MADEIRA
The best days out on the island.
The 15 best cruises & boat tours on Madeira, with prices, run times and who you book through. The ones worth giving a day to, and what each actually delivers on the ground.
Hybrid-electric dolphin and whale watching from Funchal with a Cabo Girão swim stop and scenic south-coast cliff views.
Most Popular“We absolutely loved this, the guides clearly care for the animals and were very informative, we saw a humpback and pilot whales. Bucket list stuff!”
A 3-hour Funchal catamaran cruise spotting dolphins, whales, and turtles near Cabo Girão, with a swim stop and bar onboard.
“loved the hospitality of the crew and everything else. views are amazing!!”
Luxury catamaran cruising from Funchal to search for dolphins and whales, then snorkel at Cabo Girão in Madeira’s clear waters.
“Very nice. Weather was not ideal but we still had a great time.”
Eco-friendly catamaran whale watching from Funchal with shore spotters, hybrid-electric cruising, and classic Madeira coastline views.
“The boat trip was a great way to see the island from the sea and thrillingly to see the magnificent pod of dolphins in their natural habitat The crew were very knowledgeable about the dolphins We are retired ‘oldies’ and the crew were very helpful when we boarded and disembarked as my husband has eyesight…”
Luxury 3-hour catamaran cruise from Funchal to Cabo Girão to watch for dolphins and whales, with a small group and drink.
“Amazing tour where we were lucky to see some dolphins! Great guide giving lots of information about the dolphins and the coast.”
Sunset sailing from Funchal to spot dolphins and whales, with a swim at Cabo Girão and drinks on board for about 3 hours.
“We felt welcome from the moment we boarded the ship, our host was easy to communicate with and really hospitable, always checking on us if we wanted anything to drink, shared information on the sights but not overwhelmingly so we could enjoy our journey in our own pace. They respected the wildlife, didn't go too…”
Sail from Funchal for dolphin and whale watching, plus a snorkel stop at Cabo Girão with drinks aboard in about 3 hours.
“It was a beautiful experience, the captains talked with us and were very friendly. The group was limited to a maximum of 20 people to ensure enough space and a pleasant atmosphere. Thank you very much for a lovely day at sea!”
A 3-hour Funchal sunset catamaran with a real dolphin and whale search, marine-life talks, and a Cabo Girão swim stop.
“We were lucky because we saw dolphins playfully coming up to the boat. Of course the sunset was also beautiful”
Funchal speedboat cruise with a marine biologist to spot dolphins, whales, turtles, and birds off Madeira. Small-group value.
“Brilliant boat trip! So good we wanted to go again on the next trip, but was fully booked. We found a huge group of dolphins and finished the trip with a hammerhead shark! Will definitely do it again if I go back to Madeira. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable.”
3-hour catamaran from Funchal to search for dolphins and whales, with a possible Cabo Girão swim and onboard bar.
“Boat ride was lovely. Saw some dolphins. We visited in March and recommend layers and windbreaker/coats because it does get a bit chilly. We were lucky enough to get spots up front which I would also highly recommend!”
Calheta Madeira speedboat tour for whales and dolphins with quiet engines, bilingual crew, and possible close wildlife encounters in 2 hours.
“An excellent experience with a knowledgeable, friendly guide. We saw dolphins and didn't harass them. This is a company that is respectful to wildlife. An excellent morning.”
Sail the Santa Maria replica from Funchal with Madeira wine and honey cake, searching for dolphins and whales, plus a swim at Cabo Girao.
“Great boat trip, the boat itself was really cool, the crew were friendly and helpful. We were lucky to see whales on our trip. There was an opportunity for swimming, the water was crystal clear. Cake and madeira wine a lovely bonus!”
2.5-hour Funchal speed-boat whale and dolphin watching with a marine biologist, small group size, and lookout spotting for better odds.
“An excellent trip, the guide was very informative with humour. Great to see so many different species of dolphins and learn about them. The adventure culminated in a rip roaring speed boat ride !!!”
A 3-hour Funchal sunset cruise on a traditional Madeira boat with Cabo Girão scenery, snorkeling gear, and drinks on board.
“The cruise was great. The ocean was rough and some in our group became ill, but that was not Rob’s problem. He was very kind and kept the drinks coming for the rest of us and showed great consideration and assistance to those that needed it. The views and sunset were spectacular!”
3-hour Seaborn catamaran from Funchal to Cabo Girao with an onboard bar and chances to spot dolphins, whales, and turtles.
“Great way to see whales and dolphins in Madeira. We saw a pilot whale and a group of dolphins. The crew took pictures were excellent.”
From the sunrise peaks to the levada paths to the deep-water whales, every corner of the island and every way to spend a day.
