Water activity

From Funchal: Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour

Activity provider: VMT Madeira Catamaran
Water activity

From Funchal: Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour

Activity provider: VMT Madeira Catamaran
Likely to sell out

From US$ 37.72 per person

Likely to sell out
Certified

Look for whales and dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean on a catamaran cruise from Funchal. Enjoy guaranteed sightings or get a second cruise for free.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English, Portuguese
Wheelchair accessible

Experience

Highlights
  • Look for whales and dolphins in the Atlantic waters off the south coast of Madeira
  • Cruise along the coast of Madeira by catamaran
  • Get a 2nd whale and dolphin watching tour for free if you don't see any cetaceans
  • Swim at the foot of one of Europe's highest sea cliffs
Full description

Climb aboard a comfortable catamaran for a relaxing trip along Madeira's south coast from the Marina do Funchal. Look for dolphins and whales (and even turtles) playing in the cold waters of the sea. Be on the lookout for dolphins and whales as you tour Madeira's south coast on a catamaran cruise. During the summer months, stop to swim below the cliffs of Cabo Girão, one of the highest sea cliffs in the world.

A qualified crew will provide detailed information in various languages about the species of cetaceans (dolphins and whales) you see. Also get historical and technical information for a truly unique experience.

In the event, you don’t spot any whales or dolphins you will be offered a complimentary second trip. However, if you only see dolphins but not whales, no refund will be offered.

Includes
  • Catamaran cruise
  • Crew
  • Live commentary
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Check-in 30 minutes before departure at VMT Madeira, Catamaran Trips Quiosque, Funchal Marina (Cais 8, below Praça do Povo).

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Windbreaker
  • Swimwear
  • Towel
  • Sunscreen
  • Rain gear

Not allowed

  • Luggage or large bags
  • Intoxication
  • Alcohol and drugs

Know before you go

  •  Please bring a windbreaker and sunscreen. In the summer, you can also bring a towel and swimwear to swim
  •  The catamarans are equipped with toilets, and a bar serving snacks and beverages (available for purchase)
  •  Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is cancelled, you will not be entitled to a refund
  •  Tours may be cancelled after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet the requirements, or in the event of bad weather. Should this occur, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 596 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.4/5
  • Transportation
    4.6/5
  • Service
    4.6/5
  • Organization
    4.6/5

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Star rating:

Excellent experience, the trip lasted 3 hours, and animal sightings are guaranteed as they offer a free second trip if the first was unsuccessful. The boat is lovely and spacious and the crew are very nice. There is a bar on board for food and drink which was reasonably priced. I would highly recommend.

March 26, 2023

We quickly saw a pod of dolphins and then 2 Sei whales. The boats were considerate of the animals and didn’t crowd them and the crew gave a lot of information in English, German and Portuguese. We then stopped by the cliffs for a short swim before returning to the marina with the crew describing what we were passing on the coast along the way.

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March 26, 2023

The boat is clean, the staff are helpful, informative and friendly. We saw two different kinds of dolphins. They follow their local rule of only viewing 1 pack of dolphins for 10 minutes, which is great to know. The way back dragged a little, as we had to return to the starting point, however it is kind of expected as we travelled quite far. The weather was nice so we picked a good day to visit.

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March 26, 2023

Product ID: 57215