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All boat trips used an excellent local guide and Rita should be complemented. Local agents in general very good.
R.P. Aberdeen
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Whales & Dolphins of Madeira
Tour Code: PRT06A 7-day holiday in search of the varied cetacean species off Madeira, in particular Bryde's and Sperm Whales and Atlantic Spotted and Striped Dolphins.
7 days
from
£2,395 (Inc flights)
£2,395 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£2,150
£2,150
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Madeira is a relatively undiscovered destination for cetacean enthusiasts and about 20 species of whale and dolphin have been recorded in its waters. The island's stable weather and calm seas offer very good opportunities for watching and photographing a variety of dolphin species, as well as the resident population of Short-finned Pilot Whales, while larger whale species such as Bryde's and Sperm Whales are also seen here. On this tour we’ll be based in a comfortable hotel in Funchal, joining local marine biologists and naturalists each day for cetacean-watching excursions. As well as Bottlenose, Striped, Risso's and Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, we’ll be looking for a variety of whale species too, and we stand a good chance of finding many of these with our five excursions. With Madeira's endemic flora and avian-life, we have two walks (all included in tour price) into the mountains to search for the island's sought-after species. To make the most of our time on the water, there is also an evening cruise where we can enjoy Madeira's sunset, whilst observing the many seabirds which will be arriving from afar to roost on the island.
- A minimum of 20-hours of whale & dolphin-watching off Madeira
- Sperm and Bryde's Whales likely
- Watch playful Atlantic Spotted Dolphins bow-riding, feeding & leaping!
- Resident population of Short-finned Pilot Whales
- An evening cruise to watch the Madeiran sunset
- Endemic birds comprising Trocaz Pigeon, Madeiran Firecrest & Berthelot's Pipit
- Excellent 4-star hotel by the sea, plus delicious food in Funchal's old town
- Expertly escorted by local marine biologists & naturalists
Grading
Easy to moderate walks only, but these are optional.
Madeira is a truly lovely island. Blessed with a near perfect climate it offers an enticing combination of sunlight, warmth and a wealth of wildlife, and all only a few hours from the UK. Part of Macaronesia, which also includes the Cape Verde Islands, the Azores and Canaries, Madeira rises from the Atlantic Ocean over 300 miles from the African coast. Inland its volcanic landscape rises to over 1,500 metres, while beneath the sea its slopes plummet sharply to form deep canyons. Its separation from other landmasses, pleasant oceanic subtropical climate and underwater topography make Madeira a special place for wildlife both on and offshore. Inland, you will be falling over flowers such as Bird-of-paradise and hibiscus amongst a heady blend of colourful blooms that attract a wealth of butterflies and other insect-life. Such specialities as Madeiran Mahogany and the island’s indigenous and rare Laurissilva forest are of further interest to the botanist. Out at sea, many special birds can be seen between late spring and autumn, among them such rarities as Zino’s, Desertas and Bulwer’s Petrel. However, on this tour we focus primarily on one of the less well known aspects of the archipelago’s rich wildlife, its cetaceans.
Madeira is relatively undiscovered as a whale and dolphin-watching destination, yet a good variety of cetaceans are present in these waters at all times of the year, with about 20 species having been recorded so far. Bottlenose Dolphins are regularly seen, with a resident group of about 25 animals present, and these numbers are often supplemented by visits to these waters of the larger, transient oceanic Bottlenose Dolphins which can be seen inshore around Madeira. Short-finned Pilot Whales are also encountered frequently on boat trips out from the marina at Funchal and we are very likely to see these two species. There are larger cetaceans here too, and from May through to December Bryde’s Whales appear to feed around Madeira on migration. We will be hoping to see this warm-water species, single animals of which, or occasionally a mother and calf, are most typically seen in Madeiran waters. Short-beaked Common Dolphins are among the smaller cetaceans that we will be looking out for, as well as some warm-temperate and subtropical species such as the highly acrobatic and attractive Atlantic Spotted Dolphin.
