Madeira Catamaran Tour: Dolphin and Whale Watching

Commence a soothing journey along the southern coast of Madeira aboard our cozy catamarans. This trip offers you the opportunity to observe dolphins, whales and sometimes turtles. In the summer season, if weather and sea conditions permit, you might even have the chance to take a dip in the pristine waters beneath the Cabo Girão sea cliff.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Experience a 3-hour trip by catamaran along the south coast of Madeira Island. We depart from Funchal Marina, giving a quick briefing about the trip and safety matters on board. The crew then starts their search for dolphins and whales, and any other marine wildlife, using binoculars equipped with a compass, doing their best with their experienced eyes….

What's Included
  • 3-hour dolphin and whale watching tour
  • Friendly and knowledgeable guide
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • We always recommend to bring: Sunscreen and windbreaker. For the summer months you could add a towel and bathing suit.
  • In the event you did not see any cetaceans, you will be offered the same trip again on an alternative occasion (valid for 1 year)
  • Swimming is subject to favorable weather and sea conditions
Location
Praça do Povo
Avenida Do Mar
VMT Madeira Kiosk - Funchal Marina. Check-In: 30 minutes before departure
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.3
(648 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Elliecarvalhosilva
Dec 28, 2025
Great trip - Amazing experience from start to finish! The team was friendly, professional, and made us feel completely safe the entire time. It was fantastic not only for adults, but especially for the kids , they absolutely loved every moment and are still talking about it! The activity was well-organized, exciting, and a great value for the price. Everything ran smoothly and exceeded our expectations. It’s the perfect choice for families looking for fun and unforgettable memories. We felt welcome, relaxed, and very well taken care of. Highly recommended to anyone and we would definitely do it again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Monicanf1547ns
Dec 5, 2025
Trip to the sea - Serious and reliable company. On the first outing there were no sightings, but we were rescheduled the ride for free and on the second outing we saw many dolphins. Nice experience that I recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulapk3779uj
Dec 1, 2025
Whales and sun - Simply amazing, beautiful place to visit, matched by sighting a pod of whales! Well worth the money for the tour with less people
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lynnetwood1
Nov 10, 2025
Highly recommend - Great trip, really enjoyed it. The first time we went we didn't see any dolphins but they give you a free trip until you did. (Check with the company for details) Staff were great, a good choice of snacks and drinks were on offer. A great atmosphere. Ths company is the best for a trip. Thankyou for a great and memorable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lc67890
Nov 5, 2025
Chilled boat trip with added bonus of whale spotting - Some mixed reviews on this - you should book this with the mindset that there is a possibility of no sightings and I don’t think people should write bad reviews if this is the case. The staff were incredibly friendly, relaxed boat trip with good facilities. We managed to see some whales and saw this as an added bonus as we knew there would be a chance we wouldn’t! Can’t fault the experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dominika_j
Oct 27, 2025
Whale of a time - Lovely boat trip. Managed to spot some whales. The guide was very knowledgeable, and respectful to sea animals.
Review provided by Viator
Rooster_ramsay
Nov 25, 2025
Great sightings, some issues - This trip certainly delivered on the dolphins and whales - we saw three False Killer Whales (rare at this time of year, we're told) and dozens of Bottlenose Dolphins who swam with the boat for what seems like ages! There is also an interesting stop below the highest lookout point. Some brave souls went swimming there, but it was pretty cold on board, so we were not tempted. The reasons for not giving 5 stars are these: No one explained the functioning on the marine toilets, so as sailors, we seemed to be the only people who flushed them. At one point the dolphins came very close to the boat and I had a lovely view, and a crew member basically barged me out of the way so she could take a photo. And another crew member promised to send some photos of us with the dolphins in view - we gave him a good tip, but the pictures were never sent. So, it was an amazing experience, but I'm not convinced they are the best tour operators of the many available.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Annette_k
Nov 15, 2025
Several pilot whales... - Several pilot whales seen, no dolphins. very careful approach to spotted whales. Friendly crew
Review provided by Viator
Jensav8285qv
Oct 31, 2025
It's okay. - Was ok..we saw some Finns, the beer tasted good and the weather was good. So you can make, but is not a must. Santa Maria must be good, too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laura
Nov 2, 2025
Interesting experience! - We joined the catamaran dolphin and whale watching tour in Madeira, and it was such a memorable experience! The crew was friendly and gave great commentary throughout the trip, making it both relaxing and informative. We were lucky to see both dolphins and whales — truly magical moments out on the ocean. The only downside was that I got a bit seasick, probably due to the waves (and a little bit my pregnancy 😅), but even with that, it was absolutely worth it. A wonderful adventure overall and one I’d still recommend to everyone visiting Madeira.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $46
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).