Funchal:Hop-on Hop-off Bus & Whale & Dolphin boat Excursion

Two days, one island, big views. In Funchal, this combo pairs a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus with a VMT catamaran for dolphin and whale watching from the Atlantic, plus a swim and snorkeling break at Fajã do Cabo Girão. My only caution is that timing and start-point details can be confusing, and weather can affect the sea trip.

I like that the bus loop helps you get your bearings fast, then lets you hop off for gardens, viewpoints, and old-town streets at your own pace. You also get two value-adding extras on the land side: a free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge and free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory.

That said, it is not a sit-still, one-and-done tour. If your goal is simply to see the main sights once, you might feel the hop-on hop-off portion is a repeat. And if wildlife sightings are your top priority, remember that the ocean does not promise outcomes.

Key points to notice before you go

• 48-hour flexibility: hop on and hop off across Funchal and Câmara de Lobos, so you control the pace
• Wildlife at sea: catamaran viewing for dolphins and whales, with chances for sea birds and turtles
• A real break in the water: stop for swimming and snorkeling at Fajã do Cabo Girão
• Two included cultural stops: free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys, plus free entry to Bordal Embroideries Factory
• Lots of audio-guide languages: English and many others for easier, self-guided sightseeing on the bus

Why This 2-Day Combo Works in Funchal

Funchal on Madeira can feel like it has everything. Waterfront promenades, colorful gardens, viewpoints above town, and day trips right next door. The smart move is to see it in layers: first by road, then from the sea. That is exactly what this 2-in-1 package is built for.

The bus gives you the “how the island stacks up” view, especially around Funchal’s hills and the coastline. Then the catamaran turns those ocean views into the main event, with wildlife spotting as the payoff. You also get two “land” inclusions that most people end up paying for separately, Madeira wine tasting and Bordal embroidery entry.

The best part for you is control. You can spend a morning on major sights, then shift to calmer garden time or a waterfront loop. Then you can save energy for the catamaran, which is the part of the day you really want to show up fresh for.

Price and What You Actually Get for $54

At about $54 per person for a 2-day experience, the value comes from the mix of transport plus multiple included activities.

Here is what you are effectively buying:

• A 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus (so you can spread sightseeing across two different days)
• A VMT catamaran experience with whale and dolphin watching
• A free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge
• Free entry to the Bordal Embroideries Factory
• Discounts on tickets to other monuments, museums, and leisure activities

If you were to separately book a wildlife cruise plus add a wine tasting and a factory visit, the price usually climbs quickly. So even if you only use part of the bus route, you still get enough “included” items to make the package feel worthwhile.

My practical take: this is best value if you actually use the second day. If you only ride the bus once and treat the catamaran as the whole trip, you may feel less satisfied.

Getting Started: Avenida do Mar and the VMT City Pier Kiosk

Logistics matter here because you are doing two different vehicles on different parts of town.

Bus meeting point

You meet 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 starts at VMT City Pier Kiosk, located in front of Stop 2 of the bus route.

Check-in timing

Check-in is obligatory 30 minutes before each trip. This is not a “show up whenever” situation, especially if you are trying to avoid stress on a busy port day.

One recent booking flagged that communication can be unclear about which part of your trip a “start time” refers to, so I recommend you confirm whether your planned time is for the bus window or for your catamaran sailing.

Your 48-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus: Stops That Pay Off

The bus runs frequently enough that you can move around without feeling stuck. It runs every 30 minutes from 9:00AM to 12:30PM, and every 45 minutes from 1:15PM to 5:00PM.

Two practical things I like about the route planning:

1. It covers both classic Funchal sights and the route down to Câmara de Lobos, so you can do more in less time.
2. Many stops are tied to landmarks you can actually use, like gardens, viewpoints, and themed neighborhoods.

Below are the stops I’d prioritize, and why they matter.

Central Funchal and classic landmarks

• Funchal City Gates (Stop 2): a solid “orientation” stop, useful if you want to walk into the older parts of town with the right context.
• Old Town and Cable Car (Stop 3): handy if you want those familiar views and easier access to hillside scenery.
• Farmer’s Market (Stop 4): great for a quick snack, fruit, or browsing local food culture.
• Bordal Embroidery Factory (Stop 5): you can combine shopping time with the included entry.
• Madeira Wine Museum / City Hall (Stop 6): links wine culture to the civic heart of the city.
• Madeira Cathedral (Stop 7): a clear “pin” for old-town sightseeing and photos.
• Casino and Madeira President’s House (Stop 8): good for people who like architecture and a sense of how the city’s institutions sit along the waterfront area.
• Quinta Magnólia Gardens (Stop 9): for when you want a slower pace with greenery and shade.

