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Whale and dolphin watching from Calheta

Nearly 30 species of whales and dolphins have been recorded around Madeira. Several are around all year, and boats go out to look for them from Calheta marina, the second largest on the island.

Who you might see

Six species to look for

  • April – October

    Bryde’s whale

    A 12 to 15 metre baleen whale that comes in the warm months and likes water above 20 °C.

  • All year · most March – September

    Sperm whale

    The deep diver. It spends long spells far below and surfaces to breathe.

  • All year · most March – October

    Bottlenose dolphin

    Some of Madeira’s bottlenose dolphins come back to the same waters year after year.

  • All year · most March – November

    Atlantic spotted dolphin

    Fast and sociable, and one of the species seen most often on summer trips.

  • All year · most November – April

    Short-finned pilot whale

    The winter regular. Groups often travel and rest together at the surface.

  • December – May

    Common dolphin

    Arrives for winter and spring, often in large, busy groups.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sperm whaleJanuary: also seenFebruary: also seenMarch: main seasonApril: main seasonMay: main seasonJune: main seasonJuly: main seasonAugust: main seasonSeptember: main seasonOctober: also seenNovember: also seenDecember: also seen
Short-finned pilot whaleJanuary: main seasonFebruary: main seasonMarch: main seasonApril: main seasonMay: also seenJune: also seenJuly: also seenAugust: also seenSeptember: also seenOctober: also seenNovember: main seasonDecember: main season
Bottlenose dolphinJanuary: also seenFebruary: also seenMarch: main seasonApril: main seasonMay: main seasonJune: main seasonJuly: main seasonAugust: main seasonSeptember: main seasonOctober: main seasonNovember: also seenDecember: also seen
Atlantic spotted dolphinJanuary: also seenFebruary: also seenMarch: main seasonApril: main seasonMay: main seasonJune: main seasonJuly: main seasonAugust: main seasonSeptember: main seasonOctober: main seasonNovember: main seasonDecember: also seen
Common dolphinJanuary: main seasonFebruary: main seasonMarch: main seasonApril: main seasonMay: main seasonJune: rarely seenJuly: rarely seenAugust: rarely seenSeptember: rarely seenOctober: rarely seenNovember: rarely seenDecember: main season
Bryde’s whaleJanuary: rarely seenFebruary: rarely seenMarch: rarely seenApril: main seasonMay: main seasonJune: main seasonJuly: main seasonAugust: main seasonSeptember: main seasonOctober: main seasonNovember: rarely seenDecember: rarely seen
Fin whaleJanuary: rarely seenFebruary: rarely seenMarch: main seasonApril: main seasonMay: main seasonJune: main seasonJuly: main seasonAugust: main seasonSeptember: main seasonOctober: main seasonNovember: rarely seenDecember: rarely seen
Sei whaleJanuary: rarely seenFebruary: rarely seenMarch: rarely seenApril: rarely seenMay: main seasonJune: main seasonJuly: main seasonAugust: main seasonSeptember: main seasonOctober: rarely seenNovember: rarely seenDecember: rarely seen

Sightings are never guaranteed.

Boats from Calheta marina

Who runs trips from Calheta

Three operators have their base at Porto de Recreio da Calheta, the marina beside the beach. They are listed in alphabetical order.

  • RIB boat

    H2oMadeira

    Office on level 0 of the marina, on Avenida D. Manuel I. Runs two-hour trips on a fast inflatable boat with a guide and a spotter.

  • Traditional boat and zodiac · since 2003

    Lobosonda

    Info centre in the marina. Trips on a restored traditional fishing boat and on a zodiac. They wait for animals to come to them and say openly that nature can’t be guaranteed.

  • Marina-based

    On Tales

    Also based at Porto de Recreio da Calheta, and listed by the regional tourist board for whale and dolphin trips from Calheta.

Before you book

Choosing a trip

  1. Pick the boat for your groupA traditional boat or catamaran is steadier and has more room. A RIB is faster and sits close to the water, which is exciting but bumpy, so it is less suited to young children and anyone with a bad back.
  2. Plan on about two hoursA typical trip from Calheta lasts around two hours, including the time spent looking.
  3. Know the price rangeIn November 2026 a two-hour RIB trip from Calheta was listed on a booking site at about $67 per adult. Prices vary by boat and season, so compare before you book.
  4. Bring a windproof jacketIt is cooler on the water than on the beach. Bring water and a camera; drones and pets are usually not allowed on board.
  5. Check in earlyArrive about 20 minutes before departure. If you get seasick, take your usual remedy before boarding and sit at the back, where the boat moves least.
  6. Choose an operator that follows the rulesGood skippers slow down near animals and keep their distance. See what responsible watching looks like.
Plan around it

The rest of your day

Trips leave from the marina beside the sand beach, so a swim before or after is easy. The best months for the widest range of species are in spring and early summer, and the whole month-by-month picture is on our home page.

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