Funchal, Calheta, Machico and Porto Santo
Whale and dolphin watching, and why no price appears here
The short answer
Whale and dolphin watching trips leave from Funchal, Calheta, Machico and Porto Santo into water that reaches great depth close to shore. The tourism board lists several dolphin and whale species as regularly seen. Trips run through licensed tourist entertainment operators rather than a public service.
Depth reached close to shore
3,000 m
The figure given by the regional tourism board.
Visit Madeira · check it · read August 26, 2026The facts
| Where | Funchal, Calheta, Machico and Porto Santo |
|---|---|
| Type | Boats and tours |
| How long | Half a day |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Cost | Not published by the tourism board |
| Best season | Resident dolphin species are seen year round; the sea is calmest in summer |
| Permit | No permit recorded |
What is out there
The tourism board lists common dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, sperm whale, short-finned pilot whale and Bryde’s whale among the species most often seen, along with turtles. The Mediterranean monk seal colony on the Desertas is also in these waters.
Water reaching 3,000 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 sits close to shore here, which is why deep-water species are within a short sailing of Funchal.
Why there is no price on this page
The regional tourism board lists licensed operators and departure points but publishes no prices. Each licensed operator sets its own.
Rather than repeat a figure from a booking aggregator, this page records the absence. Anything else would be a number with nothing behind it.
Sea state and conduct
Swell off Madeira is substantial for much of the year. Seasickness on these trips is normal, and the remedy has to be taken before leaving the harbour.
Operators are bound by the regional rules on approaching cetaceans. An operator that gets closer than the rules allow is not giving a better trip.
What is not perfect about it
Sightings are never guaranteed, and the Atlantic swell off Madeira makes seasickness common enough to plan for rather than hope against. Precautions have to be taken before boarding, and there is no chance to take them once the boat has left.
Questions people actually ask
How much does whale watching cost in Madeira?
The tourism board publishes no price. Trips are run by licensed operators who each set their own, so no figure is stated here.
What whales can you see in Madeira?
The tourism board lists common, Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphin, sperm whale, short-finned pilot whale and Bryde’s whale among the species most often seen.
Are sightings guaranteed?
No. Sightings are never guaranteed, and sea conditions can cancel a sailing outright.
Where this came from
- Visit Madeira: Dolphin and whale watching. visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/sea-lovers/activities/dolph Read August 26, 2026.