Make memories that will last a lifetime as you swim with dolphins in their natural habitat. Learn about these fascinating creatures, and get up close and personal with them as you swim alongside them in the crystal clear waters of Madeira.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 2 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English, Portuguese

Highlights

Enjoy a 99% chance of spotting whales and dolphins
Swim in the area with the highest concentration of cetacean of Madeira
See the crystal clear wates of Madeira Island

Full description

In the crystal clear waters of Madeira Island, swim with dolphins in their natural habitat. With assistance from an expert team of guides and divers, learn about the specific approach techniques needed to interact with these amazingly intelligent creatures. You may have the opportunity to swim with 2 species of dolphins: Common Dolphins or Spotted Dolphins. As you enter the water, you remain safely connected to the boat at all times. Glide along the waters and swim with the dolphins in front, below and next to you as you admire these beautiful mammals in their natural habitat and make unforgettable memories.

Includes

Live tour guide
Transport for activity duration: Other water transport
Snorkeling gear

Not suitable for

Children under 10 years
Pregnant women

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Meeting point

The tour departs from the new marina of Funchal (the small one with the big catamarans). Meet your guide in front of door 4 (the last one on the left). Please have your swimming suit on as there is no place to change at the meeting point. You can park your car at the "Almirante Reis" parking lot just a few minutes away from the boat departure.

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Important information

What to bring

Swimwear
Towel
Sunscreen
Cash

Know before you go

Madeira’s regulations for swimming with wild dolphins are quite strict in order to preserve the natural habitat. It is possible to get in the water with 2 species of dolphins: common dolphins and spotted dolphins
Due to environmental and behavioral factors, it cannot be guaranteed that you always can always enter in water but the crew will do everything possible for a successful trip. The rate of successful trips is 90%
If no dolphins or whales are spotted during the tour, you'll have the possibility of another free tour, or in case of unavailability due to weather conditions, a free trip voucher valid for 2 years

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 209 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.7/5
Transportation
4.7/5
Value for money
4.5/5
Safety
4.8/5

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We didn't quite know what to expect but our guides were helpful, friendly and informative. Wetsuits, snorkels and life jackets were provided. When we saw the dolphins every care was taken to swim beside the dolphins on there own terms, always holding onto a rope next to the RIB. A wonderful experience for those who chose to go in the water and those who preferred to stay on the boat. We also saw a monk seal which was rare and had an I interesting trip back along the shoreline.

May 22, 2022

One of the best experiences of my life, the dolphins were very curious and stayed with us for a while and the best part is they are free in their natural environment and they have the choice whether or not to participate in the activity. The guides were both really lovely and helpful and made us feel very comfortable!

May 11, 2022

Get your Guide told me it was supposed to be at 11am, but it started at 10am. But that's no problem, because the guides called me and asked where I was. Then they waited for me and also came towards me and picked me up. We saw dolphins that day but couldn't swim with them because it wasn't possible to guide the dolphins to us that day, which the guides respected, which is correct. At the end of the day they got in touch with me and asked if I still liked it and apologized that it didn't work out with the dolphin swim (which I personally didn't find bad). We also got a lot of information about the dolphins and everything about the island, which was very interesting. It was a great tour and a great and dedicated team! I can only recommend it and would love to do the tour again and again. Thanks for the great day!

January 2, 2022

Madeira Island: Swimming with Dolphins

Madeira Island: Swimming with Dolphins

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