The animal life of Portugal stretches from the deep Atlantic to the wild interior. This is a country defined by its long coastline and its scattered islands, and that maritime reach gives it some of Europe's finest encounters with ocean life, above all the whales and dolphins of the Azores. To seek out animals in Portugal is to follow the country from the surf-washed mainland to the volcanic mid-Atlantic, where the sea teems with great creatures, and inland to the oak plains where rare wildlife and noble horses still roam. The nation's geography opens an unusually wide animal world.

The range is remarkable. The Azores archipelago, far out in the Atlantic, ranks among the world's premier destinations for whale and dolphin watching, with many species passing its volcanic shores. Madeira offers its own marine excursions, while the mainland's Sado and Algarve waters shelter resident dolphins. Inland, the cork-oak plains of the Alentejo support Iberian wildlife, and the country's prized Lusitano horses carry a centuries-old breeding tradition. From mid-ocean giants to the working horse of the plains, animals in Portugal cover sea, sky, and land alike.

Today the encounters reward the traveler. The best animal experiences in Portugal range from whale and dolphin watching in the Azores and Madeira to dolphin trips off the mainland and horse riding in the Alentejo. Families searching Portugal animal tours or top wildlife experiences will find ocean excursions, aquarium visits, and riding centers. Among the meaningful things to do in Portugal, watching a whale surface off the Azores ranks among Europe's great wildlife moments. A country this open to the ocean keeps extraordinary company in its waters.