Ocean Vibes

Ocean Vibes runs dolphin, whale and bird watching tours from Faro marina, on the doorstep of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and the open Atlantic. Every trip is led by marine biologists rather than general tour guides, and the crew combines standard sightseeing with an active research programme: photo-identification of individual dolphins by their fin markings, underwater hydrophone recordings to study cetacean acoustics, and drone surveys that record behaviour without disturbing the animals. The main Dolphin Watching trip runs 2.5 hours, takes up to 12 guests aged 2 and over, and starts from EUR 58.63. A Sunset Dolphins departure, timed for late afternoon light, starts from EUR 63.96. Both trips are booked online through the company's FareHarbor booking system, and gift cards are available for those who want to buy a tour as a present. Guests regularly see common and bottlenose dolphins, and the crew also records sightings of marine birds, sharks and, at certain times of year, whales including Bryde's whales. Ocean Vibes is based at Passeio Abu Sao Ibn Harune in Faro, close to the marina, and is active on Instagram, Facebook and TripAdvisor.