Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Funchal, Portugal
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
A Madeira whale-watching tour by private motor yacht gives your party a front-row view without the crowds. Embark and let your skipper search the open seas for marine life including dolphins, whales, and sea turtles. You’ll have a luxurious time with this privately chartered boat equipped with refreshments, sparkling wine, snorkel gear, and a shower.
- 2.5-hour private charter by motor yacht from Madeira Island
- Snorkel and spot marine life including whales and dolphins
- Light refreshments and a glass of sparkling wine keep you hydrated
- Departures throughout the day cater to individual schedules
What's Included
- Light refreshments (mineral water, ice tea, fruit juice, Coca-Cola, Cola zero, sprite, local beer)
- Sparkling wine
- Shower for after swimming time
- Hair and body towels
- Blankets
- Toilet
- Cabin
- Use of Snorkeling equipmentUse of Snorkelling equipment
- Transfer from your hotel
- Snacks or food
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- On Tales - Whales and Dolphins Watching ToursLoja 16-17 Porto Recreio da Calheta, Av. D. Manuel I, 9370-133 Calheta, Portugal
Search for the On Tales Store on the Marina. Our team will greet you and guide you to our yacht.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Porto de Recreio da Calheta
2
Madeira Islands
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Subject to availability
- Subject to favourable weather conditions (if cancelled due weather conditions, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund)
- Family friendly
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wildlife spotting cannot be guaranteed
- Pregnant women should seek medical advice before booking (limited to no medical assistance can be performed on-board)
- The yacht is not accessible to wheelchairs, strollers or cribs.
- This activity is not suited to guests over 110 kg / 242 pounds, unless prior arrangement is made with our team and a suitable alternative has been proposed and acknowledged by our Captain / Crew.
- 6/6.30 pm or 7/7.30 pm departure time: Sunset, Snorkeling and Sparkling wine, NO whale watching
- Guests should understand their duty to exercise reasonable care for their own safety while boarding, exiting and being on-board the yacht.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 542 reviews
Abby_L, Sep 2025
It was a truly exceptional experience! Luca and Chiara were amazing! We learned so much about the island and the marine wildlife and the best part is that we saw incredibly rare whales and it was such a highlight of our honeymoon! I highly recommend!!
Siena_L, Aug 2025
Very personable tour guides, photographer on every boat in incredibly accommodating amazing views of the island. Also a very high chance at a front row seat to tons of dolphins!
Robbie_R, Aug 2025
From the moment we booked this trip on the Internet to when we met the staff correspondence was excellent. All the members of staff are friendly helpful and want you to have a good time. Highly recommend the Dolphin trip. It was a shame we didn’t see any dolphins, it was too windy and choppy but the staff made up for our disappointment with their friendliness and fun.
Idriss_B, Jul 2025
We booked this as a private dolphin and whale watching experience, which was the name of the Viator ad . The crew were lovely and the views were great, but ultimately the dolphin/whale part did not materialise. I understand that it happens sometimes but then the marketing should be different so you know what you are paying for ( which is a boat ride with a possibility of seeing dolphins/wales). I would have given it one star if it wasn’t for the crew.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for understanding that wildlife is not predictable and taking the time to share your feedback. Our tours are designed with comfort, safety, and with respect for marine life as top priorities. While sightings of whales and dolphins are never guaranteed in the wild, we did, as you mentioned, enjoy a relaxing cruise and a safe swimming break. Two core parts of the experience we promote and deliver, along with all the fresh drinks, the bathing towels, the snorkeling equipment and the souvenir pictures we have already sent you. We will be sure to transmit your comments to our crew members. We are sorry to read that the experience didn’t entirely meet your expectations. Rest assured that your opinion is of utmost importance and that we are always looking for ways to improve.
sallyanne_r, Jun 2025
Brilliant morning, set off and almost immediately saw a pod of dolphins. Crew were helpful and informative. Very comfortable boat, wish we had booked longer!
