Portugal · BOAT TRIPS IN MADEIRA
Good boat trips in Madeira fill up weeks ahead; the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Eco catamaran whale and dolphin watch from Funchal with silent hybrid engines, expert guides, 3 hours, and views of Cabo Girão.
“A very pleasant morning out on the sea, with slightly rolling ocean. Fresh air and lovely views. Sighting of a few common dolphins was less relevant. Good crew. Thank you”
Funchal’s 3-hour catamaran cruise for dolphins, whales, and turtles near Cabo Girão, plus a swim stop and onboard drinks.
“We were lucky to see both dolphins and whales. Staff were great! ,they interacted with everyone, pleasant, friendly and very informative about the sea life.”
3-hour luxury catamaran in Funchal Bay with snorkeling at Cabo Girao and chances to spot dolphins and whales.
“Here is the revised version without the part about needing anything: ⸻ My mother and I had an absolutely amazing catamaran trip in Madeira! The skipper was incredibly friendly and made the whole experience unforgettable. He even sang along to the music, which created such a fun and relaxed atmosphere on board. His positive energy really set the tone for the entire trip. The combination of beautiful views, great music, and his fantastic mood made this one of the highlights of our stay in Madeira. It was such a special experience for both of us, and we truly enjoyed every minute. Highly recommended – we would definitely do it again!”
Funchal sunset sail in Madeira with a Cabo Girão swim stop, dolphin and whale spotting chances, unlimited drinks, and sea views. 3 hours.
“Everything was great! The guide was super nice and chatty, the experience was amazing.”
Eco-friendly catamaran cruise from Funchal to spot Madeira dolphins and whales, guided by spotters and experts, plus scenic coastline passes.
“Excellent facilities and great guide. We encountered both whales and dolphins. Make sure to dress warm if its windy”
Luxury catamaran dolphin and whale watching from Funchal to Cabo Girão, with marine life talks and a summer swim stop.
“Very pleasant trip. Didn't see dolphins due to sea conditions, but we were offered another trip for €10. Guides explained everything clearly. Both them and the crew were excellent. This did include a swim stop”
3-hour sail from Funchal to Cabo Girão for dolphins and whales, with snorkeling and drinks onboard.
“Bruno was amazing and the rest of the crew. It was such an enjoyable experience and we got to see Dolphins. I would highly recommend.”
Madeira sunset catamaran from Funchal with whale and dolphin watching, a Cabo Girao swim stop, and crew-led sea-life explanations.
“It was a really good fun trip, my only comment would be to go a little further out to see the sun set over the sea rather than behind the mountain as that is what I was expecting.”
Funchal dolphin and whale watching on the fast Sea Safari speedboat with a marine biologist, 360 views, and a rebook deal if none.
“Our guide was informative and funny. We had an amazing time watching the spotted dolphins swim by our boat. I’m very grateful for the whole experience and definitely recommend it! 10/10”
Sail Funchal at sunset on a traditional Madeiran boat with drinks, a swim stop near Cabo Girão, and a guide with local tips.
“This sunset boat cruise was absolutely great. Captain Pedro and First Mate Claudio are professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. Drinks were served throughout the cruise and the views from the boat were stunning.”
Madeira from Funchal on a 3-hour catamaran whale and dolphin watch, with possible Cabo Girão swim and free repeat if no sightings.
“Lovely Catermeran, not too busy. Plenty of space aboard up or downstairs. Shame the wildlife never showed up but that's nature. Plenty of great scenery on the sail back to port, swimming if you wanted too at a well no beauty spot under the cliffs. Bar sold draught beers €4 a pint & cold/nice flavour. Overall good value excursion.”
Calheta speedboat whale watching on Madeira with quiet engines, wildlife-respect rules, and a good shot at dolphins and whales in 2 hours.
“Amazing crew, great experience, saw sperm whales, pilot whales, bottle nose dolphins and a little turtle. Small group and knowledgeable guide/captain”
Sail the Santa Maria replica off Madeira, watch for dolphins and whales near Cabo Girao, then snack honey cake with Madeira wine.
“Beautiful ship. It was a nice relaxing afternoon on the water. The crew was very nice. The cake and madeira wine was delicious!”
Speedboat from Funchal to spot whales and dolphins with a marine biologist, small groups, expert spotting, and stunning Madeira coast.
“Francisca, Filipe, and the spotter (I can’t remember their name!) were all excellent. We saw a few different species of animals and multiple spottings. Francisca talked us through the animals, about the species, what they looked like, any special features to look out for, and (most importantly) which direction to look at. The team seemed to care about the animals and the ocean - we stopped for a minute to collect a large piece of garbage that was floating. Depending on the animal, some may be further away from the boat and some may get up close. Either way, I recommend trying to watch the animals with your eyes vs…”
Seaborn Catamaran from Funchal, Madeira. 3 hours of Cabo Girao coastal views, dolphin and whale chances, plus an onboard bar.
“Swimming in blue ocean and watching small whales. Plesant service on boat and great tasting poncho. It is all for now”
Pick the coast, the wine, the water or the walk.
