VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Funchal, Portugal
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
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
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Sue_P
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 1,858 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
PETER_K, Jul 2026
Had a great time on the catamaran
The crew were great and we came across a family of pilot whales which was brilliant
Mary_A, Jul 2026
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!
Boryana_Y, Jul 2026
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
Jess_W, Jun 2026
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!
Sanaa_E, Jun 2026
Everything was perfect , the crew, the sunset, the sea, the whales , the service , the music, the explications...
Brenda_L, Jun 2026
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.
Julie_g, Jun 2026
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.
Constantin_A, Jun 2026
Beatiful moments, with nice people in a beautiful area of the island Madeira ♥️ , We hope to come back….
helen_c, Jun 2026
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.
Elyse_T, Jun 2026
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.
DAVID_D, Jun 2026
I have some mobility problems which the crew were fantastic to make sure I was involved with whatever was happening.
Francis_B, Jun 2026
Overall, VIP Dolphins was an exceptional experience. With their high-end catamaran and small group size, it really did feel like a premium experience. The crew of 3 were all extremely knowledgable and went above and beyond to make our evening tour memorable. For the price, I would certainly say that this experience was an amazing deal.
Colleen_K, Jun 2026
A wonderful day and a super beautiful and comfortable boat. We saw a whale and some dolphins. You probably should not expect an intense ocean life experience as you might in other parts of the world. But the boat is really beautiful and the crew was extremely knowledgeable. They also gave us some delicious local snacks and drinks. We would do it again in a heartbeat!
John_P, Jun 2026
Great service for a small group. Plenty of seating available in various places on the boat. The snacks provided were good and plenty of drink variety.
Jason_B, Jun 2026
This was one of the best trips we've ever booked through Viator. Phillip and the rest of the crew were fantastic. Great drinks, snacks, and history of the island plus we saw 3 separate Bryde's whales and 2 different species of dolphin.
The directions to pickup were easy to follow, very organized, and right on time. Would do again.
Kitty_D, Jun 2026
My friend and I booked this trip ahead of our trip to Madeira and we have zero regrets. It's worth paying the extra money for this trip. It's a smaller, more intimate group, so the boat isn't packed and you get a more tailored experience. We saw whales and dolphins which was just unreal (May 2026). The crew on board were super knowledgeable on everything marine wildlife and Maderia in general. We had tasty food onboard and got bottomless drinks (the dream) included, as well as blankets, bean bags and different areas to sit on board the boat so it didn't feel crowded or uncomfortable. When we left the port we saw other boats leaving with literally so many (hundreds) people abroad, making them super crowded. They let us jump in the water half way through and we had snorkelling equipment so we could see the fish. Book this tour, albeit more expensive, but you will absolutely have the time of your life and won't regret it. Thank you VIPDolphins crew for making this an unforgettable experience for us!
Versha_P, Jun 2026
Lovely trip with small number of guests
We saw lots of dolphins and a whale
Lovely refreshments n snacks
Professional service
Sarah_E, May 2026
Had a fantastic trip. We saw a whale and some very playful dolphins. Lovely local snacks and drinks on board. Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.
Caroline_H, May 2026
Not only was this tour run professionally, but each of the staff on board were incredibly kind, helpful, and accommodating to everyone on our ride. We were lucky to see tons and tons of dolphins, as well as some brief sightings of a whale and her calf near our boat.
For me, the greatest part of this experience was learning that the tour guides who go out and run these tours every day work directly with marine scientists on the island to provide data on the wildlife we see — pod locations, sick animals, etc. the symbiotic relationship between the tourism industry and scientific research is such a wonderful way to keep everything sustainable, and made us even more happy to be there. Not to mention that our luxury catamaran was incredibly roomy and comfortable, and we didn’t feel packed in like sardines the way some of the other watching boats appeared to be. If you’re between this wildlife watching boat vs another, I could not recommend VIP Dolphins highly enough!
Wendy_G, May 2026
Had a lovely afternoon, a few glasses of fizz and a few local snacks , sailing along the coast . Saw a pod of dolphins but no whales. We’ve been spoilt though as we’ve been to Alaska! It can get cold but they do have blankets ( cool wind on a 25 c day )
Jill_M, May 2026
Great experience!! The ship was pristine & crew was delightful; we were very lucky with our whale & dolphin sittings. Highly recommend
Charlene_H, May 2026
The boat was very well maintained, the crew were very attentive and informative. We had a great experience seeing whales and dolphins. They offered drinks but the food was minimal.
Sandro_A, May 2026
Nice boat tour from the docks on Funchal, well organized by the deck crew with snacks and drinks. Will be able to see dolphins and then tour the southside island to go for a nice swim. Really nice boat and not too crowded. The Captain and Deckcrew were great
Jeffrey_P, May 2026
The experience was wonderful. We saw whale and dolphins. The crew was very accommodating to all the guest. Limiting to smaller groups of people verses the larger groups is superior. Drinks and snacks were good. Amount of time for tour was good. I recommend highly.
Julie_P, May 2026
Great trip, amazing staff.
Would throughly recommend. Saw a finback whale. Staff have very great knowledge of wildlife, look after us very well with food and drink. Will definitely go again.
Julie &Dave
May 2026
simon_p, Apr 2026
Lovely boat with only 17 people lots of space and very luxurious. Staff was amazing lots of drinks and found dolphins in 20minutes. We also encountered a small whale we was very lucky.
Sue_C, Apr 2026
Boat was beautiful and clean. Crew was very attentive, knowledgeable, helpful and engaging. Saw a fin whale and beautiful coastline of Maderia
Robert_G, Mar 2026
When they say luxury, they mean it. A great boat, with very few people. The entire crew was wonderful. The sights were amazing and the crew knew how to make us all feel special.
italy, Mar 2026
We had a lovely time on this boat, plenty of space, attentive staff, great conversation with other guests, and beautiful views of the water and the coastline, as well as educational and interesting information about what we were seeing.
Anton_H, Mar 2026
So welcoming on board aswell as checking in making sure we are okay if we wanted any drinks or food. Seeing the dolphins was incredible and the information provided by the team was 2nd to none.
From $92.12
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching
1,856
3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$92.12
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Shore Excursions
- Full-day Tours
- Bus Tours
- Historical Tours
- Day Trips
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Private and Luxury
- Cultural Tours
- Funchal
- Shore Excursions - Calheta
- Full-day Tours - Calheta
- Bus Tours - Calheta
- Shore Excursions - La Palma
- Full-day Tours - La Palma
- Bus Tours - La Palma
- Historical Tours - La Palma
- Shore Excursions - Tenerife
- Full-day Tours - Tenerife
- Bus Tours - Tenerife
- Historical Tours - Tenerife
Attractions in Funchal, Portugal
- Portela Viewpoint (Miradouro da Portela) Tours & Tickets
- Pico do Arieiro Tours & Tickets
- Cabo Girão Tours & Tickets
- Porto Moniz Tours & Tickets
- Sé Cathedral of Funchal Tours & Tickets
- Madeira Botanical Gardens Tours & Tickets
- Eira do Serrado Tours & Tickets
- Valley of the Nuns (Curral das Freiras) Tours & Tickets
- Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint (Miradouro Pico dos Barcelos) Tours & Tickets
- Monte Palace Tropical Gardens Tours & Tickets
- Church of Our Lady of Monte (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte) Tours & Tickets
- Machico Tours & Tickets
- Sao Vicente Caves & Volcanism Centre Tours & Tickets