Throughout this holiday we will be based in a comfortable 4-star hotel in Funchal, from which we will join a team of marine biologists each day for dedicated whale-watching trips. Each dedicated whale and dolphin-watching sortie will typically last between three and five hours, and we will be assisted in our efforts through radio contact with keen-eyed ‘vigias’ (lookouts) on land. Among the cetaceans we may encounter as we head out to sea from Funchal are pods of Short-finned Pilot Whale — a stocky, medium-sized and highly social cetacean which lives in closely-knit family groups and is often seen resting, or ‘logging’, at the surface during the day. If we are able to get close to a group we may lower a hydrophone into the water to try and listen to their vocal interactions, which are somewhat reminiscent of a squeaky door! Other, deep diving species such as Sperm Whales and some of the elusive beaked whales, including Blainville’s, are recorded each year around Madeira, but we would have to be very fortunate indeed to see one of these species, with the former being more likely. There is also a chance of encountering Bryde’s Whale, and Madeira represents the best place to see these essentially tropical whales in Europe. Our local guides have been conducting research into the social and feeding behaviour of Bryde’s Whales, so we can rely on their expertise to spot these little-known and elegant roqual whales if they are present.
Although most of our time will be spent out at sea in search of whales and dolphins, there will be some opportunities to experience a variety of Madeira’s seabirds and endemic land birds. A well-informed botany walk will have us seeing a host of rare and endemic plants too. In addition, we will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and balmy evenings around Funchal, with strolls around the old town, soaking in the scents of abundant flowers and perhaps mulling over our day’s adventures at sea with a glass of the island’s famous Madeira wine. In fact, it is really rather easy to fall for Madeira’s manifold on and offshore charms!
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Funchal
Day 2
Morning boat trip; evening sunset cruise
Day 3
Morning boat trip; free afternoon
Day 4
Morning birdwatching; afternoon boat trip
Day 5
Free morning; afternoon boat trip
Day 6
Endemic flora walk; afternoon boat trip
Day 7
Depart Funchal
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
A charming 4-star hotel within an easy walk of Funchal's marina. All rooms have private facilities.
- Food:
All breakfasts are included in the price. Lunches and dinners in Funchal are not included; allow £200 to £250 for lunches and dinner.
Reviews
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The Sei Whales and Dolphins were excellent.
R.S. Bristol -
Local guides and drivers were all excellent; knowledgeable, enthusiastic and everything ran exactly on time.
D.S. & J.M. Surrey -
It was a wonderful holiday, the whales and dolphins were extremely co-operative, especially the spotted dolphins on the last day.
L.S. Dorset -
The boat trips were superb including the extra one for squid fishing.
G.R. Somerset -
Local leaders were excellent and managed to get us good sightings of whales and dolphins.
E.L. Liverpool -
The tour leader, Ed Drewitt, was an exemplary leader - very knowledgeable and friendly and took particular care of his guests.
T. & J.D. Oxfordshire -
I enjoyed my visit to Madeira we saw Whales/Dolphins on every boat trip with a shark and loggerhead thrown in as a bonus!
H.I. East Sussex
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Sat 7th Jun – Fri 13th Jun
SPACES
£2,395
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,150
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£275
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Su Gough
Tour Leader: Su Gough
Su has been leading Naturetrek holidays since 2002, concentrating mainly on botanical and general natural history ones in Europe. Su worked for the British Trust for Ornithology for 26 years as an ecologist, trainer and editor of their members’ publications. During that time, she wrote and narrated a series of more than 70 bird identification videos which are free to view on YouTube. She also wrote Birds of Brecks, a bird ID field guide published last year. In 2020, Su moved her focus and is now the Senior Media Officer for World Horse Welfare, an international charity based in Norfolk, which works across the full spectrum of the horse world to improve the horse-human partnership. Despite this mainly bird-centric career, she trained as a botanist and has a deep interest in all natural history, including insects, mammals and anything else!
