Magic Dolphin Sea Safaris

Another great trip with Magic Dolphin. Having done a couple of catamaran trips in previous visits, we decided to liven things up a bit with a speedboat trip. We were lucky enough to see a few pilot whale pods on this trip, although no dolphins this time. Otherwise it was all a bit of fun in some fairly lively and choppy seas…and of course we all got a bit wet ! A bit of a fairground ride at times, so don’t do this if that’s not for you…..otherwise, recommended.

What an amazing trip we were going to go on the speed boat but had to cancel due to it not being suitable for people with a bad back. Have to be honest we booked Magic Dolphin as a substitute so we were initially a bit disappointed and thought we wouldn’t see anything. How wrong we were what a great experience from start to finish I’m not sure another boat tour could’ve done any better, we saw Bottle Nose Dolphins, two pilot Whale pods and Blainesville beaked Whales which apparently quite a rare sighting. All the staff were amazing and the trip was very informative, also felt the crew were really respectful to the animals despite getting quite close for photos opportunities. I would definitely recommend this trip it was one of the highlights of the trip

A great experience, we went on this trip 3 years ago and knew we enjoyed it from then, they've improved the experience since! We saw pilot whales and a brief sighting of a rarer species of whale. The crew were very knowledgeable and friendly and made the experience highly enjoyable.

Amazing! We took the speed boat which was already an adventure! After seeing some dolphins from afar we thought that was it, as the weather conditions where not great and the spotters at shore also did not see any. Then, thanks to the captain and the guide who would not give up, we went to look to the other side of the shore (where there where no spotters whatching) and saw one gigantic pod of more than 100 dolphins! Amazing! Thanks to the captain and guide, and also some luck! Would 100% recommend (if you don’t have any back or neck problems, as the boat Gets wild)

Fabulous experience! The staff took good care of me. I have MS and walk with a stick. I signed a disclaimer form and took full responsibility for anything happening to me. We saw a pod of pilot whales close up - beautiful sight! And flying fish. I highly recommend this tour. The staff in the ticket office and the RIB crew were highly professional. Thank you for an amazing experience I will always remember! ❤️

Really nice time, saw whales and dolphins saw amazing views and a nice swim

Excellent experience - we saw a rough-toothed dolphin pod, a bottlenose dolphin pod and a Sei whale. highly recommended

We booked online and arrived early as per the ticket - for info the Maccy Ds close by has a toilet! Was bang on time. We had the best two hours, the boat is fast and so much fun. We saw a Bryde whale, bottlenose dolphins a baby hammerhead shark and lots of flying fish. Was a fantastic two hours. Guide was super knowledgeable. It was a hot day - wear suncream a hat and clothes you don’t mind getting wet. Some people had bigger bags but it’s easier to take a tiny bag only. Take a strap for your phone as it was bumpy at times.There’s a chance you won’t see anything, luckily we did. The negative reviews on here are ridiculous! It’s a speed boat in the middle of the ocean!

***** 5 Stars ***** This really was brilliant. Our on-board guide was clear and informative - he explained that we were travelling into the WILD to see WILDlife, so nothing was guaranteed. He also explained that in order not to spook the animals, we weren't to hang around for too long so they had their space. Very grateful to say we did see dozens of dolphins, and a few whales. Really a bucket-list ticker. Went with my partner and we both were in awe at the beauty of these incredible animals.

Saw bottle nose, spotted dolphin and short tail pilot whales. Unbelievable!! We saw so many animals it was impossible to count,

Excellent trip, saw dolphins and pilot whales. Fast ride on a speed boat back was amazing

Really friendly, knowledgeable crew and a great RHIB boat trip which was comfortable. We saw the Risso’s dolphin which was lucky as they pass through occasionally. We also saw a loggerhead turtle. This company is really respectful of the rules regarding wildlife and made sure that we didn’t stress the animals. It’s a 2hr trip and your bags can be stored in the locker at the front of the boat. Highly recommend

They moved us to the tour later same day, we accepted. Then 2 hours before the trip they cancelled it as they said other people cancelled due to late flight. This can not be true as flights were not delayed that day to Funchal and especially this does not change 2 hours before the deparure. Avoid them.

