Funchal: Guarantee Wild Dolphin&Whale Watching by RIB

What makes this outing so interesting is the mix of speed, sea views, and real wildlife searching right off Madeira’s coast. You’re out on a small RIB boat in open ocean conditions, scanning for wild dolphins, whales, and sometimes turtles, with the chance to get extremely close without feeling like you’re watching from a distance.

What I like most is the small-group feel on the boat, which keeps the whole experience personal instead of crowded. I also like the emphasis on respectful wildlife rules, especially if you add the short swim option. One consideration: this is an ocean ride, so if you get motion sickness or hate wind and spray, you’ll want to plan for it.

If you’re after that once-in-a-while wild animal moment, this is a strong bet out of Funchal. The trip runs about 2.5 hours, and it’s built around patience and luck, but it’s not random in a careless way. The crew searches hard, and you get built-in options if you leave without seeing cetaceans.

Key things to know before you go

• Small RIB boat, more intimate wildlife viewing than big sightseeing vessels
• High chance of sightings, with a stated yearly average of 99% for at least one cetacean species
• A short, rule-based swim add-on is possible only under specific animal behavior laws
• You stay out at least 2 hours before heading back, so you’re not rushed
• Cabo Girao Cliff adds scenic payoff on the way to drop-off
• If no cetaceans are spotted, you’re invited to join another trip free of charge within a year (availability rules apply)

Leaving Funchal, getting the sea views first

The tour starts with you meeting at the arranged point in Funchal, then getting a safety briefing and lifejacket on board. After that, the RIB heads out from the harbor toward open water, with Madeira’s coastline as the constant backdrop. Even before any animals show up, the driving force here is the scenery and the sense of being out where the sea is doing the talking.

The ride is lively, since it’s a fast RIB, not a slow ferry. You’ll feel the wind and movement, and you’ll appreciate why the packing list focuses on a windbreaker, sunglasses, and sunscreen. If you travel in cooler months, bring something warmer too, because it can get windy quickly out on the water.

Because the group is small, you don’t spend the whole trip fighting for a view. You also tend to get a clearer feel for what the crew is doing as they scan. That matters on a wildlife hunt, where you’re watching just as much as you’re riding.

How dolphin and whale spotting really works on this kind of trip

This experience is built around searching for wild living dolphins and whales with as much chance of intimacy as possible, using a small boat and a focused approach. The crew looks for the animals while staying out long enough to give the ocean time to deliver.

There’s a practical rhythm to it: you’re out, watching, waiting, then responding quickly when something appears. If you’ve never done a cetacean tour before, the main thing to know is that wildlife sightings can be a game of patience. One minute the sea looks empty, the next you’re suddenly tracking movement and listening for the boat crew’s instructions.

The operator states a yearly average of 99% for successful trips that include at least one cetacean species. That’s a strong promise, though the sea is still the sea, so not every outing will feel the same. One review outcome even reflects that balance, with a traveler scoring lower because dolphins were scarce on that particular day. Still, the overall pattern is clear: they work to find animals, not just pass time.

And when sightings happen, they’re not “from a long distance.” The small boat setup helps you feel like you’re sharing space with the animals, rather than hovering above them like a dot on the horizon.

Wildlife sightings you can hope for, and what counts as success

You might see wild dolphins and whales, and sometimes turtles, depending on what’s in the area. The goal is cetaceans, not just sea birds or rocks, so you’re aiming for animals that surface, travel, and show behavior you can actually observe.

Here’s the key detail that makes this tour feel more serious: there’s a backup plan if you come back without any cetacean sightings at all. If during the trip there is no sighting of any cetacean species, you’ll be invited to join another trip free of charge within 1 year time, subject to availability and the invitation not being transferable.

That doesn’t guarantee whales every time, but it does reduce the risk of paying for a disappointment. It also tells you the tour is trying to meet a wildlife mission, not just run a route and hope for the best.

