9 tours · €35–€310 per person · ★ 4.8
For the Madeira boat tours on this page, we read every listing, checked the inclusions and kept 9 tours rated 4.5★ or higher. Prices run from €35 per person for a shared catamaran trip to €310 per group for a private yacht. A Madeira catamaran tour takes you out to look for dolphins and whales, with live commentary from a local guide included on the guided format.
A quick way to choose: the catamaran trip explicitly says wildlife sightings are not guaranteed; a Madeira sunset cruise can come with dinner or just a light snack, so check what your chosen trip serves; the private yacht includes snacks and drinks, but a light meal costs extra. Having food included does not always mean a full meal on board. The best reviewed Madeira boat tours come first below.
Boat Tours in Madeira: 9 tours, all from the 187 we kept after screening every one of the 1,064 tours Viator lists for Madeira, rated 4.5★ or higher by 30+ travellers and each one read and summarised by Guidekin.
Feel the wind in your hair and smell the salty air. Madeira has so much to offer and so do our boat trips. One thing you shouldn’t miss from your holi...
Enjoy a refreshing half-day, 4-hour boat trip from Funchal with Luv Sailing featuring a stop at the stunning Cabo Girão for swimming and snorkeling in...
Enjoy a stress-free all-inclusive boat trip from start to finish with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Step aboard and settle into a comfortable sp...
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 cer...
Sail into the Madeira sunset aboard a traditional sailing boat with a maximum of 16 guests. Enjoy a relaxed and intimate experience at sea, with time ...
Enjoy an all-inclusive boat tour at sunset, with pickup and delivery at the hotel. Relax in a comfortable place in the sun or in the shade while saili...
Go green with the premier dolphin and whale watching Eco-experience on Madeira Island! Magic Dolphin Eco is the only purpose built dolphin & whale wat...
- Search for dolphins, whales and turtles in their natural habitat - Take in panoramic views of the island from the sea - Explore the crystal clear wa...
Go green with the premier dolphin and whale watching Eco-experience on Madeira Island! Magic Dolphin Eco is the only purpose built dolphin & whale wat...
Tours and prices on this page last updated November 2, 2026
Editorial picks checked: September 15, 2026 · Ranked by Trip format, inclusions, duration, review evidence and booking constraints. Prices and ratings on tour cards are live. Commissions never affect the order.
We compared 9 handpicked Madeira boat tours for shared cruises, meals on board and private sailings.
Choose Seaborn for a shared catamaran with Cabo Girão views: 3h at €35 per person, 4.52 from 524 reviews; sightings are not guaranteed.
Choose the lunch cruise for buffet, drinks and hotel pickup: 5h at €70 per person, 4.86 from 95 reviews; wildlife is not its focus.
| Tour | Best for | Price | Rating | Duration | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seaborn Catamaran Trip | Wildlife and Cabo Girão | €35 per person | 4.52★ (524) | 3h | Sightings are not guaranteed |
| Half Day Madeira Island Cruise with Lunch | Lunch, drinks and hotel pickup | €70 per person | 4.86★ (95) | 5h | Coastal sightseeing, not a dedicated wildlife trip |
| Half Day Funchal Private Yacht | Private yacht, up to eight | €550 per group/vehicle | 4.97★ (36) | 4h | Optional light meal costs extra |
| Madeira Sunset Sailing | Sunset swim and snorkelling | €55 per person | 4.91★ (34) | 3h | No hotel pickup |
| Sunset Cruise with Dinner on Board | Sunset with dinner and pickup | €65 per person | 4.73★ (45) | 4h | A dinner cruise, not a dedicated wildlife trip |
| Whale & Dolphin Watching Boat Trip | Wildlife with a biologist | €55 per person | 4.85★ (110) | 2h 30m | Departs from Machico, not Funchal |
Our editorial picks require a rating of 4.5★ or higher and at least 50 traveler reviews. Read our methodology.
The highest-rated experiences here, chosen by thousands of real reviews.
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 cer...
Go green with the premier dolphin and whale watching Eco-experience on Madeira Island! Magic Dolphin Eco is the only purpose built dolphin & whale wat...
Go green with the premier dolphin and whale watching Eco-experience on Madeira Island! Magic Dolphin Eco is the only purpose built dolphin & whale wat...
- Search for dolphins, whales and turtles in their natural habitat - Take in panoramic views of the island from the sea - Explore the crystal clear wa...
For wildlife watching, take a shared boat such as Eco Friendly Catamaran. Half Day Funchal Private Yacht is for snacks and drinks aboard your own boat, priced for your party. For example, Eco Friendly Catamaran Dolphin and Whale Watching: €35 per person, 4.6 from 279 reviews. Half Day Funchal Private Yacht: €550 per group, 4.97 from 36 reviews. Divide the vehicle price by your party size. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
Book a shared catamaran for a morning outing: the catamaran medians are 3 hours and €35 per person. On this page, the middle half of per person prices is €35 to €66. Shared and private per person medians are €45 and €183: a spread between different products, not a premium. 6 of 9 tours with stated durations take up to three hours. For example, Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching on an Ecological Catamaran: €35 per person, 4.56 from 2,228 reviews.
For wheelchair access, start with shared tours: 3 of 6 are marked accessible by the operator. For children, filter for strollers and infants accepted. 3 of 9 tours are marked accessible by the operator; filter first, then confirm boarding and support needs with the operator. The children filter checks that strollers and infants are accepted: 5 of 9 tours qualify. A family example is Seaborn Catamaran Trip: €35 per person, 4.52 from 524 reviews.
Filter for wheelchair access → Find stroller and infant options →
Choose Madeira Sunset Sailing if swimming and snorkelling are part of the plan. It is a shared sunset sailing with no hotel pickup. Madeira Sunset Sailing, Swim, Snorkel, Relax at Sea is a shared trip: €55 per person, 4.91 from 34 reviews.
For an included meal at sunset, choose Sunset Cruise with Dinner on Board. The Half Day Funchal Private Yacht includes snacks and drinks, with an optional light meal charged extra. For example, Sunset Cruise with Dinner on Board: €65 per person, 4.73 from 45 reviews; dinner and hotel pickup are included. Half Day Funchal Private Yacht: €550 per group, 4.97 from 36 reviews; divide the vehicle price by your party size. Its optional light meal costs extra.
Choose Sunset Cruise with Dinner on Board if you need hotel pickup. Whale & Dolphin Watching Boat Trip, which has a biologist on board, departs from Machico. Hotel pickup is included on 2 of 9 tours and on none of 3 private trips. For example, Sunset Cruise with Dinner on Board: €65 per person, 4.73 from 45 reviews. Whale & Dolphin Watching Boat Trip departs from Machico: €55 per person, 4.85 from 110 reviews.
Figures in these answers come from the 9 tours on this page, as of November 2, 2026.
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