Funchal: RIB Whale Watching Cruise and Optional Dolphin Swim

Madeira’s small RIB boat gets you low over the water, close to the action, and quickly out toward the open Atlantic. The crew uses land-based spotters to help locate dolphins and whales, and the boat’s speed gives you a better chance of reaching the animals while there is still time to watch them.

I like the personal scale of the trip and the strong attention to animal welfare. I also like that the ride itself is part of the fun, with big coastal views, quick runs between sightings, and a return past cliffs and sea caves. The main drawback is that the ocean can be rough, and the optional dolphin swim is brief, physically demanding, and never guaranteed.

Key things to know before booking

• Small-group wildlife watching: A RIB keeps you near the water and avoids the feel of a large sightseeing boat.
• High sighting rate: The operator reports a yearly average of 99 percent of trips finding at least one cetacean species, though wildlife is never guaranteed.
• Optional dolphin swim: The €20 add-on is charged only if entering the water is possible under local rules.
• Strict animal protection rules: Swimming is allowed only with Common Dolphins or Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, and only when their behavior is suitable.
• Fast, scenic return: The ride back can be bumpy, but it offers fine views of Madeira’s south coast and Cabo Girão.
• Bring warm layers: Wind, spray, and speed can make the boat feel much cooler than Funchal’s streets.

Leaving Funchal harbor on a compact RIB

You begin at Xpoint Madeira, though the precise meeting point can vary with the booking option. Finding the boarding place may take a little care. There has been some confusion around the quay, so follow the map pin closely and allow time to locate the jetty door. Clear signage may not be obvious.

Before departure, the crew gives a safety briefing and helps you put on a life jacket. This is a short practical session, but it matters. A RIB is open to the weather, and you are not sitting behind a cabin window. Expect wind, spray, and movement from the first minutes of the trip.

The boat leaves Funchal harbor and heads toward the open ocean. From the water, you get a fresh view of Madeira’s steep south coast, with cliffs rising above the shoreline and the city spread along the lower slopes. The changing angle is one of the quiet pleasures of the trip. You are not simply being carried to a wildlife site, you are seeing the island from its working harbor outward.

The ride is part sightseeing, part transport, and part amusement park. The RIB can move quickly between possible wildlife locations, and the low seating position puts you close to the sea. That also means the ride can be bumpy. If you prefer a calm, slow cruise, a catamaran may suit you better. If you enjoy speed and a bit of spray, the RIB has the edge.

Searching the Atlantic for dolphins and whales

Wildlife watching is a game of patience and luck, even in a productive area. The crew searches for signs of movement and works with spotters on land to help identify where animals may be located. That system is useful because the boat can head toward a promising area rather than searching blindly for the entire two and a half hours.

The operator gives a yearly average of 99 percent of trips with at least one cetacean sighting. Treat that as an encouraging figure, not a promise for your particular morning or afternoon. Animals move freely, weather changes, and the sea can hide even a large whale.

The possible sightings include dolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales, and other whale species. Turtles are also sometimes seen. The species list is not a checklist, and the quality of the experience does not depend only on how many animals appear. A single dolphin pod moving beside the boat can be more memorable than a distant glimpse of several species.

You may see Common Dolphins or Atlantic Spotted Dolphins close to the boat. Bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales have also been seen on these outings, along with sperm whales. The crew explains the differences between species and adds information about Madeira and the sea around the island. Guides named during these trips include Anna, Paolo, Mark, Ana, and Marc.

The crew’s conduct around the animals is important. The boat is not permitted to chase wildlife carelessly or force an encounter. Several accounts of the trip point to a clear respect for the animals, and the rules around swimming make that approach plain. The best viewing often comes when the boat slows down and lets the animals set the pace.

What the wildlife viewing feels like from the boat

A RIB gives you a close-to-the-water view, which can make a dolphin’s surfacing easier to see than from a high deck. You may notice the smooth arc of a back, a dorsal fin cutting through the water, or a sudden group movement beside the boat. The compact boat also lets the crew reposition faster than a much larger vessel.

The tradeoff is comfort. There is less shelter from sun and wind, and the open design gives you no indoor escape if conditions turn cool. You should bring a windbreaker, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and a warmer waterproof jacket in winter. The company specifically warns that conditions can become windy at sea.

The boat stays out for at least two hours, with the full experience lasting about two and a half hours. That gives the crew time to search rather than rush back after one quiet stretch. If no cetacean species is seen, you are offered another trip within one year, subject to availability. The replacement trip is non-transferable.

That policy offers some reassurance, but it does not remove the need to plan wisely. If seeing whales is your main reason for coming to Madeira, leave room in your schedule for a second attempt. If you have only one free morning, think of the wildlife as a strong possibility rather than a certainty.

The optional dolphin swim and what it really involves

The dolphin swim is a €20 add-on, but it is not an ordinary swim session and it is not guaranteed. The charge is made on site only if the crew can legally enter the water with the animals. If conditions are not right, you pay only for the boat trip.

Local animal protection rules limit the swim to Common Dolphins or Atlantic Spotted Dolphins. The animals must also be behaving in a suitable way. If the dolphins are traveling fast, showing signs of distress, or otherwise not appropriate for the activity, the crew will not put people in the water.

When it does happen, each participant usually gets only about one or two minutes. You wear a mask and snorkel and hold a rope attached to the boat while the boat moves slowly alongside the dolphins. This is a controlled way to enter the water, but it is not a relaxed session where you float freely for a long time.

