Zoomarine – Theme Park
Zoomarine is the premier family attraction in the Algarve, offering a blend of shows featuring marine mammals, informative exhibits and water park attractions all in one location.
The park is open between March and November and is one of the most popular family attractions in the region with the live shows being the main draw.
Watch as the Zoomarine dolphins, sea lions and birds interact naturally with their trainers and see the majestic marine mammals both above and below the water thanks to the pools with transparent sides.
Away from the animals there is still plenty of fun, including the hugely popular mini theme park, complete with big wheel and the pool areas, which are the perfect place to cool down in the summer months at Zoomarine.
All the Zoological Park is OPEN with the presentations of Dolphins, Sea Lions, Tropical Birds and Birds of Prey, the OCEANUS aquarium and various zoological habitats, as well as the 4D cinema and the show “Pirates Bay”.
The Zoomarine theme park reopens this year on the 6th March with a lot of news, as usual.
Besides all the variety that it has had us used to, such as dolphin shows, macaw shows, beach, pools, slides, pirates and rapid rivers filled with life size dinosaurs, now there are more rides to complement the central area of the park.
In the area where you can find the ferris wheel, the train and the turtle island, there is now a new Lighthouse that stands out immediately. An eight metres tall Lighthouse that takes you through a rise and then sudden 6 metres fall where there is enough adrenaline to spare. The little ones love this one.
There is also a new ride called Ferry. Board and prepare for maritime excitement!
The 4D cinema has two new films. One is the story of Big Buck Bunny, a giant and adorable rabbit that tries to rid himself of a gang of rodents that bother his peaceful forest life. And the other is Rexy, the story of a great journey of a young dinosaur in search of his mother.
If you’d like to swim with the dolphins you’ll be pleased to hear there is a new Dolphin Emotions programme called the ‘Encounter Experience’. The new Dolphin Emotions Encounter Experience starts with an educational talk, imparting various facts about the dolphin, its biology and ecology. Then, participants spend about 15 minutes in the water, always supervised by a trainer. The total duration of this session is 1 hour, has a max of 8 participants and special price from €107. So it’s a little shorter than the other Dolphin Emotion’s options, however that is reflected in the price which means its great value for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Zoomarine has a new APP very useful which has several resources that allow visitors to better enjoy their visit to this theme park. It has georeferenced navigation with an interactive map that allows you to find your way around more easily. You can, for example, choose the attractions you don’t want to miss and their times and the APP lets you know when it is time to head over. Everything is planned out for you!
The APP is free on iOS and Android and is in three languages: Portuguese, English and Spanish.
New attractions at Zoomarine for 2019
2019 will have some very interesting new attractions.
The first of which is the complete refurbishment of the space that was the sea lions and seals’ space so that visitors may watch them without having to wait for the show, and can sit in the shade and observe these amazing animals. The animals also benefit from bigger spaces to swim in and to lounge in the sun.
In the middle of Zoomarine’s beach a new space was born, the Magic Rainbow, where bathers can enjoy the colourful birds flying over the island at different times, all while they relax.
The Jurassic Park River will be a huge attraction where visitors will board huge floats and draft down a rough river in a scenery filled with real size dinosaurs.
On the way down they’ll be soaked by water jets, including from the viewpoint, where other visitors can try and wet the passing floats.
What’s New at Zoomarine for 2018
Find out what’s new for 2018 here
What’s New at Zoomarine for 2017
All New for 2017 at Zoomarine! Find out about the new rides and attractions here!
Zoomarine remains one of the most popular attractions in the Algarve for the entire family and there are plenty of new attractions this year to please all ages!
The waterpark areas of Zoomarine have increased and now as well as the beach area, complete with wave pool, sand area with loungers, shades and cabanas and water slides, there is now Treasure Island.
Treasure Island is an ideal space for younger visitors to the park with low slides, shallow waters and lots of surprises around every corner. Parents can rent a sunbed and shade or put up their own parasol on the nearby grass area and watch on as children play around Treasure Island with its multi-level activity areas.
The pirate theme that has grown in recent years in the park continues in this new area, with a firm focus on fun in the sun – just be sure to look out for the enormous barrel at the top of the park which slowly fills over time before dumping its contents of water on to unsuspecting visitors below!
In the main area of the park where the majority of the theme park rides are located you can now find the Aquasplash ride – a massive hit with the entire family thanks to you being able to participate either on the ride or as a spectator.
Wait for your turn to ride in one of the spinning barrels on this water ride and then take aim with your water pistol to wet either people riding with you or those walking past – but beware because all around the ride there are more water cannons to shoot back at those on the Aquasplash!
This one really is a great new addition to the park with the ride being suitable for adults and children and offering a new take on a family water ride.
