Zoomarine Theme Park, Portugal – A Fun Family Day Out

The kids really enjoy going on holiday excursions, especially visiting theme parks. It has definitely become a thing for us to do, as it is a fantastic opportunity for a family fun day out that has something for all ages to enjoy together. During our cheeky autumn half term holiday in the Algarve, Portugal we had a fun day out visiting the ‘Zoomarine theme park.’  The park opened in 1991 located in Guia, a few kilometres from Albufeira, Portugal. According to the ‘Visit Portugal‘ website, ‘Zoomarine‘ is one of the 25 best theme parks in the world. The park has a strong environmental and ethical ethos. Their mission is ‘to promote knowledge, preservation and environmental education in a fun and passionate manner.’

There is so much to see and do in the park as you can watch presentations such as the dolphin show which is stunning, a funny and well scripted seal and sea lion show, a tropical bird and birds of prey presentation and a fantastically funny and stunningly choreographed pirate show. Besides these presentations, there is also an amazing aquarium with sharks, various habitats, a 4D Cinema, attractions, amusements, swimming pools and the new Zoomarine Beach. The parks approach is to take you on a ‘journey through world of knowledge and adventure where adults and children discover the mysteries of marine life in a day full of surprises and emotions.’

It was Halloween when we visited the park so there were lots of spooky displays and scary character’s from the entertainment team terrifying passers by.

When we got there Cuba took the lead and began to do his thing map reading and working out where everything is located in the park.

The first point of interest Cuba spotted was the aquarium and he lead us inside, he loved the ‘Finding Nemo’ inspired tank.

Next on the agenda was the Sealion show which was well scripted and really funny.

The dolphin presentation was deffinitely Cuba and Coco-Ivy’s favourite show. It was spectacular with an all female cast which reflected the beautiful bond, love and respect the marine biologists have for these incredible mammals.

The Pirate show was my favourite, the acrobatic performances were incredible, I was on the edge of my seat. The acting was superb and the storytelling was hilarious.

The waterpark is stunning surrounded by pretty gardens set beside the Zoomarine beach.

We were so impressed with the beach here. It is so authentic and positioned perfectly in the park, we practically forget we were in a theme park.

The Zoomarine beach is not only lots of fun with the water slides and the incredible wave pool but the actual beach is so realistic. There are also lots of sunbeds with sun shade’s and seating areas.

This has to be the best wave pool we have experienced as it feels like you are actually by the ocean. A perfect opportunity for the kids to explore the environment and a treat for their sensory development whilst having bundles of fun.

At the end of the day the kids played peacfully on the beautiful sandy beach area at golden hour,  they didn’t want to leave.

We truly enjoyed our fun family day out at this impressive and unique theme park.

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Top Tips when visiting zoo-marine

1. We recommend booking a taxi or shuttle to travel to the park. The prices are reasonable and it’s super convenient as you can plan exactly what time you want to get there and what time you want picking up for your return journey home.  

2. If you are dining for lunch at one of the parks restaurants it can get very busy which means long queues, so its best to keep an eye on how busy they are and time it wisely to avoid the mad lunchtime rush.

3. Take your swimming bag with appropriate clothes and towells to make the most of the beach and waterpark. There are large toilet facilities with changing areas just outside the beach area.

4. Plan the shows to avoid disappointment and prioritise the shows you don’t want to miss. 

5. Don’t miss the pirate show, the actors/entertainment team are super talented.

6. Prebook your tickets in advance and directly with the theme park on their website to get the best entrance fee prices.

7. If you have the time we recommend you book a two day entrance ticket, the park offer a huge discount on a second day pass. It is our only regret as we ran out of time and we couldn’t possibly fit everything in one day, as there is so much to see and do.

8. Check out the photo booth when leaving the park, we had our family picture taken on arrival. They are a lovley little keepsake, reasonably priced and of good quality.

9. Be prepared for extra charges whilst in the beach, as they do charge for sun bed’s and shades.

10. Make sure your camera batteries are fully charged as there are so many opportunities to capture some lovely memories.

We highly recommend the Zoomarine Theme Park if you are traveling to the Algarve for a fabulous and fun family day out.

Have you been to the Zoomarine Theme Park or do you have any theme parks you have enjoyed and would recommend? I am always seeking inspiration, I would love to hear of your experiences.

Lot’s of love

Dana x x x  

*This post is not sponsored or gifted. We paid for everything ourselves. We had an amazing trip and we wanted to share our wonderful experience and inspire others looking for holiday inspiration.