Dolphin watching Mallorca: the trips start in the north
Dolphin watching in Mallorca means an early boat from Port d'Alcúdia, the harbour on the north-east coast. All three trips below leave from this port and look for dolphins in the Bay of Alcúdia or further out towards Cap de Formentor. None of the three runs from Palma, so people staying in the south need to plan the drive north.
The three trips differ in three ways: whether pickup is included, how long you are on the water, and how many people share the boat. Prices as of November 2026, all per person: €79 for the small-group trip with pickup, €72 for the fast boat and €70 for the Formentor route. Four adults pay €316, €288 or €280 respectively.
Wild dolphins cannot be scheduled, so a trip is a search rather than a show. That is why the sunrise options matter: they put you on the water early in the day.
Our picks: dolphin watching trips
Three boat trips from Port d'Alcúdia: a small-group trip with pickup, a route towards Cap de Formentor and a fast boat with a sunrise option.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Small-group dolphin watching from Port d'Alcúdia with pickup
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Boat tour
- Guide
A boat trip with a guide in the Bay of Alcúdia. Pickup covers Alcúdia and Can Picafort. The sunrise departure depends on the weather.
Check availability →
Fast-boat dolphin watching from Port d'Alcúdia
- Multilingual guide on board
- 2 hour dolphin watching boat trip
A two hour fast-boat trip for up to 36 guests, with a sunrise option. The boarding point is at the sea station.
Check availability →
Dolphin watching boat trip towards Cap de Formentor
- Toilet on board
A boat trip of two to three hours from Port d'Alcúdia for up to 36 guests, with a toilet on board.
Check availability →Dolphin watching trips in Mallorca
Three boat trips from Port d'Alcúdia, with current prices and availability.
Which dolphin trip fits you
The €79 small-group trip is the only one with pickup included, from Alcúdia and Can Picafort, with a drop-off afterwards. The programme adds a bus transfer of about 40 minutes and several boat legs, so allow more than the two hours in the listing, and do not book a tight connection afterwards. It does not collect from other parts of Mallorca. A sunrise departure is offered on the first trip of the day and depends on the weather. Take this one if you are staying nearby and do not want to find the harbour in the dark.
The €70 trip towards Cap de Formentor is the longest, at two to three hours, and the boat takes up to 36 guests. It starts at the harbour and returns there. A toilet is on board, which helps on the longer version. Choose it if you want time on open water with the cape on the route, and you are travelling by car or taxi.
The €72 fast boat runs for two hours, also with a maximum of 36 guests, and includes a multilingual guide. You board at the Estación Marítima in Port d'Alcúdia and look for the boat with the green light. It suits visitors who want a shorter outing with a sunrise option and who do not need pickup. Neither this boat nor the Formentor boat is wheelchair accessible.
What to bring and what is allowed
Take warm outdoor clothing for the boat. Bring a camera and some cash. Smoking, glass and pushchairs are not allowed on the pickup trip. The fast boat recommends its trip for adults and children from 6 years.
Spanish rules (Royal Decree 1727/2007) set a protection area of 500 m around whales and dolphins and an exclusion zone of at least 60 m that boats may not actively enter. If dolphins approach on their own, the skipper may hold course and speed. Touching, feeding and swimming in the exclusion zone are prohibited, so this is watching from the deck, not swimming with dolphins.
Bad weather can change the plan. For the Formentor trip, a weather cancellation means another date or a full refund. The small-group and fast-boat trips both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Ask for your exact departure time when you book, as the sunrise departures leave early.
If you would rather have the whole boat to yourself, see our guide to private boat tours in Mallorca, and for more day trips, compare Mallorca excursions.
Dolphin watching in Mallorca: practical questions
Where do the dolphin trips start?
All three leave from Port d'Alcúdia. The small-group trip adds pickup in Alcúdia and Can Picafort, while the other two board at the harbour.
How much does a dolphin trip cost for a family?
Prices are per person: €79, €72 or €70. Four adults pay €316, €288 or €280.
How long do the trips last?
The fast boat runs for two hours and the Formentor route for two to three hours. The small-group trip is listed at two hours, with a bus transfer of about 40 minutes on top.
Can I swim with the dolphins?
No. Boats keep 500 m from whales and dolphins and may not actively enter the 60 m exclusion zone, and swimming there is prohibited.