Whales and wine on Madeira. This 2-day combo pairs a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus with a catamaran wildlife trip, so you can set your own pace and hit the highlights without a rental car. I also like the Madeira wine tasting and Bordal embroidery entry, which turn the day from just sightseeing into real local culture. The main drawback is timing and weather: the catamaran can change, and the voucher start time may not line up with when you assume the 48 hours begin, so double-check.

This plan works best if you want views from high up (the bus rides about 3 meters off the road) and an easy way to bounce between neighborhoods. You’ll get a multi-language audio guide on the bus, and the catamaran includes a swim and snorkeling break at Fajã do Cabo Girão. Just note there’s no hotel pick-up, and food and drinks aren’t allowed on board the vehicle—plan to grab snacks before you roll.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• 48 hours of hop-on hop-off freedom across a long list of stops, including Old Town, viewpoints, and Câmara de Lobos
• Catamaran wildlife time looking for dolphins and whales, with occasional turtles and sea birds mentioned in the program
• A real break in the itinerary with swimming and snorkeling at Fajã do Cabo Girão
• Culture add-ons at no extra cost: free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys and free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory
• Audio guide in many languages to keep you oriented as you hop around
• Weather can affect the schedule, so keep your phone handy and build in a little buffer

The Big Idea: Two Days of Madeira from Land and Sea

This is a smart “do the most iconic things first” package. Instead of choosing between land sightseeing and marine life, you get both: a 48-hour bus pass that drops you near the key parts of Funchal and Câmara de Lobos, plus one catamaran excursion focused on dolphins and whales.

I like that the bus doesn’t trap you in one rigid route. You can ride for a loop, hop off to linger at a market or a viewpoint, then come back later during your two-day window. That matters on Madeira because traffic, steep streets, and parking can drain your energy. The bus lets you spend your time on what you came for: the views and the town.

The other win is how the free add-ons fit in naturally with sightseeing. A Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys and free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory aren’t random “tourist stops.” They connect directly to what makes Funchal feel like a real place, not a photo stop-and-run.

Price and Value: What Your $54 Is Really Covering

At about $54 per person, you’re bundling several separate experiences into one price point:

• A 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour
• A catamaran experience with a sightseeing-focused marine route
• Free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge, plus a 10% shopping discount
• Free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory, plus a 10% shopping discount
• Discounts on tickets to various monuments, museums, and leisure activities

That value formula is the key. You’re paying once, then getting flexible transport plus a full sea outing. If you’d otherwise have to piece these together—bus tickets here, a boat excursion there—you’d likely spend more and spend more time coordinating.

One value note

The catamaran is weather-dependent in the real world. If you’re traveling outside the main wildlife season, you’re still getting a boat ride and a scenic coastline experience, but sightings aren’t guaranteed. One booking note also flags that whale season may run only until October.

Start Here: Meeting Points and How Check-In Works

You’ll start with two different locations, depending on whether you’re catching the bus or the catamaran.

Bus meeting point

The bus starts at Avenida do Mar, stop number 1, near the Marina. This is where you exchange your voucher onboard the bus.

Catamaran meeting point

The catamaran check-in is at the VMT City Pier Kiosk, in front of Stop 2 of the bus. That’s useful because it ties the two parts of the day together geographically.

Check-in timing

Check-in is obligatory 30 minutes before each trip. This is the rule that keeps the day stress-free. It also matters when weather changes happen, since you may be asked to shift timing.

The Bus Route: Using 48 Hours to Build Your Own Madeira Day

The hop-on hop-off part gives you access to a long list of stops, so you can design your own pace over two days. The bus runs often enough to feel flexible: every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, then every 45 minutes from 1:15 PM to 5:00 PM.

Audio guide is included, with Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Russian. That’s a big deal if you want context while you’re sitting above the street—especially with all the stops that focus on different neighborhoods.

A practical way to plan your first day

If it’s your first time on Madeira, I’d group stops into three priorities: Old Town, viewpoints, then Câmara de Lobos.

1) Central Funchal: orientation and classic stops (Stops 1 to 7)

Start easy from Avenida do Mar (Stop 1) and work your way toward the old core of the city. Key stops include:

• Funchal City Gates (Stop 2) to orient you
• Old Town and Cable Car (Stop 3), handy for getting oriented quickly
• Farmers Market (Stop 4), where you can browse and snack if you like
• Bordal Embroidery Factory (Stop 5), which is one of the free cultural inclusions
• Madeira Wine Museum/City Hall (Stop 6) if you want wine context beyond a tasting
• Madeira Cathedral (Stop 7) for a landmark anchor

This cluster is ideal early on because it keeps travel simple and puts you in the middle of the places people want to revisit later.

2) Gardens and viewpoints: the “see Madeira” stretch (Stops 9 to 13)

Once you’ve had your fill of central streets, shift to higher ground and lookouts:

• Quinta Magnólia Gardens (Stop 9)
• Funchal Bay Panoramic Viewpoint (Stop 10)
• São Martinho Chapel and Cemetery (Stop 11)
• Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint (Stop 12)
• Promenade to Funchal (Stop 13) for a more walkable stretch afterward

The bus height (about 3 meters) helps here. You’ll get a better line of sight than you would from the sidewalks, especially if the roads slope and the viewpoints sit above the traffic.

3) Câmara de Lobos: the day-trip mood without a car (Stops 14 to 17)

Next up is Câmara de Lobos, with multiple stops that let you approach from different directions:

• Câmara de Lobos South (Stop 14)
• Câmara de Lobos North (Stop 15)
• Orca Praia Hotel/Old Road to Câmara de Lobos (Stop 17)

This is where you can stretch your time. The big advantage of hop-on hop-off is you can park yourself for an hour or two and then return when the light changes.

A practical way to plan your second day

Your second day is where you can go “coastline and comfort,” focusing on sea-front promenades, shopping, and the scenic hotels area.

Good targets:

• Angel Roundabout / Formosa Beach (Stop 18)
• Doca do Cavacas (Stop 19)
• Forum Shopping centre (Stop 20) if you want indoor breaks
• Pestana/Panoramic Gardens (Stop 21)
• Lido Promenade and Lido (Stops 22 and 24)
• Cruise Terminal (Stop 29) and Design Centre Nini A. Silva (Stop 30) if you like modern city touches

You can also bounce back toward viewpoints like S.José Fortress Viewpoint (Stop 27) and the Lighthouse Viewpoint (Stop 28) if your first day felt too rushed.

One small caution

The package gives you 48 hours, but it doesn’t mean the bus is running all day nonstop. Since the frequency windows end at 5:00 PM, I’d aim to be back on the bus by mid-afternoon, especially if you plan to pair the bus with the catamaran.

The Catamaran: Whale and Dolphin Watching with a Swim Stop

This is the star part of the package. You’ll board a catamaran for a marine route around Funchal and its surroundings, with the goal of spotting dolphins and whales.

The program also notes that you might see:

• dolphins and whales
• turtles
• sea birds

That’s the right mindset. You’re out on the Atlantic, and wildlife timing can shift.

The coastline experience matters even if you miss the animals

Even when you don’t get a perfect sighting window, the route is still part of the value. The description focuses on clear waters and rock formations that look almost lacy from the boat. So you’re not just paying for animals—you’re paying for a different perspective of Madeira that you don’t get from street level.

Swim and snorkeling break at Fajã do Cabo Girão

One highlight in the plan is a stop for swimming and snorkeling at Fajã do Cabo Girão. This is where you’ll want to treat the excursion as more than just a sit-and-watch ride.

Bring practical basics like swimwear and a change of clothes. The tour data also says food and drinks aren’t allowed on the vehicle, so don’t count on grabbing refreshments mid-ride. Do your snack game before you board.

How long is it?

One booking note describes the boat as lasting about 3 hours. Even if your exact timing varies, that gives you a realistic sense: enough time to settle in, scan the water, and still have a meaningful stop.

Free Madeira Wine Tasting and Bordal Embroidery: Culture That Fits

Most packages throw in a cultural stop that feels forced. This one feels more integrated because it connects to Funchal’s identity in two very different ways.

Old Blandys Wine Lodge tasting

You get a free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge, plus a 10% discount on shopping. If you’re the type who likes to understand what you’re drinking, pairing it with time at the wine museum (Stop 6) is an easy next step.

Bordal Embroideries Factory entry

You also get free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory, again with a 10% discount on shopping. Embroidery is the kind of craft that’s better when you can see the work up close. The factory stop is placed right on the bus route (Stop 5), which makes it painless to include.

Timing, Weather, and Real-World Tips That Save You

This is where I’d pay attention, because a couple of booking notes point to small friction.

Don’t assume bus timing equals catamaran timing

One booking experience mentions confusion about when the 48-hour window starts, because they expected the start time to refer to the bus, but it related to the catamaran instead. You can avoid this by:

• reviewing your voucher carefully before you go
• arriving early for both parts

Weather can shift the catamaran plan

Another note mentions the catamaran timing moved earlier due to bad weather, and it also flags that wildlife season may run only until October. If you’re traveling in shoulder season, take sightings as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

Keep your plans flexible for the sea day

Even if your schedule looks locked, weather can change the outing. If you’re also trying to fit dinner reservations or another activity right at sea departure time, you’re more likely to feel rushed.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This combo is a great fit if you:

• want an easy first look at Funchal and Câmara de Lobos without renting a car
• like wildlife experiences but also want solid “Plan B” value from the bus and coastline views
• enjoy mixing culture stops into sightseeing (wine + embroidery)
• prefer guided orientation with an audio system in your language

It’s less ideal if you:

• want deep, long stays in one neighborhood and hate moving around
• want zero schedule stress, since the sea portion can shift with weather
• need hotel pick-up, since this package has none

Should You Book It?

If you want a practical Madeira “greatest hits” plan, I’d book it—especially for the combination of bus flexibility + catamaran time + free wine and embroidery. It gives you more than one way to enjoy the island, and it’s built to work even if the day doesn’t go perfectly.

The decision comes down to two questions:

• Are you okay with the sea day being affected by weather?
• Will you use the 48-hour bus freedom to hop around efficiently?

If yes, this is good value and a smart use of two days. If you prefer absolute certainty and fixed schedules, consider whether you want a land-only plan instead.

FAQ

How much does the Funchal Hop-on Hop-off Bus and Whale and Dolphin boat excursion cost?

The price is listed as $54 per person.

How long is the experience?

It is listed as a 2-day experience.

What is included in the package?

You get a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour, an entrance in a VMT catamaran experience, a free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge (plus a 10% shopping discount), and a free visit to the Bordal Embroideries Factory (plus a 10% shopping discount). There are also discounts on tickets to monuments, museums, and leisure activities.

What are the meeting points?

The bus meeting point is Avenida do Mar, stop number 1, near the Marina. The catamaran meeting point is the VMT City Pier Kiosk, in front of Stop 2 of the bus.

Do I need to check in before the trips?

Yes. Check-in is obligatory 30 minutes before each trip.

Is food and drink allowed on the vehicle?

No. Food and drinks are not allowed in the vehicle.

How often does the bus run?

For the Funchal and Câmara de Lobos tour, it runs every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, and every 45 minutes from 1:15 PM to 5:00 PM.

How long is the bus pass valid?

The bus pass is valid for 2 days from the first activation.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

The audio guide is available in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Russian.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.