Top 3 boat trips and sunset cruises from Funchal

Edited by Roman Antonov

Our selection: the top 3 of 36 boat trips and sunset cruises from Funchal

Viator lists 36 boat trips and sunset cruises from Funchal. We analysed all of them, what each trip includes, its programme and its conditions, and picked the top 3. Here they are. Private boats and other formats are below.

Rating and the number of reviews count as one of the criteria: every trip here had 4.5 stars or more from at least 30 reviews, Viator and Tripadvisor together, when we last went through the list.

Prices, times and reviews as of . We last went through the list on . How we choose.

Boat trips from Funchal: which one to choose

For sunset with dinner, I'd choose the sunset cruise with dinner. Hotel pickup and unlimited drinks are included. The cruise stops at Calhau da Lapa for swimming.

Look at the Seaborn catamaran if price comes first. It has the lowest starting adult price here. Choose a sunset option on its booking page, and check the departures offered for your date. Its swim stop is part of the summer programme.

The cruise with lunch is my daytime pick for a meal on board. You can swim and snorkel at Calhau da Lapa beforehand. Arrange your pickup place and time with the crew on either meal cruise.

Your party can have a boat to itself on either private charter. The private yacht stops at Cabo Girão for swimming and snorkelling. If wildlife is your priority, compare our whale and dolphin trips too.

Half Day Madeira Island Cruise with Lunch
Half Day Madeira Island Cruise with Lunch

Start with what matters most to you: the port and the size of the boat. Stars won't tell you that.

Compare the 3 shared trips: price, departure and length

Prices in EUR, as of 21 September 2026

Hide the tableShow the comparison table
3 trips, in list order. Prices are the lowest the operator lists. Your date may cost more.
TripDepartureBoatListed group limitFrom priceDurationDepartures (local time)Cancellation
01Half Day Madeira Island Cruise with LunchFunchalBoat with sun deck and shade55 travellers€69.50 per adult5 hours09:30 (Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun)Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
02Sunset Cruise with Dinner on BoardFunchalBoat with sun deck and shade55 travellers€65 per adult4 hours17:30, 18:00 (Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun)Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
03Seaborn Catamaran tripsFunchal marinaCatamaran100 travellers€35 per adult3 hours10:30, 15:00, 17:00, 18:00, 18:30Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Group limit is the most people the operator takes on one departure. Times are the usual timetable. Check your date when you book.

All 3 trips have the same rule: free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

The trips

What to know before you book each one

  1. 01

    The daytime cruise with lunch and pickup

    Half Day Madeira Island Cruise with Lunch

    Half Day Madeira Island Cruise with Lunch

    4.87/5 from 92 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor

    Lunch and hotel transport are included on this coastal cruise. You stop at Calhau da Lapa to swim with a mask and snorkel provided. Drinks are unlimited. There is a small shower for rinsing off afterwards.

    I'd choose it for a daytime swim followed by a buffet lunch. Seaborn has a shorter trip if you want less time at sea.

    The trade-off. Set aside 5 hours for the cruise. Arrange your pickup place and time with the crew before travelling.

    From price
    €69.50 per adult
    Duration
    5 hours
    Listed group limit The most people the operator takes on one departure. Your trip may have fewer.?
    up to 55 people
    Departure
    Funchal
    Listed guide languages
    English, Spanish
    Listed departure times
    09:30 (Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun)
    Cancellation
    Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
    Pickup
    Hotel pickup or meet at the start point

    Lowest price the operator lists. Your date may cost more.

    Times are local. Check your date and the guide language when you book.

    Before you book

    • Arrange your pickup place and time with the crew. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
    • Departures are at 09:30 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
    • Infants can come. Prams and pushchairs are allowed.
    • Book at least 4 hours before departure.
    • Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Bad weather or too few bookings can cancel the trip.
    View tour details

    Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

    Details as of .

  2. 02

    The sunset cruise with dinner

    Sunset Cruise with Dinner on Board

    Sunset Cruise with Dinner on Board

    4.73/5 from 44 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor

    Dinner comes with this sunset cruise along the south coast. You stop at Calhau da Lapa for swimming and snorkelling. Hotel pickup and unlimited drinks are included.

    This is my pick if you want dinner at sea. I'd compare the catamarans if you plan to eat ashore.

    The trade-off. It runs on five days of the week. Check the departure time for your date. Arrange your pickup with the crew.

    From price
    €65 per adult
    Duration
    4 hours
    Listed group limit The most people the operator takes on one departure. Your trip may have fewer.?
    up to 55 people
    Departure
    Funchal
    Listed guide languages
    English, Spanish
    Listed departure times
    17:30, 18:00 (Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun)
    Cancellation
    Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
    Pickup
    Hotel pickup or meet at the start point

    Lowest price the operator lists. Your date may cost more.

    Times are local. Check your date and the guide language when you book.

    Before you book

    • Contact the crew to arrange your pickup place and time. Hotel drop-off is included.
    • Departures are at 17:30 or 18:00 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Check the time offered for your date.
    • Infants can join. Prams and pushchairs are allowed.
    • Book at least 4 hours before departure.
    • Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Bad weather or too few bookings can cancel the trip.
    View tour details

    Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

    Details as of .

  3. 03

    The cheapest catamaran, several times a day

    Seaborn Catamaran trips

    Seaborn Catamaran trips

    4.52/5 from 517 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor

    Seaborn has the lowest starting adult price among the shared trips here. It also has the most reviews in this collection. A swim under Cabo Girão is part of the summer programme. There is a toilet and a bar on board.

    It's a useful choice if price comes first. Select a sunset option for an evening trip. Children can join from age 1.

    The trade-off. You could share the trip with up to 100 travellers. Drinks cost extra. Missing the boat means losing your refund.

    From price
    €35 per adult
    Duration
    3 hours
    Listed group limit The most people the operator takes on one departure. Your trip may have fewer.?
    up to 100 people
    Departure
    Funchal marina
    Listed guide languages
    Portuguese, English
    Listed departure times
    10:30, 15:00, 17:00, 18:00, 18:30
    Cancellation
    Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
    Pickup
    Meet at the start point

    Lowest price the operator lists. Your date may cost more.

    Times are local. Check your date and the guide language when you book.

    Before you book

    • Collect your boarding card at the Seaborn office in Funchal marina 30 minutes before departure.
    • Make your own way to the marina. Hotel pickup is not included.
    • Select a sunset option for an evening trip. Check the departures offered for your date.
    • The minimum age is 1.
    • You lose your refund if you miss the boat.
    • Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Bad weather or too few bookings can cancel the trip.
    View tour details

    Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

    Details as of .

Private charters and other formats

These are priced per boat or work differently, so they don't go in the ranked list.

The private sunset sailing boat

Madeira Private Sunset Boat Tour from Funchal

Lights snacks and drinks during Private Sunset Boat Tour in Funchal

4.99/5 from 97 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor

A private sunset sail from Funchal past Cabo Girão, Câmara de Lobos and the Lido waterfront, with snacks and drinks included. From €310 per group for 2 hours 30 minutes. The meeting time varies with sunset.

From price
€310 per group
Duration
2 hours 30 minutes
Listed group limit
your party only, 10 or 15 people at most, ask the crew
Departure
Funchal marina
Listed guide languages
German, Portuguese, English, Hungarian, Spanish
Listed departure times
times shown at booking
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Pickup
Meet at the start point

Before you book

  • Meet at Pier B in Funchal marina. The crew sends directions and the meeting time the afternoon before.
  • Ten people in one place and 15 in another. Ask the crew how many your booking can include.
  • Your booking needs approval from the crew. Book at least 4 hours before departure.
  • Choose another trip if you are travelling with an infant.
  • You need moderate fitness. Look elsewhere if you get seasick or have a disability.
  • Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Bad weather can cancel the trip.
  • Give this one a miss if you're pregnant or have a heart condition.
View tour details

Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Details as of .

The private yacht with a swim at Cabo Girão

Half-Day Boat Trip Madeira Funchal- Private Yacht Snacks & Drinks

Half-Day Boat Trip Madeira Funchal- Private Yacht Snacks & Drinks

4.97/5 from 33 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor

A private yacht trip from Funchal with swimming and snorkelling at Cabo Girão, gear included. The half-day option is from €550 per group for 4 hours, with snacks and drinks on deck. A light meal costs extra.

From price
€550 per group
Duration
4 hours
Listed group limit
your party only, up to 8 guests
Departure
Funchal marina
Listed guide languages
English
Listed departure times
10:00, 14:30
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Pickup
Meet at the start point

Before you book

  • Choose the half-day option for 4 hours. The full-day option lasts six hours.
  • The light meal costs extra. Vegetarian and vegan versions are available.
  • Meet at Funchal marina. Check your departure time when booking.
  • Book at least 18 hours before departure.
  • Infants must sit on an adult's lap.
  • Give this one a miss if you have a heart condition.
View tour details

Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Details as of .

Back to the comparison table

Boat trips from Funchal: questions before booking

Short answers from the listings

Which sunset cruise would you pick?

I'd choose the sunset cruise with dinner if you want a meal and hotel pickup. For a lower starting price, look at a sunset option on the Seaborn catamaran. Check the departures offered for your date before booking. For a boat to your party, compare the two private charters below.

How much does a boat trip from Funchal cost?

The Seaborn catamaran has the lowest starting adult price among the shared trips here. The comparison table shows each starting price per adult. Private charters are priced per group. Your date and departure may cost more. Both meal cruises include drinks and hotel transport. Bar purchases cost extra on the catamarans.

Which trips have a swimming stop?

The cruise with lunch and the sunset cruise with dinner stop at Calhau da Lapa. A mask and snorkel are provided on both. The Seaborn catamaran offers swimming in summer. The private yacht stops at Cabo Girão with snorkelling gear included.

Can I have lunch or dinner on board?

Yes. The cruise with lunch includes a buffet with dessert and coffee. Drinks and hotel transport are included. The sunset cruise with dinner includes a dinner buffet and unlimited drinks. On the private yacht, snacks are included. You can add a light meal for an extra charge. Vegetarian and vegan versions of that meal are available.

Which trips are better for fewer people?

For a boat to your party, look at the private yacht or the private sailing boat. Both are private. The meal cruises have lower published group limits than either catamaran. Compare those limits in the table if you want a shared trip. A group limit is the maximum for a departure.

Will I see dolphins on a sunset cruise?

You might. The Seaborn catamaran searches for dolphins and whales on the way. Sightings are not guaranteed. Choose a sunset cruise for the evening at sea. If wildlife is your main reason for going, compare our whale and dolphin trips.

Where do I meet the boat, and is pickup included?

The cruise with lunch and the sunset cruise with dinner include hotel pickup and drop-off. Arrange the place and time with the crew. Seaborn uses its marina office for check-in. VMT uses the kiosk on Pier 8. Arrive 30 minutes early for either catamaran. The private sailing boat meets at Pier B. The private yacht meets at Funchal marina.

Can children come?

Children can join these trips. Infants can come on both meal cruises. The Seaborn catamaran starts at age 1. Infants on the private yacht must sit on an adult's lap. The private sailing boat is unsuitable for infants.

What if the sea is rough?

Bad weather can cancel any of these trips. You can cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The shared trips can also be cancelled if too few people book. Look elsewhere if you get seasick and are considering the private sailing boat.

Which boats have a toilet?

The cruise with lunch has a toilet on board. So does the Seaborn catamaran. There is also a toilet on the private sailing boat and the private yacht.

How this selection was made

How we compared

We started from the 36 boat trips and sunset cruises from Funchal that guides and other providers sell on Viator. We read every one of them.

First the bar: 4.5 stars or more from at least 30 reviews, Viator and Tripadvisor counted together. 30 of the 36 fell short of that and stayed out. We also look at the Viator reviews on their own. A trip rated below 4.5 by five or more Viator travellers stays out, whatever the combined score says.

Then the fit. Does the trip do what this page promises? Do its details agree with each other? When the same boat is sold under two names, we show it once. One more trip passed the review bar but stayed out for those reasons.

The order comes from this score. It uses the exact rating. Ties go to the trip with more reviews.

(rating × reviews + 4.6 × 50) ÷ (reviews + 50)

The score is about reviews, nothing else. It does not say how often you will see whales. We have no review texts and we have not taken every trip. The line under each name says when we would pick it. Commission never changes the order.

Who made this list

Edited by Roman Antonov. I love Madeira and keep going back. Trip details come from the operators' own listings on Viator, read line by line and compared.

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Where the details come from.

Prices, times, conditions and review counts come from the operators' listings on Viator, as of 21 September 2026. We last went through this list on 20 September 2026.

Bookings go through Viator. If you book through a link here, we earn a commission. It costs you nothing extra. How we earn.