Portugal · SAILING

Sailing Trips in Portugal: The Best 15

100 tours  ·  from $11

A catamaran buys shade, a swim ladder and a flat deck; a monohull buys quiet. The 15 below compare the Algarve, the Tagus and the Funchal fleet on price, group size and whether lunch and drinks are genuinely included.

From Funchal: Ecological Catamaran Dolphin Whale Watching - Funchal Marina check-in and the first half-hour at sea
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From Funchal: Ecological Catamaran Dolphin Whale Watching

1.Ecological Catamaran Dolphin Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,771 reviews · from $40Our pick

Set out from Funchal Marina aboard the 2022 Magic Dolphin Eco, Madeira’s only hybrid-electric whale-watching catamaran. Land-based spotters help locate dolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales, turtles, and seabirds. You’ll have two decks, large viewing nets, onboard toilets, a bar, a coastal cruise, and a swimming stop near Cabo Girão.

“It was an unforgettable experience. The guides were very informative and welcoming. They explained right from the start that dolphins and whales are wild animals and hence can sometimes not be seen. We got incredibly lucky and got to see 4 different species that day: pilot whales, bottomnose dolphins, common dolphins and striped dolphins. I loved how they respected the animal’s space, and kept the limited time in each observation area. It’s a beautiful way to see these animals in their natural habitat. I loved that the guide explained after why it’s so good that we chose this way to observe the animals instead of going to a aquarium or…”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise - Watching dolphins and whales in Madeira’s waters
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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

2.Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,697 reviews · 3 hours · from $41

Spend three hours aboard Catamaran Seaborn, searching Madeira’s waters for dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish. Your English or Portuguese speaking crew explains the marine life and stops beneath Cabo Girão for a summer swim. The boat has shaded seats, sun decks, netting, and a bar selling drinks and snacks.

“The boat is amazing and the crew were top! We saw dolphins and swam and the ocean. Thank you for the great experience. 🙏😊”

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Albufeira: Coastline and Benagil Caves Tour by Catamaran - Cruising past São Rafael and Praia da Coelha
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Albufeira: Coastline and Benagil Caves Tour by Catamaran

3.Coastline and Benagil Caves Tour by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,077 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $35

From Albufeira Marina, you cruise west along the Algarve coast to Benagil Cathedral Cave aboard a clean, spacious catamaran. Guides such as Filipe, Tomas, and João explain the beaches and rock formations in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Expect music, a bar, toilets, and a roughly 10-minute swim stop, subject to sea conditions.

“Thoroughly enjoyed our trip, it was the right length of time and everything was very smooth. The guide was funny but still very knowledgeable”

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Lisbon: Daytime/Sunset/Night City Sailboat Tour with Drink - The ride from Belém to the bridge
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Lisbon: Daytime/Sunset/Night City Sailboat Tour with Drink

4.Daytime/Sunset/Night City Sailboat Tour with Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,114 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Join a small group of up to 10 for a two-hour PalmaYachts sail from Belém. Choose daytime, sunset, or night, hear local stories from guides such as Benny, Miguel, Telma, or Luis, and enjoy wine, beer, or a soft drink while viewing Lisbon from the Tagus.

“Our ride was a wonderful start to our stay in belem! The crew was lovely and we learned so much about the history of lisbon with them.”

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Lisbon: Sunset Catamaran Boat Tour with Music and Drinks - Meeting at Doca de Santo Amaro
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Lisbon: Sunset Catamaran Boat Tour with Music and Drinks

5.Sunset Catamaran Boat Tour with Music and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,834 reviews · 1h 30m · from $26

Set sail from Doca de Santo Amaro for a 90-minute sunset catamaran ride past Cristo Rei, the 25th of April Bridge, Belém Tower, and more. Choose the open nets or covered deck, enjoy one welcome drink, listen to music, and buy extra drinks at the onboard bar. This is a scenic, unguided cruise rather than a history tour.

“Great evening! Brilliant music and drinks were a really good price, would recommend this!”

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Funchal Bay: Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise - Searching for dolphins and whales in open water
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Funchal Bay: Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise

6.Funchal Bay: Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,684 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Sail from Funchal’s New Marina aboard the Atlantic Pearl, a comfortable catamaran limited to about 20 people. Your Portuguese or English-speaking crew searches for dolphins and whales, then stops beneath Cabo Girão for swimming and snorkeling. Expect open-sea views, covered seating, hammocks, onboard bathrooms, and drinks for purchase.

“Great go do it we saw whales jumping and went for a swim”

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2 Hour Lisbon Sunset and Wine Sailing Tour - The first views along the Tagus
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2 Hour Lisbon Sunset and Wine Sailing Tour

7.2 Hour Lisbon Sunset and Wine Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,680 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $66Top rated

Join a small group of up to 12 people for a two-hour sunset sail from Lisbon’s Alcântara marina. Your skipper points out Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, the 25 de Abril Bridge, and other sights while Portuguese wine is served. Guides such as Joe, Henry, JP, Marta, and Bruno have been praised for friendly, engaging commentary.

“It was a great experience. They upgraded us to a luxury boat free of cost. Excellent customer service. Loved the cruise.”

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Lisbon: Sailing Tour on the Tagus River - Starting at Doca do Bom Sucesso in Belém
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Lisbon: Sailing Tour on the Tagus River

8.Sailing Tour on the Tagus River

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,632 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $23Best value

Set out from Belém’s Doca do Bom Sucesso for a relaxed Tagus River sail past the Discoveries Monument, 25 de Abril Bridge, Christ the King, and Belém Tower. You can help sail with no experience or stretch out on deck. Sunset departures add cooler air, warm light, and a drink with snacks.

