After arriving on our sailboat in Funchal, we were looking for family activities, and the idea of joining a Dolphin and Whale Watching tour aboard a luxury catamaran came up. We hesitated because we had already been on board for a while but decided to take the risk. It was a good decision!
Madeira was the first stop on our around-the-world journey, a must-visit destination! The variety of family activities and programmes to try is immense, and anyone travelling with family knows that they need to keep everyone entertained to create great moments and lasting memories.
We were at sea, Margarida and I and our 2 kids, aboard our catamaran 'Zinga', sailing from Porto Santo to Funchal. At the last minute, as usual, we had to find family activities and decide what to do in the upcoming days during our stay in Funchal.
Dolphin and Whale Watching in Madeira is an activity that comes up right away in internet searches, as the destination is famous for its abundance of marine life. Our initial reaction was hesitation because we were already living on a boat... and we're going on a boat experience? It doesn't make much sense. But after some debate, we decided to give this Dolphin and Whale Watching trip in Madeira a chance. Sure, we're living on a boat, but we don't know marine life like the skippers, sailors, and marine biologists involved in this activity, which is ideal for families. Not to mention the licences and rules that must be followed to observe cetaceans in Madeira safely and without disturbing or harming marine animals.
After deciding to go ahead, we managed to secure spots for the four of us on a very nice catamaran. We shared it with two other groups of foreigners, making a total of around 15 people (plus 3 crew members). The catamaran, which was 60 feet long, was very comfortable - much more than ours. It had an outdoor area, an indoor area and a flybridge that allowed us to enjoy Dolphin and Whale Watching in Madeira from a privileged angle and with a better chance of spotting animals in the distance before heading towards them.
We left the marina and were immediately offered a refreshing drink and a custard tart (needless to say, the kids were instantly thrilled, and it was a great way to get them to sit beside us since they only wanted to explore every nook and cranny of the 'new' boat). After about 5 minutes, the crew alerts us to a turtle swimming on the starboard side! We all went to the side to look and there it was, medium-sized (I suppose), all alone, poking its head out of the water, said 'hello,' and went on its way. '1-0', 'we saw one' I say to Margarida, as if to say that this Dolphin and Whale Watching trip is already worth it.
We continued sailing peacefully on calm seas under a blue sky, perfect temperature, and deep blue water (as we love it), when the crew alerted us again to a group of dolphins that were about to pass in front of us. This time the 'encounter' lasted longer than the one with the turtle, giving us time to take photos, make videos, and listen to the crew's explanation about the habits of these wild animals.
However, the sailors made it clear that there is a time limit for a Dolphin and Whale Watching tour, and that each boat cannot closely follow the animals for more than fifteen minutes at a time. So, it was time to head in another direction and give a turn to other boats that were also participating in this family activity.
It wasn't long before the next sighting... this time we were unsure which species it would be, dolphins or whales? They weren't very big, but they didn't have dolphin heads... My son Francisco even went up to the flybridge to try and get a better look. Of course, within a few minutes, the crew clarified that they were pilot whales.
After this sighting, we headed for Cabo Girão, where the conditions were ideal for a dip in the sea. The crew tied the boat to a buoy and gave us complete freedom to take dives and enjoy the sea. All the while, they continued to serve refreshing drinks and snacks.
My son was one of the first to jump into the sea, and I followed suit! What spectacular water, perfect clarity, and temperature. Right next to us was a huge cliff, just to make this family outing even better!
Back on the boat, we dried off in the hammock up front and enjoyed the spectacular view all the way to Funchal, while the boat headed back to the marina to finish this Dolphin and Whale Watching trip, which lasted about 3 hours (I never looked at my watch, it was really enjoyable!).
The friendliness and willingness of the crew was another thing that struck us. They were always attentive to our needs, ready to help and explain what we were going to do. I actually thought they might get nervous with our two kids (aged 3 and 5) running around the boat, but after explaining that the kids had been sailing with us from Lisbon, they realised that they were 'children of the sea' and even helped take care of them. The kids loved being on a different boat and exploring the novelty of it all.
In short, it was a fantastic family outing! We saw 3 different species of cetaceans right in front of Funchal, had fun on a spectacular boat, relaxed while the kids were busy, learned a lot about marine life, and even had a good swim! What more could we ask for this Dolphin and Whale Watching tour in Madeira? Perfect, the family outing gets a thumbs-up!