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Sat 6th Jun – Fri 12th Jun
SPACES
£2,395
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,150
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£275
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Among our programme is a significant range of short breaks, designed specially for those wishing to enjoy some of Europe’s top natural history highlights at the best time of year. All of these holidays have the bonus of being short-haul and supported by like-minded wildlife enthusiasts.
Naturetrek Short Break Wildlife Tours
Short breaks are becoming increasingly popular and in response to the high demand for this type of holiday we are continuing to increase our programme both within the UK and abroad. Most of our short breaks are within Europe, for convenience of travel.
For some of our mini-breaks there is an option to travel by plane or train, and we offer a choice of duration and type of break, from a weekend’s birdwatching in the Somerset Levels to a 6-day whale watching tour in the Azores.
A selection of our UK short breaks:
- A winter bird watching break in Norfolk
- An autumn holiday to enjoy the Red Deer rut in Ardnamurchan, Scotland
- A wildlife weekend in the New Forest
A selection of our overseas short breaks:
- In Spain we look for the world’s rarest cat, the Iberian Lynx
- Wolves on the plains in rural northern Spain
- An exploration of La Brenne’s exceptionally rich butterfly-life in northern France
Our specialist recommends...
"We offer two superb short breaks to the lovely island of Madeira in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds. It’s hard to beat our Just Brown Bears trip for families, while if you fancy something off the beaten track, try Estonia in Early Spring for some excellent spring birdwatching."
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Whale Watching Cruises – See Whales in their Wild Habitat
Seeing whales in the wild is one of the top 10 things most people want to do during their lifetime. Scanning the water, waiting to hear a blow or see a dorsal fin, is one of the top wildlife experiences in the world, and it can get addictive! A sighting of whales in their natural habitat is consistently rated in the top 10 wildlife experiences in the world. These gentle giants of the ocean hold a special place in our hearts. Our dedicated small group tours offer the thrilling opportunity of an up-close-and-personal encounter in the wild; scanning the water, waiting for the sound of a blow or the sight of a dorsal fin is both thrilling and addictive.
Naturetrek Whale Watching Tours
Our dedicated small group whale-watching holidays encompass a range of destinations all over the world to offer the best chance of sightings on short trips or longer cruises. Whether it’s a day excursion in the UK or an extended 14-day cruise to an exotic far-flung location, we offer the chance to encounter these giant cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the Polar regions.
Depending on the location, our itineraries can focus on one or several of the planet’s 86 key species, including Blue and Killer Whales, or form part of a broader wildlife-watching experience to encounter dolphins, birdlife and other marine species. Led by expert biologist or naturalist guides, our tours often allow participants to get thrillingly close to one of the most fascinating animals on Earth. We've been organising specialist wildlife tours for 32 years and our experience, passion and knowledge have earned us a reputation as the best in the business. Our range of whale-watching holidays is so popular that we are rapidly expanding our programme to include some of the most exciting, wildlife-rich places in the world.
Why book a Naturetrek whale & dolphin watching holiday?
- Expert biologist-led & wildlife photographer-led holidays
- Dedicated whale-watching tours focusing on one or a few key species
- Many of our whale-watching tours offer the chance to see dolphins as well (and vice versa)
- A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
- A chance to look for cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from polar waters to the tropics
- A wide range of the world’s 86 species are seen on our whale-watching holidays, including Blue Whales & Killer Whales
- A wide range of the world's dolphin species have also been seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s
Our specialist recommends...
"In the UK I'd recommend our full-day dolphin tours to look for White-beaked dolphins off Lyme Bay. Madeira offers a good variety of dolphins close to shore including Risso's, Atlantic Spotted and Common, while if you fancy warm tropical waters Sri Lanka or the Maldives offer a good range of acrobatic species in sunny conditions!"
Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager
Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager
Family Wildlife Tours – Education and Adventure in the Wild
Integrating some of the world’s top wildlife spectacles into a family holiday with your children or grandchildren is an inspirational way to spend a half term or longer holiday and we offer tours focusing on a range of iconic wildlife from Tigers to Brown Bears, often with a little culture thrown in. We believe older teenagers will enjoy the majority of our group holidays, although unfortunately not all of our group tours are suitable for young children. We would be very happy to adapt any of our group tours to create bespoke itineraries to meet your family’s requirements and our expert team are always on hand to offer some fresh ideas for private holidays that can be enjoyed by families of any age, allowing you to curate those precious memories that will last a lifetime.
Naturetrek Family Wildlife Tours
It can be tricky for families to find a good wildlife holiday that meets their needs during school holidays. We are always pleased to provide suggestions for holidays that fit around the family calendar and also coincide with the best chances for wildlife sightings. Many of these holidays offer significant discounts for children. Whether you choose to travel as one family, or join your friends to form an extended group, we are here to help every step of the way.
Here’s a selection of our family wildlife tours:
- South Africa – a big game safari in Kruger National Park
- Visit the Taj Mahal and look for Tigers in northern India
- Watch Brown Bears in Sweden from a purpose-built cabin
- Enjoy the whales & dolphins of the Azores
Can I take children on other Naturetrek tours?
Some of our tours are more suitable for children than others. Some holidays may involve very long days spent out in the field, and a great deal of patience can be required as we quietly sit, wait and scan for our quarry. Experience teaches us that this is something many young children tend to struggle with, and so to be fair to them and our other guests, we are unable to accept young children on most of our group tours. Having said that, we love nothing more than nurturing the interests of intrepid young naturalists and once interested children reach secondary school age (11+) then generally our group tours work well and an interested child can get a great deal out of a Naturetrek group holiday. Please bear in mind, however, that the average age on our group tours is 60+! Alternatively, we are often asked to tailor our itineraries to ensure suitability for children of any age. If there is a group tour that you think would be of particular interest to you and your family party please contact one of our Operations Managers to discuss the possibility of a private departure.
Our specialist recommends...
"We offer a good choice of short-haul holidays for families such as Bear watching and whale and dolphin trips. However, if you fancy something further afield, I’d recommend our ‘Tigers & the Taj’ Tailormade tour. The combination of culture, wildlife and adventure is a perfect one.”
David Mills - Managing Director
David Mills - Managing Director
Dolphin Watching – See Dolphins in the Wild
Seeing dolphins in the wild consistently ranks high on people’s lists of ’10 Things To See Before I Die’. Dolphins have captured the public imagination arguably more than any other animal – we marvel at their intelligence, grace and agility, as well as their apparent curiosity of their human observers.
Naturetrek Dolphin Watching Tours
Naturetrek offers the chance to watch dolphins all over the world, from the UK to the tropics and polar regions. Many of our dolphin tours also offer the opportunity to see whales. We offer:
- Dedicated dolphin tours focusing on one or a few key species
- Dolphin watching as part of a broader wildlife watching tour
- A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
- Expert biologist-led, photographer-led and researcher-led tours
- A wide range of the world’s dolphin species seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s
Our range of dolphin watching holidays includes:
- A Maldives Cruise – a cruise through the turquoise waters surrounding the Maldives, searching for dolphins and whales as well as snorkeling over the reefs
- Monterey Bay – enjoying the dolphins, whales and bird life of California’s Monterey Bay
- The Azores – Look for Sperm Whales and other cetaceans
- Madeira – a 5-day holiday focusing on dolphin watching
Our specialist recommends...
"In the UK I'd recommend our full-day dolphin tours to look for White-beaked dolphins off Lyme Bay. Madeira offers a good variety of dolphins close to shore including Risso's, Atlantic Spotted and Common, while if you fancy warm tropical waters Sri Lanka or the Maldives offer a good range of acrobatic species in sunny conditions!"
Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager
Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
