7 best Madeira boat tours & trips (+ tips)

If you have the time on your trip, I suggest enjoying at least one Madeira boat tour.
This is a great way to admire the island from a distance, the appreciate the height of the cliffs and maybe see dolphins and whales.
Below is my guide to help you choose the best Madeira boat trips for you (mostly from Funchal).

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Madeira:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Madeira: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Catamaran tour to go whale watching

My favorite excursion from Funchal: 4×4 tour of East Madeira

MMy favorite places to stay in Funchal: Les Suites at the Cliff Bay (Luxury) – Sé Boutique Hotel (4 stars) – Market Place by Storytellers (apartments)

My favorite places to stay outside Funchal: Saccharum Resort near a beach (Luxury) – Estalagem da Ponta do Sol (4 stars) – Engho Velho Hotel (mid-range)

Content

#1 – Whale and Dolphin Catamaran – Classic Madeira Boat Tour

#2 – Dolphin Tour Speed boat – Funchal boat tours

#3 – Porto Santo ferry – Madeira boat trip

#4 – Catamaran sunset experience from Funchal

#5 – Madeira Pirate ship experience

#6 – Ponta de Sao Louranço boat tours to lighthouse

#7 – Desertas Islands

About the Madeira boat tours

#1 – Whale and Dolphin Catamaran – Classic Madeira Boat Tour

Let’s start with my favorite boat tour… Catamaran whale and dolphin watching tour.

About the boat tour
Why is it my favorite?
Because it has the right timeframe, not too short, not too long.
Because everyone has enough space to move around and see the dolphins and whales.
Because it is combined with a swim under the giant cliffs of Cabo Girao.
I think this is a great combination of activities.

Departure from –
The marina of Funchal
Most of them do not include pickup at hotels, you have to take a cab or your rental car to the Marina.
How long it takes –
Around 3h – half-day trip
Type of boat –
Catamaran
Good for everyone to have a nice view.
Easy to get into the water and out
How to book –
Check out the tour options (different sizes of catamaran / different services) & book

Alternative – Swim with dolphins

Note that a few tours propose a swim with dolphins.
Rules are very strict, and there are not many open spots.
Swimming with the dolphins cannot be guaranteed because it is allowed only with 2 species. And it will last only a few minutes.
Learn more

#2 – Dolphin Tour Speed boat – Funchal boat tours

About the boat tour
An alternative to see the dolphins are the speedboat tours.
The program is roughly the same, although shorter.
I prefer the smooth sailing of the catamaran and the spaces it offers to move around.
Some of you may prefer to move around less but enjoy the rush with the speedboat.

Departure from –
Funchal Marina
How long it takes –
Tours are 2h to 2h30.
Type of boat –
Speedboat – 10 to 12 persons
How to book –
Check out this tour or this tour
Or this one departing from Calheta.

#3 – Porto Santo ferry – Madeira boat trip

About the boat tour
For an experience completely different, you can also take a day trip to the neighboring island, Porto Santo.
There is a ferry in the morning and a return ferry in the evening. The crossing takes 2h30.
I was surprised by the quality of the amenities on the ferry. It is very comfortable.
Porto Santo is a very different island. The mountains are lower and do not block the clouds, therefore it is a lot more arid.
It is home to a 9km long sandy beach and fantastic geological features (sand dunes, organ pipes, natural pools…).
I loved that day.
On the way to Porto Santo, you can enjoy the coast of Madeira with the morning sunlight: you see Funchal, Ponta do Garajau, the East coast and the tail of Madeira, Ponta de Sao Lourenço.
I think the day is long but very worth it.

Departure from –
Funchal harbor, West of the CR7 museum
How long it takes –
2h30 each way for the crossing, but you have to board at least 30min before departure time.
Type of boat –
Large ferry with bars and restaurants.Including movie theater, games for kids…
How to book –
You can plan your day yourself by booking your ferry and renting a car.
Or you can book an organized day trip, including a tour of the island and time at the beach. Learn more & book.

