Portugal · DOLPHIN WATCHING TRIPS IN MADEIRA
Good dolphin watching 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.
Review of Madeira’s eco catamaran dolphin and whale tour, with hybrid engines, Cabo Girão views, swimming, tips, access, and value.
“The whole trip was great. We saw few delfins. Had a good time.”
Cruise Madeira’s coast from Funchal, spot dolphins and whales, swim beneath Cabo Girão, and enjoy a comfortable three-hour catamaran ride.
“A good experience. The guide made no effort for everyone to hear what he was saying and only covered half the boat. We saw plenty of pilot whales and had a great swim. Timings were good too.”
Review of Madeira’s 3-hour luxury catamaran cruise, with dolphin and whale watching, Cabo Girão swimming, practical tips, and honest value advice.
“Great time. Saw dolphins and pilot whales and went to a nice cove for a swim. Guides were funny and nice”
Review of Madeira’s luxury whale and dolphin catamaran tour, with Cabo Girão, swimming, small groups, local snacks, and unlimited drinks.
“The whole way there to see the dolphins was, to say the least, exciting and thrilling - they were going pretty fast during decent waves and it was amazing. The staff was constantly bringing little trays with different food to try, and also drinks. Everyone was super friendly and the whole experience would definitely repeat if we get our memory erased.”
Review of Madeira’s 3-hour eco catamaran cruise, with dolphins, whales, coastal views, practical tips, pricing, weather advice, and booking help.
“This was a great trip with a friendly professional team, from boarding the catamaran we felt very comfortable and were kept informed throughout. The catamaran was spotlessly clean, well equipped and with plenty of of seats and viewing areas. As soon as any wildlife was spotted we stopped far enough away so as not to disturb anything which is really important. The dolphins actually came towards us and came up from under the catamaran and were a delight to see and then later we were informed that there was a pod of pilot whales just resting ahead of. We stopped and the captain gently turned the catamaran around so everyone…”
Sail from Funchal to Cabo Girão on a small luxury catamaran, with expert wildlife guides, dolphin and whale watching, and a swim stop.
“It was a great experience sailing around the bay on a catamaran. We saw loads of dolphins, and had the opportunity to take lots of photos. The catamaran was comfortable and we sunbathed. The crew were friendly and knowledgeable. There were two stops for swimming - this was amazing. Worth every penny!”
Sail from Funchal at sunset, search for dolphins and whales, swim beneath Cabo Girão, and enjoy drinks aboard a small yacht.
“We went out into the ocean (you will need to take off your shoes at the beginning, I advise you to take a change of clothes and socks with you, there is a chance to get wet from the waves) at 4 pm and began to slowly swim towards Ponta de São Lourenço, they began to offer us drinks (wine, beer, soft drinks), then the captain said that there was a chance to see marine life, and after a while we watched a group of local whales that acrobatically swam parallel to us. Then we headed closer to the shore, the water (24/01) was +19 degrees and some people, including…”
Madeira whale and dolphin tour from Funchal with catamaran comfort, Cabo Girão swimming, expert commentary, and a free second trip if needed.
“We really enjoyed this tour, we were lucky to see many playful dolphins swimming by. After that boat goes to the coast near Cabo Girao and there is a possibilty to swim and snorkel in the sea, which was really refreshing in hot August day.”
Sail from Funchal to Cabo Girão for dolphin and whale watching, swimming, snorkeling, drinks, and fine Madeira coast views.
“The Skipper & Bruno were fantastic! Very safe , very knowledgeably & fantastic guides for the trip! We got to see dolphins , enjoyed the views of Maderia and stopped for a swim, a really great way to see more of the island and enjoy the beauty of it all”
Review of Funchal’s small-boat whale and dolphin tour, with marine biologists, land spotters, sea conditions, wildlife and practical tips.
“A fantastic trip. So much more informative than previous similar trips. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would go again and hopefully see different species although we understand there is no guarantee as they are wild animals.”
Review of Madeira’s small-group whale and dolphin speedboat tour, with wildlife, swimming chances, practical tips, value, and honest drawbacks.
“We had an absolutely incredible time on this whale adventure tour. Seeing whales up close was unforgettable, and the tour guide made the experience even better with her deep knowledge and passion for marine life. She not only shared fascinating information but also took great photos and truly cared about the whales’ well-being. It was a fantastic experience, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting Madeira!”
Review of Calheta’s whale and dolphin tour, with RIB boat tips, wildlife odds, costs, weather advice, and practical booking details.
“Great experience! We had a wonderful time. Great explanation and good view on the dolfins! Absolutely worth!”
Review of Madeira’s small-group whale and dolphin tour from Calheta, with coastal views, swimming, snorkeling, drinks, and practical booking tips.
“It was so good....We did it twice in 3 days! We was so impressed by the Crew and our first trip @16:30 pm. We decided to book another trip @10 am two days later. Two totally different experiences but both of them were so special!!! Emanuel the Captain and Thiago the biologists took us 6 on a magic trip and it felt like a private tour. Both times we did see dolphins - calmly swimming by our boat. It was so quiet and peaceful. Thank you guys for all the effort and love you shared with us. We will be back for a 100 %!”
Review of Madeira’s 2-hour dolphin and whale cruise, with a marine biologist, small-group speedboat, wildlife guarantee, and practical tips.
“The fantastic crew took us 9 miles out, just so we could try and catch a glimpse of the beautiful wildlife. A few people were sea sick, however they were well looked after! Exhilarating trip back to shore- lots of fun! Highly recommend as we spotted pods of short finned pilot whales.”
Review of Madeira’s 3-hour catamaran cruise from Funchal, with dolphin and whale watching, Cabo Girão swimming, tips, and honest value advice.
“The guides were great and enthusiastic. Its was possible to take a swim and you got to se Madeira from sea level.”
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