Funchal marina

A trip on the Santa Maria, the replica of Columbus' ship

4.6/5

About 2,300 reviews on GetYourGuide

Three hours along Madeira's south coast on a wooden replica of Columbus' flagship, built on the island, with Madeira wine, honey cake and a summer swim under Cabo Girão, for 45 euros, children 4 to 12 half price direct. Expect the engine as much as the sails.

Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, with a full refund
Reserve now, pay laterHold your place today and pay nothing yet
Duration: 3 hoursStart times show in the calendar
Live guideEnglish

The Santa Maria de Colombo is moored in Funchal marina, at Cais 8, a few steps from Praça do Povo. Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure, at the operator's kiosk in front of the boat, and she sails twice a day, at 10:30 and at 15:00, for three hours. The route runs west along the south coast, past Câmara de Lobos, to Cabo Girão, the 580-metre headland that Visit Madeira, the regional tourist board, calls the highest promontory in Europe. In summer, sea permitting, the ship stops under the cliff for a swim; the operator's listing elsewhere says that if conditions rule out Cabo Girão, the trip heads east towards Santa Cruz instead.

On the way, the crew, in period costume, hand round a glass of Madeira wine and a slice of bolo de mel, the island's honey cake, both included. The listing promises a lookout for dolphins and whales but no sightings, and this is a coastal cruise rather than a whale trip. The ship has a bar and a toilet on board, and the operator does not take wheelchairs.

The ship is the point. The operator says a Dutchman living on Madeira, Robert Wijntje, built her with seven local craftsmen at Câmara de Lobos between July 1997 and July 1998, and that she represented Madeira wine at Expo 98 in Lisbon, where 97,016 people came aboard in 25 days. She is 22.3 metres long and 7 metres in the beam, in mahogany, with 192 square metres of sail and a 455-horsepower engine; the local paper Times of Madeira puts her at about 100 passengers and calls her a motor-sailer. The link to Madeira is real: Visit Madeira says Columbus lived on Porto Santo, Madeira's smaller neighbour, after marrying Filipa Moniz, daughter of Bartolomeu Perestrelo, and the house there said to be his is now the Casa Colombo museum.

Why this one

This is the GetYourGuide listing to book for the ship. It was rated 4.6 from about 2,300 reviews on 26 October 2026, from 45 euros, the same adult price the operator charges on its own site. A second GetYourGuide listing, Madeira Pirate Ship: 3-Hour Boat Trip, sells the same ship at 55 euros and was rated 4.4 from about 570 reviews: skip it. Booking direct at santamariadecolombo.com costs the same for adults, 22.50 euros for children aged 4 to 12, and closes two hours before departure; GetYourGuide adds free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead and lets you pay later.

Book it for the history, the wooden decks and children who want a ship that looks like a ship. If dolphins and whales are the reason you are going to sea, book our whale page instead, the catamaran from the same marina, rated 4.6 from about 7,900 reviews and from 35 euros, which goes out to look for them. For the same coast and the same swim under Cabo Girão at the end of the day, on a sailing boat rated 4.8 from about 2,600 reviews, from 50 euros, see our sunset sail.

Good for

Families: the ship is the show, and children aged 4 to 12 pay half on the operator's site
A first look at the south coast and Cabo Girão from the sea
Anyone staying in central Funchal, a short walk from the marina

Not for

Wildlife first: the whale catamaran goes looking, this ship does not
Wheelchair users: the operator says the ship is not suitable
Sailors who want to sail: the engine does much of the work

When to go

What the sea and the sky off Funchal are like month by month during the trips. Waves and calm days are modelled for the open sea between Funchal and Cabo Girão; the air temperature is for the marina at 13:00.

Month	Waves	Calm sea	Water	Air
Jan	1.6 m	43%	20°C	19°C / 16°C
Feb	1.6 m	39%	19°C	19°C / 16°C
Mar	1.9 m	31%	19°C	19°C / 17°C
Apr	1.4 m	57%	20°C	20°C / 18°C
May	1 m	86%	21°C	22°C / 19°C
Jun	0.8 m	93%	22°C	23°C / 21°C
Jul	0.8 m	100%	24°C	26°C / 23°C
Aug	0.9 m	95%	25°C	27°C / 25°C
Sept	1 m	92%	24°C	25°C / 23°C
Oct	1.3 m	72%	24°C	24°C / 22°C
Nov	1.5 m	49%	23°C	22°C / 19°C
Dec	1.6 m	40%	21°C	19°C / 17°C

Waves are the median of each day's highest wave between 10:00 and 18:00 at sea off Funchal; calm sea, the share of days when they stay under 1.5 metres. Sea is the median sea temperature at midday. Air is the median at 13:00, with the coldest day in ten after it. Modelled from Open-Meteo historical weather (2021 to 2025) and marine data (2022 to 2025).

The swim is a summer thing

The listing offers the swim under Cabo Girão in summer only, sea permitting. In the data we looked at, the sea off Funchal is at its warmest from July to September, 23.8°C to 24.7°C at midday, and the waves stay under 1.5 metres on more than nine days in ten. From November to March they reach 1.5 metres on about half the days or more.

From our Madeira hotels

Drive times are routed to Funchal marina, where the ship moors at Cais 8 and checks in at a kiosk in front of the boat. There is no pickup. On foot, the marina is 4 minutes from Barceló Funchal Oldtown and 9 from Hotel Madeira, and 21 to 33 minutes from Savoy Palace, Reid's, The Cliff Bay and VidaMar along the seafront.

