Whale watching in Portugal? Did you know that Portugal is among the best places in the world, and one of the few in Europe, to observe cetaceans in their natural habitat.

Madeira Island and Azores are the places with the highest number of marine species, in terms of cetaceans, and therefore, one of the places with the highest rate of sightings in Portugal.

If you are a marine life lover, in this article we show you the best places to see cetaceans, in their natural habitat, in Portugal.

Whale Watching in Portugal- Best places

#1 Madeira Island

Madeira Island is an autonomous region located in Portugal near the northwest coast of Africa and has surreal landscapes, extraordinary weather throughout the year and many more things to offer to the people who visit it.

The fascinating island currently has numerous marine species and offers us unique opportunities for sighting them, as is the example of cetaceans.

Among the different species existing in Madeira, we can denote the marine ones, with about 28 species of dolphins and whales, since, the deep and calm waters, makes Madeira an ideal place for these types of animals, so it is normal to be able to see them on the island.

Among some of the most frequent species of whales that we can see in Madeira are:

-Baleia de Bryde ou baleia tropical (Balaenoptera edeni);

-Baleia Piloto (Globicephala machrorhynchus);

-Cachalote (Physeter macrocephalus);

-Baleia-azul (Balaenoptera musculus);

-Baleia-anã (Balaenoptera acutorostrata);

-Baleia de bossa (Megaptera novaeangliae);

-Orca (Orcinus orca).

Therefore, Madeira has enormous potential in terms of whale sightings and has the greatest diversity of cetacean species in Portugal, and if you are looking for a place that will make your experience once in a lifetime, Madeira is without a doubt, the ideal destination.

Would you like to live this experience during your holidays in Madeira? Make your reservation now!  Whales & Dolphins Watching.

#2 AZORES

The autonomous region of the Azores, located in the Atlantic Ocean, is made up of 9 islands of volcanic origin, this wonderful archipelago offers wonderful adventures with incredible landscapes, beaches and many activities that will make your trip to nature dazzling.

With one of the largest whale sanctuaries in the world, the Azores archipelago, especially in the central group (Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, Faial and Graciosa islands), is one of the best places in Europe for whale watching.

A place where preservation is extremely important, the diversity of existing species is undoubtedly wonderful. Currently, there are 20 different types of cetaceans where their observation is quite recurandon the Island, due to its ecosystem with unique characteristics such as its waters full of fish that serve as food for whales.

Still, usually, the best time to watch whales in the Azores is in spring, with April and May being the strongest months. Among the most recurrent whales to be observed in the Azores are fin whales, blue whales and Sardinia and sperm whales.

Would you like to know more about this wonderful island, especially about whale watching? Visit Azores offers the best companies with specialists in whale watching for this type of trip.

#3 ALBUFEIRA

Located in Algarve, in the south of Portugal, Albufeira is a Portuguese city belonging to the Faro district, and is one of the biggest tourist centres in Portugal, due to its beautiful beaches, frequent parties, nightlife, excellent temperatures and low prices.

Also, it is important to emphasize that this city has around 30 companies that promote tours to sight cetaceans on the coast of Albufeira, which makes this city one of the best in Portugal to see whales, especially between June and September.

A great diversity of marine life inhabits or visits simply visit the coast of Albufeira and allow us to observe and learn from it.

Undoubtedly, Albufeira, in addition to offering activities for those who enjoy marine life, offers a series of activities to do during your trip, an experience not to be missed!

#4 SAGRES

Sagres is a Portuguese village in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, between 3 beaches (Tonel, Mareta and Baleeira), located in the extreme southwest of Portugal and has one of the most stunning landscapes in Algarve and historic buildings.

This village is the most preserved region in Algarve, as it has areas of untouched nature. Therefore, boat trips are common in this region, as it is a privileged area for observing marine life.

Would you like to take a boat trip to this wonderful Portuguese village where you will meet beautiful marine creatures? We leave here a guide to the best sighting companies in Sagres THE BEST Sagres Dolphin & Whale Watching Activities.

Our Conclusion

Taking into account the size and location of the Portuguese sea, marine life is therefore diverse and can be observed throughout the year in many reference places.

Do not miss the opportunity to be able to visit one of the countries with a great existence of marine life, Portugal, in addition to the extraordinary existing marine life, has a lot to offer.

Whale watching in Portugal is the best option, make your experience memorable and visit one of the best places mentioned above to spot whales in Portugal, you won’t regret it!