Really knowledgeable guide . Trip was well organised , no hanging around or hitches . Clean speedboat . We saw a variety of species , hope to see you again next year . Thank you

This was a great excursion - the small size of the boat was ideal as you really had a great view no matter where you sat. I appreciated how punctual this tour was - we were instructed to meet at 0930 for the 10am tour, and we were off in the boat by 10 sharp! We saw two types of dolphins and whales. The guide and the boat driver were both great!

Highly recommend Magic Dolphin. We saw a pod of pilot whales and despite the slightly rough season, we managed to stay with them the maximum amount of time before we had to leave them to protect them. Magic Dolphin are super ethical, they dont stay too long and have an eco engine that keeps noise to a minimum around the animals. The captain and crew were so knowledgeable and gave so much information. They really looked after everyone and even helped us on and off with our son's pram. Amazing experience.

The tour was short and overpriced- we barely saw any animals. The driver sped through the water recklessly, making the ride feel unsafe. ‏Most upsetting: we were told to bring valuables on board and assured they’d be kept in a dry area. Instead, my entire bag was returned soaked, with my passport, electronics, and cash damaged. The company refuses to take responsibility. ‏Poor communication, careless attitude, and not worth the money. Choose a different company.

Excellent trip all round. We were extra lucky on Monday because we were the only customers so we had the boat and the wonderful crew to ourselves! Lots of bottle-nosed dolphins and pilot whales. The captain was considerate and allowed them to swim by without bothering them. A real winter treat for us, thank you.

It was a choppy November day and we didn’t think we’d see anything. So off we went once the safety instructions and jackets were issued, all excited with the lady explaining about what was in the sea below all the wildlife that was native or passing through, our captain took us around the coast which is really exciting on a rib splashing through the waves seeing Madeira from the sea, he did all he could to seek something for us to see, and there they were all of a sudden a pod of pilot whales, the lady shouted look there’s a baby playing as it flipped upside down over the waves and it hasn’t got its teeth yet, we were mesmerised watching them enjoy their natural habitat rather than an aquarium. It was really a special moment as I’d never been on a sea safari before. I would do this every day if I could, so thank you for making the trip so memorable.

I did this trip with my family and whilst it was a great experience seeing dolphins and a sperm whale, the crew were excellent. Friendly and professional and demonstrated a great respect for the sea and all its inhabitants. Would strongly recommend.

A wonderful morning spent whale and dolphin spotting. We were able to watch pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. The crew were excellent and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this trip 🐬

amazing staff my wife is disabled and they went above and beyond to help her on and off the boat absolute respect and they even kept an eye on her when she got sea sick we are so grateful to you as we were last year when we sailed with you and will again in 2026 thank you for another great experience paul and samantha

Wonderfull experience with very good guides. I saw a sperm whale, it is so beautiful to see them in their natural habitat

Lovely tour! Very knowledgeable guides and great views from the speedboat! We went in October and saw Bottlenose Dolphins and Pilot Whales

The crew were very helpful and knowledgeable. We saw Pilot whales and Bottlenose dolphins and were given plenty of time to see them and take photos.

Very well organised and enjoyable trip on a catamaran. Informative talks, plenty of room to move around, we saw pilot whales, rough tooth dolphins and bottlenose Dolphins, time also for a swim at cabo girao. Cleanliness on boat and toilets were appreciated too.

