In a nutshell
- Cabo Girão rises 580 metres above the Atlantic, one of the great sights on Madeira's south coast.[1]
- Just five kilometres offshore the sea floor drops beyond 3,000 metres, allowing deep-water whales to come near the island.[2]
- Researchers have confirmed 27 species of cetaceans in Madeira's waters, from year-round bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales to seasonal Atlantic spotted dolphins.[3]
- Wheelchair-accessible catamaran from Funchal, 2.5 - 3 hours, live guide in English and Portuguese, free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.[4]
- Boats keep at least 50 meters from whales and dolphins and slow down gradually as they approach.[5]
- Top choice Ecological Catamaran from US$40 Rating4.55 from 10,022 reviews[4]Duration2.5 - 3 hours[4]Live guideEnglish, Portuguese[4]CancellationFree up to 24 hours ahead[4] Check availability
- Luxury Catamaran from US$46 Rating4.55 from 1,780 reviews[6]Duration3 hours[6]Live guidePortuguese, English[6]CancellationFree up to 24 hours ahead[6] See this tour
- Sailing Yacht from US$47 Rating4.64 from 1,431 reviews[7]Duration3 hours[7]Live guideEnglish, Portuguese[7]CancellationFree up to 24 hours ahead[7] See this tour
Bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales can be encountered all year round, along with deep divers like sperm whales and beaked whales.
A calm, low-impact way to meet Madeira's whales
Check before booking
Where it sits on the trip
The whale watching funchal madeira trips leave from Funchal and head west along Madeira's south coast, where Cabo Girão rises 580 metres above the Atlantic.[1] From the water, the cliff has a different presence than it does from the skywalk above: it looms, dark and layered, and you measure its height by the thin line of houses at the top. The ecological catamaran is a relaxed way to reach it, with an open deck that lets you move around and a crew that keeps watch for wildlife. The pace is unhurried, and the wide beam makes it easy to move from one side to the other as the coastline changes.
This tour from Funchal is priced from US$40 and lasts 2.5 - 3 hours, with a live guide in English and Portuguese.[4] It is wheelchair accessible, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance.[4] The listing shows two starting location options and two drop-off locations; check availability for the departure that suits your day.[4]
The departure point is easy to reach from the centre of Funchal. If you are staying near the marina, you can walk; if not, check what the tour offers for meeting points. Arriving a little early gives you time to settle in and find a good spot on the deck. Give yourself time to find the meeting point, because Funchal's old streets are lively and the seafront is always busy. Once aboard, a brief welcome from the crew explains the route and what to look for. The open deck means you can choose a shaded spot or a sunny one, and the low rail gives children and photographers a clear view.
What 580 metres looks like from below
From sea level, Cabo Girão is a towering wall of dark volcanic rock. The cliff face is not smooth; it is scored with ledges, cracks and patches of green where plants have found a hold. Seabirds circle the lower shelves, and the sound of water against the rock carries across the bay. It is easy to see why this spot draws photographers.
The perspective changes as the catamaran moves. At first the cliff fills the view; then it opens out into a long headland with terraced fields on top. The 580 metres height becomes clear when you measure it against the tiny houses and roads along the clifftop.[1]
Light changes everything along this coast. In the morning the basalt appears almost black and the sea is a deep blue; by late afternoon the same rock warms to brown and bronze. If you have time, try to match your departure to the light you like best. A morning trip tends to be calmer, while late trips have longer shadows and a softer glow on the terraces above the cliff.
Cabo Girão's dark cliff face seen from the water during a whale watching cruise.
Above and below
Madeira's waters are richer than they look. Researchers have confirmed 27 species of cetaceans in the waters around the island.[3] Bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales are seen all year round, while Atlantic spotted dolphins and occasional blue whales are seasonal visitors. Orcas and humpback whales are rarely seen, and each trip has a slightly different cast.[3]
The reason so many animals come close to shore is the underwater terrain. Just five kilometres off Madeira the ocean floor drops more than 3,000 metres, with steep slopes, underwater canyons and vast plateaus.[2] This special terrain allows deep-water whales to swim close to the island's coastline. On some trips a land-based spotter guides the skipper with details such as mileage and landmarks.[9]
The crew on the ecological catamaran tends to use the wind and the current, letting you appreciate the stillness of the sea. When dolphins ride the bow wave, the experience feels intimate rather than rushed. Keep watching the surface; a blow in the distance is often the first sign of something bigger.
