Zoomarine: the complete guide

Zoomarine is a popular family park in the Algarve that evolves around life in the ocean. It is the only place in the Algarve where you can swim with dolphins. The family park opened in 1991 and combines fun and entertainment with education. At Zoomarine you learn about the oceanic life at various shows where you watch real dolphins, seals and sea lions. In addition, there is an aquarium with sharks and a 4D Cinema. Moreover, inside Zoomarine you can find swimming pools, water slides and more attractions that guarantee an unforgettable experience with the entire family. The theme park is located in Guia, not far from Albufeira.

Zoomarine video

Before we get to all the practicalities of the park, watch the short video below to feel the Zoomarine experience.

Presentations (shows)

There are five shows that you can attend in Zoomarine. From dolphin shows to pirates performing stunts, the family park has it all. Most shows start with a talk on looking after our planet and how we can preserve it for future generations. Sustainability is quite an important theme in the family park. Below you can find information about the shows.

Dream and Fantasy (dolphin show)

In this beautiful show you will watch a performance of the magical creatures of the ocean: the dolphins. Be amazed by their sweetness and smartness as the dolphins can do amazing acrobatic moves. This show is possible because of a great amount of trust and respect between the dolphins and the trainers. You will feel that the dolphins are happy. They are not forced to do anything they don’t want. This is one of the highlights of Zoomarine and a must see show for the entire family. This show takes place several times during the day, so make sure to check the timetable on-site. Beware that if you sit in the front, you will probably get wet.

Sea adventures (seals & sea lions show)

The ocean is home to many beautiful animals. Examples of those are seals and sea lions. In this entertaining show with seals and sea lions you will see how these lovely creatures perform acrobatic tricks. This show also involves some storytelling and humour. That is why the show is usually loved by kids.

Wings of the World (birds of prey show)

Birds have the best view over our oceans. In the Wings of the World show you get the chance to admire birds of prey. In this extraordinary exhibition, you see hawks, eagles and owls in an amazing flight.

Flying Colours (parrot and macaw show)

The Flying Colours show was created to raise environmental awareness on protecting our rainforests. Rainforests are the home of cockatoos, parrots and macaws. At Zoomarine you can watch a super fun and interactive show, where these colourful creatures make acrobatic moves.

Pirate Bay (acrobatic pirate show)

The Pirate Bay is a delightful show where pirates perform an acrobatic show full of stunts and perils.

Zoomarine Beach

In Zoomarine there is a big aquatic area, where you can have fun with the whole family. This area is called Zoomarine beach. From water slides to swimming pools, you can find it here. You will get wet, so make sure to bring a swimsuit and a towel. Below you can find more information about this area.

Wave Beach

The Wave Beach is a big beautiful pool with a wave machine and waterfall. It feels like you are swimming in the sea on a day with a lot of waves.

Aquatube & Body Slide

The water slides of Zoomarine are loved by both kids and adults. The slides will take you on an exciting ride with twists and turns through tunnels with lightning effects.

Harakiri

The Harakiri is a super fast slide where you sit in a rubber boat. You can slide with 2 people in the same boat. There are 4 slides next to each other, so you can race down with all your friends.

Jurassic River

In this super cool attraction, you float in a wooden round barrel on a river and pass through a jungle environment. At every turn you will be surprised by the magnificent dinosaurs!

Swimming pools

If you want to cool off, there is a nice swimming pool for you. There is also a mini aquatic playground for the little ones called Ilha do Tesouro (Treasure Island). This part has shallow water, small water slides and a lot of surprises.

Amusements

In addition to the shows and water fun, there are many great amusements in Zoomarine. Below you can read more about these amusements.

Aquasplash

The Aquasplash is a super fun water attraction. Here you sit in a colourful wooden basket and spin around a big barrel on a round pool while playing with water cannons. In this attraction you are tested on how fast you can turn the wheel of the water cannon and how good you can aim the water cannon at others. You can shoot your water cannon either at other people inside Aquasplash or at random people walking by. However, there are water cannons for bystanders as well to shoot back, so expect a full water shoot-out.

Pirate Ship

In the Pirate Ship you get to experience what pirates felt like, when out on the open water with bad weather and wild strong waves. Rock the boat and go up to 70 degrees of inclination! This attraction turns your stomach upside down, but is a lot of fun.

Buffalo Roller Coaster

The Buffalo is an exciting mini rollercoaster for little children and their parents. It is a ride of winding curves, full of adrenaline and speed. The mini rollercoaster is 4,5 metres high.

Carousel Atlantida

Next to the Aquasplash you find a lovely carousel where you can go round and round. Kids love this attraction. Which animal do you think your child wants to ride: a dolphin, sea horse or maybe a unicorn?

