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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Europe and Mediterranean

Europe and Mediterranean

Portugal

Atlantic islands for whale watching from the boat and summer gatherings of sicklefin devil rays.

Mount Pico rising behind a rocky headland and sea in the Azores
Mount Pico, Azores · Photo: Nadia Cammelli on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 29 Sep 2026. Sources: Portugal country profile, IWC Whale Watching Handbook; Portuguese pelagics: photographing the sharks and rays of the Azores, DivePhotoGuide.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The US State Department rates Portugal at Level 1, exercise normal precautions, and mentions petty theft in crowded places. Smartraveller also advises normal safety precautions, and notes that strikes and demonstrations are common. Sources: US State Department travel advisory, Portugal · Smartraveller travel advice, Portugal Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

FreedivingSnorkellingWhalesMantasTurtles

Why Portugal

On Pico and Faial, around Madalena, Lajes and Horta, sperm whales, dolphins and seasonal baleen whales may be seen from the boat, and Horta is a freediving base. Offshore, the Princess Alice Bank is known for natural summer gatherings of sicklefin devil rays, from July to September. Madeira adds Atlantic watching of pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins and sperm whales. On Pico and Faial, June to September is the main sea season.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

W. SaharaCanadaUnited States of AmericaChadRussiaFranceMaliMauritaniaNigerTunisiaAlgeriaPolandAustriaHungaryRomaniaLithuaniaGermanyGreeceAlbaniaCroatiaSwitzerlandLuxembourgBelgiumNetherlandsPortugalSpainIrelandItalyUnited KingdomSloveniaSlovakiaCzechiaMoroccoLibyaBosnia and Herz.MacedoniaSerbiaMontenegroKosovoFaial and Horta, PortugalMadeira, PortugalPico (Madalena and Lajes), PortugalPrincess Alice Bank, Portugal

When to go

Apr-Oct. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

The Azores and Madeira have clear whale watching laws, with licensed boats, a code of conduct, and no swimming with whales. Some local trips offer swims with wild dolphins, and blue shark dives use bait to bring sharks to the boat. We watch whales and dolphins from the boat, and in summer we meet the devil rays of the offshore banks as they come, with no bait.

Checked 29 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in Portugal

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Faial and Horta

Exploring

A freediving base in Horta, with whale watching from the boat and seasonal devil rays offshore.

🤿 In the water: Sicklefin devil rays (seasonal, offshore), Coastal Atlantic reef and open-water life, Dolphins (only if the licensed skipper says yes that day, two people at a time, never guaranteed)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Sperm whales, Common and bottlenose dolphins (year-round), Risso's dolphins (resident, from the boat), Baleen whales (seasonal)

When: Jun-Sep. The main season is June to September. Late July to late August has warmer water and better visibility.

Rules and fees: Swimming with whales is not allowed. Dolphin swims are licensed, the skipper decides on the day, and only two people go in at a time.

Madeira

Exploring

Atlantic whale and dolphin watching from the boat, with pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins and sperm whales.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins (year-round, from the boat), Atlantic spotted dolphins (summer, boat), Common dolphins (winter-spring, boat), Sperm whales

When: Apr-Oct. Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins may be seen all year. April to October is usually best.

Rules and fees: The Desertas Islands are a nature reserve, and every visit needs permission from the regional nature authority. Scuba divers pay a small official fee for each day they dive in the Garajau, Desertas and Selvagens reserves.

Pico (Madalena and Lajes)

Exploring

A calm island base with strong whale-watching heritage and seasonal devil rays offshore.

🤿 In the water: Sicklefin devil rays (seasonal, offshore), Coastal fish and rays, Turtles, Dolphins (only if the licensed skipper says yes that day, two people at a time, never guaranteed)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Sperm whales, Common and bottlenose dolphins (year-round), Risso's dolphins (resident, from the boat), Baleen whales (seasonal)

When: Jun-Sep. The main sea season is June to September. Late July to late August is warmest and clearest.

Rules and fees: Swimming with whales is not allowed. Dolphin swims are licensed, the skipper decides on the day, and only two people go in at a time.

Princess Alice Bank

Exploring

An offshore bank known for natural summer gatherings of sicklefin devil rays.

🤿 In the water: Sicklefin devil rays (seasonal), Open-water fish, Sharks and turtles (possible)

When: Jul-Sep. Devil rays gather July to September. Late July to late August is often best, weather permitting.

