Desertas Islands from Madeira: A Complete Guide to the Full-Day Catamaran Tour

Look south-east from Funchal on a clear day and you'll see them on the horizon: three long, jagged shapes rising out of the Atlantic. The Desertas Islands — uninhabited, protected, and home to one of Europe's last populations of Mediterranean monk seals.

You can't drive there. You can't fly there. You can't even land freely. The only way to experience them is by boat — and a full-day catamaran tour is by far the most comfortable way to do it.

This guide covers what the Desertas actually are, what you'll see, what to expect on the day, and what makes a private catamaran trip different from a packed group boat.

The Desertas in 30 seconds

• Location: ~25 km south-east of Madeira
• Three islands: Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande (the largest), and Bugio
• Status: Strict nature reserve, part of the Madeira Natural Park
• Inhabitants: None (a small wardens' station on Deserta Grande, no public access)
• Famous for: Mediterranean monk seals, dramatic cliffs, deep-water marine life

Why the Desertas are special

Madeira's main island has been inhabited for over 600 years. The Desertas have not. They are about as close to untouched Atlantic wilderness as you can find in Europe.

The islands are protected for a reason. They host one of the last viable populations of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) — once thought possibly extinct in this region, now slowly recovering thanks to decades of strict conservation. They are also a stronghold for endemic spiders, lizards, and seabirds that exist nowhere else.

The cliffs drop almost straight into deep water. Within a few kilometres of the islands, the seabed plunges to over 2,000 metres — which is exactly why this area is also one of the best places in Madeira to spot deep-diving cetaceans like sperm whales, beaked whales, and pilot whales.

Good to know: Public landings are not generally permitted. The point of the trip is to sail to the islands, anchor in protected waters, and experience them from the sea.

What you'll see on the route

The crossing from Funchal takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours each way, depending on conditions. That sounds long until you realise it's where most of the wildlife happens.

1) Open-water cetaceans

The deep water between Madeira and the Desertas is prime cetacean territory. Common encounters include:

• Bottlenose dolphins (year-round residents)
• Atlantic spotted dolphins (especially in summer)
• Short-finned pilot whales
• Sperm whales (less common but sighted regularly)

The crew is constantly scanning. The catamaran will slow and reposition respectfully if a group is encountered.

2) The approach to the islands

As you close the gap, the cliffs of Deserta Grande grow into something genuinely intimidating. Sheer, layered, volcanic. Seabirds nest in the rock face — Cory's shearwaters, Bulwer's petrels, and Madeira's own endemic petrel.

3) The protected anchorage

There is a designated calm-water bay on the leeward side of Deserta Grande where boats are permitted to anchor. The water here is deep blue, glass-clear, and teeming with fish. It's the swim and snorkel stop of the trip.

4) The monk seals (if you're lucky)

This is the species everyone hopes to see. Sightings happen, but they are not guaranteed and they are never staged. The seals haul out on remote beaches and hunt in deep water, and the wardens deliberately keep encounters low-impact. If you get one, treat it as a privilege, not an entitlement.

5) The return run

The afternoon return leg, with the wind behind you and Madeira's south coast filling the horizon, is many guests' favourite part of the day. A second chance for cetaceans, a different angle of light, and time to actually relax with a drink.

A typical day on a Sailing Sensation private trip

A full-day private Desertas tour generally runs around 8 hours door to door, leaving Funchal in the morning and returning late afternoon. Here's a realistic timeline:

Times shift with the season and the weather. The whole point of a private trip is that it's your day — if the wildlife is good, you stay longer; if you want a shorter swim, you head back early.

Group catamaran vs private catamaran: the honest comparison

There are several operators offering Desertas tours from Madeira. Most are shared group boats with 30+ passengers. A private catamaran is a different category of experience.

The private route makes the most sense when the day itself matters — anniversaries, milestone birthdays, multi-generation family trips, or simply travellers who don't want to share their once-in-a-trip moment with 30 strangers.

What to bring (and what's already on board)

On the catamaran:

• Snorkelling gear and stand-up paddleboards
• Drinks (water, soft drinks, beer, wine)
• Lunch options (vegetarian and dietary needs accommodated on request)
• Sun shade on the deck
• Towels

What you should bring:

• Sun protection — high-SPF, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
• Layers — a light jacket for the crossing, even in summer
• Soft-soled shoes or bare feet — no street shoes on deck
• Camera — long lens for wildlife if you have one
• Motion sickness tablets — take 30–60 minutes before departure if you're prone (the crossing is generally smooth, but it's the longest stretch of any of our tours)
• Cash or card — for tipping the crew if you choose to

When to go

The Desertas tour runs roughly from April to October, with the best conditions in May, June, September, and early October — long days, warm water, calm seas, and lower peak-summer crowds at the marina.

July and August are spectacular but busy. If you want quieter sailing and the same wildlife, shoulder season is better.

Wildlife note: Cetacean sightings are strong year-round, but the Desertas tour itself is most reliable in the warmer months when sea conditions allow comfortable crossings.

Is the Desertas full-day right for you?

It's the right tour if you want:

• A genuine full-day adventure, not a 2-hour coastal cruise
• The chance to see open-ocean wildlife
• Untouched Atlantic scenery you can't access any other way
• A swim stop in deep, clear water with cliffs above you

It's not the right tour if you:

• Have very young children who won't manage 8 hours afloat
• Are extremely seasickness-prone (consider Cabo Girão or Ponta de São Lourenço half-days instead)
• Want shore activities and shopping mid-day

Ready to plan your day in the Desertas?

The full-day Desertas trip is one of the most ambitious — and rewarding — things you can do on a Madeira holiday. It puts you in landscape and wildlife that very few visitors to the island ever experience.

See the Full-Day Desertas Island private trip, or contact us directly to discuss dates, group size, and any special requests. We'll build the day around what matters to you.