Tarifa harbour
A two-hour boat trip from Tarifa harbour into the Strait of Gibraltar, looking for the dolphins and pilot whales that live there all year. Book it for the day before or after Tangier: it's the same stretch of water, seen from a much smaller boat.
The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the best places in Europe to see whales and dolphins, and Tarifa is the harbour closest to them. Several local companies run trips of about two hours, among them Turmares and firmm. This GetYourGuide listing is one of those two-hour trips, with a 4.6 rating from 1,115 reviews. Your booking confirmation names the operator and the desk at the harbour.
What you can see depends on the month. Turmares rates the chances of common, striped and bottlenose dolphins and long-finned pilot whales as high all year. Sperm whales are most likely from March to June and again from September to November. Orcas come mainly in July and August, when they follow the bluefin tuna through the Strait, and fin whales from June to August. In early November you're at the end of the sperm whale window, and boats run less as the season winds down.
Don't try to fit it into your Tangier day. The ferry back usually lands in Tarifa in the evening, and the wind that cancels fast ferries cancels small boats first. Book it for the afternoon before you cross or the morning after, and keep a spare day if the levante is blowing. andalucia.com puts the main season at roughly February or March to October or November.
Your booking confirmation gives the meeting desk at Tarifa harbour. Arrive a little early.
The boat heads out into the Strait to look for dolphins and pilot whales. What turns up depends on the month and the sea.
Back at the harbour, the old town and its tapas bars are a few minutes' walk away.
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Long-finned pilot whales live in the Strait all year, along with common, striped and bottlenose dolphins. Sperm whales come mainly in spring and autumn, fin whales in summer, and orcas in July and August, following the tuna.
Spring to autumn. Dolphins and pilot whales are seen most of the year; orcas are a July and August event. Boats run roughly from February or March to October or November.
We wouldn't. A Tangier day trip fills the day and usually lands back in Tarifa in the evening. Book the whales for the day before or after; see Tarifa in one day for what else fits.
About two hours on the water. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, which helps if the wind picks up.
Ready to book
Two hours on the Strait from Tarifa harbour, looking for dolphins and pilot whales.
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