All Inclusive Whale and Dolphin Watching Luxury Tour

Our look at this Madeira whale and dolphin watching tour is simple: it’s a comfortable, adult-friendly 3 hours on a luxury catamaran, with real time on the water searching for dolphins, whales, and turtles, plus a swim stop by Cabo Girão. You start at the new marina docks in Funchal, get a welcome glass of sparkling wine, then settle in with indoor and outdoor seating as the crew hunts for marine life.

I especially like two things. First, the crew focus is practical and calm: guests repeatedly mention guides such as Liv, David, Bruno, Nic, Maggi, Margarita, Nico, Clare, Sousa, Chico, and Peter, with an emphasis on respecting wildlife. Second, the onboard “luxury” part is tangible, not just marketing: unlimited drinks including alcohol, plus a steady flow of local snacks and a proper wine selection.

One drawback to consider: like any wildlife tour, sightings are not guaranteed. A number of guests reported no whales or dolphins that day, even though the crew worked hard and kept searching.

Key Points That Matter (Before You Go)

• Small-group feel: Many guests mention the boat is kept far from crowded, often cited around a cap near 17 people, so you can move and get a clear view.
• Guides who know their stuff: Guests named multiple crew members and described frequent, useful marine-life and Madeira geography talk.
• Unlimited drinks and snacks: Open bar with alcohol, plus local bites served throughout, including wine choices guests call out as a highlight.
• Cabo Girão swim stop: A 30-minute break by the world-famous sea cliff (586 m / 1920 ft), with snorkels and goggles provided.
• Real comfort for 3 hours: Indoor and outdoor seating, toilets onboard, and extra touches mentioned in reviews like towels and wet-gear storage.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Madeira Whale and Dolphin Watching, but Make It Luxury

If you’re planning whale watching in Madeira, you’ll quickly learn the “cheaper seats” often come with tradeoffs: tight decks, loud crowds, and long waits with nothing happening. This tour goes after the opposite mood. You get onto a luxury catamaran with space to choose where you want to sit, and the crew runs the trip like they actually care that you feel comfortable.

The big promise is simple: you head out from Funchal and scan the waters for dolphins, whales, and turtles in their natural habitat. Then you get one of the most scenic rewards Madeira can offer: a stop by Cabo Girão, where the sea cliff towers 586 meters above the water.

The real value is that it’s not only about seeing animals. It’s also about the experience management: smooth boarding, a welcome drink, snacks and drinks served during the search, and a swim break that changes the tour from sightseeing to something you’ll remember with your whole body.

Where You Start in Funchal: Kiosk VipDolphins

Logistics in Madeira can feel chaotic if you’re juggling parking, taxis, and short walking distances. This one is straightforward. You meet at Kiosk VipDolphins, located between Praça do Povo and the Ocean. It’s easy to find using Google Maps with the name VipDolphins.

There’s no hotel pickup or drop-off, so plan on getting to the marina area under your own steam. The good news: because you’re meeting right where the boat departs, you waste less time and you get on the water faster.

The Catamaran Comfort: Indoor/Outdoor and Built for Moving Around

On many boat tours, “comfort” just means there are seats. Here, comfort seems to mean something more practical.

You’ll find indoor and outdoor seating, plus enough room that you can change positions during the trip without feeling like you’re climbing over strangers. Guests repeatedly mention how easy it was to pick a viewpoint and then keep it as the route shifted.

There are also toilets onboard (women and men), which sounds basic until you’re out on the water for hours and you’re grateful it’s there. And since this is a 3-hour tour, those small conveniences genuinely matter.

The VIP Part Isn’t Just the Boat

Some tours call themselves VIP because they sound fancy. This one earns it with the way it’s run.

Guests keep mentioning two big “VIP” behaviors: the crew is consistently attentive, and the group size stays limited. Several reviews highlight that other whale tours can be crowded and noisy, while this one feels calmer and more personal. When the number of passengers is smaller, you’re less packed onto the deck and the guide can spend more time answering questions.

You’ll also hear names often in reviews. People singled out crew like Margarita, Maggi, Nico, and captains such as Nic and Chico. That points to a stable, team-run operation rather than a revolving door.