All my favorite places on the island are included in my travel Guide eBook that helps you easily plan your Madeira trip:

Plan your dream trip in Madeira thanks to my guide

7 maps to easily plan your itinerary
120+ pre-selected locations
GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
Tips to make the most of your time
260+ original photos to help you choose

Discover it!

#4 – Catamaran sunset experience from Funchal

About the boat tour
A classic on any coastal destination: enjoying the sunset from a catamaran.
Funchal is located on the South Coast of Madeira. You don’t have to sail much to enjoy a stunning sunset.
As the sun lowers, it hits the cliffs of Cabo Girao, making the colors even more intense.
Plus, you can also spot dolphins and whales along the way!

Departure from –
Funchal marina
How long it takes –
3h tour
Type of boat –
Catamaran for a smooth sailing.If the weather conditions are good, you will hoist the sail.
How to book –
Check out the details & book

#5 – Madeira Pirate ship experience

About the boat tour
For young kids and adults too, you may want to experience the life of a pirate.
You can book a tour on the Santa Maria de Colombo. It is a replica of the Christopher Columbus flagship (built in 1998).
It is an adventure to experience sailing near Madeira as they were discovering it 500 years ago.
From the boat, you may also spot dolphins and whales.
It also includes a stop at the Cabo Girao cliffs from a swim.

Departure from –
Funchal Marina
How long it takes –
3 hours
Type of boat –
“Pirate” ship.
How to book –
Check out the details and book

Need to rent a car in Madeira?

My tips:

Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
Choose a car with enough power for the mountain roads
And choose a car not too big, to easily manoeuver
Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my tips

See available cars

#6 – Ponta de Sao Louranço boat tours to lighthouse

About the boat tour
This is one tour that I would have loved doing but did not, as the timing was not right.
It takes you around the magnificent cliffs of Ponta de Sao Lourenço and the island at the end with its lighthouse.
From the boat, you can admire the colorful ancient volcanic cliffs and you may see dolphins.

Ponta de Sao Louranço boat tours to lighthouse

Departure from –
2 options depending on the tour
– from the marina Quinta do Lorde
– or from Cais da Sardinha, along the hike PR8 Ponta de Sao Lourenço (1h30 to 2h walk one way – moderate)
How long it takes –
1 to 2 hours
Type of boat –
Speedboat
How to book –
Check out the tour options & book

#7 – Desertas Islands

About the boat tour
To the East of Madeira, are 3 other islands. They are called the Desertas Islands, because nobody could ever colonize it.
Today it is a protected reserve.
Some companies offer a day trip to reach the ranger station on the main island.
However, here is the reality of the tour:
The marketing talks about the wildlife, especially the rare seals. You won’t see them. They live on a part of the island that is off-limit. The chance of seeing one is extremely slim.
Therefore, the tour is 3h sailing to the island, a transfer to land via a small boat, a short tour around the ranger station to look at explanation boards, lunch on the boat and 3h of sailing back.
If you don’t really enjoy just sailing, I don’t think the tour is worth it (time ratio boat / visit).

Departure from –
Funchal Madeira
How long it takes –
Day trip – 8 to 9 hours
Type of boat –
Catamaran or sailing boat
How to book –
Check out the tour options & book

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About the Madeira boat tours

Tips to make the experience comfortable

After introducing you to the best Madeira boat trips, here are a few tips to you should consider for all of them:

Don’t book our tour the last day of the trip. In case of strong wind, tours can be cancelled. Then you can still re-book another day.
The wind can be cold on a boat. Make sure to bring layers of clothes (warm and windbreaker)
But also know that the sun will also be strong – don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
Wear your swimsuit in advance so that you can jump as soon as the boat is stopping
You can park at the CR7 museum carpark to easily access the marina

Dolphins and whales around Madeira

Madeira is considered one of the best places to see whales in Southern Europe.
Depending on the season, there are always 2 to 3 species of whales around and many species of dolphins.
The chances of seeing dolphins are higher than the chance of seeing whales.
The best time is considered being April to October, but you can spot wildlife all year round.
There is no one company which gives you a better chance of seeing them. They all communicate to share locations.