Animals

Animals recorded in Portugal

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Huge spotted whale shark gliding through open blue waterWhale sharkRhincodon typusSeen in 54 countries in the AtlasEndangeredCommon bottlenose dolphin swimming over a seagrass bedCommon bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBryde’s whale surfacing and exhaling in deep blue open oceanBryde's whaleBalaenoptera edeniSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernShort-finned pilot whale surfacing off Tenerife with the island behindShort-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala macrorhynchusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlue whale blowing a tall spout off San DiegoBlue whaleBalaenoptera musculusSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasEndangeredFin whale surfacing, showing its white right lower jawFin whaleBalaenoptera physalusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSei whale's tall dorsal fin breaking a calm sea surfaceSei whaleBalaenoptera borealisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasEndangeredSicklefin devil ray swimming in open blue waterSicklefin devil ray (Chilean devil ray)Mobula tarapacanaSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBump-head sunfish swimming in blue water off Nusa PenidaOcean sunfish (mola)Mola molaSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasVulnerableScarred Risso's dolphin spyhopping out of the waterRisso's dolphinGrampus griseusSeen in 56 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernStriped dolphin leaping, dark flank stripe clearly visibleStriped dolphinStenella coeruleoalbaSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGiant oceanic manta with T-shaped white shoulder patches and remorasOceanic manta ray (giant manta)Mobula birostrisSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasEndangeredPod of common dolphins surfacing in calm blue seaCommon dolphinDelphinus delphisSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHeavily spotted adult Atlantic spotted dolphin with young, AzoresAtlantic spotted dolphinStenella frontalisSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPortuguese man o' war floating with purple crest off Pico, AzoresPortuguese man o' warPhysalia physalisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedCommon octopus crawling over a rocky seabed in FranceCommon octopusOctopus vulgarisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSmooth hammerhead swimming in clear blue open water off SpainSmooth hammerheadSphyrna zygaenaSeen in 26 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBasking shark swimming underwater in green water off Argyll, ScotlandBasking sharkCetorhinus maximusSeen in 23 countries in the AtlasEndangeredHarbour porpoise rolling at the surface off Berry Head, DevonHarbour porpoisePhocoena phocoenaSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHumpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernOrcas surfacing close together in calm Arctic Norwegian watersOrca (killer whale)Orcinus orcaSeen in 55 countries in the AtlasData DeficientLoggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' warLoggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerableMediterranean monk seal head above blue water, whiskers visibleMediterranean monk sealMonachus monachusSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlue shark swimming in open blue water off the Azores with a diver in the backgroundBlue sharkPrionace glaucaSeen in 50 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedShortfin mako shark at Condor Bank in the North Atlantic, AzoresShortfin makoIsurus oxyrinchusSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasEndangeredA male northern bottlenose whale lifting its head above the surface in the Gully, Nova Scotia, during a research expeditionNorthern bottlenose whaleHyperoodon ampullatusSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedDusky grouper underwater at Cabo de Palos, SpainDusky grouperEpinephelus marginatusSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasVulnerableGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredTwo spinner dolphins swimming over sand in clear waterSpinner dolphinStenella longirostrisSeen in 66 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMinke whale surfacing and exhaling, seen from aboveCommon minke whale (North Atlantic)Balaenoptera acutorostrataSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teethGreat barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo long-finned pilot whales surfacing side by sideLong-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala melasSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMale magnificent frigatebird perched on a mangrove branchMagnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensSeen in 52 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernDwarf minke whaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata (dwarf form)Seen in 30 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernFalse killer whale surging through blue water off Rota, Mariana IslandsFalse killer whalePseudorca crassidensSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedCuvier's beaked whale surfacing, pale scarred head and small dorsal finCuvier's beaked whaleZiphius cavirostrisSeen in 42 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTwo rough-toothed dolphins leaping together, blotchy grey skin visibleRough-toothed dolphinSteno bredanensisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernOceanic whitetip shark with pilot fish in sunlit Red Sea waterOceanic whitetip sharkCarcharhinus longimanusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredSilky shark swimming near the surface in blue waterSilky sharkCarcharhinus falciformisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAdult male Blainville's beaked whale surfacing in the BahamasBlainville's beaked whaleMesoplodon densirostrisSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSandbar shark with its tall dorsal fin over a sandy seabed in HawaiʻiSandbar sharkCarcharhinus plumbeusSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGrey seal resting on a seaweed rock in Northumberland, UKGrey sealHalichoerus grypusSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo pygmy sperm whales at the sea surface off the Azores, low backs and small hooked dorsal fins showingPygmy sperm whaleKogia brevicepsSeen in 23 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernA Black Sea seahorse in the shallow water at Eforie-SudLong-snouted seahorseHippocampus guttulatusSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedFalse catshark about 3 m long, seen in Nihoa Canyon at 1,200 m depth during a NOAA expeditionFalse catsharkPseudotriakis microdonSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAtlantic puffin spreading its wings on a cliff in IcelandAtlantic puffinFratercula arcticaSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasVulnerableMauve stinger jellyfish in Girona, ES-CT, ES, iNaturalist research-grade observationMauve stinger jellyfishPelagia noctilucaSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedAdult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, PrincipeBrown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSailfish swimming in open blue water, seen from below, with its long bill and tall dorsal finSailfishIstiophorus platypterusSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAtlantic bluefin tuna leaping out of choppy water, recorded in Hovedstaden, DenmarkAtlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnusSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScarlet ibis in flight against a pale blue sky, photographed in Georgetown, GuyanaScarlet ibisEudocimus ruberSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernThree black-browed albatrosses with their bills together at a Steeple Jason Island colony, against blue skyBlack-browed albatrossThalassarche melanophrisSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leavesRed-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommon smooth-hound swimming just above a sandy seabed, with a slim grey-brown body and two dorsal finsCommon smooth-houndMustelus mustelusSeen in 35 countries in the AtlasEndangeredTwo Gervais' beaked whales at the surface in the Gulf Stream off North CarolinaGervais' beaked whaleMesoplodon europaeusSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAmerican flamingo wading in shallow water with its head lowered toward the surface, Yucatán, MexicoAmerican flamingoPhoenicopterus ruberSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernGreat cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black backGreat cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHuge flock of sooty shearwaters flying low over the sea beside a rocky coastSooty shearwaterArdenna griseaSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWilson's storm-petrel resting on calm water with its wings raised above its backWilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a northern gannet face, with pale blue eyes and a golden headNorthern gannetMorus bassanusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScopoli's shearwater skimming just above calm blue waterScopoli's shearwaterCalonectris diomedeaSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLeach's storm-petrel in flight over water, wings spread, with a pale patch at the base of the tailLeach's storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSeen in 35 countries in the AtlasVulnerableManx shearwater banking just above the sea, white underparts and dark upperparts visibleManx shearwaterPuffinus puffinusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat shearwater flying low over calm water, its reflection belowGreat shearwaterArdenna gravisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernEuropean shag sitting on its nest of dry grass, dark green-tinged plumage and yellow gapeEuropean shagGulosus aristotelisSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSargasso shearwater gliding over a grey sea, dark above and pale belowSargasso shearwater (Audubon's shearwater)Puffinus lherminieriSeen in 27 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a small-spotted catshark head, with dark spots, resting on the seabedSmall-spotted catshark (lesser spotted dogfish)Scyliorhinus caniculaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTope shark swimming in clear shallow water, seen from the sideTope shark (school shark)Galeorhinus galeusSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredNorthern fulmar sitting on a cliff ledge, facing the cameraNorthern fulmarFulmarus glacialisSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernYelkouan shearwater lifting off the sea surface with wings raisedYelkouan shearwaterPuffinus yelkouanSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasVulnerableMarbled electric ray lying on a sandy seabed, spotted pattern visibleMarbled electric rayTorpedo marmorataSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBrown ray resting on a sandy seabed, with a blue-centred eyespot on each wingBrown rayRaja miraletusSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernKitefin sharkDalatias lichaSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerableVelvet belly lanternshark swimming just above a dark seabed, with a violet sheen along its flankVelvet belly lanternsharkEtmopterus spinaxSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerableThornback ray swimming over a rocky seabed in shallow green waterThornback rayRaja clavataSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedBulwer's petrel flying low over blue water, its long pointed tail visibleBulwer's petrelBulweria bulweriiSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSwinhoe's storm-petrel flying low over a grey sea, seen at a distanceSwinhoe's storm-petrelHydrobates monorhisSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedCommon torpedo resting on sand, showing the dark spots on its round discCommon torpedo (ocellate torpedo)Torpedo torpedoSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSmooth lanternsharkEtmopterus pusillusSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSharpnose sevengill sharkHeptranchias perloSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedClose view of a double-crested cormorant with an orange-yellow throat patch and a turquoise eyeDouble-crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommon stingray resting on a bed of seagrass, with its eye and body edge in viewCommon stingrayDasyatis pastinacaSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasVulnerableArrowhead dogfishDeania profundorumSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedCommon eagle ray seen from above, gliding over a rocky seabed with its long tail trailingCommon eagle rayMyliobatis aquilaSeen in 12 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredLongnose velvet dogfishCentroselachus crepidaterSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedLeafscale gulper sharkCentrophorus squamosusSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasEndangeredSpotted ray (homelyn ray)Raja montaguiSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlonde ray resting on pebbles in a shallow rock poolBlonde rayRaja brachyuraSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedBlue skateDipturus batisSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredBlackmouth catsharkGaleus melastomusSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBirdbeak dogfishDeania calceaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedSowerby's beaked whale surfacing, with its long beak and grey back above the waterSowerby's beaked whaleMesoplodon bidensSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPortuguese dogfishCentroscymnus coelolepisSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedLongnosed skateDipturus oxyrinchusSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasVulnerableUndulate ray resting on the seabed, its wings marked with pale spots and wavy bandsUndulate rayRaja undulataSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedCuckoo rayLeucoraja naevusSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedSmall-eyed rayRaja microocellataSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened

Read before you go

Whales and wildlife ethicsAzores Sperm Whales: Meeting Them Without Getting WetRead ↗Whales and wildlife ethicsMadeira Rope Dolphin Observation: Why We Still WaitRead ↗Whales and wildlife ethicsMadeira Whale Watching: Sperm Whales, Pilot Whales, and Why You Stay DryRead ↗Whales and wildlife ethicsThe Azores: Meeting Sperm Whales Without Getting WetRead ↗Whales and wildlife ethicsMadeira’s Rope Dolphin Observation: Why We Still WaitRead ↗Responsible travel and conservationGuaranteed Whale Swim Ads: How to Read the Small PrintRead ↗
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