“I really enjoyed the sailboat tour—the guides were very friendly, and it was a great value for the money.”

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Porto: Charming Sailboat Cruise with Port Wine,Sunset Option - Starting at Douro Marina in Afurada
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Porto: Charming Sailboat Cruise with Port Wine,Sunset Option

9.Charming Sailboat Cruise with Port Wine,Sunset Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,978 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

From Douro Marina, your small group follows the Douro past Gaia, Ribeira, Porto’s bridges, and Foz do Douro. The crew, including guides such as Miguel, Henrique, Eric, and Francesco on different departures, shares local stories, serves a welcome drink and port wine, and provides blankets when the river air turns cool. Sunset trips are especially scenic.

“Amazing sail. Loved the small group personal vibe of the boat.”

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Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching on a Ecological Catamaran - How the shore spotters improve your chances
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Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching on a Ecological Catamaran

10.Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching on a Ecological Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,957 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $42

From Funchal, you’ll spend 2.5 to 3 hours aboard Magic Dolphin’s 2022 hybrid-electric catamaran, guided by shore-based spotters and a certified crew. Look for pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales, and other species, then cruise past Cabo Girão, Câmara de Lobos, and Reid’s Hotel. Salvador is one of the praised crew members.

“Comfortable catamaran, knowledgeable crew, saw pilot whales and dolphins, Cabot Girao and Camara da Lobos from the sea. 3 hours well-spent.”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching by Luxury Catamaran - Choosing your place on the catamaran
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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching by Luxury Catamaran

11.Dolphin and Whale Watching by Luxury Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,709 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Join Magic Dolphin Atividades Maritimas at Funchal’s Pier 8 for a three-hour catamaran trip with Portuguese- and English-speaking guides. Watch for dolphins, whales, turtles, birds, and other marine life, then cruise to Cabo Girão. Most tours include a swim stop, indoor seating, shaded areas, sun beds, a welcome drink, and room to relax.

“Very pleasant trip. Didn't see dolphins due to sea conditions, but we were offered another trip for €10. Guides explained everything clearly. Both them and the crew were excellent. This did include a swim stop”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Sunset Sailing Tour - Swimming Beneath Madeira’s Highest Sea Cliff
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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Sunset Sailing Tour

12.Dolphin and Whale Watching Sunset Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,642 reviews · from $63

Sail from Funchal with up to 20 people, looking for dolphins, whales, and sea turtles before stopping near Cabo Girão for swimming and snorkeling. Guides including Bruno, Roberto, José, and Marco are praised for warm service and wildlife care. Drinks are included, and the three-hour cruise ends with sunset views.

“Amazing crew, really friendly and welcoming. Happy to engage in conversation. Really look after their clients providing an experience to remember. We were lucky enough to see a pod of whales. The crew were very knowledgeable about the wild life. Watched the sun set by sailing boat which was lovely. Some people even had a swim and the crew allow you to have a shower after. This is a peaceful yet fun and informative tour. Definitely recommended.”

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Lagos: Dolphins & Caves - Catamaran - Leaving from Marina de Lagos
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Lagos: Dolphins & Caves – Catamaran

13.Dolphins & Caves – Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,512 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $58

Cruise from Lagos with marine biologists such as Nadja, Diogo, or Larissa searching for wild dolphins and other cetaceans. Afterward, stop near the Algarve cliffs for swimming, jumping, and a catamaran water slide. The 2.5-hour trip includes shaded seating, a marine life talk, and fruit with a cookie.

“Great trip with Discover Tours. Saw lots of dolphins and had great fun on the water slide at our swimming spot. Diago was a fun guide. Very knowledgeable and even went down the slide with us!! Would highly recommend.”

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From Lagos: Algarve Cruise by Catamaran - Ponta da Piedade from the water
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From Lagos: Algarve Cruise by Catamaran

14.Algarve Cruise by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,408 reviews · from $38

Sail from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade and Praia da Luz on a steady catamaran with English and Portuguese guides. You get cliff views, a swim stop, paddle boards, an inflatable water track, sun nets, and a reasonably priced onboard bar. The boat carries up to 80 people, so expect a lively shared outing rather than a private cruise.

“The boat trip was the highlight of our holiday. There were spectacular views along the coast during the trip. The best part was when the boat stopped and we were able to swim off the boat, use the SUP's and take a trip into the rocks in a dingy. The staff were very polite, friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble and they made the trip very enjoyable. We saw a number of other smaller boat trips and very very happy with our chose as non of the other gave the same great experiences.”

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From Lagos: Ponta da Piedade Caves Kayak Tour from Catamaran - Starting at Lagos Marina
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From Lagos: Ponta da Piedade Caves Kayak Tour from Catamaran

15.Ponta da Piedade Caves Kayak Tour from Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,394 reviews · from $41

Board at Lagos Marina, sail to Ponta da Piedade, then slide into a kayak for a guided 75-minute trip through arches, caves, and narrow passages. Guides such as Thomas and Ricardo keep the outing lively and safe. Afterward, return to the catamaran for a short swim or a slide into the sea.

“It was awesome! And, doubley so for a senior citizen of the world!”

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Where to next in Portugal

Pick a coast, a river or a cellar.