Whale & Dolphin Watching in Funchal: The 15 Best Trips

From Funchal: Ecological Catamaran Dolphin Whale Watching - The Eco-Catamaran: Modern 2022 Safety, Two Decks, and Real Viewing Space

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,771 reviews · from $40Our pick

Eco-catamaran dolphin and whale watching from Funchal with silent hybrid-electric engines, net viewing, and a swim stop at Cabo Girão.

“Well organised and safe trip. modern catamaran and smooth sailing. We have close up view of Dolphins swimming along with the boat and a group of Pilot Whales. Crew gave animals plenty of space and made sure they didn't stress them. good information about the sealife from the guide. Plenty on space on board didn't feel crowded.”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

2.Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,697 reviews · 3 hours · from $41

Sail from Funchal on a Seaborn catamaran to spot dolphins, whales, and turtles near Cabo Girão, with a swim option and bar drinks.

“Great trip the crew ensured we had a good time and we felt we were in safe hands. Saw pilot whales which was amazing can thoroughly recommend this company.”

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Funchal Bay: Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise

3.Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,684 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Luxury catamaran from Funchal for dolphin and whale watching, plus Cabo Girão snorkeling and swimming. 3 hours from $47.

“We had a great few hours out on the boat. We saw a pod of dolphins and some pilot whales too”

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All Inclusive Whale and Dolphin Watching Luxury Tour

4.All Inclusive Whale and Dolphin Watching Luxury Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,573 reviews · 3 hours · from $93

Luxury 3-hour catamaran whale and dolphin watching from Funchal, with open bar, snacks, and a swim by Cabo Girão.

“You a pay a premium but with only a limited number of people in board makes it so much better & relaxing. Best way to see them without a crowd”

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Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching on a Ecological Catamaran

5.Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching on a Ecological Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,957 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $42

Eco-friendly catamaran whale and dolphin watch from Funchal. Hybrid-electric cruising, expert spotters, and Madeira coast sights in 3 hours.

“We were so looking forward to this trip based on other reviews but we really hated it. The 2* is for the ship cleanliness and friendliness of staff only. The seas were very rough so we were wet and cold for the entire trip. People were huddled together, wrapping towels around themselves and shivering and miserable and the crew seemed completely oblivious. Information was very sparse along the journey and there was no music or anything to create a fun atmosphere. There was a bar but it was too choppy to carry drinks without them spilling over. We did eventually encounter a pod of pilot whales which we were excited…”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching by Luxury Catamaran

6.Dolphin and Whale Watching by Luxury Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,709 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Luxury catamaran whale and dolphin watching from Funchal, sail to Cabo Girão, enjoy comfort, and learn marine life on a 3-hour tour.

“Excellent boat. Crew was nice and skilled on dolphins, answered many questions with great pleasure. The boat is big and secure. What we loved most is that we were a limited group of people.”

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VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching

7.VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,709 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95Top rated

Lux whale and dolphin spotting from Funchal on a 17-person catamaran, with snacks, drinks, and a Cabo Girao swim break.

“This was an amazing trip. The crew were super friendly and helpful - we had Maggie, Francisco and Nico our captain. They couldn't do enough for the guests and when we saw whales and dolphins they gave us loads of interesting information about the species, their habits, and their habitat. A small boat with a small number of guests was perfect to see things and not feel left out. Would highly recommend!!!”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Sunset Sailing Tour

8.Dolphin and Whale Watching Sunset Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,642 reviews · from $63

Sunset sail from Funchal with open bar and snorkeling at Cabo Girão, plus a guided search for whales and dolphins on Madeira.

“Wow, great trip! The guides were fantastic and it was such a great way to see the beauty of the island. It was easy to find the meeting point and we started by finding dolphins. The crew did a great job trying to find them while also keeping a safe distance. We got to see a pod and a couple jumps too! Then we sailed off to find a swim spot. It was a must do to jump into the water. It made the views even more impressive. A crew member even jumped in with us and made sure we were safe. The sunset was just gorgeous as well peaking…”

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From Funchal: Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour

9.Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,444 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

3-hour catamaran cruise from Funchal for dolphin and whale watching, a summer swim below Cabo Girão, plus an onboard bar and toilets.

“We really enjoyed the trip the staff were very friendly and the drinks on board were reasonably priced the catamaran wasn't overcrowded so room to move around and we saw a pod of spotted dolphins so job done... And time for a swim off the boat at the end”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Sailing Trip

10.Dolphin and Whale Watching Sailing Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,325 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

3-hour sailing from Funchal for dolphin and whale watching near Cabo Girão, plus snorkeling and drinks on a small yacht.

“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!”

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From Funchal: Whale and Dolphin Watching

11.Whale and Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,313 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $56

Fast RHIB whale and dolphin watching from Funchal, Madeira, guided by marine biologists with land spotters and a cetacean sighting promise.

“It was well organised, the boat was pretty new and in great condition, the guide was friendly and knowledgeable answering all our questions, and overall it was a really good experience. Seeing pilot whales up close was very exciting and I'm pleased I got some good photos but not seeing anything else - especially dolphins - was a little disappointing, but then I suppose these are wild creatures and they don't come just because you call! Despite that though, I'd thoroughly recommend the trip to anyone.”

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From Funchal: Whales and Dolphin Adventure Tour

12.Whales and Dolphin Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,235 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Two hours on a small RIB from Funchal to search for whales and dolphins in Madeira’s clear waters, with a real shot at swimming.

“We got to see a turtle and a group of dolphins! It was really impressive. 100% recommend! Camilla and Vlad were really good guides! Unfortunately we didn’t see anything else, but that was on the animals. The boat ride was funny, just know that your but probably will hurt after this.”

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Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Madeira

13.Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Madeira

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,192 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $83

Small-group boat tour from Calheta, Madeira. Swim and snorkel in warm clear water, with staff-led searching for dolphins and whales.

“It was so good....We did it twice in 3 days! We was so impressed by the Crew and our first trip @16:30 pm. We decided to book another trip @10 am two days later. Two totally different experiences but both of them were so special!!! Emanuel the Captain and Thiago the biologists took us 6 on a magic trip and it felt like a private tour. Both times we did see dolphins - calmly swimming by our boat. It was so quiet and peaceful. Thank you guys for all the effort and love you shared with us. We will be back for a 100 %!”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise

14.Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 844 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

2-hour Funchal dolphin and whale cruise with a marine biologist on a small 18-seat speedboat. Dolphins and whales prioritized offshore.

“Great activity good amount of time and saw a lot of marine life”

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Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise from Funchal

15.Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise from Funchal

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 645 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $48

3-hour catamaran cruise from Funchal to spot Madeira dolphins and whales, with a possible Cabo Girão swim, bar, and repeat trip option.

“The trip was a blessing, we saw orcas, dolphins and on the way back to the coast ., a manta ray approached the catamaran, wich is not happening very often on the coasts of Madeira. Captain and team are a perfect match and they did a great job. I would do the trip again, right away. Thanks for everything and stay calm with the crazy tourists. Muito obrigado Thanks a lot villmols Merci Dankeschön”

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