How Much Does Whale Watching Cost in Madeira?

Whale watching in Madeira costs from about US$39 to US$88 a person on GetYourGuide (November 2026), and the boat sets the price. The three-hour catamarans from Funchal are the cheapest: Magic Dolphin’s From Funchal: Ecological Catamaran Dolphin and Whale Watching is US$45 (checked November 2026). The two-hour RIBs and speedboats cost about US$56 to US$75, the all-inclusive catamaran US$88, and a private yacht from Calheta US$585 for a group of up to 5.

The calendar shows the catamaran’s price for your date. Every GetYourGuide trip below can be reserved now, paid later and cancelled free up to 24 hours before.

Every boat’s price

On a phone, swipe the table sideways.

GetYourGuide prices for one adult, checked November 2026. Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.

H2oMadeira’s two-hour RIB from Calheta is on Viator: Whale and Dolphin Watching in Calheta, from US$68 (checked November 2026).

What an hour at sea costs

Divide the price by the time out and the boats sort themselves. On the three-hour catamarans an hour costs about US$13 to US$15. On the two-hour RIBs and speedboats it is about US$27 to US$37, roughly twice as much. The all-inclusive catamaran comes to about US$29 an hour, with the drinks.

So the RIBs are not dearer for the same thing. You pay for a faster, smaller boat and often a biologist as guide, and you get one hour less at sea. Under Madeira’s regulation every boat gets the same limit of up to 10 minutes in the observation zone, which is why a cheaper three-hour trip is not more time with the animals.

The catamaran’s price on the calendar

Magic Dolphin’s catamaran is advertised from US$39.08. On the eight dates checked on its booking calendar, from 16 November 2026 to 25 March 2027, it was US$44.66 a person every time, at 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM, and two adults on 26 November paid US$89.32 (checked November 2026). That is the figure on this page.

Seaborn’s catamaran moves with the season: US$39.08 on 19 and 26 November and 10 December 2026, US$44.66 on 14 January and 25 March 2027. On the November and December dates checked it was the cheaper of the two; on the January and March dates they cost the same.

Check the catamaran's price for your date

What the extra money buys

• About US$45, the catamarans. Three hours, decks and shade, a bar where you buy your own drinks, toilets. Magic Dolphin’s and Seaborn’s say sightings cannot be guaranteed.
• About US$56 to US$75, the fast boats. Two hours (2.5 on Rota dos Cetáceos), a smaller boat that is quicker to the animals, usually a biologist on board, and on most a second trip if you see nothing: free on Azul Diving, Rota dos Cetáceos, Ventura and Madeira Sea Emotions, €10 a person on Magic Dolphin’s speedboat. Lobosonda gives no refund if no wildlife is seen.
• About US$83, the Calheta yacht. Up to 12 guests, drinks, snorkel gear, a cabin and a shower back at the harbour.
• About US$88, the all-inclusive catamaran. Sparkling wine on boarding, all drinks including alcohol, local snacks, and a 30-minute stop under Cabo Girão to swim.
• About US$585, a private yacht. On Tales' private cruise is priced for a group of up to 5 on the yacht Miranda: for five people that is about US$117 each.

Which to book

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.

Not sure which kind of boat? Catamaran, RIB or yacht compares them, and which whale watching company sets out each operator’s terms.