Catamaran trips in Madeira
Which boat trip to book: the late-afternoon sail, three hours of dolphin spotting or a full day to the Desertas.
My quick take
Three hours on a catamaran at the end of the day is one of the cheapest good afternoons you can have in Madeira. You are resting, not driving, and you step off in the middle of Funchal.
- Where
- Funchal marina for most trips
- Typical trip
- 3 hours, about €40 per adult
- Full day
- Desertas, 9 hours, €90, Wednesdays and Saturdays, May to October
- Swimming
- Usually, when the sea allows
Most catamaran trips in Madeira leave from Funchal marina, last three hours and cost about €40 per adult. For a first trip, I would book the late-afternoon or sunset catamaran: you look for dolphins, stop for a swim when the sea allows and see the whole south coast from the water. If you want a full day at sea, the trip to the Desertas islands runs twice a week from May to October.
I have been on catamarans here several times, on shared trips and once on a private one for a wedding party. I have not done the Desertas trip, and I say so below.
The boat trips, side by side
| Trip | Who runs it | Duration | Adult price | What makes it different |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin and whale watching catamaran | VMT, Magic Dolphin and others | 3 h | €40 to €45 | The wildlife is the point; VMT gives a free second trip if you see nothing |
| Sunset catamaran | VMT, Magic Dolphin | 2.5 to 3 h | €40 | Same coast at golden hour, with a swim; VMT also looks for dolphins |
| Desertas islands | VMT | 9 h | €90 (child €50) | A day at sea, buffet lunch and time ashore on a beach |
Prices from operators’ own websites, checked 21 October 2026. Private catamarans are priced by quote, for the whole boat.
If wildlife is your priority, read the whale and dolphin watching guide, which compares operators, boats and sightings guarantees.
Why I would book the sunset catamaran first
The sunset trip does three things in one ticket. You get the boat ride and the view of Funchal climbing the hillside, the crew still look for dolphins on the way, and there is a swim when conditions allow. VMT’s sunset catamaran costs the same €40 as its daytime whale-watching trip.
The timing is what sells it to me. In summer it leaves at 18:30 and is back at 21:30, so you walk off the boat and straight into dinner. From 19 September to 31 October it runs from 17:00 to 20:00.
Choose the daytime whale-watching trip instead if the animals are the main reason you are going. That is the trip with the free second departure if you see nothing.
The swim stop under Cabo Girão
The swim stop is my favourite part of any catamaran trip here. The boats usually head west from Funchal to Cabo Girão, a sea cliff about 9 km away by sea, and stop in the bay below it when the water is calm. You jump in from the boat, with the cliff above you.
Most people know Cabo Girão from the glass skywalk at the top. Seeing it from the water gives you the scale the viewpoint cannot. Bring a swimsuit and towel even if the weather looks uncertain in the morning; the stop depends on the sea, and you only find out once you are out there.
Is the Desertas trip worth a whole day?
The Desertas are the three uninhabited islands you see on the horizon from Funchal. VMT’s trip leaves at 09:00 and returns at 18:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays from May to October, with a buffet lunch and one drink, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and snorkelling, and time ashore on a beach. It costs €90 for adults, €50 for children and €250 for a family of two adults and up to four children.
I have not done it. Book it if you have a week or more in Madeira and want a slow day with nothing to drive and nothing to plan. The islands are a nature reserve, and Visit Madeira notes they are home to the Mediterranean monk seal, although a sighting is far from certain. With only three or four days, the three-hour trip gives you most of the sea and leaves the rest of the day for the island.
Shared or private catamaran?
A shared catamaran is the sensible default: €40 a head, fixed departures every day, and a crew that does this several times a day. You share the deck with other passengers, which on a calm afternoon is part of the atmosphere.
A private catamaran makes sense for a group with a reason to celebrate. I have been on one for a wedding party, and having the boat to ourselves meant our own music, our own pace and stopping to swim wherever we wanted. Prices are by quote for the whole boat, so ask two or three companies with your date and group size.
Catamaran trips with children
Catamarans are the easiest boat trip with children in Madeira: there is room to move, shade and a crew used to families. VMT charges €20 for children under 12, nothing for under 4s, and €100 for a family pack of two adults and up to four children. If your children are not strong swimmers, ask about life jackets for the swim stop when you check in.
When to go
Catamaran trips run all year, but the sea decides. Warm days from late spring to October are the best for swimming (sea temperatures by season in best time to visit Madeira), and the Desertas trip only runs from May to October. Rough seas cancel some departures, more often outside summer, so book early in your stay to leave room for a new date.
Practical tips
Parking. Use one of the paid car parks next to Funchal port.
Check-in. Most operators ask you to arrive 30 minutes before departure, and boats leave on time. VMT’s check-in booth is on the dock where the boats are moored.
What to bring. A windbreaker, camera, swimsuit, beach towel and sun cream, as VMT recommends. Evenings at sea are cooler than in town, even in summer.
Seasickness. I have never been seasick on a catamaran here. They are wide, stable boats and the crew know what to do if someone feels unwell.
Toilets. Every catamaran I have been on had one.
After a sunset trip: dinner in the Old Town
A summer sunset trip gets you back around 21:30, so book dinner rather than hoping for a table. The narrow streets of the Zona Velha, around Rua de Santa Maria with its painted doors, are packed with restaurants. It is the most touristy part of Funchal and prices are usually higher, but it is lively and a short walk from the marina.
For a drink afterwards, Barreirinha Bar Café, past the Fortaleza de Santiago, has good poncha, snacks and usually music late into the evening. My other poncha picks in the Old Town are in the whale watching guide and the Funchal guide.
Questions about catamaran trips in Madeira
How much is a catamaran trip in Madeira?
About €40 per adult for a three-hour shared catamaran from Funchal, and around half that for children. VMT’s full-day Desertas trip costs €90 per adult. Prices checked on operators’ websites in October 2026.
Is a catamaran the best type of boat trip in Madeira?
For most visitors, yes. It is stable, has a bar and shade, and usually includes a swim stop. A speedboat is better only if seeing whales matters more than the boat trip itself.
Can you swim on a catamaran trip in Madeira?
Usually. Most catamarans stop to swim when the sea is calm, often in the bay below Cabo Girão. The stop depends on conditions on the day.
When is the best time for a boat trip in Madeira?
From May to October the sea is warmer, and the Desertas trip only runs then. For the time of day, I prefer a late-afternoon or sunset departure.
Do you see dolphins on a sunset cruise?
Often. VMT’s sunset catamaran from Funchal looks for dolphins and whales on the way, but the trip is a sail first. If wildlife is your priority, book a dedicated whale-watching trip.
Plan the rest of your trip
A catamaran trip is an easy half-day from Funchal. Pair it with a morning in the city using things to do in Funchal, or compare wildlife trips in the whale and dolphin watching guide. A personal plan from our family is €149 for up to 5 days (€199 for 6 to 8), ready in 48 hours.