If you’re the type who gets excited by different species and behavior, this is where the educational side can click. You’re not just “hoping for dolphins,” you’re watching for the kinds of encounters that show up with wild animals in their own routines.

The “small boat” factor, and why it changes your whole perspective

The tour’s personality comes from the boat size. Small-group RIB conditions mean the experience tends to feel immediate: spray in the air, the coastline close, the action visible without binocular-distance strain. It also means the crew can position the boat to keep the animals in view and to manage how the group experiences the moment.

This is also why people describe it as adrenaline-fun. It’s not a gentle cruise. It’s lively and it can feel hair raising, in a fun way, when you hit waves and turn quickly during searching. If you’re coming to Madeira looking for nature that feels alive and moving, that energy suits the goal.

One practical upside from real experience: there’s at least one case where the guide helped someone with seasickness. That’s not a promise you should count on, but it does suggest the crew is used to dealing with how people react when the sea gets rough.

Cabo Girao Cliff: the scenic payoff between ocean time and drop-off

Your time on the RIB centers on wildlife searching, but you also get a sightseeing stop at Cabo Girao Cliff. The tour notes scenic views on the way, so this part feels like a “reward” chapter when the ocean time ends.

Cabo Girao is all about viewpoints, so you should think of this as a change of pace from scanning the water. When the boat portion finishes, you still get a chance to see Madeira from higher ground, which helps balance the day if you get tired of wind and salt in your face.

One nice value angle here is that the itinerary doesn’t end the moment you return to port. You continue with something that helps justify the half-day structure, rather than simply disembarking and calling it done.

Swim with dolphins add-on: how it works, what it costs, and the rules

If you want the hands-on version, there’s a Swim with Dolphins option. The add-on is listed as €20 per participant, but there’s an important catch. The price is only charged on-site if it was possible to enter the water with the animals. Otherwise, you pay just the standard trip price.

The operator also ties the swim to strict animal protection rules. You can only get in the water if the animals are behaving in a way that meets local laws. That matters because it’s not just “book it and hope.” It’s permission-based, and the crew can decline the swim if conditions do not meet the rules.

There are additional species limits. The tour says they are only allowed by law to enter the water if the animals are Common Dolphins or Atlantic Spotted Dolphins. If you’re hoping for a swim, it helps to know that whales or other dolphin species might still count as sightings but may not qualify for water entry.

If swim entry is approved, masks and snorkels are available. The time in the water is typically around 1 to 2 minutes per participant, and you swim/snorkel attached to the boat. That short duration is intentional, and it keeps the interaction safe for you and for the animals.

This add-on is separate from the main boat tour. If you’re deciding on the day, it’s worth thinking about your comfort level first. The ocean ride already has wind and movement, then the swim adds another layer. Still, people who manage the conditions often remember the moment as the defining highlight.

Timing and sea conditions: when 2.5 hours feels short, and when it feels long

The trip runs for about 2.5 hours total. The plan is to be out for no less than 2 hours on the boat, then return to the marina of Funchal to disembark.

That timeline is a good match for people who want “real sea time” without needing a full day. It’s long enough for wildlife searching to have a chance, but not so long that you’re trapped on the water for hours with nothing happening.

The other timing factor is weather and wind. The tour’s own guidance is clear: bring a windbreaker, and check weather conditions for what to wear. Out on the water, wind can rise fast. In cooler months, a warmer waterproof jacket can matter.

So yes, dress for the sea, not for the street. If you show up in only a light layer, the RIB ride can turn your comfort into your biggest concern. And once that happens, even great wildlife sightings can feel harder to enjoy.

Price and value: what you’re paying for, and what changes your final cost

The standard price is listed at $70 per person for the boat tour. That price includes the boat trip with necessary safety equipment and any applicable fees, taxes, and fuel surcharges.

What’s not included is straightforward: drinks and snacks are not included, and parking is not included. That means you’ll likely want to budget a little extra if you plan to eat after the trip or if the wind makes you snacky on the boat.

