Madeira Island: Half Day Cruise with Lunch & Snorkeling

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/10

Duration5h

GroupUp to 55

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Madeira boat trip with swimming lunch drinks & hotel pickup

You’ll feel the Atlantic breeze as you cruise along Madeira’s coast, stopping to swim and snorkel beneath dramatic cliffs at Calhau da Lapa. Enjoy homemade lunch and unlimited drinks on deck while your local guide shares stories about life along these shores. The small moments—fresh coffee after swimming or laughter over dessert—make this half-day cruise linger in your memory.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day boat cruise with lunch

Hotel pickup
Board the boat
Cruise along Madeira coastline
Listen to onboard commentary
Stop at Calhau da Lapa for swim
Snorkel with provided gear
Rinse off with onboard shower
Enjoy buffet lunch on board
Relax with drinks and dessert
Return to hotel

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was how the sea air felt different here—sort of sharp and salty, but not cold. We’d barely left Funchal harbor when our guide, Joana, started pointing out these little villages tucked into the cliffs. She kept switching between English and Portuguese so everyone caught her stories—sometimes she’d laugh at her own jokes. I found a spot in the shade, legs stretched out, just listening to the water slap against the hull. Someone handed me a glass of vinho branco before I even realized I wanted one.

When we got close to Calhau da Lapa, everything went quiet for a second except for gulls overhead and that weird creak boats make when they slow down. The cliffs here are wild—almost vertical, with streaks of orange rock. I tried snorkeling (mask included), but mostly floated around staring up at those cliffs. The water’s clear enough you can see your toes—and tiny fish darting everywhere. Getting back on board meant rinsing off with this funny little shower hose; it wasn’t glamorous but honestly felt good after all that salt.

Lunch was way better than I expected for a boat buffet—homemade chicken and tuna, potatoes still warm, salad that actually tasted fresh. Joana poured more wine and told us how fishermen used to hide from storms in these coves. Dessert came last (some kind of soft cake), plus coffee that smelled strong enough to wake up anyone drifting off in the sun. On the ride back, people were quieter—just watching the coastline slide by, hair tangled from wind and saltwater. I still think about that view sometimes when I close my eyes at home.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Funchal or nearby areas, all drinks (wine, beer, soft drinks), bottled water throughout the cruise, use of snorkeling equipment at Calhau da Lapa for swimming stops under dramatic cliffs, homemade buffet lunch with fresh local dishes plus dessert and coffee onboard before returning comfortably to your hotel.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Living sea