Have you ever been fortunate enough to see dolphins in the wild? These magnificent creatures are beautiful to behold. Seeing them in their natural environment can almost feel like a stroke of luck, a special secret that you’ve been gifted.
Living in Cornwall, we’ve had unexpected encounters with dolphins curious enough to scope out our boat just off the coast and come and say hi. But if you’re wondering where else in the world you can increase your chances of epic sightings, read on for our scoop on the best places for seeing dolphins in the wild responsibly with these top five destinations.
Key West, The Florida Keys
The entire length of this 125-mile island chain is surrounded by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Aquatic adventures abound, from snorkelling the United States’ only living barrier coral reef in one of the state parks to kayaking the backwaters of the Lower Keys. One of the bucket list experiences of a visit to the Florida Keys must be the opportunity to see dolphins in the waters off Key West.
Sustainable tour operator Honest Eco offers dolphin-watching trips on their electric boat, SQUID, designed to be one of the most environmentally friendly boats possible. These small boat tours are hosted by knowledgeable crew who’ll share their wealth of marine biology intel.
The Azores
Located in the mid-Atlantic, the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores is home to various marine life. It's renowned as one of the best places in the world to see dolphins in the wild, with super pods of various species. Responsible operators like the Dolphin and Whale Connection offer a range of excursions and day tours to explore the waters of Sao Miguel Island. Their dolphin-watching trips are often accompanied by a marine biologist so you can learn about dolphin behaviour and conservation while watching them play. It's also possible to swim with dolphins in the Azores, an incredible, life-affirming experience.
Taranto, Italy
For anyone looking to go dolphin watching in Europe, the Gulf of Taranto has to be the top spot. Nestled between the heel and toe of the boot of Italy, the waters of the Ionian Sea are home to several cetacean species including Risso's and bottlenose dolphins. Jonian Dolphin Conservation conducts research in the Gulf as well as working to protect dolphins. They offer a “researcher for the day” programme where guests can go out dolphin watching with the team. There are also opportunities to go dolphin watching in the Ionian Sea off Vonitsa in Greece.
Knysna, South Africa
In the southern hemisphere, Knysna on South Africa’s Garden Route is the place for eco-marine activities. The Knysna estuary ranks above the St Lucia World Heritage Site in terms of biodiversity. The coastal waters and bays around Knysna are home to several species of dolphins including the humpback dolphin with its easily distinguishable hump and long dorsal fin. Lucky visitors can also see the elusive Indo-Pacific dolphin here, remarkable thanks to its pink or light grey colour. Leading local marine tourism operator Ocean Odyssey runs dolphin-watching tours from December to May.
Inner & Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Scotland’s stunning Inner and Outer Hebrides are worth a visit for the scenery alone. The archipelago of islands off the west coast of Scotland is characterised by their rugged and untamed beauty: wild, often windswept, and underpopulated. It’s also a top dolphin-spotting destination. Head to the Isle of Mull to encounter super pods of common dolphins. Tours also run from Skye and Harris.
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust collaborates with communities to ensure the protection of sea mammals. Guests can sign up for one of their research expeditions that last between a week to twelve days, helping the team survey the Scottish coast and its amazing marine life.
Whether you’ve been lucky enough to encounter dolphins in these stunning destinations, spotted them in other locations (we’d love to hear where) or still have them on your bucket list, there’s something truly magical about seeing these creatures in the wild.
The Dolphin Animal Step is now available at El Camino, so you can commemorate the incredible experience of seeing dolphins on your travel story.
Our Animal Steps proudly support the World Land Trust, a conservation charity dedicated to the protection of threatened habitats around the world. By supporting our Animal and Nature Steps, the El Camino community has conserved over 89 acres of tropical forest reserves in Argentina, South Africa and Kenya.
Discover our ever-growing collection of Animal Steps here.