Portugal · SAILING TRIPS IN MADEIRA
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 sailing trips in Madeira worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Cruise Madeira’s coast on a hybrid electric catamaran, spot dolphins and whales, swim near Cabo Girão, and enjoy responsible wildlife viewing.
“Great crew. Friendly, knowledgeable and communicative. They did a good job finding some Sperm whales and Atlantic Spotted dolphins. Boat was comfortable and it was a pleasant 3 hours on the water.”
Search Madeira’s coast for dolphins, whales and turtles, then swim beneath Cabo Girão on a relaxed three-hour catamaran cruise from Funchal.
“Really enjoyable experience. Well organised and all the staff were very friendly and enthusiastic. We did get to see dolphins very close to the boat, which was lovely to experience. The boat is an excellent craft, quite exciting to travel on, especially on the rig at the front. Special thanks to the crew member who taught me how to dive off the boat, he was very patient and explained everything really well.”
Cruise Funchal Bay on a small luxury catamaran, watch for whales and dolphins, then swim beneath the cliffs of Cabo Girão.
“Both staff were absolutely quality, good laugh and a great tour! Saw pilot whales and dolphins at first spot and had a great swim in the beautiful waters! All the best with the new baby captain!”
Review of Madeira’s 3-hour eco catamaran cruise from Funchal, with dolphins, whales, coastal views, practical tips, and honest drawbacks.
“I already did the west side but I did not mind doing it again as it was very enjoyable experience, I am also glad visiting the east side asI always wanted to walk above the clouds not just on airplanes! The views were like a dream come true, Both guides were excellent in describing everything.”
Sail from Funchal on a small luxury catamaran, watch for dolphins and whales, and swim beneath the towering Cabo Girão sea cliff.
“This was excellent. Loved every minute. Really chilled out trip. The guides were amazing, made us feel really welcome and looked after. Made us all feel at home. the boat was spacious and plenty of seats anywhere on the boat or under the canopy in the shade if needed. One free drink and then very inexpensive to buy another £2.50 for a beer. The whole thing was great. The guides did their very best to get us to see the dolphins which were mostly quite a few meters from the boat but we got quite close at one point with 3 swimming directly in front of the boat. Actually the…”
Watch for dolphins and whales, swim beneath Cabo Girão, and sail into a Madeira sunset with drinks included on this relaxed Funchal cruise.
“We had a great time on this cruise. we did not see any wildlife, but the captain did his best to try and find some. it is nature, so nothing can be guaranteed. the sunset was beautiful and the views of the shore and the sea were spectacular. it is a relatively small boat that felt private. it has seating on the outside and a some interior spaces, bathroom included. we did have to take off our shoes while on the boat, not to mark up the deck. they served us unlimited drinks and the staff was very attentive. nice relaxing evening sail.Read more”
Sail from Funchal to Cabo Girão for dolphin and whale watching, a swim, snorkeling, coastal views, and drinks on a small yacht.
“Trip was fun, we have been able to observe dolphins. We had a great swim in the ocean. Our guide Bruno was awesome during whole trip:D Thank You”
Cruise from Funchal at sunset, watch for dolphins and whales, swim below Cabo Girão, and enjoy three calm hours on Madeira’s Atlantic coast.
“Tour guides were very insightful and professional and saw lots of dolphins! Overall definitely recommend going! As well as that loads of photo opportunities etc! 30 minutes before hand is a bit of a stretch but if you want to get the best seats then it is definitely worth it! When going against the waves it can make you feel a bit queasy so If you suffer from travel sickness or sea sickness I’d take some tablets before hand! Going with the waves is perfectly fine though!”
Review of Madeira’s 3-hour catamaran cruise from Funchal, with dolphin and whale watching, Cabo Girão swimming, tips, costs, and caveats.
“Calm boat ride, very comfortable, drinks bar and toilets, saw lots of dolphins and whales, lovely swim to finish.”
Review of Seaborn Catamaran in Madeira: whale and dolphin watching, Cabo Girao views, swimming, onboard drinks, price, tips, and drawbacks.
“I got to book this excursion very last minute and thankfully it did not disappoint. We got to see sperm and pilot whales but not dolphins but that’s ok. I was visiting from Miami therefore not seeing dolphins was not a total bust and they can’t control wildlife to say the least so please keep an open mind. If you’re looking for a nice scenic trip with friends/family I definitely recommend this catamaran excursion. The crew was very nice, knowledgeable and I loved how they stopped the catamaran to remove plastic/garbage from the ocean that we saw along the way. Give them a try! You won’t be disappointed :)”
Review of Madeira’s 3-hour Funchal catamaran trip, with dolphin and whale watching, Cabo Girão views, swimming, snorkeling, and practical tips.
“First off, I appreciated this tour posted as a catamaran first and then an opportunity to see dolphins etc as a secondary. Won me over because you can never be certain you’ll see anything. Jon and crew were awesome, super friendly and made for a really enjoyable afternoon. Highly recommend!”
Watch Madeira’s dolphins and whales from an eco-friendly catamaran, with coastal views, live commentary, onboard drinks, and a possible swim.
“An excellent cruise, we saw pilot whales and bottle head dolphins. There was a refreshment on the boat, too.”
Sail from Funchal to Madeira’s Desertas Islands for volcanic scenery, a guided conservation visit, lunch, swimming, and possible dolphin sightings.
“Everything was well organized. We enjoyed the trip to the island. On our way we have seen whales and dolphins, that was definitely our highlight. The crew members are super kind, we enjoyed everything. The island, the clear water was perfect. We have done our trip on 11.10. I can recommend to have warm clothes since the wind is quite cold. On the island it was much warmer so do not forget to take your swimming suits and sun creams. Also to consider to take your swimming shoes with you. Going out of the little boat was a bit difficult since the stones are slippy. Everything was worth it, I…”
Cruise Madeira’s coast on a small luxury catamaran, with chances for dolphins and whales, a swim stop, sea views, and onboard drinks.
“Horrific death trap I am an experienced sailor ( working in the yacht industry.) The crew told the owner they did not think it was safe to leave the marina, he forced them. We where the only yacht out, we later found out all where cancelled. Everyone was sick, the weather and waves where horrific!! We spent 2 hrs in hell with our 3 year old and could easily have died. I intent to sue!! I have a video and will keep for Portuguese authorities. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! NO REFUND.”
Cruise from Funchal to Cabo Girão at sunset, with sea views, a swim stop, and chances to spot dolphins or whales for $47.
“Was a Last minute booking and thank god we did book! We had the most amazing time! The guide was so lovely and helpful explaining how to kayak and stayed with us while we were travelling to the beach so make sure we were all doing okay! when we got to the beach he told us a bit of history about the island and animals which was really interesting! Had the best time snorkelling and saw some amazing fish! The colours on them were gorgeous. All together had the most amazing time, we go given 2 waters and 2 redballs for the trip and got given snorkelling equipment as well.…”
Pick a coastline, a cellar or a cave.
