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An affordable luxury
Experience
you won't forget...

Whales & Dolphins Tours

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The Experience

The Experience On Tales is available with 2 options to choose from:

Just select the one that feels irresistibly tailor-made for you … we make it happen!

Miranda

Miranda Yacht – Shared cruise

Watch sea life in its natural habitat ! Experience the amazing marine life of the south west sea of Madeira island, on-board Miranda, a comfortable engine powered yacht. Feel the happiness of meeting cetaceans in their natural habitat, discover local… Read more »

What our guests are saying...

Thank you for the amazing experience, we had an incredible time on your boat! During our trip we saw a flying fish and after a while we even saw whales (this is quite rare and because it was a mother with… Read more »

Sharon V.

Fantastic! Took the kids (3 Girls – 9yr & 6yr old twins). The crew were brilliant with them, making sure they were safe, helping them get a good view and just generally being lovely. Really does feel like a personal… Read more »

Nick J.

We had such a great time, the highlight being following a Sei whale and having a pod of dolphins swimming and jumping right next to the boat. The boat is great and the crew are knowledgeable and respectful of the… Read more »

Alice Hoey

It is a fairly small boat but very well equipped (only for 8 passengers including the captain and a marine biologists). Below the deck is a small kitchenette with a fridge, a toilet and a space where you can leave… Read more »

Hana R.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Very friendly guides, cozy trip for 6 people, and some spectacular scenes to remember forever. We were not luck enough to see whales but we got to have a close shot of friendly dolphins and… Read more »

Puya A.

We went on a trip with On Tales during our two week holiday on Madeira and loved it so much we went on another trip before we left! Both times we had an amazing experience and saw large pods of… Read more »

Stuart M.

On Tales is a brilliant company with friendly staff, excellent prices, a clean and comfy boat and great knowledge of the area and sea life. We saw 5 whales and went snorkelling. Definitely the highlight of our holiday. Would highly… Read more »

Anonymous from Essex, UK

Return visit from 2017, Brilliant day, highly knowledgeable professional crew and this time we saw whales too as well as Sheerwaters skimming over the waves . No hesitation in recommending you to join them on On Tales for a wonderful… Read more »

Tony, UK

Activities

Whale and Dolphin Watching

Whale and Dolphin Watching

Experience the amazing marine-life of Madeira Island, comfortably, on-board our yacht, Miranda. Enjoy the company of wild cetaceans, on the Atlantic ocean.  They cruise alongside us on their journey towards better waters. A life shaping Experience: Feel the presence of… Read more »

Be an explorer

Be an explorer

Enjoy this experience to the fullest! Explore Madeira‘s coastline and small villages set between natural cliffs and valleys, on-board Miranda. A refined and comfortable motor yacht. A truly unique way to visit our amazing island from the sea, be it either… Read more »

Sunset boat Madeira island

Sunset cruise

Experience the Sunset in the South West Ocean of Madeira Island on-board our yacht, Miranda. A refined and comfortable motor yacht.  Feel the Ocean breeze enjoying a glass of sparkling wine.  Be there while the sun and the stars switch… Read more »

Swim and snorkel

Swim and snorkel

Dive into warm and crystal-clear waters from our comfortable yacht, Miranda.  Feel the freedom of swimming and snorkelling close to the coast. Be there to admire the rocky bottom and marine life of the South West Sea of Madeira Island. … Read more »

Species

Atlantic Spotted dolphin

Stenella frontalis

This is a very playful dolphin! He is mostly seen in Madeira in the springtime and summertime. More often than not in large groups, usually very active and acrobatic, he likes to swim alongside our yacht! These dolphins present a… Read more »

Fin whale

Balaenoptera physalus

This is the second largest mammal alive just after the Blue whale.  Fin whales can reach up to 20 meters long !  Although it is possible to observe them all year round, we tend to see them more often during… Read more »

Blainville’s beaked whale

Mesoplodon densirostris (Blainville, 1817)

These are shy and peaceful whales. Blainville’s beaked whales spend most of their time under water.  They are relatively small although they can reach 6 metres. Long and slim, the colour of their body can be from dark grey to dark… Read more »

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

We can see these amazing marine mammals around Madeira almost all year round.  Sperm whales use our warm and calm sea to dive and eat, socialise and procreate.  Adult subjects can be up to 17 to 20 meters long!  Usually,… Read more »