The big variable is the add-on swim cost. The swim option is €20 per participant, and it is charged on-site only if the crew can enter the water with the dolphins legally. So your total cost depends on animal behavior that day, not just on booking.

Here’s why that matters for value: you’re not paying an all-or-nothing fee for the swim. If the swim isn’t possible, you’re not hit with an extra charge. Meanwhile, even without swimming, you’re still getting the RIB ride and the wildlife search.

Finally, the backup invitation if no cetaceans are spotted also changes the value equation. You have a safety net, within availability and the stated terms, which makes the outing less of a “pay and pray” gamble.

Guides, skill, and respect for animals

One of the most praised parts of this kind of trip is the human factor: how calm the crew is when everyone is scanning the water, how they manage safety, and how they handle the adrenaline side of RIB travel. In strong experiences, people describe both informative guiding and a skipper who runs things smoothly.

Respect for wildlife comes up too. The swim option is tied directly to animal behavior law, and the crew only enters water under specified conditions and species limits. That’s a good sign because it means the tour is not trying to force interactions.

You’ll still be seeing wild animals, not zoo-style behavior. That means you keep your expectations flexible. If the animals are far or moving through quickly, your job is to look, listen, and follow instructions, not to demand a particular moment.

Who should book this RIB tour, and who might want a different style

This is a great fit if you want:

• Wildlife-first travel, not just a coastal cruise
• A small-group format on a boat where you can actually feel the moment
• The chance of dolphins and whales, with an optional short swim if conditions allow
• A half-day plan that still includes scenic viewing at Cabo Girao Cliff

It may be less ideal if:

• You’re very sensitive to wind and choppy water, because the RIB ride is lively
• You’re hoping for guaranteed swimming, because water entry depends on animal behavior and legal species rules

The private option can help with comfort and control. The tour offers a private tour where you can book your own private boat, with up to 18 passengers. That can work well for families or friend groups who want their own pace, their own group energy, and fewer strangers in the mix.

Should you book the Funchal Wild Dolphin and Whale RIB trip?

Book it if your priority is a high-energy wildlife search from Funchal with an intimate boat setup, and you’re comfortable dressing for wind. The stated 99% annual average for cetacean sightings, plus the free rebooking invitation if you see nothing at all, makes this one of the more risk-managed options on Madeira.

I’d also book it if the idea of the short Swim with Dolphins add-on excites you, but you like the idea that it’s governed by rules and charged only when the crew can legally and safely enter the water.

Skip or reconsider if you know you hate fast boats and rougher conditions, because comfort issues can steal your attention from the animals.

If you want one practical move before the tour: pack your windbreaker and keep an eye on sea-weather. When you’re properly dressed, the day feels like what it’s supposed to be, wild animals, real ocean, and a view of Madeira from a place most visitors never reach.

FAQ

How long is the RIB dolphin and whale watching trip?

The duration is about 2.5 hours.

What does the standard price include, and is swimming extra?

The standard price includes the boat trip with safety equipment, plus applicable fees, taxes, and fuel surcharges. Drinks and snacks are not included. The Swim with Dolphins option is a €20 add-on and is only charged on-site if it is possible to enter the water with the dolphins.

What animals can you see on this trip?

You can look for wild dolphins and whales, and sometimes turtles. The swim option only allows water entry under specific conditions, including when Common Dolphins or Atlantic Spotted Dolphins are spotted.

What happens if you do not see dolphins or whales?

If there is no sighting of any cetacean species during your trip, you are invited to join another trip free of charge within 1 year time, subject to availability and the terms stated by the operator.

Where does the tour stop besides the boat portion?

The trip includes sightseeing at Cabo Girao Cliff, with scenic views on the way.

What should I bring, and what about cancellation?

Bring a windbreaker, sunglasses, sun hat, and sunscreen. The guidance notes it can get windy quickly out at sea, so check weather conditions and dress appropriately. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.