"A close encounter with a magical world. " 
Trips
DESERTAS island - 3 times in 2008
28. June, 2. August and 4. September - starting from Machico
please get further information with us (mail or telephone)
Whale and dolphin watching
Enjoy a trip on the Atlantic Ocean aboard our «Chavelha» vessel and with a little bit of luck enjoy the adventure of watching whales, dolphins and turtles in their natural environment.
None of our trips is like the other. It takes arround 3 hours, sometimes we go to the west, sometimes to the east or sail off into the deep ocean. The experienced eyes of our crew will capture every little sign of spotting the giant Mammals or its smaller relatives, even far away into the blue. But since summer 2007 we have searchers (scouts) with binoculares on high cliffs on land to help spotting the cetaceen (whales and dolphins). They are in constant contact with the boat and purchase the positions of the animals. Like this we have a rate of sucsess of more than 90% during the hole year, in summer 2006 we even reached 98%.
We can’t give any guarantee that we can get in touch with the cetacean, but we do promise to try to find whales, dolphins or turtles.
When we succeed, it is important to leave it up to the animals as to how long the meeting will be, because it’s us that are coming into their «territory».
If we don’t pressure them and give the whales time to get familiar with the boat and time for them to naturally see that we are harmless, then usually we find that their curiosity will mean that they will come to us on their own, play in the waters around us and give us a spectacular show and an unforgettable experience of one’s of natures rare treats
Dolphins are normally much funnier, they like to play and show off and naturally stay near our boat. But if they don’t want to join our ride near the boat we have to leave them, there might be reasons like defending the newborn or they want to eat. We will always look for other shoals should this be the case.
We only take the turtles aboard to look at and investigate their state of health, as sometimes we need to free them from fishing lines or plastic rubbish.
With every close encounter an inside into a truly magical world!
Have a look at the newest pictures from our trips, see www.freefotolog.net/lobosonda
At the NEWS, very down at the bottom, you find all whales from madeira listed by mounth and some news from the cetaceen world.
Prices:
Adult: 35 €
Child: 17,50 €
NEW our price packets:
big packet: 6 trips for the price of 5 (6 trips for 175 €)
little packet: 4 trips instead of 140 only 115 €
The packets are viable for each person and you have to pay them in advance
SPECIALS FOR RESIDENTS: 10 tickets for 315 € or 20 tickets for 600 €
These tickets have to be bought in advance and can be used for families or groups of friends
Your «Espada experience»
Live on the sea – fishermen culture – live and understand it
40 years ago the fishermen went out on the vessel «Ribeira Brava» to catch Espada or tuna fish. Today the vessel lost its license to commercial fishing, but the «chavelha»boat takes you out to the fishermen that work day and night.
Come with us and live out your fantasy and unique «Espada Experience»
Come and live and understand something from life out there on the sea, get in touch with the culture of traditional fishing near the Coast of Madeira Island.
On board we show you old instruments and tools that the fishermen used, for example the «selha»
The «espada preta» lives in deep waters from 800 until 1200 meters. It appears near the Coast of Madeira Island and near Japan. From September on the «Espada fisher» will come nearer to the coast of Madeira and we can go out to have a look at their work. These types of trips take around 2 and a half to 3 hours. The best months are September till January/February, and always depend on the fishermen.
Prices:
Adults have to pay for their «espada experience» 35 €, children pay half of the price
Sunset
Spend one late evening on the sea to get the special feeling of this experience: the sound of the waves beating softly on the boat, the sky in spectacular show of a combination of colors.
To make this picture perfect experience, there may appear a lonely dolphin on the horizon, or was it a flying fish?
This kind of trip we organize only in the summer months and it’s more or less 2 hours long.
Birdwatchers are welcome because during this period of the day you can observe a lot of seabirds. If you are interested we can ask a special guide to join us explaining the different species of birds for you.
prices:
adult: 25 €
child: 15 €
Birdwatching tour guide: 35 €/one trip
Daily charter
You can charter the «Ribeira Brava» for a day or half day and become the Captain of our boat, deciding where you want to go.
A trip to the island of «Desertas», a natural reservation. We will organize the permission needed to go onto the «Deserta Grande». Here you can find a small group of «focas».
Get to know the «Baía de Abra» at the eastern end of Madeira island. In the summer time the silent bay is an ideal place to snorkel and swim. If you want to go on land, you can do it near «Casa do Sardinha».
Do you have other wishes or destinations?
You only have to ask us, and, if it’s realistic to our boat and crew, your wish is our command!
Prices:
will be offered depending on the time and the trip (distance) you would like to do
normally it’s around 125 €/hour in the winter season and 175 €/hour in the summer season
Traditional fishing
On board the «Ribeira Brava» you will not find high tech gadgetry, we will teach you how to fish the traditional way: with ropes and hooks and with our know how, help you to use your intuition to achieve a successful catch.
The crew are totally familiarized with the seas surrounding Madeira Island, they know where the fish occur, the time, the stream, the depth of water all around and the conditions of the wind. Knowledge that is acquired with experience and not something you can learn from a book!
Come and fish with us like the old generation did and then sample the delights of your own catch, which then, will be prepared in a nearby restaurant «O camarão».
Here are some of the fish, that you can catch here, off the Madeira coast: Pargo, Garoupa, Goraz, Cherne, Sargo, Seifia, Dobrada, Anchovy, Salema, Tuna, Gaiado, Bicuda, Lula, Chicharro, Cavala, Dourada, Bica, Facaio, Boga.
Prices:
5 hour trip - 95 € each fisher (minimum 475 Euro)
8 hours trip - 140 € pro Angler (minimum 7000 Euro)
spectators - 30 €
Included in this price are cold drinks and sandwiches, during the 8 hour trip you will get a warm meal.
We know a good restaurant where they prepare your caught fish, which will prepare it in a special way!
IMPORTANT NOTE: like we are getting very bussy with the whale watching we recomend the wooden boat SEVAGE for your fishing trip. It’s a boat with carisma and with Charly you are in good hands. See the site: bigfishmadeira
Night fishing
Cuttle Fish and Shrimp are caught between June and August, but of course, this cannot be guaranteed due to the laws of nature, and our local fishermen will know this and inform us, in advance of your trip.
We leave the harbor in the early evening so that we can choose a good place while we still have some daylight. As it gets dark, we and all the other fisher boats will switch on our lights, creating a scene of a robe of lights deep out into sea.
The lights seem to attract the Cuttle Fish and Shrimp and we will catch them with special hooks, called «garateias»
Part of the fun in traditional fishing is taking the time to get familiar with the old art of catching them!
Prices:
115 € each fisher (minimum 5 fisher)