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

✔️ Small, intimate groups – Guest numbers are limited on board to ensure a more personal and comfortable experience.
✔️ Fast, agile boat – The vessel allows for quick and respectful access to the animals, bringing you closer than larger boats can.
✔️ Prime location in Madeira – Operations are conducted in the area with the highest density of whales and…

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
(249 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Emily_s
Mar 1, 2026
A magical marine encounter - Roz our marine biologist/guide was so knowledgeable and patient. She gave us so much information. We were so fortunate to see dolphins and pilot whales. I loved how respectful of the environment the guide and our captain was - the wildlife was close to us but always at a safe distance which was the priority. Highly recommend!!!
Review provided by Viator
26tm
Feb 19, 2026
Completely successful tour with respect for the animals - All participants met on time at Gate 4 / Gate 4 at the port, small tip the gates are numbered consecutively or with letters. We were at the eastern marina. There we were welcomed by Camila and our captain in a friendly way. We got a brief briefing on boat safety and how to react in which situation. After about 10 minutes we left and started the tour. Due to the poor visibility through Sahara dust, the spotters could not detect anything at first; after about 40 minutes we drove faster in the direction of the animals. We met the common dolphin and pilot whales. Camila explained a lot to the animals, which was great. All in all, we found the tour very good. We found the respect for the animals and our footprint outstanding. Not like mass tourism. Thanks to the whole team at Blue Safarie 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
137virginied
Feb 19, 2026
Wonderful - Fantastic experience! A super safe approach to animals, great explanations. Thank you Rose for sharing knowledge, it was really great
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julianne_w
Feb 16, 2026
Do this activity!... - Do this activity! Camila's knowledge and respect for marine life was a joy to experience, topped off with seeing pilot whales!
Review provided by Viator
Renegf2615fd
Feb 15, 2026
Great! - Camille and Francesco were perfect. Camille took great photos, explained everything perfectly and enriched the trip with her friendly nature. Francesco as captain was awesome! Dolphins we also saw the speed boat ride great - all in all a unique experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
4gardiners
Feb 14, 2026
Excellent experience - Excellent tour and Rose was an extremely knowledgeable marine biologist guide. Thoroughly recommend this tour. Not only did we see some wonderful whales but also this is a very conservation focussed tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trip47135384328
Feb 10, 2026
Recommended! - Great experience! Blue safari conducts research on these beautiful animals. You feel the passion and learn a lot about the different species and their behavior. All while respecting the animals! We have seen 3 different groups of dolphins, from a few meters from the boat. Meanwhile, they take photos and images of underwater. Highly recommended! Thank you Camila and Francisco
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mnemosyne
Jan 31, 2026
Exhilarating and rewarding. - Despite a rather energetic sea, marine biologist Camila and boat captain Vlad delivered a great experience. The RIB is equipped with a lifejacket and waterproof cape for each passenger, and you will need both! Top tip - wear waterproof shoes and preferably keep baggage to a minimum as the seating is snug! We were lucky enough to see pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins very close, and can confirm that the pilot was careful to keep engine use to a minimum around the animals and did not chase or harass them in any way, which is not always the case with some tours. It was a bumpy ride at times but exhilarating and definitely worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Uwe
Jan 25, 2026
Cool tour - Very nice exciting tour and hunting dolphins watched. The speedboat ride was also a lot of fun!👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rubenw938
Jan 22, 2026
👌🏻 - Great trip, amazing guides with true passion for the animals and their behaviour. Learned a lot new stuff and we saw a lot, even a rare juvenile puffin!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $60
up to 12 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).