Leanne_F, Apr 2025
Absolutely incredible. Loved seeing the island from the sea, watching the dolphins and pilot whales with a baby only a few days old.
Catherine_I, Sep 2024
Had a great time and we were super fortunate to sight Hammerhead sharks and bottlenose dolphins. The crew were very professional and considered what we wanted to do. After sighting the sharks there was no way I was getting in the ocean, so instead they sailed closer to shore so we could see more detail on the coast. Drinks were nice and the boat was very clean. The company arranged transportation for us and they were very prompt. We received about 450 photos from the day and we got some great shots of the dolphins, only suggestion would be that it would be nice to be greeted onto the boat with a glass of sparkling wine and also for some photos to be taken of us from the front, there are a lot of the photos of the back of our heads.
Melanie_M, Jul 2024
Amazing experience! Everyone that works at On Tales is so helpful and friendly. Fantastic communication. They arranged transport, provided towels and drinks on the day. The crew were great and gave us lots of information about Maderia and the wildlife that we saw. We also enjoyed the snorkelling 🤿 Was so nice to receive the photos the next day that the crew had taken for us.
Marta_S, Mar 2024
What a fun experience! Despite imperfect weather conditions which forced us to reschedule our trip and change the yacht to a speedboat we enjoyed our cruise immensely. We even saw some dolphins despite the weather and time of day being far from ideal. Staff were very understanding, kind and flexible and made sure we still get our private cruise. They even offered a longer cruise since we didn't get to go on a yacht. We actually thought the cruise on a speedboat was more exciting than the yacht cruise would have been. We're very grateful and we would do it again.
Elise_H, Jan 2024
Gave us the chance to see Madeira from its coast. Could discover little villages from the boat.spectacular perspecrive
Mubanga_M, Mar 2023
Lovely experience - the team were very hospitable and made sure we had a fun time. We saw dolphins and a had a nice swim in the ocean. Fantastic afternoon
LanaF_D, Aug 2022
We had an amazing time! We were greeted and guided to the parking. Given clear instructions before boarding. Emanuel and the team were very professional, very caring! Safety and comfort of the client was a clear priority of this experience! We felt safe and cared for! We saw sea turtles and dolphins, had a wonderful swim at the waterfall beach! We also received photos from our trip! Emanuel told us about history of Madeira and the sea animals! Thank you! We hope to come back again! Definitely recommended! A must do when in Madeira!
John_F, Jun 2022
The whole experience was great. Emanuel, the skipper explained a lot about the Island as well as the animals we saw: delphins, birds, portuguese man of war.
Anne_H, Jun 2022
This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip! Beforehand Rosie had arranged our transport to the marina and even booked us lunch at a fantastic restaurant for afterwards. We were made to feel welcome, safe and accommodated from the start. The captain Emmanuel kept us informed constantly of where we were going and would check that we were all feeling comfortable. The boat was incredibly clean and luxurious, with all the facilities you would need. Towels, drinks and snorkelling equipment were provided. Emmanuel was very knowledgeable about all the sea life, pointing out sea birds and informing us of their habits. There was a member of the team onshore in contact with the boat informing them of activity at sea and they led us to a large pod of dolphins. It was an amazing experience to see them playing around the boat, there was even a tiny baby with them! We had the opportunity to swim and snorkel in a beautiful cove along the coast.
Thank you so much to all the team for a really great experience!
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Dear Anne, it was a pleasure to organise this special day for your family. You were amazing and your recommendation means a lot to us. Thank you for choosing to spend this day on the Atlantic ocean with the On Tales team. It was a very large group of Spotted dolphins indeed! They were spectacular, very active. Finally, you really made the most of this experince and jumped from the yacht in front of the waterfall, you were so brave!
Tricia_V, May 2022
This was one of the best trips. The professional and eco friendly staff were well worthy their weight in gold. The captain was caring. We saw dolphins and a baby. When we went swimming, we saw a Portuguese man o war, never thought I would see one in my life.
When I booked, Rosa , the rockstar coordinator, made sure everything was smooth and definitely was knowledgeable. When I come back with my family, I will see them again and again.
Amy, May 2022
We had a great time on the boat. It was beautiful, relaxing and we were able to see dolphins. Everyone was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
It was an amazing afternoon indeed. We are grateful that you made it possible, it couldn't have happened without you. Thank you, Amy, for choosing a private cruise with the On Tales team!
Katharina_K, Apr 2022
Very well organised tour on a beautiful boat, we really enjoyed it. Even though we were not able to see whales, the friendly team made it a unique experience, showing us the beautiful coast of Madeira and made it an unforgettable trip. We can definitely recommend it!
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Thank you Katharina for so much kindness. Great guests make beautiful memories and unforgettable experiences can only happen once you chose our team for this special day of your holiday. Madeira island is amazing from a comfortable point of view indeed! Next time you might like to try jumping from the boat to go snorkelling in one of our favourite spots!
Sabrina_P, Oct 2021
We had a great time on board. The whole crew took perfect care of us.
Thank you very much for this experience.
Aamir_K, Jul 2021
We really enjoyed our experience. Seeing the dolphins up close was a memory that will last forever!!
Response from Host, Jul 2021
Thank you Aamir, Having you on-board was a real treat, you both were so kind and looked so comfortable, on the front-deck! You chose to let our team make the magic happen for you! The common dolphins were spectacular and you did drive the boat really well, it was a magical day indeed!
Yvan_G, Aug 2025
Crew attentive and very flexible to adapt to people (family including children from 2 to 9 years). Beautiful navigation and boat in good condition. We recommend.
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Yann_P, Oct 2024
Nous avons passé une journée extraordinaire lors de notre sortie privée en bateau à Madère. Même si nous n'avons pas eu la chance d'apercevoir des baleines ou des dauphins, cela n'a en rien diminué le plaisir de l'excursion. Nous avons tout de même eu la chance d'apercevoir un phoque et des poissons volants.
Un immense merci à notre skippeuse Béatrice, qui a assuré une navigation parfaite tout au long de la sortie. Mention spéciale également à Martin, qui a enrichi notre sortie avec une foule d'explications sur la faune locale et la vie sur l'île. Il nous a également partagé de précieux conseils sur les restaurants et les sites à ne surtout pas manquer à Madère !
Une sortie mémorable que nous recommandons vivement à tous ceux qui souhaitent découvrir Madère depuis la mer, avec un équipage aussi passionné que compétent. À refaire sans hésitation !
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Merci Yann pour tant de gentillesse. C'était en effet une trés belle journée en mer. L'île de Madére est vraiment magnifique depuis un yacht confortable. La Nature était d'humeur joueuse et nous avons rencontré plusieurs autres espèces surprenantes. Merci de nous avoir choisi et fait confiance.
Franois_D, Aug 2024
Expérience incroyable. La capitaine et le guide (francais) étaient adorables. Nous avons eu la chance de voir un ban de dauphins (espèce rare) ainsi que des tortues de mer. Nous avons pu plonger avec masque et tuba. En prime, le guide nous a fait des superbes photos. N’hésitez pas à y aller !
Pascal_S, Aug 2024
Superbe croisière en privé. Pas de dauphins pour nous, mais belle promenade le long de la côte. Skipper et accompagnateur très sympas
Christine_C, Aug 2024
Die Mitarbeiterin am Hafen war sehr nett und zuvorkommend. Doch leider wurde auf dem Boot, weder die Route richtig erklärt, noch gab es irgendwelche Informationen zu den Walen oder Delfinen. Wir sind zu einer Stelle zum schnorcheln gefahren, die man schneller mit dem Auto erreicht hätte, es gab nichts dort zu sehen. Auch wurden wir vorab nicht gefragt, ob wir schonmal an dem Ort waren.Es gab keine Erklärung wie weit wir von dem Boot wegschwimmen dürfen….Außerdem sind wir später losgefahren und früher zurück gekommen. Die Skipper haben nicht den Anschein gemacht, wirklich nach Delfinen Ausschau zu halten….Kein gutes Preis Leistungs Verhältnis!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Looking at the material from the tour including photos, we are under the impression that your family was sincerely enjoying the experience. Of course we cannot guarantee sightings of wild cetaceans within our searching area anytime or any day. Regarding the swimming and snorkelling location, we see on the pictures that 2 of your family members swam all the way to the volcanic stone beach. this is really brave and amazingly unusual but surely there is nothing wrong there. It is your own private charter and you can decide to enjoy the swimming break as long as you want (within safety and reason). Our records show a complete 2.5 hour cruise, in accordance with the Experience you have chosen and booked.
We sincerely would like to understand what we could have done in a different way, please feel free to send your feedback directly to our commercial team.
Philipp_R, Aug 2023
Es war ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Die Besatzung war absolut freundlich und zuvorkommend. Wir können es jedem nur empfehlen.
Barbara_V, Aug 2023
Herzlicher Empfang, super Infos vorab und man bekommt alles was man braucht - Sonnencreme, Schnorchelausrüstung und Badehandtücher. Es sind gekühlte Getränke an Bord, die ebenfalls inklusive sind. Echt toll! Ein Fotograf macht während der Fahrt Fotos die man nachher mit mail über wetransfer runterladen kann - auch inkludiert im Preis! Man kann wirklich einfach nur mit Badehose an Bord gehen. Die Damen im Büro und auch der Kapitän und Fotograf sind sehr nett und kompetent. Bin sicher eine eher anspruchsvoller Kunde und wurde in allen Belangen positiv überrascht! So geht ein tolles Kundenservice! Vielen Dank für den tollen Ausflug, auf dem wir zwar keine Wale aber Delfine sehen konnten. War auch meine erste Buchung über Viator und hat alles problemlos funktioniert, man hat ein gutes Gefühl.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you Barbara, it was a pleasure to meet your family and a privilege to have you on board or yacht. Miranda is perfectly suited to the experience we provide. Thank you for recommending the On Tales team. We are always on the marina da Calheta and would love to see you again, next time you pass by the store!
Christina_K, Jul 2023
Wir hatten ein wunderbares Erlebnis und konnten den 15. Geburtstag unserer Tichter azf ganz besondere Art und Weise feiern. Die Delfine waren wirklich lustige Gesellen.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
It was a pleasure to have your family on board our yacht. You were amazing, it was a very special day on the Atlantic ocean. Thank you for choosing and trusting the On Tales team
Magali_B, May 2023
Tout était parfait : de la réservation à la fin de notre tour en bateau !
Équipe très agréable, bateau au top !
Merci pour ces beaux souvenirs !
Response from Host, May 2023
Merci Magali, pour tant d'éloges! ce fut un plaisir de prendre soin de vous et d'organiser ces 2h30 de croisière pour votre famille. Vous avez bien fait de sauter du bateau, nos petites criques sont vraiment agréable et l'eau y est si claire...
annegaelle_M, May 2023
Toute l équipe crée un environnement bienveillant et accueillant
Notre capitaine Emanuel et son assistant nous ont bichonné et nous avons la grande chance d avoir vu de superbes dauphins
Response from Host, May 2023
Merci Anne-Gaëlle pour tant de gentillesse. Ce fut un reel plaisir de faire votre connaissance et de prendre soin de vous.
Pourquoi pas une croisière au coucher du soleil, une prochaine fois?
Martin_F, Feb 2023
Alles perfekt jederzeit wieder...tolles Erlebnis...liebe Versorgung und Service..ein paar Stunden auf Wasser und Bilder gab es auch noch...inklusive...
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Thank you Martin for choosing and trusting On Tales with this special day of your stay on Madeira. The island is spectacular when seen from a comfortable yacht. We would love to have you onboard again anytime!
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From $626.59
per group (up to 5)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira
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