---
title: Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour from Funchal
lang: en
alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/portugal/funchal/tours/whale-and-dolphin-watching-tour-from-funchal/
type: tour
city: Madeira
country: Portugal
price: 48
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.52
reviews: 377
duration_minutes: 150
languages: [de, pt, en, fr]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 16 of 18 (Whale & Dolphin Watching)
schedule_checked: 2026-09-30
data_updated: 2026-11-03
canonical: https://guidekin.com/portugal/funchal/tours/whale-and-dolphin-watching-tour-from-funchal/
---

# Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour from Funchal

**Guidekin's take:** A whale and dolphin trip where lookouts on land with binoculars steer the boat to the animals and a marine biologist team gives a briefing before departure, with snorkelling gear included. Food and drinks are not, and the ride is not recommended for pregnant travellers. 4.52 from 377 reviews at €48 per person for 2h 30m.

In our comparison: #16 of 18 in Whale & Dolphin Watching, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Our clients are always accompanied by our marine biologists team. Before each boat trip there is a short introduction, the the adventure starts! We have lookouts on land with binoculars specified for observing Cetaceans in the open sea. The lookouts guide us to the animals in vessels fully equipped for observing wild dolphins and whales. During your small group tour you might observe a large diversity of dolphins, whales and turtles on Madeira Island Sea.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: Before each trip there is a short…
- 4 start times: between 09:00 and 16:00
- Food not included: bring or buy your own
- Children from €35: ages 3 to 5

**Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point

## Key facts

- Price: from €48 per person
- Duration: 2h 30m
- Rating: 4.52/5 from 377 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Rota dos Cetaceos - Whale & Dolphin Watching
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: German, Portuguese, English, French
- Start times: 09:00, 12:30, 13:30, 16:00
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-09-30

## Reviews

4.52 from 377 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
88% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 332 of 377.

- 5 stars: 292 (77%)
- 4 stars: 40 (11%)
- 3 stars: 16 (4%)
- 2 stars: 8 (2%)
- 1 star: 21 (6%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides' wildlife knowledge and close sightings; the RIB ride can be rough and wet.

**Praised:**
- Knowledgeable guides explain marine life and answer questions
- Many praise the crew for keeping a respectful distance from the animals
- Close views of dolphins and whales from the small boat
- Attentive crew check on passengers and help those feeling seasick

**Complaints:**
- Late cancellations, inflexible rebooking and disputed refunds
- Some enjoy the fast RIB ride, while others report jolting, soaking spray and seasickness
- Some get to swim, while others say the advertised swimming opportunity did not happen
- Some departures bring only brief dolphin sightings or no whales or dolphins

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2019-08-24 to 2026-09-17); last checked 2026-10-04.

## What's included

- Local guide
- Professional guide
- Tour escort/host
- Use of Snorkelling equipment
- Live commentary on board
- All activities

## Not included

- Food and drinks

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 09:00, 12:30, 13:30, 16:00
- Schedule last checked: 2026-09-30
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Meeting point

Before each trip there is a short introduction where you’ll learn all about these majestic creatures, then the adventure starts.
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJM8GlmAlgYAwRZPoVj74coYQ

Ends: back at the meeting point

## Good to know

- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Dress code is smart casual

## Compared with other Whale & Dolphin Watching

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #16 of 18** | €48 | 2h 30m | 4.52 (377) | shared |
| [Whale and Dolphin Watching in Calheta, Madeira Island](/portugal/funchal/tours/whale-and-dolphin-watching-in-calheta-madeira-island/?format=md) | €60 | 2h | 4.93 (1401) | shared |
| [Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Madeira](/portugal/funchal/tours/whale-and-dolphin-watching-tour-in-madeira/?format=md) | €74 | 2h 30m | 4.93 (1299) | shared |
| [Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira](/portugal/funchal/tours/private-dolphin-and-whale-watching-tour-in-madeira/?format=md) | €524 per group | 2h 30m | 4.94 (562) | private |

Ranked #16 of 18 in Whale & Dolphin Watching by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €35 to €109, median €52; typical length 2h 30m. 2 of 18 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/portugal/funchal/madeira-whale-watching/?format=md

## More in Madeira

- All Madeira tours: https://guidekin.com/portugal/funchal/?format=md
- This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/portugal/funchal/tours/whale-and-dolphin-watching-tour-from-funchal/

Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/portugal/funchal/?format=md