Dolphin Watching Boat Trip to Figarolo Island from Olbia Sardinia

Olbia and Its Marina

Olbia is the main gateway to north-east Sardinia, with its airport, ferry port and a lively old town only a few minutes from the water. Founded more than 2,500 years ago, it was a Punic and then a Roman port, and harbour works uncovered the remains of Roman ships now shown in the town's archaeology museum. The Romanesque basilica of San Simplicio, built in granite in the 11th and 12th centuries, is its finest monument.

The dolphin trip leaves from the Olbia marina on Via Piovene, a short drive or taxi ride from the centre and the ferry terminals, with a car park right in front of the berth. Morning departures are ideal before a day at the beach, while evening trips end with the town lights coming on across the bay.

The Bay of Olbia and the Route Out

Leaving the marina, the boat crosses the long, sheltered bay of Olbia, where rows of floats mark the mussel farms that have made the town famous across Italy. The route passes the small island of Bocca with its lighthouse at the entrance of the channel, and on clear days the huge limestone block of Tavolara rises to the south-east, one of the most striking island silhouettes in the Mediterranean.

Your guide uses the crossing to explain how the dolphins live in this area: the mussel farms and fishing boats attract fish, and the fish attract the dolphins. The ride takes about 20 to 30 minutes, with calm water inside the bay and a gentle swell once you reach the open sea towards Capo Figari.

Figarolo Island and Capo Figari

Figarolo is a small, uninhabited limestone island lying just off Capo Figari, the rugged headland that separates the bay of Olbia from the village of Golfo Aranci. Its white cliffs drop straight into deep blue water, and seabirds such as shags and gulls nest on its ledges. The sea channel between the island and the cape is protected, rich in fish and one of the favourite feeding areas of the local dolphins.

Capo Figari itself rises steeply above the water, with an old signal station on its summit and trails used by hikers. From the boat you see the whole headland and the beaches of Golfo Aranci beyond. This stretch of coast is the heart of any dolphin watching trip from Olbia, and the captain spends most of the time here, moving slowly and following the animals.

The Bottlenose Dolphins of Figarolo

The dolphins that live around Figarolo are bottlenose dolphins, which can reach 3 to 4 m in length and live in close family groups. A resident pod has been observed here for more than a decade, and some individuals are recognised by the shape and marks of their dorsal fins. They often surface to breathe close to the boat, swim in pairs or follow the wake of fishing vessels.

The guide on board explains their behaviour, from hunting together to caring for calves, and the rules that keep the encounter respectful: no feeding, no swimming with the animals and a slow, quiet approach. Because these are wild animals a sighting can never be guaranteed, but the pod is seen on most trips, and the views of the coast make the outing worthwhile in any case.