VipDolphins: Affordable Luxury Whale Watching Experience in Madeira

Experience affordable luxury whale watching in Madeira with VipDolphins. Enjoy Portuguese sparkling wine, cocktails, local wines, and appetizers while spotting dolphins and whales. Book now!

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • VipDolphins Catamaran Whale Watching - We will sail from the Marina of Funchal to find some dolphins and whales, after we will stop for a swim in the crystal clear waters, at the bottom of Cabo Girao.
What's Included
  • Use of snorkeling equipment
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • Tea and coffee
  • Towels
  • Blankets
What's Not Included
  • Pick-ups
Additional Information

We stand as the sole company in Madeira offering a premium Whale Watching journey at a reasonable cost to witness dolphins and whales. You’ll be greeted with superior Portuguese sparkling wine, and everything for your tour is taken care of - from cocktails and local wines to local fruit drinks, appetizers, and traditional local biscuits available…

Location
VipDolphins Catamaran Whale Watching
Praça do Povo
Check-in 30 minutes before departure at the VipDolphins Kiosk. We are located in the marina in the city center of Funchal. Plan for traffic and accidents. The boat leaves on time and cannot wait if you are late, even if you call. No refunds or free reschedules for late arrivals.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1416 Ratings)
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177lem
Jun 2, 2025
Beautiful dolphin trip - We had an amazing time on this catamaran trip, and I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better viewing. From start to finish, the crew—Bruno, Magela, and Sousa—made us feel incredibly welcome and well taken care of. They were informative, friendly, and took great care for the guests that became sea-sick throughout the journey. We were with a maximum of 17 guests even though the Catamaran could take many more people, which made the entire experience feel very relaxed and personal. We saw other boats completely packed with people, and we were so grateful we chose this much more intimate option—it made a world of difference. The absolute highlight was seeing dolphins up close—so close, in fact, that it looked like they were rubbing their backs against the boat! It was a magical moment that we’ll remember for a long time. Bruno and Magela even took photos during the trip and kindly shared them with us a day or two later—such a thoughtful touch. The food and drinks on board were a lovely bonus, and everything was smoothly organized from start to finish. This trip was not only a great value but also a truly memorable experience. A big thank you again to Bruno, Magela, and Sousa for your care, kindness, and great energy—you made this boat trip unforgettable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S4086vtmichaelak
Jun 2, 2025
UNFORGETTABLE - This boat trip was simply unforgettable! From the very beginning, we felt we were in great hands – the staff was amazing, friendly, helpful, and truly made us feel like we were their only guests. The atmosphere was exceptional – I felt like we were on a private yacht, far away from the usual tourist crowds. The food and drinks were excellent – fresh, tasty, and served with a smile. And yes, we saw dolphins, which made the whole experience even more magical. It was truly incredible, and I highly recommend it – for this price, you won’t find anything better!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James_f
Jun 1, 2025
Whales and dolphins! - Excellent knowledge from the staff, great service, attentive and relaxed atmosphere. All photos taken by the crew and sent out, drinks and snacks were excellent!
Review provided by Viator
Smv3858wl
May 31, 2025
Overall… An Outstanding Afternoon - We managed to get a last minute boat trip due to a cancellation. If you’re planning on coming to Madeira, try and book this ahead of time. We arrived on a Monday and they were full the whole week, so booking in advance is a MUST! On the boat trip we had Nick, Bruno, and George as our guides and they were a bunch of great guys…Super nice, attentive, professional and very informative with the terrain and wild life. Within one hour we saw dolphins and whales… obviously this was not guaranteed, however, as we did see both, we considered this a bonus due to feeling we had a section of the boat to ourselves, especially when compared to the other tours available and price compatibility. The whole experience was outstanding. Naturally as coming from Scotland, we love our drinks.. and the boys onboard certainly ensured we were not left dry. We ended the whole experience with a swim in the sea which was a nice way to round up the day. If you’re a thinking of doing this trip, I would suggest booking early and considering eating before hand. Although some snacks are provided onboard it is not a substitute for lunch. As our ever so slight downside was that the snacks are not as free flowing as the drinks. Overall… an amazing experience! If we had the chance again to do this, then we would certainly go on this tour again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helenp2387
May 31, 2025
A true VIP experience! - Our trip was exceptional - from the limited number of passengers, the exceptional 3 crew members and then seeing four different mammals. Please do not let the price put you off if you want a fantastic trip. We were allowed to walk around the catamaran (safely) rather than packed in like a tin of sardines!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Calum_t
May 31, 2025
Highlight of our Holiday - Amazing day out, staff were so attentive and it was a really enjoyable experience. We did get to see dolphins, and had a chance to swim in the sea.
Review provided by Viator
Markledo1892
May 30, 2025
Excellent - A very professional and well run trip. There were only 10 passengers on board which gave everyone plenty of space The staff were very friendly informative giving useful information about the area and the sea life We were fortunate enough to get up close and personal with a pod of dolphins who swam around the boat gor a considerable period of time The trip is more expensive than the ones that cram 50-60 people onboard but is well worth it The snacks and drinks were enjoyable and served frequently during the trip We thoroughly recommended trying it if you're looking to go dolphin spotting
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Speedywales
May 29, 2025
Truly amazing! Do not book with anyone else! - What an experience! If you are in Madeira and you want to go out to sea whale and dolphin watching, then this is the company to do it with. The boats are limited to 17 people, wait until you see the other crowded boats in the marina. The crew are amazing, knowledgeable, friendly and fun. The boat is top class. The food and drink is great. The sailing is superb, and then there are the things you see! We saw Atlantic spotted dolphins, which played around the boat and jumped and generally looked like they were having as good a time as us! We also saw flying fish, they were great to see. We stopped for a short while to allow people to swim in the warm waters. As a member of Sea Shepherd I was delighted to see the care and respect shown to the creatures around us. From slowing right down and allowing the dolphins to come to us, and limiting the time spent with them to 10 minutes. It was a great way for people to see these marvellous creatures with care and respect t. If you are going to do it, then do jot look beyond this company, boats and crew.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lise_o
May 28, 2025
Enjoyable experience - Not for those who get seasick. My husband got sick and had to lay down the whole time. I had fun and staff and food were good
Review provided by Viator
Wanderer591581
May 28, 2025
Fantastic morning! - Awesome trip with captain Nico, and Margarita as guide. Very comfortable ship with only 17 max passengers. They took care of our every need. We saw dolphins and two beaked Blainsville whales. They are great at finding the sea life but also very responsible about their work. Great opportunity for a quick swim-off, and also beautiful cruise of the south side of the island. Cannot recommend enough. Extremely good value for the cost.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $90
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).