Whale Watching in Madeira

Plan your whale-watching trip around the departure point, time at sea and the kind of boat experience you want. Wind Birds, which runs this website, offers Bird, Whale and Dolphin Watching trips from Machico on Madeira’s southeast coast.

Check current tour dates, prices and booking details with Wind Birds →

Trip essentials · When to go · Getting there · What to bring · Whaling history

Trip essentials

• Departure: the south wall of Machico harbour.
• Time at sea: two hours. Choose a morning or afternoon departure to suit your plans; both are suitable for wildlife watching.
• Boat: Oceanodroma RV, an 11-metre rigid-hulled inflatable boat with individual shock-mitigation seats and a maximum of 12 passengers.
• Availability: check the operator’s current calendar for your travel dates and confirm the meeting time when booking.

See the operator’s trip timings and tour details.

When to go and what you might see

Whales and dolphins can be seen around Madeira throughout the year, but that does not mean this tour departs every day or in every season. Warmer months generally offer a wider variety of marine wildlife. Sightings vary, and no particular species or encounter is guaranteed.

The crew searches for cetaceans and seabirds, adjusting the route to wildlife activity and sea conditions. Follow their guidance and let the animals’ behaviour shape the encounter.

Explore our species guide before travelling, and browse the trip reports for past observations. These records describe individual trips, rather than predicting what you will see.

Getting to Machico

The meeting point is Machico harbour, not Funchal harbour. Parking is available near the marina. Allow time to reach Machico and find the agreed meeting point before your departure.

If you are staying in central Funchal, Caniço or Santa Cruz, ask Wind Birds about a return transfer when booking. Transfers are available on request for an extra charge; confirm the pickup arrangements and current cost with the team. See the departure and pickup information.

What to bring

• A warm layer and waterproof outerwear.
• Quick-drying clothes and trainers or sandals; leave walking boots ashore.
• Sun protection and a hat secured against the wind.
• Drinking water.

Before you book

Read the current tour description and booking conditions, and ask Wind Birds about any boarding, mobility or other suitability questions before reserving a place.

Weather can change a departure. Keep your booking contact details up to date and check for messages from the operator. Its weather-update guidance explains how the team communicates changes; use the conditions for your chosen tour when reviewing cancellation arrangements.

View the Wind Birds tour and available departures, or contact the team to discuss your plans.

From whaling to whale watching

Madeira’s relationship with cetaceans has changed from hunting whales to observing them at sea. The history below provides context for today’s wildlife trips.

Whaling industry in Madeira

According to Pereira E.,1957, there are documents stating that in 1743 whales were hunted by manual harpoon in Madeira seas. In his work of “Ilhas de Zarco” he also states that the modern whaling industry (with harpoon guns) only started in February 1941 when whaleboats with its crews came from São Miguel, Azores, to hunt and to establish an industry based in Ribeira da Janela, Porto Moniz. Two years later there were whaling boats spread through four harbours in Madeira: Porto Moniz, Caniço, Caniçal and Funchal.

As the industry developed, six whale spotting places were built in Madeira - Porto Moniz, Ponta do Pargo, Ponta do Sol, Garajau, Caniçal and São Jorge, - three in Porto Santo - Pedregal, Espigão and Ilhéu de Baixo, - and two in Desertas Islands - East and West tips of Deserta Grande. These spotting places were situated in capes or tips of the islands from where men could search for whales. Meantime the base of the whaling industry moved from Porto Moniz to Garajau at first and later, in the early 50’s, to Caniçal, where a modern processing facility was built.

Whaling products

Every single part of a whale's body was used to extract four main products: oil, meal, baleen and teeth. The whale oil was used to lit the homes and streets of much of the world, to make soap and margarine and, during the II World War, as fuel for the public buses in Madeira. The whale meal was mainly to feed pigs.

Mistakenly known as whalebone by the whalers and manufacturers, baleen is a strong, yet flexible material made out of keratin: a fibrous structural protein which is also key material to human hair and fingernails. Its applications were mainly for women’s fashion, such as hair brushes, whips, corset stays and parasols.

As for whales’ teeth, these were known as ocean ivory and was used for ornamental carvings and for the traditional hobby of sailors: the art of scrimshaw (tooth polishing and then engraving with ink).

End of whaling in Madeira

In the 70’s the growth of organisations to protect the whales and the consequent ban on the whaling products by some of the countries to where Madeira was exporting, such as the USA, UK and France, slowly led to the voluntary end of whaling in Madeira in 1981. During the 40 years (1941-1981) of whaling with harpoon guns, approximately 6000 cetaceans were killed in Madeira waters, an average of 150 specimens per year.

Whale Watching in Madeira

This activity is about the observation of cetaceans in its natural habitat and, as an ecotourism service, it implies the respect and conservation of the animals and habitats, minimising impacts on the disturbance of the species.

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.