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<p>Madeira Island has a history of whaling activity in the 20th century until 1981, when whaling finally ended. Since then there has been a great interest in these animals.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Madeira's privileged position in the Atlantic Ocean makes it a transit point for many species of whales and as such it is the perfect place for whale watching and other cetaceans. In recent decades we have seen great growth in the activity of <span style="color: #000080;" data-darkreader-inline-color=""><a style="color: #000080;" href="https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/ocean/dolphin-whale-watching" data-darkreader-inline-color="">whale watching</a></span> in Madeira.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Come and explore the different types of whales you can find on Madeira Island:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Right Whale or Basque Whale (<em>Eubalaena glacialis</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Shallow coastal water animal</li>
<li>Lives in small groups of 2 to 20 individuals</li>
<li>Only 2 confirmed sightings in Madeira</li>
</ul>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Blue Whale (<em>Balaenoptera musculus</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Blue Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/blue whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Blue Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"> </h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Large animal, reaching 30 meters</li>
<li>Lone animal</li>
<li>Infrequent sightings from April to September</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Fin Whale (<em>Balaenoptera physalus</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Fin Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/fin whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Fin Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Can reach up to 27 meters in length</li>
<li>High speed, deep water animal (can reach 9 knots)</li>
<li>Found alone or in groups of up to 5 individuals</li>
<li>It is seen mainly from March to October.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Sei Whale (<em>Balaenoptera borealis</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Sei Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/sei whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Sei Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Animal with a very long body (14 meters)</li>
<li>Usually seen along the island but in waters further away from the coast.</li>
<li>Lives in groups of 2 to 5 individuals</li>
<li>It is occasional in Madeira Island from March to October</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Bryde or Tropical Whale (<em>Balaenoptera edeni</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>13 meters</li>
<li>Found alone or in pairs</li>
<li>It is not uncommon to interact with boats</li>
<li>Warm water animal</li>
<li>Mainly seen from April to December</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Minke Whale or Dwarf Whale (<em>Balaenoptera acutorostrata</em>)</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"> </h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Minke Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/minke whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Minke Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Found in ocean and coastal waters.</li>
<li>In groups of up to 3</li>
<li>Curious animal</li>
<li>Rare sightings between June and August</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Bossas or Humpback Whale (<em>Megaptera novaeangliae</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Humpback Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/humpback whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Humpback Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Large animal, reaching 18 meters</li>
<li>Gray or black body with large fins</li>
<li>They are curious and not afraid of boats</li>
<li>They are present in coastal and deep waters during their migrations.</li>
<li>Sighted between April and May and October and November</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Pygmy Sperm Whale (<em>Kogia breviceps</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pygmy Sperm Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/pygmy sperm whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Pygmy Sperm Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>3-meter animal</li>
<li>Sighted in July, August, and December</li>
<li>Groups of 3 to 6 individuals</li>
<li>Slow swimmer and difficult to observe, preferring very calm waters</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Sperm Whale (<em>Physeter macrocephalus</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Sperm Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/sperm whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Sperm Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Animal with a length of 18 meters</li>
<li>Present in Madeira all year round, but with special incidence from March to September</li>
<li>Sometimes when diving we can see the characteristic tail fin</li>
<li>Sighted alone or in large groups</li>
<li>Very common in Madeira</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Gervais Beaked Whale (<em>Mesoplodon europaeus</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Gervais Beaked Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/gervais beaked whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Gervais Beaked Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Found in subtropical waters</li>
<li>very shy animal</li>
<li>Rare sightings between April and June</li>
<li>Tends to avoid boats</li>
<li>Lives in groups of 2 to 5 individuals</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Sowerby's Beaked Whale (<em>Mesoplodon bidens</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Sowerby's Beaked Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/sowerby's beaked whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Sowerby's Beaked Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Rare sightings from July to August</li>
<li>Shy behavior</li>
<li>Found alone or in groups of 10</li>
<li>It feeds on squid and fish</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Blainville's Beaked Whale or Big Beak Whale (<em>Mesoplodon densirostris</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Blainville's Beaked Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/blainville's beaked whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Blainville's Beaked Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Shy animal</li>
<li>Sometimes like a dolphin</li>
<li>Rare sightings from July to August</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Cuvier's Beakead Whale (<em>Ziphius cavirostris</em>)</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Cuvier's Beaked Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" src="../../../../storage/uploads/tinymce/cuvier's beaked whale - types of whales in madeira island.jpg" alt="Cuvier's Beaked Whale - Types of Whales in Madeira Island" width="856" height="460" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; text-align: justify;">
<li>Common animal in wood</li>
<li>It has a goose-like beak</li>
<li>Tends to avoid boats unless they are stationary or moving very slowly</li>
<li>Sightings especially from May to July</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Come explore Madeira's seas on <span style="color: #000080;" data-darkreader-inline-color=""><a style="color: #000080;" href="https://madeira.best/product/dolphin-and-whale-watching-tour-guaranteed-sighting" data-darkreader-inline-color="">a catamaran</a></span> or a <span style="color: #000080;" data-darkreader-inline-color=""><a style="color: #000080;" href="https://madeira.best/product/dolphin-whale-watching" data-darkreader-inline-color="">speadboat</a></span> and marvel at our marine life.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We have quite a wide selection of boats and prices for all. Check them out <span style="color: #000080;" data-darkreader-inline-color=""><a style="color: #000080;" title="Types of Whales in Madeira" href="https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/ocean/dolphin-whale-watching" data-darkreader-inline-color="">here</a></span>! <a class="jellybean" href="https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/ocean/dolphin-whale-watching">Find All the Options</a></p>
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