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Drinks and Wine on an Open Bar: What You Actually Get

This is one of the tour’s strongest selling points, and not in a vague way. You get unlimited drinks, including alcohol, during the outing. You also receive a welcome glass of sparkling wine before you set off.

You’ll typically notice the difference right away: snacks and drinks appear early, then keep coming. Reviewers mention local wines and even call out specific moments like refilling drinks during the stop. One guest even mentioned cinnamon coffee as part of the food and drink mix.

The practical angle: when you’re out scanning for wildlife, you’re often watching for long stretches and waiting for the boat to change direction. Having drinks and snacks throughout keeps that time pleasant instead of draining.

The Wildlife Search: Dolphins, Whales, and Turtles in Practice

The core of the tour is the on-water search. After boarding at the marina docks of Funchal, you sail out to look for dolphins, whales, and turtles.

The itinerary timing is built around real searching, not just cruising:

• You’re on the catamaran for about 45 minutes as the crew begins scanning.
• You then have a 30-minute secret spot where the focus is spotting marine life and learning about what you’re seeing.
• After that, you return to travel time for about 30 minutes, then you reach the Cabo Girão area.
• Finally, you sail back toward port for 45 minutes, with more viewpoints of the Funchal coast.

What I like here is that the tour doesn’t pretend you’ll see animals instantly. The boat’s movement and the way the crew keeps working the water is the point. Guests also note that the team keeps communication with spotters on land, which helps them react faster when animals are reported.

The Guided Marine Life Spot: Facts While You Wait

In the “secret stop,” you’re doing two things at once: you’re searching, and you’re learning.

This is when a good guide really earns their place. Guests consistently say the crew shared lots of information about marine life and Madeira’s geography, without making it feel like a lecture. Names like Liv, David, Clare, and Sousa show up across multiple reviews as guiding examples, along with captains like Bruno.

There’s also a practical benefit. If you know what you’re looking for, you’ll enjoy the sightings more. Even if you only see movement on the horizon, it’s less random when someone explains the behavior and what might be nearby.

And yes, you might spot turtles. One reviewer specifically mentioned seeing the crew retrieve a plastic bag from the ocean, described as helping protect turtles and fish. That’s a small story, but it reflects the tour’s general tone: careful and wildlife-aware.

Cabo Girão: The 586-Meter Sea Cliff Swim Break

Then comes the highlight many people remember first. After the sailing sections and the marine-life searching, you reach Cabo Girão, the seaside cliff that rises 586 meters (1920 ft) above the water. It’s widely known as the world’s second highest sea cliff.

You get about 30 minutes at this part of the route, with a mix of:

• Photo stop and scenic views
• Break time with drinks/snacks
• A chance to swim in the crystal-clear water
• Snorkeling options, with snorkels and goggles provided for free

This is where the tour goes from “watching wildlife” to “doing something in the ocean.” If the sea is calm enough, it’s a great moment to reset your senses. Even if wildlife spotting was slow, this stop usually gives you a different kind of wow: the sheer scale of the cliff and the clarity of the water.

A few guests mentioned sea conditions in passing, including that it can get choppy farther out. That’s normal for Madeira. If you’re prone to motion sickness, consider preparing in advance.

Snorkeling Gear and Small Comfort Touches

The included gear list is clear: snorkels and goggles are provided for free, and there’s a swimming stop as part of the tour.

Reviews add the kinds of extras that make a real difference:

• Some guests mention towels
• Wet-gear handling like plastic bags for your stuff
• Even a phone charging station is called out in at least one review
• A few people mention pool noodles or extra items on board

No one wants to step into the ocean and then realize they’re underprepared. Here, the basics are covered, and the extra practical touches seem to show up often enough to count as a comfort factor.

Safety and Seasickness: What Travelers Flag

This tour goes out far enough that conditions can change. Several guests explicitly said they felt safe even when the water was rough, and they praised the crew for checking in often.

One guest described how the crew helped a nervous sailor by suggesting seating at the back of the boat where motion is reduced, and then continuing to check on them during the trip. Another guest recommended taking sea sickness tablets due to choppier conditions.

So the honest takeaway is: if you’re sensitive to motion, come prepared. And don’t be shy about telling the crew you’re feeling unwell. Multiple reviews point to attentive care.

