Whale Watching: Ethical Encounters in Madeira

Experience the thrill of a high-speed boat adventure while spotting rare whales and dolphins in Funchal. Get up close to these magnificent animals and enjoy the stunning coastline views.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Blue Safari Madeira | Whale and Dolphins Watching - Are you prepared for a whale and dolphin watching adventure that transcends mere sightseeing?
    Join Blue Safari on a custom-built, high-speed vessel crafted specifically for small groups eager for a close, respectful, and meaningful interaction with Madeira’s remarkable marine wildlife.
    Unlike…
What's Included
  • Life Jackets
  • All Fees and Taxes
What's Not Included
  • Transfer. We do not organize hotel transfers.
Additional Information

✔️ First WCA (World Cetaceans Alliance) certified operator in Funchal
✔️ Small, intimate groups – Guest numbers are limited on board to ensure a more personal and comfortable experience.
✔️ Fast, agile boat – We can quickly and respectfully reach the animals, bringing you closer than larger vessels.
✔️ Best location in Madeira – Operating in the area with…

Location
Blue Safari Madeira | Whale and dolphins watching
PLEASE ARRIVE ON-TIME Arriving at least 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time, and preferably 30 minutes earlier, is essential to ensure check-in/boarding goes smoothly. The boat will depart exactly on time. The meeting place is located in front of Gate 4, on the east corner of the marina.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(276 Ratings)
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W2025tkleaha
May 19, 2026
Wonderful, respectful wildlife trip - Had a brilliant trip with Blue Safari. Camila and Francisco were excellent, very knowledgeable about the animals and the tour was responsibly managed; we maintained a good distance from the animals who came to us on their own accord and we didn't pester them like some other tours might. Camila was very knowledgeable and clearly very passionate about her work. We were fortunate enough to see common dolphins with their young, a large pod of pilot whales, and a Bryde's whale, as well as a beautiful little loggerhead turtle as we came back. Thank you so much to the team, hope to be back another time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer47515244402
May 19, 2026
10/10 - Been a pleasure. 10/10 would recommend. The crew was very nice and we saw a whale and dolphins. Boat ride been fun as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jannacvaughan
May 17, 2026
Small group. - Informational and educational. Our guide was a marine biologist. Small group is the way to go. Not guaranteed, but we saw 2-3 dolphin species and a whale. We preferred this to the big boats.we had less than 20 people. Bring water as it was not provided.
Review provided by Viator
Ingo
May 16, 2026
Great, wonderful experience to fill 2hours - Great experience and we saw Dolphins and Wales. Would recommend again. I Like their concept and that they try to educate their audience a little Bit :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W6066blelainea
May 15, 2026
Sleeping pilot whales 🐋 ❤️ - Totally fantastic and exiting experience on a speed boat. Picked this tour as was one of the few which captured data for research purposes and advertised that they did not chase down the wildlife. This was so accurate ! We quietly bobbed in the sea and watched a huge pod of pilot whales ( which are dolphins) sleeping and we watched dolphins play around the boat. The guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. Learned to much during our 2 hr trip. Sadly the whales didn’t get the memo that we were visiting and they had to perform so no whales spotted. Will definitely do again when we visit
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johandj7028hj
May 11, 2026
Great and nature-friendly experience... - On Thursday, May 7th we experienced an unforgettable whale safari at Blue Safari. What really makes this tour special is the professionalism. Our guide and marine biologist Camila gave great explanations; she knew how to tell something interesting with every whale we saw and even recognized the animals by their fins! Skipper Francesco sails excellently and with great respect for nature. What appealed to us most is their ethical approach: they are extremely strict in caring for the animals and make sure they are not disturbed in their habitat. As they say themselves: we come to them, but not by invitation. Super friendly, very educational and highly recommended for those who want to spot wildlife in a responsible way!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hnry
May 11, 2026
Dolphin watching in Funchal, Madeira - For our dolphin and whale watching trip we saw 2 types of dolphins: bottle-nose and common. The guide and captain were excellent and the seas were calm. It was a group of 18 and the fee was reasonable. The length of the trip was perfect. Best for people who want to see dolphins in there natural habitat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David
May 11, 2026
A must do for all. - We had the most amazing afternoon with Camilla the marine biologist and Vlad the captain. They were so knowledgeable, warm, welcome and passionate about the ocean and its inhabitants, we couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you to you both for an incredible experience, helping us to see baby whales (yes plural!) and a gorgeous loggerhead turtle. Highly recommend, especially if you care about nature.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lysajsilver
May 7, 2026
Fantastic trip - so much to see and learn. - Fabulous trip. Camilla and Paolo were our team and we saw so much. Bottle nosed dolphins, a large pod of Pilot whales, a loggerhead turtle and a Marlin. Camilla was incredibly knowledgable and passionate about marine conservation. Learnt lots and saw so many creatures, moving freely in the ocean. Thanks for a great trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alison
May 19, 2026
Fast rubber speed boat with sit astride benches. Not for back problems! - There are lots of catamarans and speedboats doing this tour. It was a surprise to discover that we’d booked on a small rubber speedboat with sit astride seats - think motor cycle seats, without much padding over the metal frame. The guide was qualified, informative and we saw wildlife, which was the point of the trip. However, as the boat hits the waves and there is no “give” in the seat, it’s up to you, your leg muscles and your lower back to support you as you perch on the metal frame. I have an old back injury and was reduced to tears and silent swearing by the intense pain of the dinghy smacking the water over and over again and jarring my spine for 2 hours. Think jumping off a wall. Most other passengers, including younger family members had no problem but, if you have any physical weakness, choose a boat with proper supportive seating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $61
up to 12 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).