The Sado's resident bottlenose dolphin population is one of very few resident pods in Portugal and one of the smallest in Europe — about thirty individuals, tracked for over forty years by the Projecto Delfim team.
Boats leave from Setúbal's marina and the trip runs roughly two hours. ICNF-accredited operators follow a code: never cut across the animals' path, keep minimum distance, cap observation time. Sightings are real — not guaranteed, but very likely (operators report 80–90% success).
Morning departures (08:30, 10:30) tend to be calmer with better light. Summer adds a late-afternoon slot. Vertigem Azul, Sado Arrábida and Mil Andanças are the main operators — all part of the Navegantes do Sado protocol.