Madeira, with its location in the middle of the ocean and due to its volcanic origin with its rapidly sloping coasts of up to 3000 m, represents an ideal habitat for marine mammals such as whales and dolphins.
Why are there so many dolphins and whales off the coast of Madeira? Due to the variety of fish that Madeira offers, the region is like a kind of "gas station" for the whales, where the animals find relatively easy-to-catch food on their kilometer-long migrations across the ocean.
Different species of whales and dolphins can be seen here in their natural habitats, such as blue and white dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, fin whales, Bryde's whales, short-finned pilot whales, sei whales, sperm whales, beaked whales, sea turtles. Dolphins are present off Madeira year-round, although they are seen somewhat less frequently in the fall. For cetaceans, the migratory behavior is more pronounced, which is why they have peak season in June, November and December. However, due to the richness of species in this region, tours without sighting animals are the great exception.
We at Homeoffice Madeira make regular boat and special also whale watching tours with our guests, as it is always an absolute highlight. To be able to observe the animals in their natural habitat with the island scenery in the background is for many an experience they will never forget. Especially since we use local providers who use small fast boats and accordingly can quickly adjust and change their location, we have actually always been able to see animals to date. At the end of the article, we will briefly introduce you to our three best whale watching providers again....
On Madeira, most tours are offered with catamarans or speedboats. On average, a tour lasts 2-3 hours and is offered 2-3 times a day. Check beforehand which type of boat is the right one for you and book in advance to secure your desired day and time. On average, a tour costs about 35-50€ per person. Children often get discounts.
Since we have been able to try out and compare various providers over the last few months/years, we would like to introduce our three favorite ones to you and recommend them to you, since we have always been able to create unforgettable moments for our guests with them...
Lobosonda (Calheta) - German-speaking, attaches great importance to animal welfare and protection https://www.lobosonda.com/de/
Rota dos cetaceos (Funchal) - central, two spotters (high probability of sighting) https://www.rota-dos-cetaceos.pt/index.php/en/
Madeira Sea Emotions (Caniçal) - highest sighting probability (the north & south currents meet here) https://madeiraseaemotions.com/
