March means spring but this year, in Madeira it looks like winter is not yet ready to leave... Let's hope whales and dolphins don't really care about the weather above sea level!

Week 13: From the 23rd to the 29th of March 2026
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus

Weather and sea conditions are not playing easy this winter. Wind has been blowing quite strong, it has been colder than previous winters and also rainier. Although these conditions do not affect much the underwater species, it gets hard for humans to sail the ocean and to spot cetaceans...

Week 9: From the 23rd of February to the 1st of March 2026
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus

This new year started with some stormy weather and rough sea conditions which did not allow many whalewatching trips...

Week 5: From the 26th of January to the 1st of February 2026
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
No other sightings due to stormy weather

Week 4: From the 19th to the 25th of January 2026
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus

Winter is definitely not the best time for whale watching! Not only the weather and sea conditions influence the trips and sightings as there are less number of cetacean species passing by Madeira waters.

Week 52: From the 22nd to the 28th of December 2025
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus

Week 51: From the 15th to the 21th of December 2025
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus

In November, as the ocean water starts to cool down, the number of marine mammal species passing through Madeira archipelago start to decrease as well...

Week 48: From the 17th to the 23rd of November 2025
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris
Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus

This website is developed by Wind Birds' company as a contribute to the knowledge and conservation of whales and dolphins species around the Madeira archipelago and to promote whale watching in a sustainable way.

26 species of cetaceans are confirmed records for Madeira archipelago waters and three species remain as dubious records as there are not enough evidence to allow a definite identification of the species.

One can not write about whale watching without mentioning whaling, as that was how it all started... So we begin by framing historically the whaling industry in Madeira archipelago and the use of its products.

In Madeira, whale watching has evolved from chance encounters into one of the island’s most captivating marine experiences. Following the end of whaling, sightings of whales and dolphins became increasingly common, often delighting passengers on coastal and big game fishing trips when pods happened to cross their path. What began as a matter of luck gradually transformed into a dedicated tourism activity, and by 2004, specialized companies were launching sea excursions dedicated to the observation of cetaceans.

Today, Madeira boasts a wide range of operators offering whale and dolphin watching tours around the island. With so many options available, the real choice lies in selecting a company that prioritizes sustainability, respects marine life, and delivers an authentic, responsible encounter with nature.