The whale and dolphin watching could be an incredible experience for all, adults and children's. The observation of these magnificent marine mammals in they natural habitat are a moment that stays forever in our memory. The waters in Madeira Island are very rich in cetaceans: marine mammals that live exclusively in an aquatic habitat, like the whales and dolphins. There is around 20 known species, a few of which are list below:

  Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis
  Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Stenella frontalis
  Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus
  Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
  Pilot whale Globicephala machrorhynchus
  Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus
  Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni
  Killer whale Orcinus orca
  Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus


In our programmes there many chances to experience this encounters. Although the fact that we do not promise that this occurs on every trip, there are great opportunities especially in some seasons according the different species and their migrations and their route by Madeira archipelago. Onboard our experienced, friendly, and main skipper with high background knowledge on this field will provide good and safe observations and help you with any uncertainty in the identification and. There are good identification field guides onboard for you make use of.
From our large offer on pleasant sailing trips, for these observations we recommend those:

    vSailing-Cabo Girão    or    vDesertas Islands


The Ventura do Mar is associated to the 'Museu da Baleia'- Whale Museum through a voluntary cetacean observation program, which has a primary objective following some rules to achieve harmony with natural habitat (or with smallest amount of contrast possible).
For more information on cetaceans in Madeira click on:
      

       Madeira Whale Museum             Project MACETUS