The fajãs at the foot
Along the base of Cabo Girão, you may notice small flat areas of land that seem to have been squeezed between the cliff and the sea. These are fajãs, formed by volcanic debris and old landslides. Some are large enough for a few houses or farm plots, and their green terraces stand out sharply against the black rock.
From a boat, fajãs are best seen in late light, when the low sun catches the cliffs and the terraces glow. The catamaran's slow pace gives you time to look. If you have binoculars, this is the place to use them; you may spot a tiny chapel or a stone wall that has been there for generations.
These pockets of flat land are often cut off by the cliff and the sea, so the houses there have a particular quietness. Garden walls, a tiny chapel roof, a line of vines: each detail tells you that people have worked this harsh coast for a long time. On a calm day you can hear the surf breaking at the foot of the rock long before you see it.
from US$40
Book the wheelchair-accessible catamaran from Funchal with a live guide and an open deck.
The water below the cliff
The ocean at the foot of Cabo Girão is part of the same Atlantic that surrounds Madeira. Water temperatures in Madeira range from around 18°C in winter to 24°C in summer, and the sea is cool but not freezing even in the cooler months.[8]
Madeira regulates whale watching carefully. Boats must keep a minimum distance of 50 meters from whales and dolphins and 25 meters from sea turtles. Speeds are reduced gradually: no more than 12 knots within 300 meters, and 8 knots within 100 meters.[5]
The clear Atlantic light makes the rock look almost black in the morning and warm brown in late afternoon. A pair of polarised sunglasses helps you read the water, and a light spray jacket keeps you comfortable if the breeze picks up. The crew will point out anything worth a second look.
How the cliff got there
Cabo Girão is a slice of Madeira's volcanic history. The island was built by successive lava flows, and the south coast has been carved by the sea into a series of high headlands. The cliff's steep face is the result of erosion along old volcanic layers, with harder basalt forming the upper wall and softer material slumping into the water below.
The flat summit is part of an ancient lava plateau, and the fields you see from the sea are planted on volcanic soil that has been worked for centuries. From below, the geological layers are easy to read in the changing colours of the rock: dark basalt, reddish scoria, and the green of cultivated terraces.
Madeira's south coast is still being shaped. Winter storms undercut the base of the cliff, and from time to time small rockslides add fresh scree to the waterline. Sailors have known this headland for centuries, and its name carries a long history. Seeing it from the sea is the way that early navigators first saw it, and the view has lost none of its drama.
Getting the photograph
For the best photograph of Cabo Girão, position yourself on the side of the catamaran facing the cliff and shoot early in the trip, while the light is still on the rock. A lens with a little zoom will help you pull in the details of the fajãs and the clifftop houses. Keep your camera ready when dolphins appear; they often surface close to the bow.
If you want to photograph the animals themselves, use a fast shutter speed and focus on the horizon. The crew will tell you when something is spotted. Remember that the boat follows the responsible approach distance, and patience matters more than a long lens.[5]
After the trip, you will have a new appreciation for Madeira's coastline. The combination of a 580-metre cliff and deep offshore water makes this a memorable way to spend a few hours.[1][2]
Compare whale watching prices
Compare tour prices
Adult from-prices: US$40[4], US$46[6], US$47[7].
When to go whale watching in Funchal
How to book your trip
Pick a departure
Check availability for starting times and the two starting location options.[4]
Reserve your spot
Book at the from-price of US$40 and pay later if you prefer.[4]
Pack for the sea
Bring a jacket, sunscreen and a camera. Dress for a sea breeze.
Meet your guide
The live guide speaks English and Portuguese and will help spot wildlife.[4]
Enjoy the sail
The trip lasts 2.5 - 3 hours; keep your camera ready for dolphins.[4]
Cancel if needed
Free cancellation is possible up to 24 hours in advance.[4]
Reserve your spot on the Ecological Catamaran from Funchal today
from US$41Reserve now & pay later
