Whale Watching in Madeira Guide: When to Go, What You’ll See and Other Tips

Thinking about going whale watching in Madeira? Before you take the plunge, there are a few things worth knowing: when to go, how to choose a responsible tour operator and which creatures you might encounter.

Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are resident species that can be spotted all year round. However, many larger whale species migrate seasonally, meaning that when you visit matters… even the time of day.

In this guide to whale watching in Madeira, I’ll explain the best time to go, what species you might see and other important things to consider when you book your tour.

While you’re here, open a new tab and check out my round-up of the best whale watching tours in Madeira, ranked by tourist reviews, my personal experience and their commitment to ethical whale watching.

Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.

When to Go Dolphin and Whale Watching in Madeira

The Dolphin and Whale Watching Season in Madeira

Contrary to what you might hear, there is a best time to go whale watching in Madeira. It’s from April to September.

That’s not to say that you can’t spot dolphins and whales in Madeira outside of those months, though.

Resident species like pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins can be spotted in Madeira all year round.

• Summer (June to August): The best time for whale watching in Madeira, but it’s also the most crowded. The weather is usually more reliable.
• Autumn (September to November): September is a really good month for whale watching, with lower crowds and good whale spotting chances. October and November are less optimal but decent if the weather remains good.
• Winter (November to February): Rainy and windy conditions can make it harder to spot whales and dolphins. Tours are more likely to be cancelled.
• Spring (March to May): Throughout spring, the weather starts to improve and your chances of spotting whales/dolphins also increases. You can also beat the summer crowds.

The Best Time of Day For Whale Watching in Madeira

Boat tours in Madeira begin at 9am and 2.30pm.

The morning tours (9am) offer better chances at spotting whales, which are most active in the morning.

Because the ocean surface cools overnight, yummy tidbits like plankton, small fish and squid rise to the surface. The whales then chase their prey near the surface, making it far easier for you to spot dorsal fins and spouts.

If you can’t make the morning slot, the afternoon is still a good option. Whale activity continues throughout the day, and dolphins often get more social in the afternoon.

Larger whale species like sperm whales can sometimes be seen logging near the surface when conditions are calm, too.

Crowds are another consideration. The morning tours are the most popular, so afternoon boats are often less crowded, making it a more enjoyable experience overall.

Which Whales Can You See in Madeira?

The most common whale spotted in Madeira is the short-finned pilot whale. Technically, they’re dolphins (like orcas), so they’re smaller than most whale species.

They’re seen very regularly because they’re a social species that prefer the deep offshore waters near the island.

Pilot whales

Larger whales that can be spotted all year round in Madeira are sperm whales (measuring up to 18 metres) and beaked whales (an agile, deep-diving species), although they’re not as easy to spot.

Sperm and beaked whales are also resident species, but the issue is that they have a love for deep diving (down to over 1,000 metres).

Because they only surface between long dives and prefer deeper water further from shore, they’re much harder to spot.

Migratory species like Bryde’s whales and fin whales are also tricky to see – and timing really matters – because they only pass through Madeira’s waters for a limited amount of time each year.

Species	Best Time	Chances of Spotting
Short-finned pilot whale	All year round	High
Sperm whales	All year round	Medium
Beaked whale	All year round	Medium
Bryde’s whale	June to September	Medium
Fin whale	March to May	Medium
Sei whale	July to October	Medium

Which Dolphins Can You See in Madeira?

Bottlenose dolphins are the easiest dolphins to spot in Madeira, as they are sociable creatures that live around the island for the whole year.

As the name suggests, they have a short beak that makes it easy to tell them apart from other dolphin species.

Bottlenose dolphins that I spotted in Madeira

There are also high chances of spotting common dolphins (from December to May) or Atlantic spotted dolphins (from May to November).

However, these are migratory species, so they’re not always present, and their movements can be more sporadic.

Species	Best Time to See Them	Chances of Spotting
Bottlenose dolphin	All year round	High
Atlantic spotted dolphin	May to November	High
Common dolphin	December to May	High
Striped dolphin	All year round	Medium
Risso’s dolphin	May to October	Low

Places to Go Dolphin and Whale Watching in Madeira

1. Whale Watching from Funchal

Funchal is the main destination for dolphin and whale watching in Madeira. As the city is home to over 90% of the island’s occupants, it’s a huge tourist hub.

The modern marina is lined with tour operators that run twice-daily boat tours.

You can go to the marina one or two days in advance to book a tour or reserve your tour online.

In the busier months of April to September, I always recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

2. Whale Watching from Calheta

There’s lots of whale activity around Calheta, located on the southwest coast of Madeira. However, if you (like most tourists) are staying in Funchal, getting there requires a 40-minute drive or a two-hour bus.

Lobosonda is a family-run company that has been running in Calheta since the early 2000s. They’re the go-to choice and also focus on responsible, sustainable tourism.

3. Whale watching from Machico

There are also whale watching tours from Machico on the southeast coast of Madeira. The idea is nice – I’ve been on a non-wildlife-focused boat trip from there and the views of Ponta de São Lourenço are impeccable.

However, after investigating, I couldn’t find a company that offered boat tours without the swimming with dolphins activity. Therefore, I don’t recommend going whale watching in Machico.

How to Pick Your Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira

As I explain in my guide to the best whale watching tours in Madeira, there are several things to consider when you book your tour.

This is aside from what I’ve already covered regarding the season and time of day.

1. How ethical is it?

If your chosen tour advertises swimming with dolphins or whales, I hate to break it to you, but it’s not ethical. Swimming with sea creatures can have long-term adverse effects on their behaviour.

Always pick a licensed tour certified by the Madeira Nature Tourism Board or the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN).

These certifications require the operator to conform to regulations on how fast the vessel travels, how close they can get to animals, and how long they can spend with them.

Here are some major green flags:

• The tour is led by a marine biologist.
• The boat doesn’t chase whales or dolphins.
• It says 100 metres from whales and 50 from dolphins that approach the boat.
• It doesn’t revisit the same pod.
• Features like quiet engines or electric boats.
• It has a ban on plastic bottles and waste-free policies.

2. Yacht, speedboat or sailboat?

Yachts are the most common boat type in Madeira. In their favour, they are often fitted with electric or silent engines and they have plenty of space onboard.

However, the downside is that because they have more space, tour numbers can reach up to 20 to 30 people.

As I learnt first-hand, short people also come out short-changed. Sometimes you simply can’t see over the sea of people.

Speedboats like the Ventura, on the other hand, fit a smaller group of people (usually 8 to 16). Due to the arrangement of the boat in pairs of seats, you generally get a better view of the water at all times.

However, take note that you’re fixed in position, so there’s still the chance that your view will be blocked by the person sitting next to you at times.

Speedboats are also fast, which gives them an advantage over yachts and sailboats. As I mentioned, there are limits set on how many boats can stay within 100 metres of the whales at one time.

If you’re the last boat to arrive, you must wait your turn. While this likely won’t matter if they’re pilot whales, larger species only surface briefly between hour-long dives, so you could miss seeing them entirely.

Another benefit of taking a speedboat is that it helps to prevent motion sickness. Yachts and boats tend to sway more from side to side, which can be problematic if you’re prone to feeling sick.

Finally, sailing (e.g. on the Gavião Sailing Tour) is another option. This is pretty blissful, but sailboats are slow-moving, so they may not be able to reach whales.

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That’s all for my guide to dolphin and whale watching in Madeira. Feel free to share your own experience in the comments – let me know if you see pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins or another, more elusive species!