Highlights
What our guests are saying...
Activities
Be an explorer
Enjoy this experience to the fullest! Explore Madeira’s coastline and small villages set between natural cliffs and valleys. A truly amazing and unique way to visit our amazing island. Complete the experience with a fresh beverage, kindly provided by our… Read more »
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… Read more »
Sunset
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 »
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 »
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin or Stenella frontalis
Stenella frontalis
This is a very playful dolphin! He is mostly seen in Madeira in the springtime and summertime and, more often than not, in large groups! Usually very active and acrobatic, he likes to swim alongside our yacht! Spotted dolphins present… Read more »
Short-beaked Common Dolphin or Delphinus delphis
Delphinus delphis
These sweet dolphins can be almost 2 meters long. We meet them mostly in springtime and wintertime. There are a few characteristics that distinguish them from other species; They are yellow on the sides with a dark V-shaped back, a… Read more »
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
These amazing dolphins choose to live in Madeira, all year round! Their body is very dark grey, their head is round, their nose is thick and short and they can measure up to 3 meters long! Bottlenose dolphins travel… Read more »
Short-finned pilot whale or Globicephala macrorhynchus
Globicephala macrorhynchus
Pilot whales love tropical and temperate waters like Madeira’s sea! Usually, their body is dark-grey to black with a spot behind the dorsal fin and can be up to 5 to 6 meters long. They are very sweet and sociable… Read more »
Sperm Whale or Physeter macrocephalus
Physeter macrocephalus
These amazing animals can be seen around Madeira all year round. Sperm whales use our warm and calm sea to dive and eat, socialise and procreate. Their dive can last up to 1 hour and 30 minutes! Adult subjects can… Read more »
Blainville’s Beaked Whale or Mesoplodon densirostris
Mesoplodon densirostris
These whales are calm and shy but we love them just the same! We mainly meet them in the summertime. Usually, they feel safer deeper, especially when boats are around. They are relatively small; approximately 4,5 meters long. Their body… Read more »
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Caretta caretta
Turtles! These lovely animals are adorable marine reptiles, most often born on the beaches of Florida or on the Mexican Atlantic coast. They swim to Madeira when they reach 1 year old, and only when over 15 to 30 years… Read more »
Cory’s Shearwater
Calonetris borealis
The Cory’s Shearwaters are constantly migrating seabirds that use Madeira Islands for breeding and nesting. They arrive in March, the offsprings are born in May, and leave in October. They have a spindle-shaped body, long wings, dark feathers, grey or… Read more »
Who we are
On Tales was created in 2015, in order to allow you to contemplate the magnificent creatures that inhabit the Maderian seas, taking for mission a respectful exploration of the natural habitat and of the sea.
We aim to introduce our clients to some of the wonders of our coasts, attending to their needs whenever possible, maintaining a healthy relationship with sea-life, to allow future generations to enjoy it as much as we do.
We offer a service of excellence, such as “on tales”. On board our Yacht “Miranda” our qualified professional crew, passionate of sea-life, will be taking care of you. Guests only have to relax and indulge into the ocean’s charms.
On Tales is a young company dedicated to maritime touristic tours. We are based on the Marina da Calheta and sail along the South Coast of the island. 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.
On Tales is already a reference on the well-known TripAdvisor portal and is within the top 5 of the attractions of Madeira Island.
Our fleet
Our business partners
Taking into account the say “if you want to go fast, go alone but, if you want to go further, go accompanied”, we created strategic partnerships that hopefully, will help us go further !
One of our main partner is the AFTM – Associação do Filme, Televisão e Multimédia da Madeira selected On Tales as a reference partner to support audiovisual productions for the south of Madeira Island. They also help us manage the audiovisual productions we use.
Madeira island
The Madeira archipelago is composed of Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, the Desertas Islands and the Savage Islands. Madeira and Porto Santo are the only inhabited islands that we can explore freely, since 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 with temperatures ranging from 17°C to 25°C, and a water temperature between 18°C and 22°C.
This is why Madeira is also known as the Pearl 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 …
Our products
Madeira Island’s tropical climate is an undeniable asset! It allows us to produce sweet and colourful fruits and vegetables that you can taste as you watch them! We make delicious traditional sweets and drinks from sugar cane, raw material for… Read more »
Why Madeira Islands?
Madeira and Porto Santo islands are internationally recognized thanks to the awards they have received over the years. Here are some of these achievements: Award “World’s Leading Island Destination” by the World Travel Awards at 2015, 2016 and 2017; New… Read more »
Our History
Portuguese sailors discovered Porto Santo island ( Portuguese for Holy harbor ) first, in 1418. Then in 1419, after several days of drifting, the crew of a ship which had been diverted from its course along the African coast, spotted… Read more »