--- title: Whale & Dolphin Watching boat trip lang: en alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/portugal/madeira/tours/whale-dolphin-watching-boat-trip/ type: tour city: Madeira country: Portugal price: 55 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.85 reviews: 110 duration_minutes: 150 languages: [pt, en, fr, es] free_cancellation: "true" guidekin_pick: Wildlife with a biologist rank_in_category: 6 of 18 (Whale & Dolphin Watching) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/tours/whale-dolphin-watching-boat-trip/ --- # Whale & Dolphin Watching boat trip **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 (table below). ## Overview 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. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Meeting time 15 minutes prior to trip… - Starts 09:30, 15:00: 2 departures a day - Children from €38: ages 5 to 12 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €55 per person - Duration: 2h 30m - Rating: 4.85/5 from 110 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Scorpio Madeira Wild Life - Group: Private tour, your party only - Guide languages: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish - Start times: 09:30, 15:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.85 from 110 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 97% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 107 of 110. - 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 (2017-02-07 to 2026-07-30); last checked 2026-10-04. ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | WW tours | €55 / person | English, French, Portuguese, Spanish | Whale & Dolphin Whatching Duration: 2 hours Speed Boat - Scorpaena | | Afternoon trip | €55 / person | English, French, Portuguese, Spanish | - | ## What's included - Professional rain coat and Life Vest is included ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:30, 15:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03 - 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 Meeting time 15 minutes prior to trip departure. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJidC38g1jYAwRpTUU9f5Els4 Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap - 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 Booking asks for: dates of birth, heights ## Compared with other Whale & Dolphin Watching | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #6 of 18** | €55 | 2h 30m | 4.85 (110) | private | | [Whale and Dolphin Watching in Calheta, Madeira Island](/portugal/madeira/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/madeira/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/madeira/tours/private-dolphin-and-whale-watching-tour-in-madeira/?format=md) | €524 per group | 2h 30m | 4.94 (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. Full list: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/madeira-whale-watching/?format=md ## More in Madeira - All Madeira tours: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/tours/whale-dolphin-watching-boat-trip/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/?format=md