Barceló Funchal OldtownFunchal4 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
Hotel MadeiraFunchal4 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
Savoy PalaceFunchal5 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
Reid's Palace, A Belmond HotelFunchal6 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
The Cliff BayFunchal7 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
VidaMar Resort Hotel MadeiraLido7 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
Casa Velha do PalheiroSão Gonçalo12 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
Sentido GalomarCaniço de Baixo15 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
Estalagem da Ponta do SolPonta do Sol29 min by carWalk, taxi or drive
Hotel Quinta do FurãoSantana46 min by carWalk, taxi or drive

The facts

Duration: 3 hours: 10:30 to 13:30 or 15:00 to 18:00, daily
Meeting point: The operator's kiosk in front of the ship, Cais 8, Funchal marina, by Praça do Povo; boarding starts 30 minutes before departure
Included: The cruise, a glass of Madeira wine and a slice of honey cake
Not included: Hotel transfers
Swim stop: In summer only, under Cabo Girão, when the sea allows
Direct price: 45 euros for adults (13 and over), 22.50 euros for children aged 4 to 12, on the operator's site on 26 October 2026
Not suitable for: Wheelchair users
Cancellation: Free up to 24 hours before on GetYourGuide; the operator may cancel in bad weather
Price: From 45 euros on GetYourGuide on 26 October 2026; the calendar shows today's price
Run by: Santa Maria de Colombo, Funchal

What guests keep saying

Recurring themes in the tour’s reviews, in our words, never quoted.

Praised

The ship itself: wooden decks, rigging and a lower deck that looks the part
A friendly crew in costume, and the wine and honey cake
An easy, relaxed three hours on the water, with Funchal and the cliffs from the sea

Complaints

Thin commentary for three hours, and wildlife sightings are a matter of luck

The catch

Expect the engine as much as the sails
She is a motor-sailer: 192 square metres of sail and a 455-horsepower engine, according to the operator and Times of Madeira. Sails go up for part of the trip, and the engine does much of the work along the coast.
What to do. Come for the ship and the coast. For a trip that sails for real, book our sunset sail from the same marina.
A coastal cruise, not a whale trip
The listing offers a lookout for dolphins and whales but no sighting, and the route keeps close to the coast on the way to Cabo Girão. Several of the low-rated reviews come from people who hoped for more wildlife.
What to do. If whales are the goal, book the catamaran on our whale page and treat any dolphins from the Santa Maria as a bonus.
Three hours is a long time for small children
The trip is the same three hours morning and afternoon, with one stop and commentary in English that some reviewers found thin between the highlights.
What to do. Bring snacks, water and something to do. The morning sailing at 10:30 leaves the afternoon free.
The swim is summer only
The stop under Cabo Girão runs in summer when the sea allows. In the data we looked at, the sea off Funchal is above 23°C at midday from July to October and closer to 19°C to 20°C from February to April.
What to do. From June to September pack a swimsuit and a towel; in winter, a jacket.
Winter seas can cancel it
The listing warns that bad weather can cancel trips. In the four years of sea data we looked at, the waves off Funchal stayed under 1.5 metres on more than nine days in ten from June to September, against three or four in ten from December to March.
What to do. In winter, book early in your stay so a cancelled day leaves time for another sailing; GetYourGuide refunds free up to 24 hours ahead.
Check in at the kiosk 30 minutes early
Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure at the operator's kiosk in front of the ship in Funchal marina, where you check in before boarding.
What to do. Aim for 10:00 or 14:30, and walk if you are staying in central Funchal.

Questions people ask

Good questions about A trip on the Santa Maria, the replica of Columbus' ship

How much is the Santa Maria de Colombo trip?

45 euros for adults on the operator's own site and from 45 euros on GetYourGuide on 26 October 2026. Children aged 4 to 12 pay 22.50 euros direct.

What time does the Santa Maria leave Funchal?

Twice a day, at 10:30 and at 15:00, for three hours. Boarding starts 30 minutes before, at the kiosk in front of the ship in Funchal marina.

Does the Santa Maria de Colombo actually sail?

She carries 192 square metres of sail and a 455-horsepower engine, and the local press describes her as a motor-sailer. Expect the sails up for part of the trip, and the engine for much of it.

Will we see dolphins or whales?

Possibly, but the listing promises a lookout, not a sighting, and the trip stays along the coast. For the best chance, book a dedicated whale and dolphin trip, such as the catamaran from the same marina.

Can you swim on the Santa Maria trip?

In summer, when the sea allows, the ship stops under Cabo Girão for a swim. Bring a swimsuit and a towel from June to September.

Is the Santa Maria good for children?

Yes: the operator's booking page lists the trip for all ages, children aged 4 to 12 pay half price direct, and under-4s book as infants. Three hours is long for small children, so bring snacks and something to do.

Was Columbus' Santa Maria really linked to Madeira?

The ship is a replica, built on Madeira in 1997 and 1998. Columbus himself lived on Porto Santo after his marriage to Filipa Moniz, and the house there said to be his is the Casa Colombo museum.

Is there a New Year's Eve trip?

Yes. The operator sells a New Year's Eve fireworks sailing from Funchal: boarding at 22:30, departure at 23:00 sharp. Book it on the operator's own site.

The tall ship

See dates and prices

If you book through our links we may earn a commission from GetYourGuide. It never affects which experiences we include. Operators cannot pay to be here. · Last checked: October 2026