Giant Wheel

Who doesn’t love Ferris wheels? The Zoomarine park has a gigantic Ferris wheel that is 26 metres high. It provides you with a beautiful panoramic view over the park. Go up and see how small everyone looks from above. Small children can only go in with the supervision of an adult.

Zoomarine Express

Is your child a fan of trains? Then hop aboard the Zoomarine Express. This train is a great attraction to enjoy with your kids.

Attractions

Next to the amusements, water fun and shows, there are a couple of attractions in Zoomarine. Below you can find out all about them.

Americas

The Americas is a big habitat where you can walk around and see exotic animal species from North America & South America.

Cinema 4D

At the 4D Cinema you can watch a worthwhile video that portrays some of the challenges the oceanic species face in their lifetime. It lasts about 15 minutes and is not recommended for children younger than 6 years old.

Oceanus Aquarium

This is an aquarium where you can see a great variety of fishes and sea life. There are also sharks in the aquarium.

Dolphin Emotions

Have you ever dreamt of swimming with dolphins? The Dolphin Emotions Premium experience is your chance to get as close to a dolphin as you can. Under the guidance of a trainer you get to stroke, kiss and tickle the dolphins. Before you get into the water you will first get an educational talk and learn all about the bottlenose dolphins. Of course you can also ask as many questions as you want. You then get to spend about 30 minutes in the water with the dolphins. Together with the trainer you will get to see the dolphins perform a super fun aquatic behaviour sequence. The total duration of this intimate experience is about 1,5 hours. There is a maximum of 12 participants in each session.

After the dolphin emotions experience you can purchase the video and/or photographs of it. The dolphin emotions experience is not included in a normal entrance ticket to the park. You have to buy a separate ticket, which costs € 125,10 in low season and € 161,10 in high season. In addition you can buy a ticket for one or several spectators, which costs € 27,90 per person. The spectator(s) will get to see your dolphin experience and can then make pictures and videos of it. For example, a parent can let his/her child do the dolphin emotion experience, while he/she will be the spectator.

Watch the video below to see what the dolphin emotions experience really is like.

General information & facilities

There is a lot to see in Zoomarine. The best thing to do is go for a full day and arrive early. Since Zoomarine is one of the most popular attractions in the Algarve, expect the park to be quite crowded, especially in the summer months.

In Zoomarine you can find the following facilities:

• Lockers. You can store your valuable belongings in the lockers. The charge is € 5 for the entire day.
• Sunbeds. This paid service costs € 15 for two sunbeds, a straw umbrella and a small table.
• First-aid. Safety is a main priority in the park. For any incidents that might happen, there is a first-aid service with the presence of a permanent nurse.
• Bathrooms and showers. There are changing rooms and shower facilities, both of which are quite large. There are also plenty of toilet facilities available on-site.
• Souvenir shops. There are several souvenir shops on the terrain, where you can buy nice memorablia and practical amenities.

Restaurants

If you are hungry, you have plenty of options in Zoomarine. There are several restaurants, including a self-service restaurant, a pizzeria and a place to get hamburgers. If you prefer something simple there are also several snack bars and kiosks. The quality of the food is fine. Meals for kids (including a drink) cost around € 5 and adult meals around € 8. In addition there are picnic areas with tables and seats where you can consume your own meals. So you can bring your own food and drinks if you want to.

Opening hours

Zoomarine is open during 9 months of the year. The water park opens on the 1st of March and closes after the 20th of November. During those days, Zoomarine is open almost every day from 10.00 in the morning until 17.00-19.30 in the afternoon, depending on the month:

• March and November: only open during the weekends, and then only until 17.00.
• April, May and June: open until 18.00.
• The last week of June, July, August and the first week of September: open until 19.30.

Before you go, make sure to check the official timetable of Zoomarine, since there are some days on which the theme park is closed.

Costs

The entrance to Zoomarine costs € 29 for adults and € 21 for children. Kids with a height under 1 metre can actually enter the park for free. If you are a regular visitor to Zoomarine, you can buy an annual pass, which costs € 98,50. By the way, an entrance ticket does not include the dolphin emotions experience.

An entrance ticket gives you access to the park for one day. Since the Zoomarine water park is large and diverse, there is a chance that you won’t be able to experience all the different areas of the park, especially during high season. That is why it is possible to buy a ticket for another day. These second day entry tickets cost € 8 more per ticket and can be redeemed within 10 days of your first day visit. You can buy such a second day entry ticket inside the Zoomarine park. They will give you a bracelet, which you will have to bring to the park next time.

How to get there

The easiest way to move around in the Algarve is by car. If you don’t have one, make sure to rent a car. Zoomarine is located in Guia, near the N125. The exact address is EN 125, KM 65, Guia. It is easy to get there by car and parking is free. In addition, Zoomarine offers transport services from all the large holiday destinations in the Algarve. If you wish to use the transport service, you can pre-book it on the website of Zoomarine.