Next to the Aquasplash ride there is now also a new train ride – the Zoomarine Express. Younger children will enjoy being able move along the tracks on this very pretty train ride modelled on an old fashioned express train.
The train passes through shaded areas and makes a couple of laps of the track before coming to a halt at the mini station.
The best time to enjoy any of the park rides is when the main shows are taking place as this is when most of the people are busy watching the shows to queue up for the rides. The end of the day is also a great time to return to your favourite rides to make the most of the final minutes before the park closes while the majority of people are packing up their belongings.
2017 sees the return of the Pirate Bay show up at the top of the park – except this year the pirates are back with a bigger and better show that will now run until October 31st.
The impressive set area, which is located up behind the waterslides, is the perfect back drop for the show which follows a pirate storyline while incorporating some excellent gymnastics, acrobatics and stunts – all without a single safety net in sight!
The pirates are great fun characters and the whole crowd are invited to get involved with the show and to help to lend some encouragement for some of the more daring stunts in the show.
Look out for the team of pirates when they are not in a show as they can often be found causing mischief and showing off their acrobatic skills around the park, especially in the main areas and around Treasure Island.
In recent years Zoomarine has been closing for the winter months but for 2017 the park will remain open for longer and will not close until 26th November. This is great news for those travelling to the Algarve in the autumn months who are looking for some great family entertainment.
While there are plenty of new attractions at Zoomarine this year the firm favourites are all still in place, with the dolphin, sea lion and bird shows remaining some of the most popular areas of the park.
Don’t forget to take your swimming clothes, towels, shades and sun cream to Zoomarine as now the park has many spaces to lay your towel and pools, wave pool and treasure island areas to cool down in. You can rent beds and cabanas for a small fee for the day – if you want one of the beachfront cabanas however you need to be at the park bright and early as these are very popular and are hired on a first come first served basis.
Whether this is your first visit to Zoomarine or you are a long time fan of the park you are sure to find new and exciting activities, rides, slides, shows and much more that this award winning Algarve attraction.
Any trip to the Algarve with children should include a visit to Zoomarine, located on the EN125 between Albufeira and Lagoa and easy to find if you are travelling by car.
Because Zoomarine is possibly the most popular attraction in the Algarve it means that it attracts a large volume of visitors, particularly in the summer months but the variety of shows and clever timetabling of the top attractions by Zoomarine mean that you are able to enjoy all that is on offer, even during the peak months of July and August.
Zoomarine is open between March and October but if you are planning a visit in the spring or in the autumn be sure to first check the Zoomarine timetable as they do close on certain days and you don’t want to turn up to find the gates closed! If you are in doubt, then simply get in touch with one of our helpful staff who are Zoomarine experts and will be able to guide you through the entire Zoomarine timetable to fit with your needs.
Perhaps the most popular feature of Zoomaine has to be the dolphins which you are able to see up close and personal thanks to the regular shows with the trainers that take place throughout the day. The interaction between the Zoomarine dolphins and their trainers is wonderful to see and while the dolphins perform tricks, at no point do you feel that they are being made to do anything they don’t want to.
If you want to have an even more personal experience with the Zoomarine dolphins then there is the dolphin emotions package available which allows people to swim with the Zoomarine dolphins in a private area of the park away from the crowds. Anyone who has ever dreamt of being able to swim with these amazing mammals can book a session before they visit the Zoomarine park for a truly memorable experience, recorded with photos from the park.
The Zoomarine shows with the dolphins, sea lions and birds are great for all ages and are entertaining enough to hold the attention of even small children but away from the marine life there are also many other areas of Zoomarine to explore.
The mini theme park with a little pirate ship, rollercoaster and big wheel will appeal to slightly older children while the water park with slides and artificial beach area are suitable for the entire family to have some fun in between the shows.
The importance of conservation is also highlighted at Zoomarine with the park actively working as a rescue centre and to educate children about marine wildlife which can be explored in the park with the help of the multilingual and very friendly team.
A trip to Zoomarine is a must for anyone in the Algarve, if you are travelling by car then it is a good idea to get there for when the park opens to make sure you don’t have to park too far away and it is possible to spend the entire day at the Zoomarine park with different entertainment to enjoy all day.
Be sure to remember your swimming stuff and towels to make the most of the water park elements and enjoy a fun filled family day out at Zoomarine.
THE ZOOMARINE BEACH
Zoomarine is one of the most popular attractions in the Algarve, with the park constantly improving and expanding to provide the best possible family experience in the Algarve. If you thought Zoomarine was just about the dolphin shows and marine life then you will be in for a real treat when you discover the wealth of other activities on offer at Zoomarine, with something for every member of the family.
