Madeira Whale Watching by Catamaran, RIB or Yacht: Which Boat?
Madeira boat trips for whale watching compared: Funchal's catamarans, the fast RIBs and speedboats, a wooden boat, a sailing boat and the Calheta yacht. Who each suits.
For most people the best Madeira whale watching boat is a catamaran: three hours from Funchal marina with shade, a bar and a toilet, from about US$39 to US$45 a person. Magic Dolphin’s From Funchal: Ecological Catamaran Dolphin and Whale Watching is from US$45 (checked November 2026). Pick a RIB or speedboat if you would rather spend two hours on a small fast boat that gets to the animals sooner, and a yacht from Calheta if you want a small group and drinks on board.
The calendar is the catamaran’s, a three-hour boat trip from Funchal marina. The other boats are linked below; every GetYourGuide trip here can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before.
The same rules on every boat
Whatever you pick, Madeira’s whale-watching regulation (DLR 15/2013/M, read November 2026) holds every boat to the same limits: no active approach closer than 50 m, up to 10 minutes per boat between 100 m and 50 m, and 40 minutes at most for all the boats in that zone together. A fast boat does not buy you more time beside the animals. It buys you a shorter ride out.
Madeira boat trips for whale watching, side by side
| Boat | Trips | Time out | What it is like | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catamaran | Eco catamaran (Magic Dolphin), Catamaran cruise (Seaborn), Luxury catamaran (Magic Dolphin), Catamaran (VMT), Luxury catamaran (Atlantic Pearl) | 3 hours | Decks, shade, a bar and toilets; most add a swim under Cabo Girão when the sea allows | Slow, and a long ride for 10 minutes beside each group of animals |
| All-inclusive catamaran | All-inclusive luxury tour (Oceano Pioneiro) | 3 hours | Sparkling wine, all drinks, local snacks, a 30-minute swim stop | The highest price per person; not for people prone to seasickness |
| RIB or speedboat | Small-group RIB (Azul Diving), Semi-rigid boat (Rota dos Cetáceos), Speedboat (Magic Dolphin), Speedboat (Ventura) | 2 to 2.5 hours | Fast, low on the water, a guide who is often a biologist | Wet and bumpy, no toilet stated, most not for back problems or pregnancy |
| Wooden boat | Wooden boat excursion (Bonita da Madeira) | 3 hours | Honey cookies and a glass of Madeira wine, a swim at Cabo Girão when the sea allows | Not for people prone to seasickness |
| Sailing boat | Sailing trip (Gaviao) | 3 hours | Sails when there is wind; drinks and snorkel gear included | No shoes on board; the approach to the animals is under engine |
| Yacht, from Calheta | Group yacht cruise (On Tales), Private yacht cruise (On Tales) | 2.5 hours | Up to 12 guests, drinks, snorkel gear, a cabin and a shower back at the harbour | A drive to Calheta, about 32 km from Funchal marina |
On a phone, swipe the table sideways.
Trip details checked in November 2026; the sailing rule is article 7 of Madeira’s regulation (DLR 15/2013/M).
Catamaran: comfort first
The catamarans are the default for a reason: you can stand, sit in the shade, use a toilet and buy a drink, and children can move around. Magic Dolphin’s eco catamaran has two decks, a nets area at the bow, two bars and two toilets. Seaborn’s has a bar and lends snorkel gear for the summer swim against a cash deposit. On every catamaran most of the time at sea is the search and the ride; each boat gets up to 10 minutes in the observation zone.
That is the complaint in the reviews. Of the 350 most recent reviews of Magic Dolphin’s catamaran (the newest dated 10 November 2026, the oldest 2 October), one on 28 October calls the trip “an hour too long”, and one on 8 November counts about 20 minutes with the animals in three hours. A French reviewer of Seaborn’s catamaran on 27 October found the boat too slow and too big to see many animals and wrote that next time it would be a semi-rigid boat.
RIB or speedboat: speed and a smaller group
A RIB (a rigid inflatable boat) or a speedboat sits low on the water and runs fast. You are out for two hours instead of three, the guide is often a marine biologist, and the boats that state a figure take from 12 to 36 people: 18 on Ventura’s boats, 25 on Magic Dolphin’s speedboat, 18 or 36 on Rota dos Cetáceos’ boats. Azul Diving’s boat is built for small groups, with no number given.
The catch is comfort. On Magic Dolphin’s speedboat your belongings may get wet, there is little shelter on any of them, and most are marked not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems. Azul Diving’s RIB is not for children under 6 or anyone under 130 cm.
Wooden boat, sailing boat and yacht
Bonita da Madeira runs three hours on a wooden boat from Funchal’s Avenida do Mar, with honey cookies and a glass of Madeira wine. Gaviao sails when there is enough wind, includes drinks and snorkel gear, and asks you to take your shoes off on board. Madeira’s regulation bans sailing boats from approaching the animals without an engine, so the last part of any approach is under motor.
From Calheta, On Tales takes up to 12 guests on a yacht with a cabin, a restroom, drinks, snorkel gear and a shower back at the harbour. Its 6:30 and 7:30 PM departures are sunset trips with no whale watching, so book a daytime one. Whale watching from Calheta covers the yacht and the Calheta RIBs.
Which boat to book
If you only take one Madeira boat trip, pick the boat for your group:
From Funchal: Ecological Catamaran Dolphin and Whale Watching
Magic Dolphin's catamaran: three hours from Funchal marina, two decks, shade, a bar and two toilets. Spotters on land, an English-speaking guide.
Check dates →Madeira: Responsible Whale and/or Dolphin Watching Tour
Azul Diving: two hours on a high-speed boat built for small groups, biologist or naturalist guides, another ticket free if you see no whale or dolphin.
See the RIB →Madeira: 2.5-Hour Whale and Dolphin-Watching Cruise
On Tales: 2.5 hours for up to 12 guests, drinks, snorkel gear, a cabin and a restroom. A daytime departure for whales; the evening ones are sunset trips.
See the yacht →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Want drinks included instead? Oceano Pioneiro's all-inclusive catamaran is from US$88 (checked November 2026), with sparkling wine, all drinks and a 30-minute swim stop under Cabo Girão.
More around Madeira
Madeira Tours with Open Dates
Other trips on the island with live availability. The start point, what is included and the cancellation terms show before you book.
The Comfortable Way Out to Sea
Magic Dolphin's eco catamaran from Funchal marina: two decks, a bar, two toilets, an English-speaking guide and spotters on land. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates