G
Wonderful family trip which we will remember
Fantastic fun and well worth the money. We saw so many breeds of dolphin and learned so much. The guys were so knowledgeable
Dolphin - Whale - Turtle - Bird Watching
+7 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $59 / person
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 370 reviews
- Languages
- PT, EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 18
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Meeting point
- Please arrive at the Funchal marina 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. All guests must check in with our friendly staff at our kiosk for a boarding pass. In respect to all of our guests the boat leaves on time. If you miss the boat, you will be not be issued a refund.
- Confirmation
- Instant
Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Funchal
Description
Join us for an ocean adventure as we head offshore exploring for whales, dolphins, sea turtles and oceanic birds in their natural environment. Completely rebuilt in 2023 the Sea Safari is powered by two brand new 250hp engines, so you can expect to cover a greater distance than any other boat in Funchal. Double cushioned seats ensure a comfortable adventure with amazing 360° views while you enjoy the best opportunity to see marine wildlife. Our team of spotters on land use powerful binoculars to find the dolphins & whales and then sends the boat directly to them. The boat sits low on the water so you feel very close to the whales and dolphins, but remember, it is wildlife, and the primary goal is to be respectful of their habitat. Listen to informative commentary about the cetaceans of Madeira, as your captain and marine biologist guide make sure you have a great time whilst learning about the marine wildlife, marine environment and ecosystem.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This activity is specialized for the wild life lovers. Magic Dolphin Sea Safaris is purpose build boat with 500 Hp engines gives us to easy maneuver to get to the whales and dolphins faster then the any other boats in Marina Funchal. Our spotters on land gives us the direction where the Whales and the Dolphins are before we depart. The quality of this trip is, often you will see 2 or 3 different species in 2 hours. Having 500 HP engines gives us smooth ride with no motion sickness. Only 18 people are allowed for each trip and we have 2 certified guides will give you personalized service to make your experience of a life time. Wild life sighting is guaranteed, if you did not see anything on the first trip we will offer you the second trip completely free of charge.
Our priory is to find the wild life Whales and Dolphins. After we have seen Whales and Dolphins on our way back we come closer along the beautiful cost line of Funchal Bay enjoying spectacular scenery of Madeira Island. Our guides will provide you with lots information not only about the wild life but Fauna, Flora and the history of Madeira Island.
Camara do Lobos is a small picturesque fishing village where Sir Winston Churchill used to spend his afternoons painting and enjoying the view of the Bay of Camara do Lobos. We go closer to the shore so you can see this beautiful fishing village from Atlantic Ocean.
Highlights
Local guide
Local taxes including
Live commentary on board
What's included
Included
Local guide
Local taxes including
Live commentary on board
Not included
Drinks
Food and drinks
Lunch
Hotel pickup
Transportation to/from attractions
Traveller Ratings
4.7
370 reviews
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- No high heels allowed on tour
Frequently asked questions
How long does Dolphin - Whale - Turtle - Bird Watching take?
Dolphin - Whale - Turtle - Bird Watching lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Dolphin - Whale - Turtle - Bird Watching cost?
Prices start at $59 per person for this Funchal experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Dolphin - Whale - Turtle - Bird Watching for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Please arrive at the Funchal marina 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. All guests must check in with our friendly staff at our kiosk for a boarding pass. In respect to all of our guests the boat leaves on time. If you miss the boat, you will be not be issued a refund.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Dolphin - Whale - Turtle - Bird Watching offered in?
The experience is available in PT, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 18 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(370)
V
Interesting and entertaining
Fun and ethical with great tour guide Francisco
W
Speedboat tour without snorkeling
We saw dolphins at the beginning. Then we drove around for over an hour. The offered snorkeling was not carried out.
A
Nice experience with some drawbacks
The beginning was promising. Boarding went well, organization was good, speedboat was fun, and we saw dolphins quickly. After that, however, we drove slowly near the coast and did more sightseeing and were back at the harbor after 1.5h. That was a bit sobering, as I had a different expectation, or rather, this was conveyed to me.
C
Disappointing
Very disappointed with this service, today August 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM. Outing with the speedboat (sea safari) 2 hours at sea and only 10 minutes of viewing the same family of 7 or 8 small pilot whales and 2 dolphins came very quickly and left immediately and that's it, then 1 hour 30 minutes at sea nothing... although I did see a flying fish that was great for 10 seconds....but 50€ and that much time at sea for nothing was a disappointment. It is better to go towards Caniçal; a friend says she saw a huge amount near the Desertas Islands. I was very scared for 1 minute when the boat hit the turbo... wow, seriously, watch out for those with back pain, don't do it, we were lifted out of our seats with every wave and not small ones... well for me 😁 the guide wasn't very talkative either, really meh, passed around a picture with an explanation about whales at the end... I'll look on the internet, I have the info... the 2 stars are for the flying fish, very beautiful.
Operator response
Dear Guest, thank you for your feedback. Wildlife is unpredictable and every trip is different — we cannot control how long animals stay or how close they come. By law, we are limited to 10 minutes with each group before moving on. In 2 hours you actually saw two different species, which is already fortunate. Regarding the price: 50€ may seem high, but the boat uses almost 100 litres of fuel in 2 hours — I leave the maths to you. And if seeing pictures and reading information on the internet gives you the same excitement as seeing animals in real wildlife, then doing everything online will indeed save you a lot of money.
9
Beautiful experience.
We were able to see dolphins and 1 whale. Top-notch staff. Swimming time too long, I would have preferred it be used to observe the dolphins more....
S
Dolphin watching in a speed boat
Great trip, the excellent guide was a marine biologist explaining everything so well and we saw lots of dolphins 🐬
C
Super cool experience with people who understand nature
The guide and skipper are knowledgeable and tell a lot of good info about the sea creatures. With respect for nature
S
Fun exciting exhilarating couple of hours on the water
What a great day out!! Glad we chose this boat trip, excellent guide and captain and felt fun and safe on the 'speedboat '. The fast boat makes it easier to get to sightings of whales and dolphins And the sightings!!! Wow!! Jumping Bottlenose dolphins, and some coming around the boat too, a huge pod of striped dolphins jumping out all over the place was probably the highlight, and a brides whale too. Nice to see the Cory's Shearwaters up close too. Brilliant day out
L
Had an amazing time...
Had an amazing time onboard, we saw Pilot Whales, a turtle and dolphins. The guide was really knowledgeable and kept us updated on what was happening throughout the journey across the sea. We felt safe the whole time and its the closest we’ve ever got to dolphins - we’d absolutely do it again!
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