Viewpoints and promenades (where the best photos come from)

• Funchal Bay Panoramic Viewpoint (Stop 10): if you want wide coastal views, this is where you aim your camera.
• São Martinho Chapel and Cemetery (Stop 11): a quick stop that can add variety beyond shopping and city center.
• Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint (Stop 12): a prime elevation point. Even if you do not stay long, it helps you “read” the island.
• Promenade to Funchal (Stop 13): this is where you slow down and match the pace of the sea.
• Câmara de Lobos South (Stop 14) and North (Stop 15): two sides of the fishing-village vibe, letting you pick how long you want to linger.
• Promenade to Funchal (Stop 16): an easy way to reconnect to the main loop if you hop around.

Beaches, shopping, and waterfront hotels

• Formosa Beach area (Stop 18): good for a beach break if the weather is cooperating.
• Forum Shopping centre (Stop 20): practical if you need basics, a bathroom break, or a place to regroup.
• Lido Promenade (Stops 22 and 24): useful for longer waterfront walking without getting “lost.”
• Cliff Bay Hotel, Belmond Reid’s Palace Hotel (Stops 25 and 26): these stops are mostly about views and atmosphere, especially if you like seeing how Madeira’s luxury hotels sit along the coastline.
• Porto Mare Hotel and other nearby stops (Stops 23 and 24): helpful if you want to connect to restaurants and the promenade area.

Fortresses and port viewpoints

• São José Fortress Viewpoint (Stop 27) and Lighthouse Viewpoint (Stop 28): for the “top-down” maritime feel.
• Cruise Terminal (Stop 29): useful if you want to understand the port side of Funchal, which matters before your catamaran.

A note on the route style: you are not just seeing “points.” You are building a mental map of how Funchal climbs from sea level up into viewpoints, then back down toward neighborhoods and harbors.

How I’d Use Your Two Days on the Bus Without Getting Bored

This is the part you can control, and it decides whether the hop-on hop-off feels fun or repetitive.

Day 1: Orientation day

Start near the marina and ride to the viewpoints early. Do Pico dos Barcelos and Funchal Bay Panoramic Viewpoint before mid-afternoon light changes your photos. Then come back down for Old Town and the Cathedral area.

If you want one included “bonus stop” that does not take much time, do Bordal Embroidery Factory (Stop 5) during a slower window. It is easier to enjoy when you are not rushing between major sights.

Day 2: Slow Madeira, plus wine

Use the second day for gardens and waterfront promenades. Quinta Magnólia Gardens is a good anchor for a calmer block of time. Then shift toward Madeira Wine Museum/City Hall (Stop 6) and plan around your free tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge.

The win here is rhythm. By spacing your viewpoints and your slower stops, you avoid the “same ride, same view” feeling.

VMT Catamaran Whale and Dolphin Watching: What You Can Expect

Now the main event. This catamaran portion is about seeing Funchal and surroundings from the Atlantic, then scanning the water for cetaceans.

The ride route includes coastline views with clear water and dramatic rocky shapes, described as lace-like formations in the coastline experience. On top of that, you are specifically looking for dolphins and whales, with a bonus possibility of sea turtles and seabirds.

The key thing for you to know is honesty: wildlife spotting is never guaranteed. One booking shared a day with no dolphin sightings, even though the trip was still pleasant. So I suggest you treat it as a chance, not a certainty, and aim for the full experience: views, salt air, and the water time.

Also, be prepared for sea conditions. One recent review said the sailing time changed due to poor weather. That is normal at sea, and the best approach is to stay flexible and keep your schedule buffer.

How long is it?

One review described the catamaran as about 3 hours. Since catamaran timing can vary with sea conditions, think of it as a half-day block you should protect from other tight plans.

The Cabo Girão Swimming and Snorkeling Break

There is a highlight built in: a stop for swimming and snorkeling at Fajã do Cabo Girão.

This matters because it changes the cruise from purely viewing to actually doing something. Even if you are not a confident swimmer, the option to get into the water turns a “tour” into a memory you keep.

