This was one of the highlights of our honeymoon in Madeira! We booked the luxury dolphin and whale watching excursion in Funchal, and we were so impressed from start to finish. We loved that the experience was limited to a small group, which made the entire excursion feel very personal and relaxed. We were welcomed by the captain and two crew members, who were all incredibly friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. They shared so much information with us and made the experience both educational and fun. We were also pleasantly surprised by the level of service throughout the trip. There was a wonderful selection of food and drinks provided, and the boat itself was incredibly spacious and comfortable. They even took professional photos for us and send them after the trip. It truly felt like a luxury experience rather than just a typical boat tour. And, of course, seeing whales in the wild was absolutely amazing! After whale watching, we headed to a beautiful spot where we were able to get in the water and swim, which was the perfect addition to the day. We did have a small mishap with the boat during our excursion, but I have to give a lot of credit to the crew. They remained calm, professional, and collected, quickly worked through the issue, and still made sure we had an amazing experience. Their attitude really stood out to us and showed how committed they were to making the most of our day. We would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Madeira. It was such a memorable part of our honeymoon, and we would absolutely love to do it again!
VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching





At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $90 / person
- Location
- Funchal, Portugal
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 1,963 reviews
- Languages
- PT, EN, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 17
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- VipDolphins Catamaran Whale Watching
- Meeting point
- 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.
Description
We are the only Whale Watching company in Madeira providing a Luxury experience for an affordable price to see the dolphins and whales. We will welcome you with the best Portuguese sparkling wine, everything is included for your trip, cocktails, local wines, local juices, and appetizers, and local traditional biscuits. will be served during the trip. Our boat is recent and offer showers and bathrooms.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 8
- Adult (ages 16+)
- $90
- Child (ages 3–15)
- $79
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 20 of the next 60 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
How it compares in Funchal
- No. 3 by number of reviews among 576 tours in Funchal
- Starting price $90 is 44% above the typical $63 for tours of similar length in Funchal
Excurgo comparison of 576 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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 under 3 years old are not allowed
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching take?
VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching lasts about 3 hours.
How much does VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching cost?
Prices start at $90 per person for this Funchal experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM.
How much does VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching cost for children?
Children aged 3–15 pay from $79, adults from $90.
Does VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching sell out?
It can: 20 of the next 60 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel VipDolphins Luxury Whale 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 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. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching offered in?
The experience is available in PT, EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 17 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children under 3 years old are not allowed
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible
Reviews(1,963)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
The most amazing experience, very small personal group, fantastic attention to detail. The thing we liked most was the consideration given to the wildlife we saw unlike the so called eco tour company who chased the pod of dolphins, our crew were amazing and thoughtful.
Could not have asked for a better experience … we saw whales, dolphins, amazing sunset, and rising full moon over Funchal. The crew was fantastic and created a relaxed fun atmosphere whilel providing a lot of useful information.
Small group, nice experience and friendly staff. If you plant to visit Madeira, I suggest you to reserve it in advance, absolutely worth it!
Very professional and friendly crew. Very attentive. The boat is spacious (there were few of us). Impeccable service (towel and mask for swimming). I highly recommend.
Great experience. Boat and crew are top-notch. We even had the chance to see dolphins and whales.
A very pleasurable experience with friendly and knowledgeable staff, plenty of room on the catamaran as it is for small group, we went upstairs for a better view, however the first part of the trip was very windy and we struggled a bit to down our drinks of which there was a huge choice including a very nice Portuguese sparkling wine. We also enjoyed the little snacks both savoury and sweet. We were amazed to see how the staff coped with the swell, we were not so good but personally I tought it was hilarious! Importantly we saw quite a lot of pilot whales and managed to take a few pictures. Recommended
If you want a great trip, on a super boat, uncrowded, friendly, professional and fantastic value for money then I cant rate this any higher. The attention to detail, the food and drink service is one of the best ive experienced. Pay a few more £ and get a trip worth every penny. Thanks you VIP Dolphins team, when we next come to Madeira were coming back.. awesome well done.
A relaxing afternoon, drinks free flowing and crew very attentive.
Very nice experience, clean boat, very educated staff and breathtaking views all along the way!
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching | 3 hours | 4.9 (1,963) | $90 | |
Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching on a Ecological Catamaran | 3 hours | 4.6 (2,247) | $40 | View |
Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Madeira | 2h 30min | 4.9 (1,308) | $85 | View |
Dolphin - Whale - Turtle - Bird Watching | 2 hours | 4.7 (371) | $57 | View |
Responsible Whales and/or Dolphins Watching Tour | 2 hours | 4.9 (357) | $59 | View |
Whale & Dolphin Watching boat trip | 2h 30min | 4.8 (110) | $62 | View |
Porto Moniz, Seixal, Fanal Forest, Cliff Skywalk in Open Roof 4X4 | 7h 30min | 4.9 (3,886) | $79 | View |

























