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Zoo Marine Water Parks Lagos Zoo and Grottos Krazy World Jeep Safaris Karting Monchique Mountains Sand City Autodrome International (Algarve Motor Park) Sealife Ocean Safaris A thrilling adventure not to be missed, departing from Alvor Harbour! The trip lasts about 90 mins (life jackets are provided) and you are safe in the hands of a knowledgable and very experienced crew. Enjoy a gentle ride across the river as you head out towards the Atlantic Ocean, then cruise at a speed of approx. 30 knots on your mission to find dolphins or other wildlife! The RIB (rigid inflatable boat) carries a maximum of 12 passengers and 2 crew. You will travel on average 7 miles out to sea and even during the summer, you may be wise to wear a long sleeved top as it can be quite a bit cooler/breezy out at sea.
The question we all ask is "are we actually going to see dolphins?" There is a 90% chance that you will and you do not have to take the trip at a particular time of year to improve your chance, since dolphins are seen in this area all year round.
Children and adults alike love the thrill of the slightly bumpy ride, zipping across the sea in anticipation of what they hope to see, with the wind on their faces. Once on the open sea, everyone has their eyes peeled, looking for smooth patches of sea and/or a flock of gulls, a tell tale sign that dolphins are in the area. You may well see porpoises, (often referred to as smaller dolphins although the most visible difference is that they have flattened spade-like teeth), Risso Dolphins - large dolphins with a bulbous head and stocky body, grey in colour with white scratches and scars which increase with age, and often referred to as "the ghosts of the sea" due to their colouring. These dolphins also tend to be more timid.
The playful dolphin is The Common Dolphin, or Delphinus Delphus. The upper body is a black/brownish-black colour, the chest and belly a creamy-white, with a distinctive yellow hour-glass pattern on its side. These dolphins are more inquisitive and seem to love the boats, swimming and diving along side, so close you can actually touch them. If you are lucky enough to see them on your trip, this is certainly an experience you will always treasure - dolphins as they should be, relaxed and happy in their natural surroundings!
Remember, you must pre-book for this trip due to limited spaces. There are two trips each day, 11am and 1pm each leaving from the pontoon in Alvor. Call +00351 919 919 966 to book. Sealife also operate from the Marina de Portimao in Praia da Rocha, call +00351 919 919 200 Return To Top
Zoo Marine  Dolphin interaction at Zoo Marine This themed based park (in the borough of Guia near Albufeira) depicts The Life of the Oceans and makes for a wonderful family day out. For just one entry fee, the visitor has access to a variety of high standard shows.The tropical bird show - where parrots, macaws and cockatoos ride bicycles, tight rope walk and roller skate. You will also learn about each individual species too. The seal and sea lion show - here the seals and sea lions help act out a poular children's pantomime style story. This has previously been based on Captain Hook, with the seals and sea lions helping to capture him and rescue the treasure chest. This is both an educational and a fun based show - be prepared to get wet if near the front, or perhaps a fishy wet kiss from the sea lion! Lots of lively entertainment in this show with chases, cap-gun firing and crowd interaction. The birds of prey show - admire the fastest species in nature. Owls, falcons, and eagles demonstrate their beauty and power. Learn about each individual bird and their in-flight agility. The dolphin show - enjoy the magic and charm of these magnificent ocean ambassadors in a fascinating show of syncronised swimming, dance and acrobatics, made possible only by the intimate relationship between trainer and the bottlenosed dolphin. Once again, be prepared to get very wet if choosing to sit near the front.