The Zoomarine beach is a great example of how the park as a whole has progressed to become a place that you can spend the entire day in the Algarve. Between watching the amazing Zoomarine marine life shows it is well worth heading down to the new Zoomarine beach to enjoy a rest on one of the loungers around the manmade beach area, complete with wave pool!
At the Zoomarine beach you can find a large swimming pool area that laps onto the clean and fresh decking thanks to the wave pool feature that children of all ages will enjoy. The beaches in the Algarve are some of the best in the world but there is no denying that the convenience of the manmade beach at Zoomarine has a real appeal, especially as it also includes a good selection of slides and water features to make it fun and exciting for older children.
The sun loungers, shades and gazebos provide an area to relax between the shows at Zoomarine and can also act as a great base for large groups or families who want to head off to enjoy different elements of Zoomarine before all coming back together to lie in the Algarve sunshine.
Make sure you take your swimming stuff and beach towel when you visit Zoomarine and add an extra element to a trip out at this premier family attraction in the Algarve.
Zoomarine Dolphin Shows
The Zoomarine dolphin shows and swimming with dolphin experiences have become some of the most popular attractions in the Algarve and it is not hard to see why, with these magical and beautiful mammals providing unique memories for visitors of all ages.
The Zoomarine dolphins remain the highlight at the park in the central Algarve and despite Zoomarine expanding and adding great new features, it is still perhaps the dolphins that leave the strongest impression.
Every visitor to Zoomarine should check the schedule of the shows as they arrive and plan a time to go and see the Zoomarine dolphin show, leaving good time to get there before the show starts to ensure one of the best spots. These shows take place throughout the day in a large pool area where there is plenty of seating in the shade.
The show involves the trainers as they swim with dolphins around the enormous tank and you can see the dolphins as they twist and turn under the water thanks to the transparent sides.
Watch as the trainers are thrust into the air, pushed around the pool gently and play with each other during the Zoomarine dolphin show and be ready to catch one of the balls that the dolphins flip out of the water using their tails!
If watching the Zoomarine dolphins has given you the urge to get even closer, then you can swim with dolphins yourself at Zoomarine during a special Dolphins Emotions experience. This is a magical and unique experience unlike any other in the Algarve and allows dolphin lovers to be able to play and interact with the Zoomarine dolphins in a quiet and safe area away from the rest of the park.
Zoomarine may have become an attraction with a huge amount of different features, including its own artificial beach and fairground, but it is still the Zoomarine dolphins that keep people returning time and again to this top Algarve family attraction.
Seals, Sea Lions and Zoomarine Dolphins
Zoomarine is famous in the Algarve for being able to swim with dolphins but the seals and sea lions at Zoomarine are a favourite for many, thanks to their friendly nature and great sense of humour!
When you arrive at Zoomarine take the time to have a look at the map of the park and the time schedules for all of the shows that take place. We all know that the first stop is likely to be to see the Zoomarine dolphins but make your next stop for the day to see the show from the seals and sea lions.
The Zoomarine seals and sea lions have their own dedicated area in the park, near to the Zoomarine dolphins and you will know you are in the right place when you see the enormous pirate ship stage!
The seals and sea lion show is brilliant fun and is often a preference for younger visitors who really enjoy the story telling element of the sea lion show, the slapstick humour and the costumes of the trainers.
While the Zoomarine dolphin show is all about showing the grace and beauty of the dolphins and the skills of the trainers as they swim with dolphins, the sea lion and seal show is firmly focused on laughter and fun and is the perfect balance to the Zoomarine dolphins.
After the sea lion and seal show then take the opportunity to watch them as they play in their tanks or bathe in the Algarve sunshine, while learning a little more about these marine mammals that may look cumbersome on land but are graceful and speedy as soon as they hop into the water.
Enjoy a different marine mammal at Zoomarine and once you have watched their show, you are sure to fall just as in love with the seals and sea lions as you are with the Zoomarine dolphins!
Please remember Algarve Fun’s experienced staff can help you with advice, information and discounted tickets for all the best tickets, attractions, water parks, events, festivals, activities and things to do in the Algarve.
Including Zoomarine, Aquashow, Aqualand, Krazy World Zoo, Lagos Zoo, Medieval festival, horse riding, scuba diving, golf, boat trips, water parks, sightseeing, sailing, go karting, water sports, mountain biking, diving, and many more!
So get in Contact with Algarve Fun and tell us how we can help make your Algarve holiday unforgettable!
Zoomarine Transport
Book the Bus or Private Transfers Here
Book Zoomarine Private Taxi Transfers Here:
* Advanced booking by 4pm the day before required *
– Flexible times – pickup and return whenever you want!
– Door-to-door transfer
– Air conditioned vehicles
– Subject to availability
Book Here:
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