Madeira · MADEIRA BOAT TRIPS & SAILING
56 reviewed
From dolphin catamarans to a replica of Columbus’s ship, the water off Funchal is busy with good boats. These are the best boat trips and sailing tours, best first, with the kind of vessel, how long you are aboard, whether a swim stop is included, and what each costs.
A 3-hour eco catamaran ride from Funchal with silent hybrid-electric sailing, land spotters, and chances to see dolphins and whales.
“A very pleasant morning out on the sea, with slightly rolling ocean. Fresh air and lovely views. Sighting of a few common dolphins was less relevant. Good crew. Thank you”
3-hour Seaborn catamaran from Funchal to spot dolphins, whales and turtles, with a Cabo Girão swim stop and onboard bar.
“The whole trip was fabulous from ease of booking onlinr, checking in to get boarding cards. The weather was lovely, watm and sunny, but there was a place the shelter in the shade if and when needed. The crew were really friendly and helpful. We got to see dolphins and turtles, but sadly no whales, but that certainly did not spoil the trip in any way. If you are visiting Madeira, definitely make time to do this trip.”
Ride a luxury catamaran in Funchal Bay to spot dolphins and whales, snorkel at Cabo Girão, and enjoy smooth coastal sailing.
“We saw dolphins and pilot whales! It was beautiful!!”
Sail off Funchal at sunset with Cabo Girão swimming, snorkeling gear, and an open bar. Chance to spot dolphins or whales.
“Lovely sunset trip with an opportunity for a swim. Guides told us a lot about Madeira and game loads of tips where to eat and walks/ hikes around. Highly recommend”
Eco-friendly catamaran dolphin and whale watching from Funchal with hybrid-electric cruising, shore spotting, and Cabo Girão views.
“Got to see dolphins, sperm and pilot whales. Also opportunity to learn more about them and the area. Plenty of room on board with helpful staff making sure you got to see the wildlife.”
Sail Madeira on the Santa Maria de Colombo, a Columbus flagship replica from Funchal, with dolphins/whales spotting and a swim stop.
“All the staff were great and full of information, we saw dolphins which was pretty dang incredible swimming alongside us, jumping in the sea also class”
Luxury catamaran dolphin and whale watching from Funchal to Cabo Girão, with crew talks and a summer swim stop.
“Very pleasant trip. Didn't see dolphins due to sea conditions, but we were offered another trip for €10. Guides explained everything clearly. Both them and the crew were excellent. This did include a swim stop”
3-hour sailing from Funchal to spot dolphins and whales near Cabo Girão, with snorkeling, drinks, and Madeira coast views.
“Most perfect day on the boat with a great crew, playlist, route and spot to hop into the water!!! Would always do it again! Thanks so much to the captain bruno, to Joe the best tour and local guide with so many tips and a great humour and of course thanks to your female team member (who's name we unfortunately forgot :-( )!!!! We loved the chats during our ride, the great drinks and the whole spirit!!!!”
3-hour Madeira sunset catamaran from Funchal with dolphin and whale watching, a swim at Cabo Girão, and a bar for €4 poncha.
“Excellent value for money. Saw a pod of Pilot Whales which was very exciting and interesting. Good vibe on the boat, apart from the stupid people feeding the seagulls, enticed them to dive bomb the boat.”
Join Madeira’s Sea Safari speedboat with a marine biologist to spot dolphins, whales, turtles, and birds around Funchal for two hours.
“The Knowledge provided by all 3 members of staff. Extremely friendly and so helpful.”
Sunset on a traditional Madeira boat from Funchal, with drinks, a Cabo Girão cruise, and a swim stop in protected waters.
“Fantastic tour. I went on my own and chose this one as it's a smaller boat so it doesn't feel overwhelming or crowded. The sunset was beautiful, it was a lovely atmosphere- equal mix of peaceful and fun. The hosts were brilliant, kept the wine topped up the whole trip and gave us a great dinner recommendation for after! Overall the perfect start to my trip”
3 hours on a Madeira catamaran for dolphin and whale spotting, plus a possible swim near Cabo Girão with a free return if no sightings.
“The crew and the ship were nice and everything. However, this advertised 3 hour dolphin and whale watching cruise only included a roughly 10 min watching time and the rest was a simple cruise on the sea.”
2-hour speedboat whale and dolphin tour from Calheta, Madeira. Quiet engines, expert crew, and strong chances for sightings.
“The trip was wonderful. The team kept care of us very well and told us a lot about the animals we saw. We had luck and saw some groups of dolphins directly beneath our boat and jumping around. Can 100% recommend this trip! Thanks for the unforgettable time.”
Sail on the Santa Maria pirate ship from Funchal, hunt for dolphins and whales, swim at Cabo Girao, and snack on honey cake with Madeira wine.
“This was three hours well spent on an amazing replica ship, with crew going up into the crows nest to release the sails which gave a really good feel for what it must have been like in days gone by. We saw Bottle Nose Dolphins and Common Dolphins and I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a turtle. There was a lot of fun as we all kept our eyes glued to the ocean and waited for someone to call "here on this side" or "over there". The crew had extremely sharp eyes and helped lots for us to take pictures and catch the dolphins in their natural…”
Speedboat whale and dolphin watching off Madeira from Funchal Marina, led by a marine biologist, with small-group chances for 1–4 species.
“A thrilling ride to see dolphins (no whales today) and fabulous views of Madeira. We sat in the bow and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves - the most movement of the boat at this end (seats are well padded, comfortable and secure) and a little water splash but we didn’t get soaked. Informative commentary from our guide (Filipe - apologies if I have misspelt your name), and expert manoeuvring of the speedboat by our pilot. Fantastic time with the pod of dolphins we encountered. Spotters on the coast look for whales and dolphins so if they are there you will be taken to see them. Early March was perhaps a little early…”