Dolphin interaction programmes are available for an additional cost, but these MUST be booked well before your planned visit to the park. Each slot lasts 90mins, 30mins of these interacting, the rest is your training programmme before entering the water. Participants must be over 8yrs of age and a good swimmer. The park also has an aquarium, large outdoor swimming pools for adults, children and toddlers, lakes and gardens, plus an amusements area. There are also kiosks around the park to purchase food and drink. Return To Top
Water ParksSlide and Splash Slide & Splash is a water park with all sorts of attractions to appeal to all ages. Located near Lagoa, it has a souvenir shop, kiosk, restaurant and several aquatic attractions. With a variety of slides and wave pools there is plenty for all the family. Aqualand
 The Anaconda at Aqualand Aqualand (The Big One) situated near Armação de Pera. Home to the Kamikaze slide that will take you from a height of 92m to entering the water in less than 4 seconds. Definitely one for those who like both speed and height. Banzai Boggan -try to surf on your board after descending a nearly vertical drop of 23 meters and gaining speed. This is the ride you would tell your friends about. The Anaconda - ride through twisting snake like tubes at speed before hitting the water. The Rapids - experience the thrill of white water rafting and ride the rapids in large rubber rings. A great fun filled packed day to be had by all the family.Return To Top
Lagos ZooLagos Zoo has over 250 animals that belong to more than 50 different species from all over the world. It also has an educational farm, exotic plants and a whole host of activities on offer. See monkeys, lemurs, wallabies, a variety of exotic birds and reptiles for example. Lagos Grottos Grottos at Lagos View the magnificent rock formations surrounding this area from a small fishing boat, with a local fisherman as your guide. The distinctive cliffs that surround the Lagos area are truly a sight unseen! Your guide will navigate around and under the intriguing rock formations, take you into caves and point out the many secluded beaches that surround the town. These trips depart at regular intervals from the main walk way, or alernatively, catch a boat directly from the beach from Praia Dona Ana or at Ponte da Piedad - generally the charges here are better too. Return To Top
Krazy World
Krazyworld has a real mixture of things to do and there's something for everyone, from crocodiles, snakes and lizards, to guinea pigs, llamas, camels and goats plus a selection of birds. There is a large swimming pool too with sunbeds set within pretty gardens, two crazy golf courses, and an animal petting area. In the summer season they also hold exciting live shows during which their professional trainers will demonstrate the power and versatility of some of the Amazon's most dangerous creatures.
Jeep SafarisAn alternative way to discover the Algarve countryside plus great fun too. Find out how the traditional "Medronho" (local fire water) is made and sample the locally produced honey. Many of these safaris also include lunch too. Book at the local tourist information centre.
Karting at Almancil Almancil Karting Located in a Leisure Complex near Almancil, this race track opened by the late Ayrton Senna is a 760m length replica of the former F1 Brazilian racetrack, named Jacarepegua and receives over 250.000 visitors every year. Almancil Karting is a leisure and competition complex, that's available for all lovers of the most accessible motor racing sport: Karting! It's the perfect place for spending quality time with your family and/or friends. Almancil Karting is only 5 minutes away from the extraordinary Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo beaches.Return To Top
Monchique MountainsThe Monchique Mountains are situated just north of Portimao. Here you will find Algarve’s highest peak, Foia (900mts), having extensive views of the western coastline. At the foothills of Monchique you find the vast expanse of pine and cork trees and as you climb higher these give way to Eucalyptus plantations. Monchique is a small market town situated nearly 900mts up in the Monchique range of mountains. It is well worth a visit if only to see the fantastic views of the valleys, ravines, and the coastline. Charcoal, wicker baskets/furniture and wooden furniture is manufactured here. It is also famous for chicken piri piri (spicy sauce) and smoked ham (Presunto). Also in the Monchique Mountains is Caldas de Monchique, (the Spa) which is well known for its spring waters, used for the treatment of rheumatism and chronic illness of the respiratory tract. With its crystal clear streams and gurgling waters Caldas de Monchiqie is a must for all nature lovers and a major point of interest in the region. Locals often go to the mountains at the weekends to escape from the heat with whole families meeting to picnic together on the mountain side. Return To Top
Sand City Sand City sculpture The International Festival of Sand Sculptures in Pera is an exhibition of huge proportions, each year being dedicated to a set theme. It is the only festival of its type on the Iberian Peninsular for both its size and the quantities of sand used and has become the greatest exhibition of sculptures in the sand world. The exhibition brings together over 35 sculptors from around the world and is open day and night from mid May to mid September. The building process which starts with the technical preliminary preparation takes about 8 weeks. Following this, the park will be opened to the public. Visitors can visit the sand sculpture festival day and night for a reasonable entrance fee. In the day time people watch the works of how the construction is completed, and admire their simple beauty. They can also make their own sculptures under the direction of the teachers in the places allocated to them, and enjoy the sun and the sand. Nevertheless at nightime, the festival area takes on an entirely different atmosphere, with torches, special sound and light effects, laser shows, rockets, musical/dance/theatre performances. The sand sculptures really are a magical attraction.Return To Top
Autodrome International The Algarve Motor Park complex, approximately 10mins drive from lagos, is being developed for all divisions of the motor industry. It's comprehensive facilities will make this the ideal place for companies to test their new products and for members of the public, there will be various track days and karting events.
Click on the image to the right for further information. Other activitiesThe Algarve is renowned for it's superb golf courses so is a golfing heaven. Tennis, cycling, surfing, walking and fishing are also popular activities. Horse riding lessons for both beginners and advanced riders are available for lessons or treks. There are a number of riding centres in the Lagos area that cater for all ages and levels of skill such as Tiffany's Riding Center, which includes lead reins for tiny tots, beginner's rides, hacks from one to three hours and all day adventure trails through quiet scenery. Also see the Vale de Ferro riding school in Portimao.
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