VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Funchal, Portugal
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Funchal’s waters are home to whales and dolphins—and this luxurious catamaran tour offers the best way to spot them. Head to Funchal’s marina and hop aboard your vessel, where you’ll enjoy Champagne, cocktails, soft drinks, and snacks like local bread and cheese. Indulge as you look out for whales and dolphins. Then, if you wish, enjoy a swimming and snorkeling break at Cabo Girao before returning to shore.
- Enjoy a luxurious whale- and dolphin-spotting experience
- Set sail aboard a modern, well-appointed catamaran
- Champagne, cocktails, drinks, snacks, and desserts are provided
- Stop for a swimming and snorkeling break at scenic Cabo Girao
What's Included
- SnacksWe offer a variety of snacks and biscuits during this experience.
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Soda/Pop
- Bottled water
- Use of Snorkeling equipmentUse of Snorkelling equipment
- Blankets
- Towels
- Pick-ups
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- VipDolphins Catamaran Whale WatchingPraça do Povo, 9000-900 Funchal, Portugal
Check-in 30 minutes before departure at the VipDolphins Kiosk. We are located in the marina in the city center of Funchal. Plan for traffic and accidents. The boat leaves on time and cannot wait if you are late, even if you call. No refunds or free reschedules for late arrivals.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
VipDolphins Catamaran Whale Watching
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Children under 3 years old are not allowed
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 17 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Wonderful afternoon on a beautiful catamaran. We were really lucky to see a large pod of Pilot Whales. The crew on the boat were very attentive and knowledgeable about the sea life. A great day - would definitely do it again and recommend to everyone.
Reviews
4.9
based on 1,940 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
The yacht was a good size and with only 17 people you have space to move about anywhere. It really felt like a luxurious cruise, drink flowing and canapé type of food, it was better than we expected.
We saw plenty of dolphins and had a swim, sadly no whales, but nothing is guaranteed.
It was a really great afternoon. We all felt it ended too soon and wish we had done a full day.
Great service on board, saw a large pod of pilot whales, swam in a secluded bay afterwards, and were given lovely nibbles and drinks. We will be back!
Unlimited drinks, but not a lot of food if that is your expectation. A really fun time and the staff were absolutely lovely.
All of the boat crew personnel were friendly, professional, and knowledgeable about all things Madeira! The level of service was top notch and respectful. We highly recommend taking this boat trip for a personal touch and luxurious flair.
Great experience, amazing time on the water.
Will be back to go out again.
We're able to the dolphins and whales
Brilliant trip. Very well organised and relaxed. We saw loads of dolphins and whales. For us, well worth paying a bit more not to be on a crowded boat. Crew were fantastic. Would love to do again, the highlight of a fabulous holiday.
It was amazing, the crew was very attentive, the boat is luxury, constant drinks and snacks, we saw dolphins and the most beautiful sunset! One million percent recommend.
You will not be disappointed!!!
Everything is provided on this excellent experience. Towels, snorkels, toilets on board, snacks, alcoholic & soft drinks. Plus very experienced crew who know the area really well and where to find the wildlife!
On the day, we spent a good length of time watching a pod of around 12-15 pilot whales - close enough to photograph but respectful of letting them enjoy their surroundings.
Later, well away from the whales, closer inshore, we had the opportunity to swim in beautiful clear water with fishes around us.
The crew took really good care of everyone onboard - ranging in age from 5 to 65+. Lots of information was shared with us and they were happy to answer any questions.
The crew were very polite, spoke really good English (and I’m sure other languages too) and were really smartly presented.
The trip overall was amazing. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. Nothing was too much trouble. All snacks and drinks were included as advertised and were beautiful.
The staff took pictures of all and we all gor them emailed to us within a couple of days.
We saw dolphins and whales. We got to swim in the ocean if that's what you wished.
Fully recommend booking with this company. You won't be disappointed! It's a must do!
Very fun experience. Saw lots of dolphins. Staff amazing and lots of space on board. Very well looked after with complementary drinks and snacks. 3hrs just the right amount of time and great for kids and grown ups. Felt really safe. Thank you.
It might be more expensive than other offers but.. its worth the money. There was 12 of us on the boat exc staff.
Plenty of space for everyone.
Selection of drinks was great and staff acknowledge amazing. We only saw delphines but also an amazing sunset. So overall great trip.
Perfect, from the moment we boarded the Catamaran. The crew were extremely hospitable, making sure we were well looked after and enjoying the experience. The crew also knew where to go to see the whales and dolphins, and their knowledge of the area meant success.
The snacks and drinks added to the enjoyment, as did the swimming directly from the back of the boat and beautiful sunset.
