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On Tales
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On Tales

See all things to do
See all things to do
On Tales
5
#1 of 43 Outdoor Activities in Calheta
Boat ToursEco ToursPrivate ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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About
Madeira Island Boat Tours: Whale Watching | Private Charter | Coastal Cruises | Sunset tours | An affordable luxury experience you won't forget! | It isn't just about numbers! | Small groups only
Calheta, Portugal
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Tours and Tickets by On Tales
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions
5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,772 reviews
Excellent
1,707
Very good
50
Average
6
Poor
6
Terrible
4
CocknioDicanio
Italy6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dolphin and whale watching
Sep 2020 • Couples
Our trip had to be postponed twice due to changing weather conditions and the people at On Tales were apologetic but wanted to ensure that we had a comfortable cruise. Rearranging was efficient with great communication.
When we did eventually get out we were very unlucky that the animals had decided to swim a long way out in the direction of an oncoming huge rain cloud. When we got near the swell was uncomfortably high and we headed back nearer the shore to try for different pods. Alas it was not meant to be.
Throughout the cruise, Captain Emanuel and his assistant Tiago were informing us about the resort, the neighbouring villages, geology, biology and ALWAYS asking how we were all feeling. He could not have been more apologetic.
We stopped in a couple of coves to allow us to swim while he communicated with his “spotter”, trying very hard to find a pod for us to see.
I am almost a non swimmer and decided to stay on the boat, explaining that I got panicky if I was out of my depth. The Captain told me the the water was very heavy with salt. He pointed out how high out of the water the heads of the braver souls were due to the salt content. He described how the previous day a woman similar to me had been coaxed into the water and was photographed practically sitting up in the water. He coaxed me into getting in and swimming maybe a couple of metres from the boat just to see how it felt. By this time my wife(my safety belt) was 15 metres from the boat but with the Captain’s reassuring words I tried anyway. And of he was right. I spent fifteen minutes treading water, swimming and floating (and occasionally being lifted along on small waves) both times that we stopped.
The trip even included some free beers.
Back on shore we received a gift for my wife’s birthday from Mayung, the charming and very efficient Commercial Director.
On Tales have great people, they are Covid prepared, focused on safety and provide very good value.
It’s a shame the animals didn’t cooperate but it was still a great way to spend a few hours.
Written September 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mayung On Tales
Dear M & K, Great guests make great memories ! Thank you for so much kindness, we value your opinion to the highest point. Organising this special day for you was a pleasure and witnessing your swimming experience was a privilege. Indeed we do our best to accomodate each one of our guests' expectations, in a safe and comfortable way. Creating pleasant memories is our priority !
Written September 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Daniel H
Zurich, Switzerland17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Excellent dolphin watching tour, wonderful guides
Sep 2020 • Family
Our family (3 adults plus our 2 young daughters) booked the private dolphin watching tour with OnTales, what a great experience it was from start to finish.
During the reservation process, Meyung (responsible for operations at OnTales) actively advised us on choosing the best date and time for the tour, considering the weather conditions. The tour itself was exceptionally well managed and guided by Emanuel, the captain, and Tiago, the marine biologist. They took great care of us and were very considerate and kind with our daughters. Seeing dolphins close up as the were accompanying our boat was a deeply emotional experience, these animals are so beautiful. And so was the journey back along the wonderful coast of Madeira, including a swim in clearest waters of the island.
We couldn’t have made a better choice the making this truly exceptional journey with OnTales, they are very kind and highly professional people, we can recommend them wholeheartedly.
Thank you once again to all at OnTales for this lovely experience!
Cecilia, Valeria, Tessa, Rebecca, Daniel
Written September 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mayung On Tales
Thank you Daniel, Great guests are the main ingredient to our success, together with our common interest in marine life. You are right; emotion is part of the experience, relaxing is the key to emotion and cruising on a comfortable yacht is the best way to relax ! Tessa and Rebecca were so charming, taking care of them was a pleasure, your opinion really matters to our team. Once again, thank you for choosing to treat your family with this cruise with On Tales !
Written September 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
gill023
Manchester, UK65 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Private Charter Sunset trip - First Class experience
Jul 2022 • Couples
Emanuel and Corentin were excellent on this private charter for a sunset cruise. We were looked after from start to finish, we felt safe and relaxed as soon as we met the team. We were not guaranteed to see any wildlife as it was a sunset trip but we managed to see a Sei Whale and spent some time observing her in her natural habitat, we saw Corys Shearwater and flying fish. Then towards the end of the trip a loggerhead sea turtle popped it’s head up for a bit. It was a magical experience and made our wedding anniversary very special. We swam in the sea, were given towels to dry off and blankets when the sun set. It was such a peaceful experience and we truly are grateful we had this experience whilst in Madeira. Emanuel was able to share his expert knowledge about the wildlife and the landscape, as well as answering all our questions about Madeira, It really was an excellent trip. We were made to feel very safe on the boat, and all our needs were catered for - we couldn’t fault how professional and nice they were.
The booking process was also excellent and the lady in the office was very welcoming. I would highly recommend a private charter trip for a truly special experience - this was one of the best experiences we have ever had.
