Private Sailing Cruise Madeira: Sunrise, Sunset & Moonlight

Sail without a motor and feel the wind do the work

A private sailing cruise in Madeira where you choose the time — sunrise, sunset or moonlight — and the boat moves by wind alone, no engine. The operator has been sailing these waters since 2001 and brings hot chocolate, wine, cheese and snacks; guides speak five languages. Three hours on the water, with snorkelling gear and SUP boards available if you want them.

The Experience

What time of day do you want to be on the water? The boat leaves whenever you book it — early enough to watch the sun break the horizon and maybe catch the famous Green Flash as it sinks into the Atlantic, or late enough to sail under moonlight when Madeira's coast goes quiet. The whole point is slow sailing: no engine noise, just the sound of wind filling the sails and the boat moving because of it. You're here to disconnect, not to tick off a list of sights.

Three hours is long enough to drift without rushing. Bring a book, or don't. The crew brings hot chocolate and cakes if you're going at sunrise, wine and cheese if you're going at sunset, and on request they'll add beer, kombucha, Portuguese fritters, or The Sailor breakfast — black scabbard sandwich, boiled egg and a banana from Madeira. Snorkelling equipment and two SUP boards are on board if the water calls to you; if not, you stay in the boat and watch it happen around you.

The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or one of the other languages the crew carries, so there's no translation lag between what you're seeing and what you're learning. Service animals are welcome. Public transport gets you to the departure point, and the crew will tell you exactly where to meet them when you book.

What’s included

• Hot chocolate and cakes for sunrise departures, or wine and cheese for sunset and moonlight sails.
• on request, beer, kombucha, Portuguese fritters, or The Sailor breakfast.
• snorkelling equipment and two SUP boards.
• guides in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and one additional language.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for back problems

Operated by Madeira Sunkiss Sailing

Is this one for you?Pick the sunrise departure if you want to start your day on the water and chase the Green Flash; choose sunset for golden light and the easiest sailing conditions; go at moonlight if you want the rarest kind of calm. The private boat means you set the pace and the crew adjusts to what you want — no schedule, no other passengers, just three hours of wind and water.

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Top questions

What's the Green Flash everyone talks about at sunset?

The Green Flash is a rare optical effect that happens in the last moment before the sun disappears below the horizon — a bright green glow flickers at the edge of the sun as it sinks into the Atlantic. It's not guaranteed every sunset, but the crew knows the conditions that make it more likely, and a private cruise gives you the time to wait for it without a schedule pushing you along.

Can I bring my own snacks or do I have to eat what's included?

The cruise includes hot chocolate and cakes for sunrise, wine and cheese for sunset, or moonlight sailing with your choice of drinks and light bites. You're welcome to bring your own food as well — the boat is yours for the three hours, and the crew will work with what you want.

How do I know if I can handle three hours on a sailboat?

The sailing is calm and the boat is stable — the crew describes it as slow living on the water, and the experience suits all physical fitness levels. The only exception is if you have a spinal injury, which the motion of the boat can aggravate. If you're unsure, the crew can answer specific questions when you book.

Do I need experience to sail, or is this just riding along?

You're not sailing the boat — the crew handles that. You're on the boat while it sails, which means you feel the wind and the motion but you're not working. If you want to help trim a sail or learn how the boat moves, the crew can show you; if you want to sit and watch, that's the whole point of slow sailing.

What if the weather turns bad?

The crew has been sailing Madeira's waters since 2001 and knows the conditions. If weather makes the water unsafe, they'll reschedule your cruise or discuss options when you book — the safety of the boat and everyone on it comes first.

Are there other boats on the water, or is this private the whole time?

The cruise is private to your group — no other passengers, just your party and the crew. That's what makes it possible to sail at whatever pace feels right and to change course if something catches your eye.