Leave Port de Sóller on a small-group boat and head offshore to look for wild dolphins in the Mediterranean. The outing lasts about three to four hours, with a picnic and drinks on board, crew commentary, and time to watch and photograph any animals we find. Sightings are likely but never guaranteed, because these are free-ranging animals, not a display.
The trip starts with a scenic run out of the harbour and along the coast, then turns towards open water where the crew has seen dolphins before. Every day is different: sometimes the sea is quiet and the search is the story, sometimes a pod appears beside the boat with calves, jumps or hunting birds overhead. The crew talks through what you are looking at and keeps the boat on a respectful line.
Picnic food and drinks come out while we search, so the hours on deck stay easy even if the first sighting takes a while. We do not feed the animals, we do not put on a show, and we never chase a pod that wants distance. When it is time to turn for home, Port de Sóller opens up again as a circular bay under the Tramuntana.
We depart from the harbour in Port de Sóller and head offshore from the northwest coast of Mallorca. The first minutes are a coastal ride; the search itself is in open Mediterranean water where resident bottlenose dolphins and, less often, striped dolphins use the deeper ground.
The harbour itself sits in a nearly round bay, with the tram and the beach a short walk from the meeting point. Once we clear the mouth there is a wide horizon and, on a clear day, the Serra de Tramuntana as the backdrop on the way home. That mix of sheltered start and open-sea search is what makes this stretch of coast a good place to look for wild animals.
No swimming, snorkelling or diving skill is required. This is a boat-based wildlife trip, suited to anyone who is happy on a small motorboat for a few hours and comfortable in the sun and breeze. Children are welcome with adults who can look after them on deck.
Tell us about medical conditions that might affect time at sea. The outing depends on the weather; if the offshore stretch looks too lively we will say so and look at another departure.
Looking after the marine environment sits beside safety in everything we do from this northwest Mallorca harbour. For more than thirty years we have welcomed ocean lovers to Port de Sóller, and that care for the sea is why we keep groups small and never treat wildlife as a show.
We are a five-star PADI dive centre with daily boat trips, guided dives, snorkel outings and courses from first-timers to professionals. The same skippers and instructors know the local reefs, caves and open water, kit is well maintained, and you'll feel the warm hospitality of a team that loves this stretch of Mediterranean.
Meet us at Carrer de la Marina 30, Port de Sóller, 07108, beside the harbour. Walk from the beach or the tram stop along the waterfront. Drivers should use public parking near the port and then walk to number 30.
The boat is on the water for about three to four hours, depending on sea conditions and where the search takes us. We leave Port de Sóller, run along the coast and then head offshore towards areas where dolphins are often seen.
There is no fixed clock for turning back the moment a pod appears. If the sea is lively we may keep the outing closer to the shorter end of that window so the ride stays comfortable.
Picnic food and drinks are included, along with a scenic boat ride, time to watch and photograph any animals we find, and commentary from the crew. The group stays small so the deck does not feel rushed.
Transfers to the harbour are not included. Bring a camera if you want photographs, and a light layer for the ride home when the boat is moving.
Dolphins are wild animals living free in the open sea. Our crew knows the areas where encounters are most likely, and the chance of a sighting is high, but a sighting can never be guaranteed.
Some days are calm and quiet, others are full of jumps and play. Either way the trip is a real search, not a show, and we do not feed or chase the animals.
We regularly see two resident species here. Common bottlenose dolphins are the larger, more social animals we meet most often, usually in family groups. Striped dolphins are smaller, faster and prefer deeper water, so those sightings feel more special.
Guests also report mothers with calves, animals surfing the wake, hunting with seabirds around the boat, and the open-sea views even when the pods stay distant.
We follow strict wildlife guidelines and never chase or disturb the animals. There is no feeding and no performance. The boat is placed where the crew can watch respectfully and you can take photographs without crowding the pod.
If the animals move off we let them go. The point of the trip is a genuine encounter, not a guaranteed close pass beside the hull.
The dolphin boat gathers at Port de Sóller harbour. The tram stop and the beach are a short walk away once you have left the car in town.
If you are driving, use public parking near the waterfront and walk along the waterfront. Transfers from hotels or from Palma are not included.
Comfortable clothes for a few hours on an open boat, plus sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a light layer, will see you through the search. Bring a camera if you want to photograph a sighting, and any medication you need on the water.
The picnic and drinks are already on board, so you do not need a cool box. Soft shoes are easier on deck than loose sandals.
Wildlife watching from a small boat suits families, and children are welcome with adults who can look after them on deck. The group stays small so there is space to sit and watch without a crowded rail.
Tell us ages so we can keep an eye on younger guests during the offshore stretch. There is no swimming stop built into this search.
Looking for dolphins means leaving the shelter of the bay, so we need a reasonable sea. If the forecast looks poor we will contact you and look at another departure when we can.
We would rather move the trip than take a boat offshore in an unpleasant chop.
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
À propos du centre
Port de Sóller
For more than thirty years we have welcomed divers and ocean lovers to the northwest coast of Mallorca from our base beside the harbour in Port de Sóller. As a five-star PADI dive centre we run daily boat trips, guided dives, snorkelling excursions and a full programme of courses for complete beginners through to professionals, with a strong focus on safety, small groups and looking after the marine environment.
Our skippers and instructors know the local reefs, caves and open-water sites intimately, and we also offer private charters and tailored VIP experiences when you want the boat and crew to yourselves. Whether you are earning your first certification, refreshing rusty skills or joining a family-friendly dolphin or snorkel tour, you will find warm hospitality, well-maintained equipment and a team that loves sharing the Mediterranean underwater world.
Géré par Octopus Scuba SL, partenaire de adventuro.