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are fantastic creatures and their jumps are spectacular !  This species visits us all year round! Their skin colour can vary from light grey to dark grey all over their body and they are considered to be large… Read more »

Portuguese Man’ O war

So colourful and enigmatic, the Portuguese Man’ O war is odd, yet charismatic. Although they look a lot like Jelly fishes, they are actually highly venomous ocean predators, made of  a colony of several small individual organisms that each have… Read more »

Cory’s Shearwater

Calonetris borealis

The Cory’s Shearwater is a constantly migrating seabird that use Madeira Islands for breeding and nesting. Colonies arrive in March, the offspring are born in May and they usually leave in October. Their body is elegant, spindle-shaped and long winged.… Read more »

Flying Fishes

Flying fishes are always surprising! They look just like swimming birds, can hold their breath for minutes at a time and can gain speeds of about 37 mph (underwater). They project themselves out of the water at high speed and once… Read more »

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Caretta caretta

These lovely animals are marine reptiles. When they reach Madeira Island, we know that they have crossed the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of the American continent. They were born either in Florida or on the coast of Mexico. They… Read more »

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

These sweet dolphins can be up to 2 meters long! We usually see them from winter to spring. Some distinctive features of the Atlantic Common Dolphins include a black V-shaped back, yellow sides and a contrasting white belly.  Atlantic Common… Read more »

Short-finned pilot whale

Globicephala macrorhynchus

Pilot Whales are quite fond of temperate seas like the ones of Madeira Island !  Typically their body is dark grey to black but with a lighter area near the dorsal fin. Their head is distinctive and round, with a… Read more »

Who we are

We are for Whales, Dolphins, Turtles, fish and marine Birds! We are for tales of the big Blue! On Tales! 

We support Whale Watching as a way to protect wildlife while exploring the ocean. 

We aim to create memories. Good, long lasting memories of overwhelming nature and of a time well spent. 

We are for a green world and a Blue Ocean! We are for Sustainability and Environmental Awareness. On Tales has been awarded the Blue Flag for environmental awareness every year, since 2019! We keep holding it for 2023

We aim to do no harm! We aim to be helpful! 

We aim to explore the ocean in a sustainable, responsible and respectful way

In 2022, On Tales subscribed to the BioSphere Certification, aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. 

On Tales’ approach towards wildlife and its natural habitat is a respectful one. Our aim is to foster an awareness of the ocean and its ever-present marine life. 

We aim to introduce our guests to some of the wonders of Madeira Island, attending to their needs whenever possible, while maintaining a healthy relationship with sea-life, in order to allow future generations to enjoy it as much as we do. 

Sustainability, knowledge of our surroundings, Comfort and Safety are the fundamental principles that guide and motivate the On Tales team, in order to provide our guests with the best possible experience. 

We offer a service of excellence, such as “on tales”. On board our Yacht, “Miranda”, our qualified professional crew members, passionate of sea-life, will be taking care of you. Guests can just relax and indulge into the ocean’s charms. 

On Tales has been awarded the Tripadvisor’s certificate of excellence and Tripadvisor’s travellers choice every year since 2017. Travellers choice for 2023! 

On Tales is a reference on the well-known TripAdvisor portal and is within the top 5 of all the attractions of Madeira Island. Often occupying the 1 position on the ranking for boats! 

On Tales is dedicated to maritime touristic tours. We are based on the Marina da Calheta and sail along the South Coast of Madeira island

RNAAT 392/2015

Our business partners

We have adopted the popular saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.

With this in mind, we have established strategic partnerships that we trust will contribute to our growth and success.

On Tales has also partnered with a number of agents and tour operators, both nationally and internationally, so that to become an essential part of any visit to Paradise Island!

Madeira islands

The Madeira archipelago includes Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, the Desertas Islands and the Savage Islands. Madeira and Porto Santo are inhabited islands that we can explore freely. Desertas and Savages are classified as Nature Reserves and require a special permit. 

Our archipelago is set in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and benefits from a very pleasant climate, both on-land and on the water. Temperatures, over the year, range from 17°C to 25°C while the sea temperature varies between 18°C and 22°C. 

This is why Madeira is known as the Pearl of the Atlantic and the Floating garden of the Atlantic ! A real paradise where you can walk in the mountains or bathe in warm water, at any time of the year.

Madeira Island is also one of the best places in the world to observe whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. It is only up to you to join us …