There are many choices for this type of trip, we wanted a luxurious boat, kind and experienced crew and to escape the crowded boats with something more intimate. My research brought me to VIP dolphins, and we made the right choice in booking this excursion.
The VIP Dolphin and Whale tour made for an incredible welcome to Madeira. We booked for our first night after landing from the US. We saw a Bryde’s whale and a ton of dolphin and got to swim in the ocean, all of which helped energize us and fight jet lag. The boat is really nice and very comfortable. It’s awesome to go with a small group and have space to spread out. The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They even took pictures during the event and shared after, so we have a keepsake from the excursion.
10/10 experience! Got to see pods of dolphins with their babies. Had awesome snacks and drinks! Fun attentive staff and an awesome captain. Really enjoyed this tour being small group, the other catamarans pack people on like sardines. If you’re booking a dolphin catamaran this is the one. Brought us to an awesome swimming spot, then sailed away from the sunset.
Fabulous experience, I would highly recommend this company, especially if you do not want an overcrowded boat and a more personal experience. The crew were very knowledgeable and helpful and we were lucky enough to see both dolphins and pilot whales and our trip. Nice selection of beverages and snacks were offered as well. I would definitely do this trip again.
We got really lucky and saw an entire family of dolphins including a baby!! It was such a great experience and the crew really cared about everyone’s well being. There’s bathrooms on board if you get sick as well.
The maximum passengers booked was really great considering how big the boat was. The crew was amazing as well. We saw a whale and quite a few bottle nose dolphins!
Definitely book this catamaran trip, and don't book with anyone else. We watched as the other Funchal charter boats loaded clients on like cattle. Every boat had so many people on it, it looked like there was no place left to sit. Our experience with VIPDolphins, however, felt comfortable and classy. The boat is posh, and the staff is wonderful. But setting the maximum number of occupants at 17 is what makes this trip worth paying a little extra for. Unlike on the other boats, there is ample room for every guest to spread out, lie down, see wildlife, and move around. If you are looking for a snorkel, whale-watching, or sunset cruise, this is the company to choose in Funchal. Absolutely worth the little extra money.
We had an amazing boat trip with dolphin watching and a beautiful sunset. The service was excellent from start to finish, and the crew was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and professional.
One thing we really appreciated was that the group was kept small. This made the experience much more enjoyable, as everyone had plenty of space and could find a comfortable spot on the boat without feeling crowded.
Seeing the dolphins in their natural habitat was unforgettable, and the sunset views were absolutely stunning. We highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a relaxing and memorable experience on the water!
Wow just the best experience with a fab bunch of people; our captain Thomas was superb finding us Bottle Nosed Dolphins and Flying Dish and then the most gorgeous sunset; the crew were amazing too so attentive. Made sure we had enough to eat and drink and that we were all ok. Only 17 of us on board just perfect and I would definitely recommend this trip. Thanks guys
Had a great time on the catamaran
The crew were great and we came across a family of pilot whales which was brilliant
We had a blast on the catamaran. The hosts were wonderful. The company was wonderful. The snacks and drinks were also a delight. Of course, the highlight of the excursion was seeing the pilot whales, and swimming in the beautiful blue water. Highly recommend!
Very attentive and respectful crew. Smooth cruise and refreshing ocean bath for anyone who wants to go for a short swim around the catamaran. Thanks for your good service guys
Absolutely amazing experience! You can tell that crew love their job and it just makes the day all the better from their enthusiasm about preservation of the marine life. The boat was immaculate, great viariety of nibbles going around and even saw a baby dolphin!! And a leather back turtle which is really rare. This is a trip that is 100% worth the money, will definitely be back.
Thankyou so much!
Everything was perfect , the crew, the sunset, the sea, the whales , the service , the music, the explications...
Well worth the money! The crew were wonderfly friendly, informative and we had all round great service. Drinks and snacks included. Boat was spotless and not crowded. We saw flying fish, a loggerhead juvenile turtle, whale and dolphins. An amazing experience.
Great choice. Beautiful boat. They don’t overcrowd it. Always only 17 people. Nice passed snacks and drinks. It felt like an elevated experience,not so touristy.
Beatiful moments, with nice people in a beautiful area of the island Madeira ♥️ , We hope to come back….
Absolutely worth it . A wonderful afternoon . Dolphins, flying fish , a whale and a shark whilst enjoying food and drinks with friendly , knowledgeable and attentive staff. Passed the very overcrowded big boats in style and comfort. Would do again without a doubt. Thankyou VIP Dolphins for a very memorable experience.
Simply divine. From the moment that we embarked the crew were so attentive. Friendly, knowledgeable with excellent customer service from start to finish. A maximum of 17 people made this trip feel more personal and luxurious. Would definitely recommend.
Member Pricing
From
$87.86
per personWas $92.49(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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