Fast RIB or steady catamaran off Funchal
Every whale and dolphin trip in Funchal leaves from the same marina, but the boats are very different. A big catamaran rides steadily and carries a crowd, a RIB gets you there fast and wet, and a yacht trades speed for quiet. This guide compares the hulls so you can pick the ride before the fare.
Four shapes of boat leave the marina
All five trips on this site start at Funchal Marina and head for the same deep water off the south coast. The difference lies in the boat, and on this site you choose between four shapes.
- A big hybrid-electric catamaran (Magic Dolphin)
- A small luxury catamaran (VipDolphins)
- Two small fast boats (Blue Safari and Xpoint)
- A sailing yacht (Gaviao)
The hull decides how steady the ride feels and how quickly you reach a sighting. It also decides whether there is a swim stop, and the price follows from all of that, as our price comparison shows.
Magic Dolphin's big eco catamaran
Magic Dolphin from ~$39 sails a purpose-built hybrid-electric catamaran. Near the animals it switches to silent electric engines, so the final approach is quieter than on a diesel boat.
The boat has two decks, with a 360° view from the upper one and large nets at the bow you can lie on. Two toilets and two bars selling drinks and snacks sit below, and there is seating for everyone.
A wide twin hull is the steadiest platform of the five, and the listing marks it as wheelchair accessible. The cost of all that room is company, because up to 100 people can be on board.
VipDolphins' small luxury catamaran
VipDolphins from ~$88 also uses a catamaran, but a much smaller one for 17 guests at most. Toilets and an open bar come with indoor and outdoor seating, and GetYourGuide lists it as wheelchair accessible.
A smaller twin hull moves more than Magic Dolphin's, and the listing warns off anyone prone to seasickness. In return there is space at the rail and a 30-minute swim stop at Cabo Girão with snorkels provided.
Small fast boats from Blue Safari and Xpoint
Blue Safari uses a custom high-speed boat for 18 people at most. Xpoint runs a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or RIB, with the same limit.
Speed is the reason to choose one. When the spotters report animals farther along the coast, a fast boat gets there while a slower one is still on its way.
The ride is bumpier and shade is scarce, with spray coming over the side. Life jackets are provided on both, and Xpoint's listing asks you to bring a windbreaker.
Blue Safari turns away children under 6 or under 130 cm. Pregnancy and back problems also rule you out, as do mobility impairments, according to the listing.
A small boat sitting still has its own motion. One Blue Safari reviewer felt queasy only once the engine stopped and the boat rolled with the swell, which happens on any small hull. Our seasickness guide covers what helps.
Xpoint adds two options. You can book a private boat for a group of up to 18, and there is an optional dolphin swim for €20, paid only if it takes place, which our dolphin swim guide explains.
Low to the water on a RIB
Xpoint's RIB gives you at least two hours at sea, a photo stop at Cabo Girão and the only dolphin swim option on this site.
Gaviao's sailing yacht
Gaviao from ~$45 takes up to 20 people on a sailing yacht and goes up to 3 miles offshore. The sail goes up only when there is enough wind, so on calm days the yacht runs on its engine.
Shoes are not allowed on board, and the listing says the trip does not suit people with mobility impairments. A yacht under sail leans to one side. Some guests love the tilt, while others find it unsettling.
It is slower than any motorboat here, so you cover less sea in three hours. Drinks on board and a snorkel stop at Cabo Girão, with gear provided, make up for some of that.
The hulls side by side
| Boat | From | Max group | Length | Swim stop | Ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Dolphin, big catamaran | ~$39 | 100 | 2.5–3 h | On 3-hour trips, weather allowing | Steadiest; two decks, nets at the bow |
| VipDolphins, small catamaran | ~$88 | 17 | 3 h | Yes, 30 min | Fairly steady; indoor seats |
| Blue Safari, fast boat | ~$67 | 18 | 2 h | No | Fast and bumpy |
| Xpoint, RIB | ~$67 | 18 | 2.5 h | Optional dolphin swim | Fast, wet, little shade |
| Gaviao, sailing yacht | ~$45 | 20 | 3 h | Yes, snorkel stop | Slow; heels under sail |
The pattern is plain enough. Bigger and wider means steadier and more shaded. Smaller and faster means more time with the animals and more spray on your sunglasses.
What the hull changes on board
Stability matters most for anyone who gets queasy. A big catamaran barely rolls, a small fast boat slams over the swell, and a yacht leans steadily under sail.
Shade matters on a bright day, since the sun on open water is strong all year. The catamarans give you roofs and indoor seats, while on a RIB you sit out in the sun and spray for the whole trip.
Time at sea is spent differently too. The 3-hour boats give part of their morning to a swim and the cruise home, while the fast boats spend almost all of theirs searching. Neither approach changes the odds of a sighting, which no boat can promise.
Which hull suits whom
- Magic Dolphin's big catamaran if you worry about seasickness
- Blue Safari or Xpoint if you want the most time searching
- VipDolphins or Gaviao if you are after a swim and a drink
- Magic Dolphin or VipDolphins if you use a wheelchair (both marked accessible on GetYourGuide)
- The catamarans if you travel with small children (our family guide has the age limits)
If you are torn between two shapes, group size is often the tiebreaker. Our guide to small-group trips compares how many people share each deck.