Funchal Wine Tasting & Dolphin Watching Jeep Catamaran Tour

Vineyards, a suspended glass platform 589 meters above the Atlantic, and dolphins from a catamaran

A full-day shared tour from Funchal that pairs a 4-hour off-road jeep tour through Madeira's wine region with tastings at the island's largest vineyards, a visit to Cabo Girão's glass-floored cliff viewpoint, and a 3-hour catamaran sail for dolphin and whale watching. Hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide are included; lunch is optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Jeep tour, wine tasting, dolphin watching

• Drive 4x4 jeep tour with views
• Visit Madeira wine producers
• Guided vineyard tour and wine tasting
• Walk on Cabo Girão glass platform
• Board catamaran for dolphin watching

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Funchal accommodation and heads inland to Serra d'Agua, a valley at the center of the island where the landscape opens into views over Porto Moniz, Paúl da Serra and São Vicente. The jeep then takes you off-road through the north coast terrain, climbing toward the vineyards where you'll spend time with Madeira's main wine producers. A guided tour walks you through the largest vineyard holdings on the island, and you'll taste five wines—one rosé, two whites and two reds—while learning how the island's wine traditions and production methods developed in this Atlantic setting.

After the vineyard experience, the tour continues to Cabo Girão, Europe's highest cliff at 589 meters. A suspended glass platform extends out over the edge, offering a panoramic view straight down to Câmara de Lobos and Funchal below. The entrance fee to the platform is separate (€3). From there, you're driven to the harbor with free time to grab lunch before the catamaran departs.

The final leg is a 3-hour sail on a catamaran watching for dolphins and whales in Madeira's waters. You'll return to Funchal by late afternoon. The whole day runs about 7 hours from pickup to drop-off, with the jeep tour lasting 4 hours and the catamaran sail 3 hours.

What’s included

• Hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off in Funchal.
• English-speaking driver and guide.
• insurance required by Portuguese law.
• wine tasting of five wines at Madeira's largest vineyard.
• access to the Cabo Girão cliff viewpoint (entrance fee €3 separate).
• 3-hour catamaran sail for dolphin and whale watching.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Madeira Mountain Expeditions

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see the north coast cliffs and vineyards in one day: the jeep handles mountain roads to reach São Vicente's wine estates, then the catamaran takes you out for Atlantic views from the water.

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Top questions

What exactly happens during the wine tasting at the vineyard?

You'll tour the largest vineyard holdings on Madeira with a guide who explains the island's wine traditions and production methods, then taste five wines—one rosé, two whites and two reds—chosen to show the range of what the region produces.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is optional and costs €15 per person, with a choice of fish, meat or vegetarian. You have free time at the harbor before the catamaran departs to eat if you want to.

What is Cabo Girão and how much time do you spend there?

Cabo Girão is Europe's highest cliff at 589 meters, famous for its suspended glass-floored platform that extends out over the edge and offers a view down to the coast and Funchal. The entrance fee to walk on the platform is €3 and not included in the tour price.

Will I actually see dolphins on the catamaran?

The catamaran sail is a 3-hour dolphin and whale-watching tour on Madeira's waters. Sightings depend on the season and conditions, but the boat operates in all weather.

What's the difference between this tour and doing the jeep and catamaran separately?

This tour combines both experiences in one day with a single hotel pickup and guide, so you don't have to arrange two separate bookings or find your own way between the jeep tour end point and the harbor for the catamaran departure.

Do I need any special fitness level or experience for the jeep tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and infants can sit on an adult's lap or use a specialized infant seat.