Group Size and the View Experience: Why Fewer Passengers Helps

If you only remember one thing from your research, make it this: how the group size affects your view.

Guests repeatedly compare this tour to packed boats. They describe enough space to sit where you want, move for better angles, and not feel trapped by a crowd. In whale and dolphin watching, that matters. Animals surface fast, then disappear. If you’re crowded, you miss the best seconds.

Many reviews mention an overall cap near 17 passengers. Even if that number varies slightly by date, the consistent theme is smaller than typical. That’s part of why this can feel more like yachting than a cattle-call excursion.

It’s Also a Madeira Food and Drink Tour in Sea Form

At some point, you’ll realize this isn’t only wildlife watching. It’s also a snack-and-sip experience with a strong Madeira flavor.

Included items include local snacks and all drinks. Reviews call out favorites like rum cocktails and Portuguese-style pastries, including a mention of pastel de nata. People also praise the snack variety and how often the crew offered more trays and refills.

The value logic here is pretty straightforward. A lot of tours charge you extra on board for drinks and food. Here, it’s included, so you’re free to focus on the water rather than doing math in your head while you watch.

Price and Value: Is $93 Per Person Worth It?

At $93 per person for 3 hours, this isn’t the cheapest whale watching option in Madeira. But value isn’t only cost. Value is what you get per minute and whether the experience feels managed instead of rushed.

Here’s what you’re paying for, based on the trip experience described by guests and the included benefits:

• A luxury catamaran with indoor/outdoor seating and onboard toilets
• Unlimited drinks, including alcohol, plus a welcome sparkling wine
• Local snacks served during the trip
• Swimming time near Cabo Girão with snorkel gear included
• A small group feel, repeatedly mentioned by travelers as a reason to choose this over busier boats
• Guides who are described as genuinely knowledgeable and attentive

If your priority is the cheapest ticket, you may find alternatives. But if your priority is comfort, service, and a calmer deck where you can actually enjoy the ride, paying more here can make sense.

Who Should Book This Tour

This one fits best if you want:

• Comfort first: indoor/outdoor seating, toilets, and plenty of room
• A guided experience with education and marine-life respect
• A mix of wildlife + scenery + a swim
• A tour where drinks and snacks are included, so you can stop thinking about it and just enjoy

It also seems ideal for couples and small groups. The calm, personal atmosphere is the kind of thing travelers don’t get on crowded boats.

It’s not a fit for everyone. The tour is not suitable for children under 3 years, and if you’re traveling with very young kids, you’ll need to check whether the experience matches their needs.

When to Go and What to Wear

The tour runs outdoors and you’re on the water for the full 3 hours, with at least one swimming moment. The basic advice from the tour info is to dress appropriately for the weather.

Practical note: the sea can feel cooler than the marina area, and Madeira wind can be sneaky. A light layer and a plan for sun protection go a long way.

Should You Book? My Bottom Line

I’d book this tour if you want Madeira whale and dolphin watching that feels controlled and comfortable. The strongest reasons are the ones travelers keep repeating: guides, stunning scenery including the Cabo Girão swim stop, and an onboard setup with excellent wine and drinks plus local snacks.

Also, the service tone matters. When guests mention crew members checking on them, helping with motion discomfort, and staying focused on wildlife welfare, it’s usually a sign the operation cares about more than filling seats.

Only hold back if you’re expecting a guaranteed whale or dolphin encounter. Wildlife spotting can go either way on any ocean trip. But even when sightings are limited, guests often say the boat ride, views, and included food-and-drink setup still make the time worthwhile.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the tour?

You meet at Kiosk VipDolphins, located between Praça do Povo and the Ocean in Funchal. Search VipDolphins on Google Maps.

How long is the tour?

The tour duration is 3 hours.

What is included in the price?

It includes the 3-hour guided dolphin and whale watching tour, swimming stop, snorkels and goggles provided for free, local snacks, all drinks including alcohol, toilets aboard the catamaran (women and men), and a glass of sparkling wine upon arrival.

Is hotel pickup included?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is the catamaran wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What languages are the live guides?

The live tour guide is available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Are there age limits?

The tour is not suitable for children under 3 years.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I reserve now and pay later?

Yes. The booking option is reserve now & pay later, so you can keep plans flexible.

You can check availability for your dates here: