Funchal:Hop-on Hop-off Bus & Whale & Dolphin boat Excursion

Madeira from land and sea is a win. I love the whale-and-dolphin catamaran, and I also love the included Old Blandys Wine Lodge Madeira wine tasting that turns the day into something more than just sightseeing. The only drawback to keep in mind: the schedule can be easy to misunderstand, and bad weather can also mean changes.

What you get here is a practical 2-day combo. You’ll see a lot of Funchal’s coast and viewpoints by 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus, then switch gears to time on the Atlantic with a catamaran outing. Add an audio guide in multiple languages and you can move at your pace without feeling lost.

My advice: treat the catamaran like it has its own mission time. Check-in is obligatory 30 minutes before each trip, and there’s no food or drinks allowed on the vehicles, so plan your snack stops on land.

Key highlights you should know before you go

• 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass with audio guide and flexible stop choices around Funchal and Câmara de Lobos
• Catamaran wildlife time with a chance to spot dolphins and whales (and sometimes turtles and sea birds)
• Fajã do Cabo Girão swimming and snorkeling break during the sea trip
• Free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge plus a 10% discount on shopping
• Free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory plus a 10% discount on shopping
• Audio guide in many languages, and no food or drinks allowed on board

A two-day Madeira plan that mixes views and real experiences

This is the kind of tour combo that makes sense in Madeira, because the island rewards you for switching perspectives. From the bus you get high-value city angles and quick access to gardens, old streets, and viewpoints. From the catamaran you’re in the action, watching for dolphins and whales out on the Atlantic.

I like that the catamaran isn’t just a long ride. It’s timed as an experience with a swim and snorkeling stop at Fajã do Cabo Girão, which is exactly the sort of thing that turns a photo stop into a memory. And yes, there’s always some uncertainty with wildlife, but the sea trip itself is built for what you came for.

The price is $54 per person for 2 days, and what makes it feel fair is the add-ons. You’re not only paying for transportation. You’re also getting a free Madeira wine tasting and a free cultural factory visit (Bordal embroidery), plus shopping discounts at both places.

The 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus: how to use it well

You start with a bus that works like a do-it-yourself route, just easier. You can ride the loop as often as you want during the 48 hours, and you hop on and off at the stops that match your energy level. There’s an audio guide included, with languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Russian, and Portuguese.

Here are some of the standout stop zones you’ll want to think about:

Avenida do Mar to Old Town and cable car views

Your bus voucher exchange is at Avenida do Mar, stop number 1, near the Marina. This is a smart starting point because you’re already close to the waterfront vibe of Funchal.

From there, the Old Town and Cable Car stop is a good choice if you want classic Funchal streets as part of your day. Even if you don’t take the cable car itself, the stop sets you up for a walk through central areas at an easy pace.

Gardens, markets, and the Madeira texture you don’t get from photos

If you want the island to feel lived-in, the stops around Quinta Magnólia Gardens and the Farmer’s Market are where you start noticing details. The tour descriptions call out colourful flowers in gardens, and that’s the kind of Madeira atmosphere that’s hard to replicate with a quick drive-by.

Also, the bus stops include a Promenade to Funchal and multiple townfront areas. That’s useful if you’re trying to balance photo time with a simple stroll.

Points where views matter most: viewpoints and sea-facing stops

There are several viewpoint options on the list, like Funchal Bay Panoramic Viewpoint and Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint. These stops are what you use when you want an instant geography lesson: Madeira rises fast, the coast curves, and the Atlantic does not play around.

On the way to viewpoints and promenades, you’ll pass through areas like S.José Fortress Viewpoint and Lighthouse Viewpoint. If the weather is clear, these are your best bets for a quick payoff without having to commit to a full hike.

Câmara de Lobos: the big reason this bus matters

One major strength of this combo is that it includes time in Câmara de Lobos South and Câmara de Lobos North, plus multiple nearby access points like Orca Praia Hotel/Old Road to Câmara de Lobos and Promenade to Funchal.

Câmara de Lobos is where your bus trip feels less like a city tour and more like a regional day. You get coastal character, and it’s a great place to slow down. If you only use the bus for Funchal proper, you still get a lot—but you’ll get more if you commit to at least one Câmara de Lobos segment.

Real talk: how often the bus runs

This is where planning helps. The bus runs every 30 minutes from 9AM to 12:30PM, then every 45 minutes from 1:15PM to 5PM. That gap between 12:30PM and 1:15PM means you should avoid scheduling tight lunch timing unless you like waiting.

Catamaran check-in and your whale-and-dolphin game plan

Your catamaran meeting point is at the VMT City Pier Kiosk, in front of Stop 2 of the bus. Check-in is obligatory 30 minutes before each trip, so don’t treat this as a casual meet-up.

A key detail for expectations: the tour is set up for wildlife watching, but you’re still dealing with the ocean. Madeira can be full of cetaceans, and the tour materials note more than 20 species of cetaceans visit the island. That’s good context, but it still means you may see whales, dolphins, turtles, sea birds—or you may get fewer sightings than the best-case scenario.

What you might see out on the Atlantic

The catamaran description says you’re looking out for dolphins and whales, and that sometimes turtles and sea birds show up too. In one recent experience, dolphins were seen close up, and that’s the kind of moment that makes people keep talking about these trips.

Another good thing to know: the sea trip includes time for photos, especially when the light changes. One review mentions strong sunset photo opportunities, so if your sea time overlaps late afternoon, you might get better lighting.

The swimming and snorkeling break at Fajã do Cabo Girão

This is the stop that makes the day feel active. You’ll have a break for swimming and snorkeling at Fajã do Cabo Girão. That means you should bring swim gear if you’re the type who likes getting in the water, not just watching from a deck.

Also remember: food and drinks aren’t allowed on board. If you want snacks or water for the break, plan it before you board and keep everything within the rules for the vehicle.

If weather hits

One of the realities of Madeira sea trips: wind and weather can change timing. A review I saw mentioned the catamaran appointment was moved earlier due to poor weather. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does mean you should keep your day flexible and stay on top of any updates you receive.

Old Blandys wine tasting and Bordal embroidery: why these inclusions matter

Some tours toss in a stop that feels like a checkbox. This one feels more useful because the included stops match Madeira’s identity: wine culture and local craft.

Free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge

You get a free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge, plus a 10% discount on shopping. Even if you’re not a wine expert, tasting on location beats tasting from a bottle at home. It’s also an easy, climate-friendly break if you’ve been walking in sun.

This is one of the parts I’d treat as a highlight rather than an optional add-on. It turns your tour from purely visual into something you can take home in taste.

Free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory

You also get a free visit to the Bordal Embroideries Factory, plus another 10% discount on shopping. This is the cultural counterbalance to the ocean wildlife theme.

If you like seeing how things are made, a factory visit like this gives context. You’re not just buying a souvenir. You’re getting a sense of the craft and why it exists.

Making sense of the stop list: a simple way to plan your 48 hours

With a hop-on hop-off pass, the challenge isn’t choosing stops. The challenge is not overloading your day.

I suggest you pick one “anchor” area per half-day:

• Morning anchor: Old Town and Cable Car area, plus a market stop if you want snacks or a quick browse.
• Afternoon anchor: viewpoint stops like Pico dos Barcelos, then drift toward a promenade.
• Second day anchor: split between Quinta Magnólia Gardens and Câmara de Lobos, then finish with a sea-facing viewpoint.

The stop list also includes options like Madeira Cathedral, Casino/Presidents House, Funchal Bay Panoramic Viewpoint, São Martinho Chapel and Cemetery, and multiple hotel-area viewpoints. Those are handy if you want to base your choices on what you like to see, not what time of day it is.

A small pacing note

You’ll have a lot of choices on paper, but Madeira is steep in places. That means you might want to take more breaks than you think. The bus makes it easy to reset your legs without giving up your route.

Price and value: does $54 feel justified

Let’s do the simple math the practical way. You pay $54 per person for a 2-day package that includes:

• a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus (with audio guide)
• one catamaran experience entrance
• free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys (plus discount)
• free Bordal Embroidery Factory visit (plus discount)
• discounts on tickets to monuments, museums, and leisure activities

What makes this feel like value is that you’re not only buying transport. You’re getting activities that cost extra on their own in many Madeira itineraries.

Could you do it all cheaper with separate tickets? Maybe, if you’re already certain you’ll do both a wildlife boat and those specific cultural stops. But if you’re building a first-time Madeira plan, this package lowers decision stress.

Who should book this combo

This fits best if you:

• want to cover Funchal plus Câmara de Lobos without committing to one fixed itinerary
• want a wildlife-focused day at sea, with an actual swimming/snorkeling break
• like having at least one organized cultural activity built in (wine tasting and Bordal embroidery)
• prefer flexibility over a strict schedule

It may feel less ideal if you hate waiting. The bus has set intervals, and the sea trip can shift with weather. Also, if you only care about one part of Madeira (just city or just sea), you might find the bus component too much for your style.

Should you book this Funchal bus and whale-dolphin day combo?

If you’re doing Madeira for the first time and you want a mix of coast, viewpoints, local craft, and a real shot at seeing dolphins and whales, I think it’s a strong booking. The catamaran with a swim stop at Fajã do Cabo Girão is the memorable anchor, and the included Old Blandys tasting plus Bordal embroidery makes the package feel more complete than just transportation.

I’d only hesitate if you’re very strict about timing or you dislike schedule uncertainty at sea. If that’s you, plan extra buffer and don’t leave your whole day to one narrow window.

FAQ

How long is this tour package?

It’s valid for 2 days, starting from the first activation.

What is included with the bus and catamaran?

You get a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour, one entrance for the VMT catamaran experience, a free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge (with a 10% discount on shopping), and free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory (with a 10% discount on shopping).

Where do I meet for the bus and where do I meet for the catamaran?

For the bus, exchange your voucher at Avenida do Mar, stop number 1, near the Marina. For the catamaran, go to the VMT City Pier Kiosk in front of Stop 2 of the bus.

Do I need to check in before the catamaran trip?

Yes. Check-in is obligatory 30 minutes before each trip.

Are food and drinks allowed on the vehicles?

No. Food and drinks are not allowed in the vehicle.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.