What I’d plan for:

• Bring what you need for water time, but remember food and drinks are not allowed on the vehicle. You’ll want to follow any onboard rules and keep essentials simple.
• If you go snorkeling, expect changing visibility based on weather and water movement. The island’s ocean conditions can shift.

The best part is the contrast. After hours of coastline scanning, you get a clear “break” moment where the sea becomes personal.

Included Extras You Should Actually Use: Old Blandys Wine and Bordal Entry

Two included stops are the type that often feel like side quests. Here, they are worth using because they are already paid for.

Free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge

This is included as a tasting experience. Even if you are not a wine super-fan, I like this stop because it gives you context for what you are seeing across the island. Madeira is not just coastal beauty and viewpoints, it is also a strong food-and-drink culture.

You also get a 10% discount on shopping tied to the tasting spot. That is useful if you plan to pick up a bottle for a gift or a future dinner table.

Bordal Embroideries Factory free entry

The Bordal stop is included, with a 10% discount on shopping. The practical benefit is that it gives you a simple cultural add-on that is close to your bus route. If you want something tactile and local, embroidery is a smart choice.

If your travel style leans toward photos and viewpoints only, this might feel like “too much indoor time.” But if you like crafts and want one cultural activity that does not take a whole day, it is a good match.

Audio Guide and Languages: Easy Sightseeing Without Guesswork

The bus includes an audio guide in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Russian.

That is not just a convenience. It helps you connect what you see to what it is, especially when you hop off at viewpoints and waterfront areas where it is easy to take photos without understanding the story.

If you prefer independent sightseeing, audio guidance is a big deal. It keeps you from having to constantly read signage or rely on guesswork.

What Could Frustrate You (and How to Avoid It)

Nothing perfect. Here are the main considerations I’d plan around.

Communication and timing clarity

One booking said communication could have been clearer about which start time referred to the catamaran versus the 48-hour bus validity. To avoid stress, I recommend you write down:

• the catamaran check-in time
• the catamaran meeting point location
• your first bus activation day

Weather can change your sea day

Another booking mentioned a time change due to poor weather. That means you should not schedule other port departures or tightly timed reservations on the same day as your catamaran window.

Wildlife sighting luck

Not every day brings dolphins close up. One booking described dolphins very near for great photo moments, while another had no luck. Go in with realistic expectations, and focus on the ride, the water scenery, and the chance of wildlife.

The bus portion might feel like “once is enough”

A review said the hop-on hop-off was interesting but only needed once. That is fair if you are short on time. If you have two days, you can spread it out so it feels fresh instead of repetitive.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This combo is a strong fit if:

• You want a two-day plan that combines city sights with ocean time
• You like flexible touring, hop on and hop off, and choosing your own stop lengths
• Wildlife cruises are a priority, but you still want cultural value on land
• You want included extras that reduce decision fatigue, wine tasting plus Bordal entry

It is less ideal if:

• You hate waiting around and prefer very tightly scripted tours
• You expect guaranteed dolphin or whale sightings
• You want one quick highlights loop only, not a spread-out plan

Should You Book This Funchal Combo?

I’d book it if you want one package that covers orientation on land and a memorable sea experience in the same trip. The included Madeira wine tasting and Bordal Embroideries Factory entry are nice value anchors, and the catamaran with a Cabo Girão swim and snorkeling break is the kind of day feature that you rarely get on a plain hop-on bus alone.

I would not book it as a “sure whale day.” Use realistic expectations for wildlife, keep your schedule flexible for weather, and protect your catamaran check-in time.

If you are in Madeira for two days and want the island to feel complete, this combo is a smart use of your time.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the hop-on hop-off bus?

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

Where do I meet for the catamaran?

The catamaran meeting point is VMT City Pier Kiosk, in front of Stop 2 of the Funchal and Câmara de Lobos bus route.

How early do I need to check in for each trip?

Check-in is obligatory 30 minutes before each trip.

What is included in the package?

The package includes a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus, one entrance in the VMT Catamaran Experience, a free Madeira wine tasting at Old Blandys Wine Lodge, and free visit entry to Bordal Embroideries Factory, plus discounts on select tickets and shopping at those stops.

How long is the bus valid?

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

What audio languages are available on the bus?

Audio guide languages include Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Russian.

Are food and drinks allowed on the vehicle?

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

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

How often does the bus run?

The bus runs every 30 minutes from 9AM to 12:30PM, and every 45 minutes from 1:15PM to 5PM.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.