Written July 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AHlondon
Essex, UK83 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Awesome boat trip with a wonderful team
Jan 2022 • Friends
From the minute we approached their office on the marina we knew that we would have an amazing experience.
Emanuel and Mayung were so friendly and helpful, they didn’t give us a hard sell or pressure us, they were practical about which day might be the best for us weather wise and gave us confidence that they would provide a lovely experience regardless of whether we found dolphins or not.
We picked a sunset cruise and despite the hazy January afternoon, we had a magical time on the boat. From the welcome in the office to the care taken to understand our wants and expectations, everything was faultless.
Emanuel was so knowledgeable and we could quite honestly have listened to him for days. His English was impeccable.
The boat is spotless and comfortable. We were made to feel very safe.
We saw lots and lots of dolphins, they played and fed right by the boat. We enjoyed drinks as we were treated to lots of information about the coastline, the people of Madeira and the wildlife. It was fascinating.
At the end of the trip we were greeted again by the whole team.
This is a group of people who care passionately about what they do and you can’t help but be taken up with their enthusiasm.
Excellent value for money.
Thank you On Tales - you made our trip
Written February 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
baruska110
Sumperk, Czech Republic1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Amazing experience
Jun 2021 • Couples
We enjoyed absolutely amazing time on the sea with On Tales. Captain Emanuel was very profesional and very kind, all the time he was asking if everyone is okay. He talked to us a lot of interesting things about animals, sea, Madeira. I cannot imagine better crew then Emanuel and Chico. We were lucky and saw dolphins! Things went very naturaly and with respect to the nature and wild life, which we really appreciate. After the cruise we received the e-mail with beautiful photos from the trip. If you want to go to sea, stop looking for something else and just book a trip with On Tales. It was really amazing experience, thank you very much once again and thank you for fast communication with our “last minute” booking.
Written July 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mayung On Tales
Dear guest, It was a pleasure to have you on board, your recommendation means a lot to our entire team. We intend to provide our guests with a different approach to visiting Madeira island.
Written July 17, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David K
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Stunning Sunset Cruise
Apr 2022 • Couples
My wife and I had a delightfully wonderful sunset cruise with the crew at On Tales. It was definitely the highlight of our trip and an experience we would recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable cruise to explore the gorgeous coastline, learn about Madeira, and watch the sunset. The captain and crew were fantastic and the trip could not have been better!
Written April 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mayung
Thank you so much David for choosing and trusting the On Tales team. Last minute decisions are sometimes the best ones, we could not have made this much magic happen without you! We make a point of gathering all the required elements in order to provide our guests with a safe and comfortable experience from the first minute to the last minute! It is an affordable luxury experience you won't forget afterall! I hope that you will enjoy watching the pictures we made while on-board as much as we enjoyed taking them. It was apleasure to meet you both!
Written April 21, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
pazrocks
London, UK14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Wow wee. 30 dolphins and a sunset swim. Yes from us
Dec 2023 • Family
Someone say dolphins and Sunsets. Then wow wee. What a magically experience. On Tales in Calhetta nailed it. Made us feel like rockstars.... and took us to the most magical few hours.. saw about 30 bottlenose dolphins... drank lots of the booze provided and swam like legends in the sunset. Thank you On Tales for a most memorable trip
Written December 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vivi
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Was a really fun experience :)
Apr 2023 • Couples
Was really fun, staff was very friendly and well organized. They’re invested in the work they do, even picked up some plastic on our tour to keep the ocean clean. The price is more than justified, we where satisfied, we couldn’t see dolphins but that’s for nature to decide ,a man o war and some crabs on the plastic they picked up showed up tho ;) For a swim in the Atlantic we made a stop at the waterfall beach, was a very nice experience. I would recommend it to everyone who’s interested in the wildlife in the ocean or a stunning view of the island itself :)
Written April 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Morkus Jankauskas
Vilnius, Lithuania4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Incredible tour
Apr 2021 • Family
We had an amazing time with boat crew who showed most gorgeous beaches of Madeira. Boat crew were extremely helpful and positive all the time. We also were lucky to see giant turtles right in front of us. Snorkeling in open water made this experience even more astonishing. I would highly recommend to take this tour for all age of people, even with young children because wild life, incredible views and smooth voyage made everyone feel amazing afterwards.
P.S. thank you for the gifts and drinks!
Written April 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mayung On Tales
Thank you Morkus for so much kindness, your brother and you looked great on Miranda's frontdeck !! You were so brave to jump from the boat and really made the most of the experience. It was an amazing day out on the ocean ideed, we would love to have you on-board again anytime !
Written April 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Journey54079140481
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A real highlight of our visit to Madeira!
Jan 2022 • Couples
In Madeira to celebrate our wedding anniversary, we treated ourselves to a private charter with On Tales. It was a wonderful experience from the start: they are such a lovely welcoming team who all worked together to make it a really memorable experience for us. We were lucky enough to get close to a couple of groups of pilot whales: our skipper was clearly very knowledgeable and experienced, manoeuvring Miranda to give us the best experience without alarming the whales. On the way back we enjoyed a glass of fizz and had the chance to go snorkelling off the boat. Thank you so much for such a great trip!
Written January 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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On Tales - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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