You need enough upper-body strength to hold the rope, and you should be comfortable in open water. One important practical point is that the boat is still involved in the experience, so you are watching the dolphins while being towed alongside the vessel. It can be exciting, but it is more demanding than the phrase swim with dolphins might suggest.

I would treat the swim as a possible bonus, not the main product. The boat trip remains worthwhile without it. Some outings cannot include the water entry, while others allow everyone a short turn when the sea is calm and the dolphins are suitable.

Cabo Girão and the ride back to Funchal

The return route includes a sightseeing and photo stop around Cabo Girão. This famous cliff area gives you one of Madeira’s most striking coastal views, and it is especially appealing from sea level. You see the rock face from below, along with the contours of the shoreline and sea caves.

The return can be fast and rough. That is good news if you want an energetic finish, but less appealing if you are sensitive to bouncing. One account described the ride as very bumpy but quick, with beautiful views of the south coast and caves while hugging the shoreline.

If you suffer from ordinary motion sickness, the RIB may work better for you than a slower boat because it spends less time rolling in the open sea. Still, no boat is motion-proof. Eat lightly, dress for spray, and consider where you sit if you know you are prone to seasickness.

After roughly two hours or more on the water, the boat returns to Funchal marina. You disembark at the designated Xpoint Madeira location, which can depend on the option booked.

Is the $61 price good value?

At $61 per person, this is a fair price for a two and a half hour wildlife trip in a small boat. The cost includes the boat ride, safety equipment, taxes, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees. You do not need to add a separate charge for standard equipment.

The value comes from three things: the small group, the fast RIB, and the time spent searching rather than simply making a short coastal run. A large boat may offer more room and a smoother ride, but the RIB gives you a more direct view of the sea and often a quicker response when wildlife is spotted.

The €20 dolphin swim option needs a little mental adjustment. You are not paying €20 for a guaranteed swim. You are adding the possibility of entering the water, with payment made only if the crew can do so legally and safely. That is a reasonable arrangement because it avoids charging you for an activity that cannot happen.

Drinks, snacks, and parking are not included. Plan for those separately. The private option can carry up to 18 passengers, which may work well for a family or group of friends who want the boat to themselves. For solo visitors and couples, the standard small-group trip is likely the better value.

Who will enjoy this Madeira boat trip?

I would choose this outing if you want an active ocean experience rather than a quiet cruise. It suits couples, families with older children, and friends who enjoy speed, open water, and the chance of seeing several marine species in one trip.

It also works well if you want a different view of Madeira. The coastline, cliffs, caves, and Cabo Girão stop give the trip value even during quiet wildlife periods. A child who is fascinated by animals may enjoy the search itself, though the open boat and rough ride may be tiring for very young children.

You should think twice if you dislike wind, spray, or sudden movement. The guides are there to help, and the boat carries safety equipment, but this remains an exposed sea trip. Bring the jacket even if Funchal feels sunny and warm at breakfast.

The excursion is also a good fit for anyone who cares about responsible wildlife viewing. The rules can limit the dolphin swim and sometimes keep the boat at a respectful distance, but those limits protect the animals and make the encounter more responsible.

Practical tips for a smoother outing

Wear layers rather than one heavy garment. A windbreaker may be enough in warm weather, while a waterproof jacket is more useful in winter or on a windy day.

Use sunscreen even when the air feels cool. Open water reflects sunlight, and you may spend several hours exposed to it.

Keep sunglasses secure and bring a sun hat that will not blow away. Spray and wind are part of the RIB experience.

Do not book the trip only because of the dolphin swim. The water entry is short, conditional, and allowed only with certain species.

Follow the map pin carefully at the meeting point. The quay can be hard to read, and waiting by the jetty door may be necessary.

Leave enough flexibility in your schedule if a sighting is especially important to you. The no-sighting replacement offer is useful, but it still depends on availability within one year.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the start time and meeting location for your chosen option because both can vary.

Should you book it?

I would book this Madeira RIB trip if you want the best mix of wildlife watching, coastal scenery, and a lively boat ride for $61. The small boat, land-based spotters, and strong record of cetacean sightings give it a good practical case, while guides such as Anna, Paolo, Mark, and Ana add useful information about the animals and the island.

Choose the standard trip if you mainly want dolphins and whales. Add the swim only if you understand that it may not happen and that, when it does, your time in the water may be only one or two minutes while holding the boat’s rope.

For a calm, sheltered outing, choose another style of boat. For a close, fast, wind-in-your-face look at Madeira’s Atlantic wildlife, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the Funchal RIB whale watching trip?

The activity lasts about 2.5 hours. The boat stays out for no less than two hours before returning to Funchal marina.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include dolphins, whales, pilot whales, sperm whales, and sometimes sea turtles. The operator reports a yearly average of 99 percent of trips with at least one cetacean species sighted, but wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Is swimming with dolphins included?

No. Swimming or snorkeling with dolphins is an optional €20 add-on. You are charged on site only if entering the water with the animals is possible under local rules.

How long is the dolphin swim?

The time in the water is usually about one or two minutes per participant. You hold a rope attached to the boat while using a mask and snorkel.

Which dolphins allow the swimming option?

The water entry is permitted only when Common Dolphins or Atlantic Spotted Dolphins are seen and their behavior meets local animal protection requirements.

What should I bring?

Bring a windbreaker, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and a jacket. A warmer waterproof jacket is recommended during the winter months because it can become windy at sea.

What happens if no cetaceans are seen?

You are invited to join another trip free of charge within one year, subject to availability. The replacement trip is non-transferable.