 reviews · 3 hours · from $41Our pick

Set out from Funchal Marina on a three-hour Seaborn catamaran cruise with an English or Portuguese-speaking crew. Search for dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish, then stop beneath Cabo Girão for a seasonal swim. The spacious boat has shaded seating, sun decks, front nets, and a bar. Sightings are never guaranteed.

“A truly great time had. A comfortable amount of people onboard the Catamaran. Seats under the canopy, seats in the sun, two large areas to sit or lay on the netting area, large areas to sit with your legs hanging over the edge to really enjoy the ocean. We felt lucky to have seen a few whales, which made our trip so worth while. We stopped & were all permitted to climb down the ladder, jump/dive into the sea at a specific location - below cliffs on the opposite side of Funchal. Drinks & snacks were available. Crew were all very friendly, knowledgeable & helpful. A wonder family friendly experience.”

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Costa Adeje: Whale & Dolphin Eco-Cruise with Snacks & Drinks - Watching whales in the Teno-Rasca Whale Sanctuary
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Costa Adeje: Whale & Dolphin Eco-Cruise with Snacks & Drinks

2.Whale & Dolphin Eco-Cruise with Snacks & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5,096 reviews · 3 - 5 hours · from $52

From Puerto Colón’s Dock 8, White Tenerife takes you into the Teno-Rasca Whale Sanctuary aboard a fuel-efficient catamaran. Choose three or five hours, with pilot whales, dolphins, underwater audio, sandwiches, drinks, and a swim stop. The longer trip adds Los Gigantes and Masca Beach. English and Spanish commentary is provided.

“was amazing, we see dolphins & whales, the staff was so friendly and answered all our questions, as we was the only English on the boat they was always helping us out, they was always offering us drinks and snacks that was free, I would recommend this to anyone who would like a boat trip, we have been on a few boat trip few th e year this is in our top 10.👍🏻”

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Gran Canaria: Catamaran Dolphin Watch Cruise with Snorkeling - Two hours searching for dolphins and whales
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Gran Canaria: Catamaran Dolphin Watch Cruise with Snorkeling

3.Catamaran Dolphin Watch Cruise with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4,761 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $44

Set sail from Puerto Base near Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria for a 3.5-hour catamaran trip in search of dolphins, pilot whales, and minke whales. After the wildlife search, stop near the coast for swimming and snorkeling, with masks, water, and soft drinks provided. Hotel pickup is optional.

“Brilliant day start to finish , seeing the dolphins in natural surroundings swimming jumping was magical”

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Los Gigantes: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop - The search for dolphins and pilot whales
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Los Gigantes: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop

4.Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,539 reviews · 2 hours · from $33

Join Flipper Uno at Los Gigantes Port for a two-hour cruise through the Teno-Rasca Whale Sanctuary. Look for pilot whales and dolphins, pass beneath the cliffs of Los Gigantes and Masca, enjoy one cold drink, then swim in Juan López, Masca, or Barranco Seco. Spanish is the listed language, though guide Alejandro has also received praise for his English.

“The best boat trip we’ve done and we’ve done a few! Definitely worth the trip up to Los Gigantes - amazing crew, saw so many dolphins and beautiful cove swim - would highly recommend”

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Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time - Boarding at 5201 N Lagoon Drive
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Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

5.Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,362 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $57Top rated

Cruise from Panama City Beach to Shell Island aboard Island Time’s roomy catamaran. Watch for wild dolphins, snorkel in St. Andrews Bay, paddle board, use the waterslide, or walk the beach. The crew, including captains such as Clay and Heath and crew members such as Emma and Sarah, keeps the three-hour trip relaxed and social.

“shell Island was beautiful seeing dolphins on the way was fun. We also snorkeled and collected shells.”

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Albufeira: Dolphin Watching and Benagil Cave Boat Cruise - Benagil Cave and the Algarve’s sculpted cliffs
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Albufeira: Dolphin Watching and Benagil Cave Boat Cruise

6.Dolphin Watching and Benagil Cave Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,226 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $35

From Albufeira Marina, you’ll travel 18 km along the Algarve coast with a skipper and marine biologist. Look for wild dolphins, enter sea caves when conditions permit, admire Alfanzina Lighthouse, and stop for a swim. Guides such as Maria, Tomas, Rui, and Victor are known for lively, useful commentary.

“the only thing that could possibly have improved was the weather overall it was a lovely experience I would recommend a light jacket for the sea breeze but it was good”

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Morro Jable: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise, Drinks & Swim - How the wildlife search works
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Morro Jable: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise, Drinks & Swim

7.Morro Jable: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise, Drinks & Swim

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 4,158 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Join the Magic Dolphin from Morro Jable for a two-hour search for dolphins, pilot whales, turtles, and flying fish. Guides such as Karol, Carmen, Nino, Luis, and Carolina explain the wildlife in Spanish, English, or German. Drinks, a toilet, and a swim stop in Jandía are included. Sightings are never guaranteed.

“We were picked up by the coach from our hotel and dropped right by the jetty leading to the boats. The guide was excellent (gave an introduction in about 8 languages!) The boat we were on was in contact with about half a dozen other boats and they let each other know if they find dolphins / whales which massively increases the chances of success. Our boat was the first to find dolphins (Atlantic Spotted) and they were playing with the boat. There were so many there was no way I could count but there must have been 100+ I think. They stayed for ages but eventually we moved on…”

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Tenerife: Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruise with Swim Stop - What happens during the two hours
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Tenerife: Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruise with Swim Stop

8.Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruise with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,227 reviews · 2 hours · from $29Best value

Join the crew aboard Peter Pan from Los Cristianos for two hours of responsible whale and dolphin watching. You may see pilot whales, dolphins, and seabirds in open Atlantic waters, with live commentary in five languages. The trip ends with a 15 to 20 minute coastal swim, conditions permitting. Hotel pickup is available from selected points.

“Amazing experience. We loved the tour and they were up to their word and did not chase the whales. We watched the whales. Thank you.”

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Los Cristianos: Viking Cruise Whales & Dolphins Watching - The first 15 minutes: photos and settling in
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Los Cristianos: Viking Cruise Whales & Dolphins Watching

9.Los Cristianos: Viking Cruise Whales & Dolphins Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,132 reviews · 2 hours · from $47

Board Ragnarok at Los Cristianos Harbour for a two-hour whale and dolphin cruise along Tenerife’s south coast. The English- and Spanish-speaking crew guides you toward pilot whales and dolphins, while the Viking design, shaded seating, onboard bar, music, and roomy deck keep the trip lively. Bring sun protection and allow time for parking.

“Excellent experience! What could be more fun than seeing a couple whales with the experienced crew and guide? Seeing 5 whales! And a spectacular view of the island from sea. Will probably go again next week.”

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Lisbon: Tagus River Cruise to the Ocean & Dolphin Watching - Commerce Square and Christ the King from the water
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Lisbon: Tagus River Cruise to the Ocean & Dolphin Watching

10.Tagus River Cruise to the Ocean & Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,019 reviews · from $38

Sail from Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste along the Tagus and out to the Atlantic for a 2.5-hour dolphin search. Guides such as Anna, Barbara, and Telma have been praised for friendly commentary on Lisbon’s sights. Expect wine, beer, sangria, and soft drinks, but bring snacks and warm layers.

“Nice cruise with a very friendly guide. Boat was a bit small due to the lack of participants and not very comfortable. It was a nice overall experience to discover the surroundings of Lisbon on the water.”

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Funchal Bay: Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise - The first 45 minutes: open-water wildlife watching
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Funchal Bay: Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise

11.Funchal Bay: Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,684 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Board the Atlantic Pearl at Funchal’s New Marina for a three-hour cruise with Portuguese and English-speaking guides. Watch for dolphins and whales, then stop beneath the 580-meter Cabo Girão cliffs for swimming and snorkeling. Expect a smaller boat, covered seating, outdoor hammocks, onboard toilets, music, and drinks for purchase.

“Both staff were absolutely quality, good laugh and a great tour! Saw pilot whales and dolphins at first spot and had a great swim in the beautiful waters! All the best with the new baby captain!”

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From Paguera: Dolphin Watching Cruise in a Glass-Bottom Boat - What dolphin watching is really like
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From Paguera: Dolphin Watching Cruise in a Glass-Bottom Boat

12.From Paguera: Dolphin Watching Cruise in a Glass-Bottom Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,669 reviews · 1.5 - 2.5 hours · from $41

Set out from Playa Tora near Santa Ponsa on a 1.5 to 2.5-hour dolphin cruise led in English, French, German, and Spanish. Watch Risso’s, bottlenose, and white-sided dolphins from the deck, then choose a swim stop on the longer trip. Expect a lively boat, snack bar, sunny views, and a small glass-bottom viewing area.

“Left on time, saw Dolphins and enjoyed the drive back via the goat mountains”

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Gran Canaria: Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise - What the 150-minute cruise feels like
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Gran Canaria: Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise

13.Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,537 reviews · 2h 30m · from $41

Set out from Gran Canaria’s southern coast for a 150-minute dolphin and whale cruise with guides speaking English, Spanish, and German. Guides such as Mario help spot pods in the open sea, where you might see striped or Risso’s dolphins, whales, turtles, or flying fish. A cash bar and toilets are available onboard.

“Great activity with informative guides. Although we didn’t see the dolphins this time we did see a whale, flying fish and turtles. Well organised and a modern boat, we will use these guys again. As usual easy booking with GYG.”

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From Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria: Dolphin Watching Cruise - The transfer to Puerto Rico
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From Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria: Dolphin Watching Cruise

14.From Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria: Dolphin Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,520 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $47

Sail 2.5 hours from Puerto Rico along Gran Canaria’s southwest coast aboard Spirit of the Sea, a 97-passenger catamaran with a glass-bottom viewing area. A multilingual crew searches for dolphins, whales, turtles, and other marine life, explains what you see, and offers a free return trip if no cetaceans appear.

“We went on the Spirit of the Sea boat trip yesterday from Puerto Rico, and it was one of the best boat trips we’ve ever taken. The crew were outstanding — incredibly kind, professional, and very helpful throughout the entire journey. You immediately feel welcome and well looked after. The trip itself was fantastic. We were lucky enough to see 50+ dolphins, which was absolutely magical. Watching them swim and play so close to the boat was a truly special experience. On the way back, we cruised along the coastline, which is simply stunning — a beautiful and relaxing end to a perfect trip. The boat is very well equipped,…”

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Alcudia or Can Picafort: Dolphin-Watching Cruise - Why the sunrise departure is worth the early alarm
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Alcudia or Can Picafort: Dolphin-Watching Cruise

15.Alcudia or Can Picafort: Dolphin-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,457 reviews · 3 hours · from $100

Set out from Port d’Alcudia or use optional pickup in Can Picafort for a three-hour dolphin cruise. Choose sunrise or afternoon departure, watch wild dolphins from a fast small boat, visit sea caves, and stop at Es Coll Baix for a swim. Guides including Carlos, Andy, César, Diego, and Pepe add local details and plenty of energy.

“AMAZING, can’t describe in words. The guide was the best🤩 totally worth it. Nice views, stopped for a swimming at a lovely beach. Prepare to get wet and enjoy!!”

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Where to see dolphins

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