Lying on the beach all day is great, and after working hard all
year doing this is about as energetic as you want to get on holiday. However, if one day
during your stay here, you fancy doing something a bit different then perhaps a visit to
Zoomarine may be just the sort of day out your after. It is a mixture between a marine
centre and theme park, but definitely has enough activities to last you through the day. I
will say straight off that yes, it is absolutely great for kids, but they are not a
necessity, as I visited with a group of adults, ranging in age from 18 to 60, and we all
thoroughly enjoyed our day there.
The Dolphins of course, are the biggest attraction. They give
three shows a day set in the large Dolphin arena, but you can go and visit them at any
time. The park has a breeding program, with these highly intelligent mammals and during
the show, as well as seeing what Dolphins are really capable of, you can also learn a lot
about these creatures, their behavior in the wild and their interaction with human beings.
The show is incredibly fun to watch, and lasts around half an hour. Sea Lions and Seals
are also big attractions, likewise giving three shows a day in their respective compounds.
You can also walk underground to see how they behave below the surface of the water.
There is a large aquarium at the park, which has a surprisingly
large variety of sea creatures, the highlight being the sand tiger sharks, which grow up
to about 7ft long, and really are a thrill to watch. Here, you can also stroke stingrays,
baby sharks (don't worry their teeth aren't fully developed! ), turtles and other
creatures in the area designed for visitor interaction. If
all this isn't enough there are also parrot shows, several theme rides, including a large
Ferris wheel, and a large swimming pool area where you can cool off and relax if all the
excitement becomes a bit too much. There is also a large children's play area, as we all
know that the kids always have energy levels that far outreach our own.
I found the park to be well supervised, and all the staff were
friendly and informative. The actual park is not set on a huge amount of land, which is
great and this keeps walking to a minimum, which as we know is what tires us out at places
such as this. My main tip, if you are planning on visiting Zoomarine, would be to arrive
at the respective animal shows, particularly the Dolphins, at least half an hour before
the stated time the show starts. These attractions are highly popular and it is best to
get a good view of the action. Get a seat in the shade, and not one that is painted blue,
as this indicates that you will get wet. Also, make sure that you take plenty of suncream
as it is very easy to burn, particularly as it does get quite breezy at the park.
I was very nicely surprised at the prices once inside the park. It
becomes almost natural to expect to pay way above the norm for food and souvenirs at theme
parks the world over, but Zoomarine is an exception. There is a large selection of food
and drink outlets in the park, and you should expect to pay about 250 escudos for a soft
drink, and about 600 escudos for a hamburger and chips. Not bad at all! There are also
several souvenir shops that don't charge the earth. It may be worth noting that Zoomarine
also has a shop at Faro airport, so you have time to think about what you may like to take
home with you. The entrance costs 2900 escudos, and 1900 escudos with concessions. This
covers all the activities in the park, which proves to be good value when you consider how
much there is to do, once inside. The only thing to be wary of is that when you enter the
park your group has a picture taken with the parrots. As you leave you have the option to
but the photo, but I thought 1500 escudos was too much to pay. So, remember to take your
own camera, as there will be many opportunities throughout the day to take great photos.
So why not have a day out at Zoomarine, I had a great day there, and
left not feeling too poor! Also you may find one or two surprises that I haven't
mentioned, just to keep you wondering. It may be better to go on an organized trip, then
the worry about parking is eliminated. You can organize this once you arrive in the
Algarve. The park is actually open all year, which means that you do have the opportunity
to visit it if you come on holiday off-peak. If you do drive, it is located on the N125
near Albufeira, if you are staying in Carvoeiro then allow about 40 minutes to drive
there.
Liz Hendley |
 
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