Whale Watching

The observation of whales and dolphins has become known worldwide in English as whale watching. Dolphins are of course also covered by the phrase, as they belong to the toothed whales. Marine mammals are a source of great fascination all over the world. Since 2003 we are offering whale watching tours off the south west coast of Madeira island. And as a responsible company this activity is much more than “just” a business.

Rather, it is on one hand such a precious gift that we ever have the opportunity to be able to spend time with these wonderful animals. On the other hand, it is a big pleasure to share these moments with other people and to create awareness for these animals. Therefore the following points are very important:

Sightings

Since 2003 we have provided our whale watching tours and since 2007 we have recorded our sightings support in scientific work regionally, nationally and internationally. However, aggregated monthly statistics do not guarantee sightings! Experience and sightings show that nature is constantly changing and has its own “cycles “. There is no doubt that human activity and development is impacting heavily on the marine environment. This list below are guidelines based solely on our own data.

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Success of our Trips

86.9%
RIBEIRA BRAVA

94.8%
STENELLA

statistic graphics by mdmaik – maik lippke

Meet our Crew

Lobosonda started in the summer of 2003 as a family business with only 3 team members.
Now, 12 years later, we already have a team of 12 people working with us. May we introduce ourself?

Rafael Gomes
Maintenance & Co-founder

Claudia Gomes
Co-founder & Whale watching Guide

Luís Pereira Roque
Captain
Old School Sailor & Fisherman

Fatima Kutschbach
Whale watching Guide

Marion Loch
Booking & Reservations

Joana Gomes
Manager

Daniel Jardim
Stenella Captain Skipper & Guide

Carlos Drumond
Spotter “vigia”

Astrid Haas
Marine Biologist

Filipe Bettencourt
Skipper

Luisa Canha
Front Desk

Marlene Cabral
Front Desk

… & our Boats

A fast and modern zodiac has recently joined our traditional, laid-back fishing boat.
The two are different, but both have their advantages, and guests may choose the one they like best
or decide to have a go on both one after the other.

Ribeira Brava

Our cozy, traditional fishing boat
“Ribeira Brava” restored and maintained with
lots of love carries 16 passengers
and 4 crew members.
Its well designed and stable for Atlantic waves
so perfect for observing whales and dolphins.

Stenella

Our Zodiac “Stenella”
glides over the sea and
can accommodate up to 12 guests
and 2 crew members. It provides us with
the capacity to reach marine mammals spotted
further away quickly.

Madeira Island

Situated around 900 km (560 miles) to the South-West from the European mainland, Madeira rises from the Atlantic as part of a mountain range. Also known as “the flower island”, she lies between the Azores and the Canaries, and has an area of approx. 30 x 60 km (18.6 x 37.3 miles). The uninhabited Desertas Islands, are a protected area for monk seals among others, and Porto Santo is another inhabited island in the Madeira region. The latter, Madeira’s smaller neighbor has a sandy beach stretching 9 kilometers (5.6 miles).

Madeira came into being millions of years ago as a result of a geological hotspot, and was officially discovered in the year 1419 AD. The tallest mountain of Madeira is the Pico Ruivo at 1,861 m (1156.371 miles). Fans of mountaineering are welcome in Madeira, but many also go hiking along the water canals, known locally as levadas. So what is keeping you at home?

Fauna & Flora

Madeira is famous
as the floating garden in the Atlantic,
but its importance
in relation to the underwater world
has begun since the
of the 21st century.

Which plants and animals can be found
in the waters of Madeira and
why is biodiversity, especially underwater,
so great in Madeira?
Find out more on the link below.

Macaronesia

Besides the Azores,
the Canary Islands and Cape Verde,
the archipelago of Madeira
also belongs to the
Macaronesian “Fortune Isles“.
All of these islands share
a volcanic origin.

How was the origin of Madeira
as one of the Fortunate Isles?
Find out the answer below.

Some local Trips

Calheta is a village in the
South-West of Madeira.
Besides the central village of Calheta itself,
the municipality also contains
Arco da Calheta, Estreito da Calheta,
Jardim do Mar, Paúl do Mar, Prazeres,
Fajã da Ovelha and Ponta do Pargo.
There is a wide variety of attraction in the
municipality whether your are interested in
nature, sport or culture.
What Calheta region has to offer!
Get to know all of our tips in the link below.

Our Daily Trips

Like old school sailors we keep our daily trip journals & reports,
feeding our blog on a daily basis with the best selection of photos and stories to tell,
registering everything.

Contacts & Booking

Our trips go out 2 or 3 times daily throughout the year. Due to our policy, which is working only with small groups, our tours are well booked,
so please make sure that you book in advance. We would love to welcome you on board and have the pleasure to share this experience
with you and your family, during anytime of the year…