Had an amazing time! We both really enjoyed this experience , and Clara (our marine biologist) was excellent. She was so informative and enthusiastic, and really cares about the protection of marine animals which is so lovely to see. Would recommend

We had a very very pleasent experience with magic dolphin. We went on a sea safari with the speedboat and unfortunately didnt see anything, which is pretty rare as we were told. You could tell that they did everything they could to find some animals, they even work with spotters. Later we heard of other people that went on another boat that same day that they didnt see anything as well. In other words, and how the guide explained: the sea is the home of the animals, they decide when to show up and when not. And magic dolphin is to be praised for their respect towards the animals, they explain that very well!!! Ofcourse its a bummer if you dont see anything but its better than to get your picture because theyre feeding/interfering the WILDLIFE! Luckily if you dont see anything at all, you can book another boat trip with them for only €10. On that second trip we saw 3 different kinds of dolphins, 1 kind was a rare kind in madeira. Seeing that many many dolphins, and experiencing the reward for our patience was a beautiful experience! Thank you Florine for the enthousiasm and good explenation, and thank you Ruben for navigating the boat in a very nice way! My advice if youre thinking about booking: 1. Do it, and book it with magic dolphin. Dont search for cheaper prices, pay fot the wellfare of the animals! There are a lot of organisations/captains that dont respect the animals and do them harm by for instance chasing them. 2. Plan it in the beginning of your trip, in case you dont see anything, you have plenty of time to plan a second trip!

What a wonderful trip. An exhilarating experience speeding along through the waves. Our driver & marine biologist were very informative & told us all about the marine life under the water. Was wonderful to see lots of pilot wales. Thoroughly recommend

Great experience, missed sighting of Dolphins first time, offered another chance at incredible price! Crew very professional and friendly. Great boat, very comfy in back, you can manage without sun for five minutes? Managed to see numerous Dolphins second time round - icing on cake!

Excellent three trip on their eco catamaran. Saw two types of dolphin and pilot whales. Very interesting and the Captain Miguel and three other crew, whose names I can’t recall, were all excellent with spotting the animals and descriptions and also helping out those people throwing up. It’s the Atlantic guys. It’s rough on a 20 metre cat. Don’t have lunch before boarding and take a couple of travel sickness tablets before to embark!!!

Brilliant - I went three times in a week. Florine & Clara (different days) were extremely knowledgeable, qualified & respectful of marine life, which was hugely important to me. The helmsmen were also clearly very experienced, and everyone was lovely & well organised. Really exciting & saw some great animals! If you understand that sightings are not guaranteed (the marine life doesn't care that you're on holiday) & take something just in case you get seasick (we took Kwells, worked a treat) it's a brilliant experience. Absolutely recommend & would defo go again

Loved it ! Florina & the captain are so helpful and knowledgeable & made the trip special. We had a great time & seeing dolphins was just amazing

Overall great experience, it’s always nice to observe dolphins in their natural habitat. We were lucky to see baby dolphins as well ! The tour lasted about 2 hours, but for at least 1 hour we didn’t see anything. The boat is not very fast, so sometimes you need to be patient and hope to see dolphins. The marine biologist was very nice.

Excellent boat trip. Our tour guide Clara was very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about marine species. Saw lots of dolphins, probably around 40, including babies trying to learn how to swim! Great trip, highly recommend it.

It was a fantastic experience! For the first time in my life I had the opportunity to observe these wonders of the sea, the team made the experience truly wonderful! We went with Sea Safari Power Boat. They were extremely professional, but also very attentive, kind, funny and absolutely informative! It was wonderful to sail with people who really love this job and the most important thing for them is the animals and our safety. It was great to see how respectful they are towards the animals, and it was wonderful that they tried to pass this spirit on to us too! "This is their home, we are just visitors." They kept asking if everyone was okay and told us to let them know if we were feeling sick. I may have been a little late. Unfortunately, I fainted on the boat, causing quite a stir, but they immediately jumped to help me, and on the shore they even offered me refreshments to make sure I felt better! Overall, it was a fantastic experience! Especially since not only the visitors, but also the tour guides set off with the same enthusiasm! Thank you very much for the experience!

A brilliant way to spend a couple of hours! The team were great; Clara, the guide, was so friendly & knowledgeable. We saw a dolphin nursery pod and spent time watching the mums teach the babies how to spin & breach - magical! Sadly we didn’t see any whales but the flying fish were an unexpected & spectacular bonus.

Friendly and knowledgeable crew, Clara and the captain (sorry, I forgot his name!) helped us find one species of whale and two species of dolphin, spending plenty of time observing and photographing all of them. The last group of dolphins included two babies and put on a great show for us. The speedboat was fast but still comfortable, although we were very lucky with the weather! Thinking of booking again before we return to the UK.

It’s called Magic Dolphin for a reason! The whole experience was so magical! We saw two pods of dolphins and two Sperm Whales! The captain and tour guide really try their best to give you a great experience while respecting the marine life. It really exceeded our expectations even and was such a great time!!

The company was well organised and very professional. They gave us good info on the dolphins. The adrenaline rush was great seeing the dolphins then the speed of the boat going over the rough waves. Well worth doing.

It was absolutely fantastic, we loved it! The speedboat experience was incredibly fun, and we got to see three species of dolphins yesterday, including the rare Risso’s dolphins, which was so special. Our guide Florine and captain Ruben were super knowledgeable and friendly, and it was just an amazing experience from start to finish.

Absolutely incredible sea safari experience! We were lucky enough to witness several pods of dolphins playing in the waves right alongside the rib boat. It was a truly magical and unforgettable moment. The crew was fantastic, knowledgeable, and made the trip even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this sea safari for anyone hoping to see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat!"

Just returned from another spectacular series of Sea Safari trips. We saw familiar cetacean friends (pilot whales, bottle-nosed dolphins, and magnificent sperm whales) as well as ‘meeting’ new species (Atlantic spotted dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, and Blainville’s beaked whales). These animals were able to behave naturally due to the skill and knowledge of Reuben and Bralio who manoeuvred the boat to ensure minimal disturbance. Together with expert guides, Florine and Clara, who were so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and as thrilled as we were to see any animals, we had the most amazing encounters with cetaceans in their environment. Magical! It was a shame that a couple of people complained that we didn’t get ‘close enough’ to the sperm whales. There are strict rules about how many boats can be around a single group of animals (maximum two boats) and rules on how long boats can stay near an animal or group of animals (10 minutes). Also, the boat cannot go within 50 metres of animals….although it is fine if the animals come to the boat (like spotted dolphins do). Remember, these are wild creatures, we are in their space and it is a privilege to meet them.

Bottlenose dolphins and two sperms whales spotted. Small fast boat allowed us to get close to the dolphins. Brilliant experience.

Great stuff and guides. We have seen dome dolphins there. Would recommend to try if you like ocean. Thanks.

Amazing experience, well worth it. Florene, the host, was knowledgable and made the whole experience perfect. We saw Pilot Whales and Spotted Dolphins. Huge smiles all round!

I booked a Whale & Dolphin Watching trip with Magic Dolphins and was blown away! Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish: smooth check-in, clear safety briefings, and a professional yet relaxed atmosphere. Both the skipper and our (female) guide ran the tour with genuine passion. The onboard commentary was fascinating, full of insight and delivered in an engaging way. You could feel how much they care about the animals and protecting the ocean. We were incredibly lucky and spotted so many whales and dolphins—truly a once-in-a-lifetime sighting spree! Our whole group felt elated by the sheer number of encounters, and I had an amazing time. Huge thanks to the Magic Dolphins team; I can’t recommend this tour highly enough. I’ll be bacK

Excellent trip to see the marine wildlife, the guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We managed to see Atlantic Spotted dolphins and it was a fantastic experience. Seabirds including Cory’s Shearwater, Bulwer’s Petrel and Manx Shearwater. A throughly memorable morning with a professional team! Highly recommend!

Amazing! We saw spotted dolphins and whales. Our guide was so informative and enthusiastic. It was a pleasure being in her company. Not forgetting the boat driver who was so patient. A wonderful trip that totally made my holiday. My one hope had been to see dolphins do it was a bonus to see whales as well.