Can You Go on a Boat Trip in Madeira If You Cannot Swim?

Not being able to swim is no barrier to a boat trip in Madeira: most of the time is spent seated on deck, the swim stop is always optional, and the Sunset Trip has no swimming at all.

Do you need to be able to swim to go on a boat trip?

No. Swimming is something you may do on some trips, never something the trip needs from you. On a private boat from Funchal, most of the time is spent sitting down: watching the fishing boats in Câmara de Lobos, looking up at Cabo Girão, eating and taking photos.

The only parts of a trip that involve the water are the swim stops and the paddle boards on the Day Trip. Both are offers, not steps in a programme. You can stay dry from the moment you leave the pontoon until you step back onto it.

What can a non-swimmer do on board?

Almost everything. The table shows each part of a typical trip on our boat and how it works if you do not swim.

Should you wear a life jacket?

If you plan to go anywhere near the water, yes. Tell us you cannot swim when you book, then tell the skipper again on the pontoon, before the boat leaves.

Ask for a life jacket for the swim stop, or for the whole trip if it helps you relax. Do every buckle up and pull the straps tight. A loose jacket rides up around your ears once you are in the water, which is exactly when you want it to sit snugly. If you need an unusual size, for a small child or a very tall adult, ask us on WhatsApp before you book so we can confirm it first.

What is the swim stop like if you stay on board?

Quiet and slow. The engine goes off, the boat rocks gently, and you hear the water against the rocks. For a non-swimmer it is often the most relaxed part of the trip.

At Fajã dos Padres the boat stops off a strip of flat land with terraces at the foot of tall cliffs. The others swim, jump and paddle. You can sit in the shade with a drink, take photos of them from above, or just watch the colour of the water change as the sun moves. How the skipper picks the exact spot depends on swell and wind on the day, which we explain in how the skipper chooses the swim stop.

Can you get in without swimming?

Yes, with a life jacket on and done up. Stay right next to the boat, where the skipper can see you, and come out when you have had enough. There is no shallow end and no sandy bottom to stand on, so do not take the jacket off in the water, even for a moment.

Can a non-swimmer use the paddle boards?

Only with a life jacket on, on a calm day, and close to the boat. Everyone falls off a paddle board at some point, and the fall is the part a non-swimmer has to plan for.

Start on your knees, not standing. Keep the paddle in both hands and stay within a few strokes of the boat. If the surface is choppy, leave it for another day. Our guide to paddle boarding on a boat trip in Madeira covers the basics.

How does the boat feel if you are nervous around water?

Gentle when it is stopped, and bouncier when it is running fast. On a 9 metre motor boat you sit on cushioned seats, with a canopy when you want shade.

The south coast is usually the calmer side of Madeira, because the mountains shelter it from the north-east trade winds, the island's main wind. Even so, the sea is never flat like a lake. At speed you feel small bumps through the seat, and the front of the boat moves more than the back. If water makes you uneasy, sit in the middle or at the back and keep one hand on a rail. There is a bathroom on board, which helps more than people think on a longer trip.

Worried about feeling sick? Read what helps with seasickness on a Madeira boat before the day.

When is a boat trip a bad idea for a non-swimmer?

That turns on why you do not swim. If you simply never learned, a boat trip is fine. If deep water causes real panic, even 2 hours on a boat can feel long, and you should be honest with yourself before you book.

Some practical limits:

• If you cannot swim because of a health condition, ask your doctor about time at sea first.
• If the forecast shows a big swell, the trip may not run at all. The skipper decides, and you then pick a new date or a full refund.
• If your friends would happily spend most of the trip in the water, settle the length of the swim stop before you leave the marina, so the wait on deck suits you too.

Which trip suits a non-swimmer best?

If nobody in your group cares about swimming, the Sunset Trip along the south coast is the simplest choice: there is no swim stop, so the whole trip is about the coast and the light. It lasts 2 hours for 400 EUR and turns at Cabo Girão, or 2h30 for 500 EUR and turns at Ribeira Brava.

If you travel with swimmers, the Day Trip with its swim stops still works well, because only your group is on board and nobody expects you to get in. Departures are 10:00 and 14:00, and you pay per boat, not per seat: 500 EUR for 2h30 or 600 EUR for 3h, for up to five people. Chifbay runs both trips from Marina do Funchal.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal to stay on the boat during the swim stop?

Yes. Staying on board is a normal choice. The stop is offered, not expected, and you can use it to eat, drink and take photos.

Will I get wet on the Sunset Trip?

Not from swimming, because there is none. A little spray can reach the front seats at speed, so a light layer helps.

Do I need to tell anyone that I cannot swim?

Yes. Mention it when you book with Chifbay and again to the skipper on the pontoon, so it is known before the boat leaves the marina.

Is jumping in with a life jacket a good idea?

Getting in gently is better. A jump can push the jacket up towards your chin, which feels alarming if you cannot swim.

Nobody has to get wet to see Cabo Girão from the sea.