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Whale & Dolphin Watching boat trip

4.8 · 110 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor 97% of star-rated reviews are 4★ or 5★ Madeira Operated by Scorpio Madeira Wild Life Free cancellation · up to 24 hours before
Duration
2h 30m
Group
Private tour, your party only
Guide languages
Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
Start & pickup
09:30, 15:00 · No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Booking
Instant confirmation · mobile ticket
Guidekin's take

A whale and dolphin trip from Machico on the wilder east coast with a marine biologist on every sailing, and a free second outing if nothing is sighted.

Swimming with dolphins happens only when conditions and species allow. 4.85 from 110 reviews at €55 per person for 2h 30m.

In our comparison: #6 of 18 in Whale & Dolphin Watching, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).

How we choose tours →Commissions never affect our verdicts.

Options and prices

2 options from the operator, described in its own words. Prices are the operator's from-prices per adult for a party of two. Click an option to book it on Viator. Guide languages on every option: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese.

OptionWhat the operator saysFrom, per adult
WW toursThe page priceWhale & Dolphin Whatching Duration: 2 hours Speed Boat - Scorpaena€55
Afternoon trip€55

Children from €38 (ages 5 to 12). Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 3 October 2026.

Included and not included

  • Professional rain coat and Life Vest is included

    Reviews

    4.8
    110 ratings
    Tripadvisor 107 · Viator 3

    97% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 107 of 110

    Star breakdown of all 110 ratings

    5 stars
    101 · 92%
    4 stars
    6 · 5%
    3 stars
    0 · 0%
    2 stars
    1 · 1%
    1 star
    2 · 2%

    What reviewers say

    Reviewers praise the crew's knowledge and care for wildlife; some outings have few or no whale or dolphin sightings.

    Praised

    • Friendly, knowledgeable crew explain the marine life encountered
    • Close encounters with dolphins and whales are frequent highlights
    • Respectful approaches that avoid disturbing the animals
    • Small groups make the boat trip feel personal and relaxed
    • Swims in the sea are a welcome addition to wildlife watching

    Complaints

    • Some outings have few or no whale or dolphin sightings
    • The boat's motion causes seasickness for some passengers

    Written by Guidekin from the 66 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (7 February 2017 to 30 July 2026). Refreshed as new reviews arrive; last checked 4 October 2026.

    Latest reviews

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    Ratings collected from Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.

    Meeting point and route

    Meeting point

    Where
    Meeting time 15 minutes prior to trip departure. · Open in Google Maps
    Departure
    09:30, 15:00 daily; scheduled through September 2027 (operator schedule, seats confirmed at checkout)
    Return
    This activity ends back at the meeting point
    Pickup
    No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
    Operator
    Scorpio Madeira Wild Life; booking and payment are completed on Viator

    About this tour, from the operator

    Whale and dolphin watching boat trip from Machico city in Madeira Island on the most wild part of the Island. Possible to swim with dolphins under certain conditions with comum and spotted dolphins only. Marine Biologist specialized on Cetaceans on board during all the trips. We talk about wild life where we do not have any control but we do all we know and experience to find them but when we do not succeed, we just give a second change to go out with us without any extra charge. On this matter we know your investment is always a good investment.

    Walking, children and accessibility

    The operator's own notes, grouped by topic. Nothing here is added by Guidekin.

    Walking and health

    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Children

    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

    Accessibility

    • Public transportation options are available nearby

    Good to know

    • Children from €38 ages 5 to 12

    The booking form will also ask for: dates of birth, heights

    Cancellation policy

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

    • 1+ days: Full refund
    • 0-1 days: No refund

    Compared with other Whale & Dolphin Watching

    TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
    This tour · #6 of 18€552h 30m4.85 (110)private
    Whale and Dolphin Watching in Calheta, Madeira Island€602h4.93 (1401)shared
    Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Madeira€742h 30m4.93 (1299)shared
    Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira€524 per group2h 30m4.94 (562)private

    Ranked #6 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. Compare all 18 Whale & Dolphin Watching

    From €55 per adult · WW tours