Experience Dolphin and Whale Watching in Madeira - Boat Tour from Funchal (Sao Pedro)

Summary: We got to see some dolphins and short fin whales up close. It was real fun. Speed boat was loads of fun also. Bring a hat for the wind. Bring a change of clothes to keep in the car. You will get wet.

Summary: We had a wonderful time today looking for Whales and Dolphins with Philipe and the team out of Funchal. The 2.5 hours spent at sea was brilliant with him being very knowledgeable and the team working hard to show us areas where they were. In October, we saw 2 different types of whales and 2 different types of dolphins which were awesome. Highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see some W&D!

Summary: We saw 2 different species of dolphins and whales. I think the speed boat adds to the experience, it was a lot of fun. You are a lot closer to the water and get to see the animals really close. Worth every single penny, one of the best activities I’ve done on Madeira.

Summary: Very helpful, friendly and informative crew member. Phillipe Bettancourt. Went the extra mile literally. Saw Bottlenose Dolphins, Atlantic Flying Fish, Cory’s Shearwater and Common Tern. Despite a bad knee was helped into seat and felt very safe.

Summary: It was an amazing experience. We had to go further to see the whales but it was well worth the journey. The guide was knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information about the species. They were very mindful not to disturb the animals. On the way back we travelled closer to the coast so it was better than any sightseeing tour. As the wind picked up towards the end it was a bumpy ride, but I enjoyed it despite the wet clothes. Highly recommend!

Summary: Very professional guide who was informative and friendly, got to see dolphins up close and enjoyed a wonderful view of Madeira throughout the trip.

Summary: Francisca, Filipe, and the spotter (I can’t remember their name!) were all excellent. We saw a few different species of animals and multiple spottings. Francisca talked us through the animals, about the species, what they looked like, any special features to look out for, and (most importantly) which direction to look at. The team seemed to care about the animals and the ocean - we stopped for a minute to collect a large piece of garbage that was floating. Depending on the animal, some may be further away from the boat and some may get up close. Either way, I recommend trying to watch the animals with your eyes vs the phone as they can move quickly.

Summary: I booked as a solo female traveller. I sat at the back of the boat, as this position is less bouncy when the boat is at speed. There is space for 18 in two rows of 9. After a safety briefing we headed out of the harbour. Initially we went east of Funchal and after about twenty minutes spotted a group of Beaked Whales. These were quite a long way off but it was possible to see them rise out of the sea. After they disappeared we headed west towards Cabo Girau where a large pod of Bottle Nosed Dolphins was spotted. For marine conservation reasons only two boats are allowed to view a group of mammals at a time. The boats soon left and it was our turn to slowly approach. It was an amazing experience. The dolphins were sometimes to the left and then to the right of the boat. You could often see as many as 6 or 7 rising out of the sea at the same time. They were so close that you could hear their breathing. We stayed with the pod for at least twenty minutes and were able to take wonderful photos and video footage. Following marine guidelines we then left the dolphins alone and headed into deeper waters. While there were no further sitings, this part of the trip was truly exhilarating as we bounced over the waves, with the spray hitting our faces. The last part of the trip we hugged the coast Cabo Girau back to Funchal. Here, I was lucky to see four Flying Fish, who skimmed above the waves for about twenty metres at a time. You could almost believe they were birds! We returned to the harbour after two and a half hours; all feeling very blessed to have witnessed nature at its best. We had a friendly and able skipper and received passionate and informative commentary about the sealife from our marine biologist, Francisca. It was an unforgettable experience and I would highly recommend Ventura Nature Emotions. You can find them easily on the pier in Funchal harbour.

Summary: We loved this tour, and especially our host Francisca, who had so much passion for the animals and the islands nature which was wonderful and touching to see. We had great luck with our sighting and overall experience, and even got some awesome underwater footage with our 360 camera, thanks so much to the team for letting us do this ! We recommend this tour and experience for sure 💛💛💛

Summary: What a superb trip we had on the 12th of August with Francisca and Filipe. We saw three different species and loads of the island’s coastline. A massive pod of pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins and beak whales were seen really close but responsibly and respectfully, with loads of information and a nice checklist at the end of the tour. On the return at high speed we saw lots of the islands magnificent south coast and even a flying fish! Would highly recommend for a great combination of fun, sightseeing and wildlife.