I have a secret.  Word on the street is I may have super powers… X Men status.  First, there was that time that my appendix exploded and I didn’t know.  I had some minor stomach pain for a couple weeks. I continued walking big hills of San Francisco to and from work, sleeping through the night- living my life.  Kept going to Orange Theory, running, rowing and doing strength training.  Still fine.  I drove myself to the doctor’s office to confirm I was in fact okay (mostly at the urging of friends and family) and was immediately hospitalized.  Oops.  The nurses looked at me like I was, well… an alien.  Apparently, this type of behavior is not normal. 

Then there was the time when I went on a boat ride in Portugal.  One by one, the majority of our tour group succumbed to motion sickness, hurling into little blue bags provided by the boat crew. It seems vomiting is par for the course on most journeys. Surrounded by sick travelers, I waited for the inevitable nausea to hit me. When it didn’t, I went back to snapping photos and squealing with delight every time a dolphin danced by. I may be a mutant. I know I can trust you with this information.   Don’t blow my cover.

If an Algarve boat tour is on the list for your trip to Portugal, here are a few key tips to (hopefully) keep your face in selfies, out of a blue plastic bag and make your overall trip more enjoyable.

Brown Lady Travel Tips

The Experience

You will have several tour companies to choose from at the Marina in Albufeira. The host of our vacation rental suggested we take our Algarve boat tour with AlgarExperience. We opted for the Dolphins & Caves Catamaran tour. I would recommend this tour for a couple of reasons. First, when we went to book our tour for Saturday afternoon, the saleswoman actually recommended we wait until the next day (due to windy conditions). I appreciated her honesty, as she could have easily sold us tickets anyway. She seemed genuinely concerned with both our safety and us having the best experience possible. We were able to book for the following day, when the weather was much better.

Second, our tour included both a marine biologist and support staff, so we had experts who knew both where we were most likely to find dolphins and were able to tell us about the dolphins when we did encounter them.

If you’re on the fence about whether to just do the cave tour, or include the dolphins- go see the dolphins!! It was totally worth it. Seeing dolphins swimming alongside us, playing and jumping was so exciting. Knowing that they were in the open sea and not confined in any way made it even better.

Rain Ponchos and Sunnies

You may not envision yourself in a rain poncho cinched tightly around your face for a leisurely boat ride to see dolphins. Trust me, when the crew asks if you want a poncho- you do. Speeding through waves, the water will crash over the sides and slap you directly in the face, more than once. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Especially if you wear contacts, that salt water burns your eyes! Also, try not to sit on the aisle if you can help it. You will think that’s the best seat when you get on (I sure did). With every crashing wave, I went from disappointed with my middle seat to grateful for it. The poor girl at the end of our row looked like a drowned rat by the end of the tour.

Land and Sea

Ideally, you will have the chance to explore the Algarve coast by both land and sea. Try to plan for a beach day to explore caves on foot and an Algarve boat tour to marvel in the views only accessible by sea. If you’re nervous about bouncing along in a small boat on the open sea, give yourself a pep talk with these views in mind.

Big Blue Sea and Small Blue Bags

While sea bands usually work pretty well for many people I know who experience motion sickness, they were no match for this particular boat ride. Poor TK was a trooper though; she bounced back and was ready for her closeup when it mattered most!

If you are prone to motion sickness, try to take your meds an hour before your boat ride, to give yourself the best chance.

Hold Onto Your Wigs, Ladies

Whether you’re wigged out, weaved up or rocking your own natural crown- grab a scarf or opt for a tight bun. Your hair WILL get wet and be wind-blown for the duration of your boat tour. While a tight baseball cap could be an option, a floppy hat won’t hold up well in the wind. Again, that rain poncho the tour company offers will be a lifesaver! While we’re on the subject, this isn’t the tour for your best purse or leather sandals. If getting it wet will ruin an item, don’t bring it along on your boat tour.

All Aboard!

Every trip should have a bit of adventure. As was the case on my last European vacation, the misadventures and unexpected moments are often the reminders that spark the most laughter. The ride to find dolphins and caves was definitely bumpier (and wetter!) than expected, but totally worth it all the same.

Here’s hoping your Algarve boat tour is full of adventure, playful dolphins and gorgeous views of majestic caves!