Lagos Dolphin Watching Cruise & Ponta da Piedade Sights

4.84

(167 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I was half convinced we wouldn’t actually see dolphins. You know how these things go—sometimes nature just doesn’t show up when you want it to. But there we were, drifting out from Lagos on this catamaran, the sun already warming my shoulders and that salty smell mixing with sunscreen. Our guide, Joana, had this easy way of pointing out the coastline—she called one rock “the sleeping elephant,” which honestly did look like it needed a nap.

We passed by Ponta da Piedade’s wild cliffs—jagged, yellowish stone that looked almost soft in the morning light. There were little caves carved out by the sea; I tried to snap a photo but mostly ended up with blurry fingers. Then suddenly Joana was waving and everyone rushed to one side (maybe too quickly for the boat’s balance). Dolphins, real ones, right there—slick gray backs slicing through the water. They moved so fast I kept losing them in the glare but caught a glimpse of two leaping together. It’s weirdly quiet in those moments except for people gasping or laughing. I think someone behind me teared up.

After that rush, things slowed down. We got snacks—a little sweeter than I expected—and some kids bounced around on this inflatable water park thing off the back of the boat. The breeze picked up and I just sat there for a while, letting everything sink in. Joana chatted about how sometimes she recognizes individual dolphins by their scars or fins; she sounded proud and a bit protective of them. I liked that.

If you’re thinking about a dolphin watching cruise from Lagos, I’d say go for it even if you’re skeptical like me. There’s something about seeing those cliffs up close and then having dolphins show up on their own terms—it sticks with you longer than you’d expect.