Living in the Algarve during the summer months offers many family-friendly options. My three-year-old son loves animals and had been talking about seeing dolphins for a while. However, he is a bit scared of waves, which is why I opted for a larger, more stable boat for our adventure.
About Dream Wave: A Local Success Story
In Marina de Albufeira, you will find many options and a wide range of boat tour companies. After some research, we decided on Dream Wave, a company that has been operating for more than twenty years. Dream Wave started as a dream of two local people, Raul Correia and Renato Coelho, both with a deep passion for Albufeira and the Algarve’s natural beauty. They began with just one boat and a clear mission – to give everyone the experience of the beautiful Algarve’s coastline. Over the years, they have grown and evolved. Today, they operate with 6 Insónias, with a capacity for 18 people and 4 Dreamers, with a capacity for 47 passengers. These boats are used for relaxing, cave tours and dolphin watching. If you want something more adventurous, they also offer 2 jet skis. Dream Wave now employs over 50 people, all of whom are considered part of a big family.
When we arrived at the marina, my son still didn’t fully understand we were going on a boat. I hadn’t told him earlier, for he doesn’t panic. Ironically, once he realized the truth, he insisted that if he had to go on a boat, it should be a small one, thinking a smaller boat would go slower, and we wouldn’t feel the waves.
Eventually, we managed to board Dreamer, a jet-powered motorboat. The jet propulsion system makes manoeuvring to enter and leave the caves easier and safer as there is no risk of hitting the rocks.
Everything was very well organised and families with young children were invited to board first. Children are required to wear a life vest; adults don’t have to, but as we were explained, in the case of an emergency, there are life jackets ready for everyone.
Meet the Crew: Friendly and Professional
We had an amazing crew, including tour guide Sergio, his colleague Christian and Captain Jesus. Sergio is Romanian and has been living in Portugal already for 20 years and refers to the Algarve as the perfect place to live.
After leaving the marina, the boat headed away from the coast to begin the dolphin search. While thousands of dolphins live along the Algarve coastline, but as they are wild animals, the company cannot guarantee that sightings will always happen. We were lucky and managed to see several dolphins. The boat paused for a few minutes so we could take photos and watch the dolphins play in their natural environment. Sergio shared with us some interesting facts about bottlenose dolphins. Each group of dolphins has its own unique language, which means that dolphins from the Algarvian coast wouldn’t be able to understand well those from other regions. In dolphin families, the female is always the leader. Females keep the group together and care for the young ones.
Credits: TPN; Author: Tereza Pedro;
Exploring the Coastline and Iconic Caves
After dolphin watching, we continued to sail again along the coast, passing Armação de Pêra, heading toward the famous Benagil cave. Then we stopped near Marinha beach, known for its beautiful rock formations. Some of the rocks resemble animals or other objects. I think it’s very subjective, open to interpretation. It was interesting to hear everyone’s opinions. Sergio shared with us what most people think. We saw an elephant-shaped rock formation, a wolf and a submarine, which some thought looked more like a lion. We also discovered two smaller caves nearby, adding even more charm to the experience.
There is a little bar on the boat and Christian went around asking if anyone would like a drink. A bathroom is also available on board, which is great when travelling with kids.
It was great to see our favourite beaches from a sea perspective and see how crowded they are, as it was mid-August. The whole trip lasted approximately 2 and a half hours, and near the end, we had a stop for a swim.
Credits: TPN; Author: Tereza Pedro;
Although my son was scared at first, he ended up loving the trip and now he is asking to go on a boat again.
I can highly recommend Dream Wave company – everything went smoothly from start to finish. They are located in the corner of Marina de Albufeira and also have a Gate 4 café, where you can get a drink and wait in case you arrive early.
The boat trips with this company are suitable for all ages; it’s not recommended for pregnant women and people with back problems.
Final thoughts
From my personal experience, a boat trip is great for creating unique family moments and unforgettable memories. Our dolphin spotting and cave adventure turned out to be one of the highlights of our summer.
If you are visiting the Algarve and looking for a mix of adventure, relaxation and nature, this type of tour is an excellent choice.
Tereza Pedro is originally from Slovakia and now based in the Algarve, with a master’s in mass media. Passionate about lifestyle and storytelling, she captures the essence of daily life through a blend of creativity, international perspective, and coastal living—all while raising her son.
Tereza Pedro
