Sagres is a remarkable spot for dolphin- and whale-watching. The area’s rocky seabeds sustain an incredibly rich marine life, so whales and dolphins find plentiful food here – as do large sharks and sea turtles.
The most commonly observed species is the Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis), with its black back, white belly and grey patch along the side. The more well-known Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are also often seen, as are Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena, a smaller, flat-beaked kind of dolphin) and Minke Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).
Occasionally, other species such as Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) and Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) are also spotted.
Sometimes, big surprises surface, like Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus).
The rich environment that attracts dolphins and whales also brings other predators, like Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta), Blue Sharks (Prionace glauca), Smooth Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna zygaena) and Sunfish (Mola mola) to the region. And of course the riches also attract seabirds.
More about the nature around Sagres