On your research on what to visit in Setúbal, for sure you found dolphin watching.
At Setúbal region, there is a resident population of about 30 Sado Dolphins – tursiops truncatos is the científica name. This is one of the rare sedentary populations of bottlenose dolphin in Europe. These mammals live between the Sado Estuary and the Atlantic Coast – until Arrábida Natural Park and Galé in Alentejo coast – here they feed, mate, play and communicate.
Dolphins are hunters, and has social beings, they do it often as a group. In Setúbal, their favourite food is cuttlefish, seabass – which you can find in the local restaurants, RM Guest House has some recommendations for you – and mullets. Per day, they eat about 10 kg or 22lb. Sado dolphins grow to 1,9m or 6,23 ft to 4m or 13,12ft and weight about 500 tons.
They can be seen often in Setúbal and Tróia waters, pay attention when you are at beach or by the river!
Do a bout tour to see the close, it is an unique experience. The sucesso rate at finding dolphins is high, about 98%! These tours on the dolphin route take place all year, has long as security and weather conditions allow it. During the Sado’s dolphin observation, you also discover Setúbal and Arrábida Natural Park from a different perspective. If you are brave and it is warm, you can also swim.
There are several tour operators to chose from and the tours take about 2h30-3h00 – depending on where the dolphins are! The boat tours departures – Doca das Fontainhas or Doca de Pesca – are in walk distance from RM Guest House. We can book the tour for you!
Another place to visit in Setúbal to find out more about the Sado’s Dolpins is the Center for Interpretation of Sado’s estuary Dolphin, at Casa da Baía Tourism Office – a short walk from RM Guest House. At Casa da Baía Toursim Office you can find details about the territory, history, other species related, besides scientific data. There are also available interactive multimedia tables and it is possible to hear the dolphin vocalisations!