WEST AFRICA PELAGIC
Expedition Cruise
From Cape Verde to Madeira
After twelve years, the West Africa Pelagic is back!
This nine-day ocean crossing from the Cape Verde archipelago to Madeira sails through waters along the West African Shelf that almost no organised expedition has ever reached, upwelling zones where seabird and cetacean diversity is exceptional and very few boats ever go there. If you have spent years peering at tubenoses from headlands and ferries, this is what comes next.
Trip Overview
The waters between Cape Verde and Madeira are among the least visited and most productive seabird habitats in the Atlantic. This nine-day expedition aboard the MV Plancius covers nearly 2,000 nautical miles of open ocean — from the archipelago of Cape Verde north along the West African shelf to the Canary Islands, the Selvagens and finally Madeira.
The route is designed around the movements of seabirds and cetaceans and spending the days at sea are the point. Petrels, shearwaters, skuas, storm-petrels and phalaropes seen from the ship through waters that few naturalists and bird ethusiasts ever reach, and the Selvagen Islands, one of the most important seabird breeding sites in the Western Palearctic, are the ornithological centrepiece of the crossing.
Killian Mullarney and Nils van Duivendijk lead the expedition, two of the most respected names in European bird identification, both with extensive experience at sea.
Where and when?
The expedition departs from Praia, on the southern island of Santiago in the Cape Verde archipelago, and arrives nine days later in Funchal, Madeira. The route heads north-northeast along the West African shelf, one of the most productive upwelling zones in the Atlantic, before turning northwest toward the Canary Islands, the remote Selvagen Islands and finally the Desertas, the uninhabited archipelago that guards the approach to Madeira.
May is an optimal month for this crossing. Spring migration is still active, northern breeders are moving through in numbers, and the Selvagen Islands are alive with returning petrels and shearwaters gathering offshore before dark.
Seabird & Wildlife Highlights
Cape Verde & Macaronesian Waters Cabo Verde y Aguas Macaronésicas Cap Verd i Aigües Macaronèsiques
West African Shelf Plataforma Continental del África Occidental Plataforma Continental de l'Àfrica Occidental
Selvagen & Canary Islands Islas Salvajes y Canarias Illes Salvatges i Canàries
Desertas & Madeira Desertas y Madeira Desertes i Madeira
Cetaceans Cetáceos Cetacis
Tour Itinerary
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Passengers embark the MV Plancius in Praia at 16:00. The ship departs along the west coast of Santiago and heads north toward the island of Raso. The evening crossing passes through productive shearwater and cetacean waters, with Cape Verde Shearwater, Boyd's Shearwater, Fea's Petrel and Bulwer's Petrel among the first targets of the expedition.
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The morning is spent circumnavigating Raso — a small, rugged island in the northwest of the archipelago where Cape Verde and White-faced Storm-petrels nest in large numbers. Raso Lark, Red-billed Tropicbird and Red-footed Booby are among the key targets from the zodiacs. By midday the ship heads northeast toward the continental shelf of West Africa.
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A full day crossing deep water between Cape Verde and the West African shelf. Seabirds and cetaceans throughout the day as the ship heads east.
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Two days cruising north along the shelf edge off Mauritania and Western Sahara — some of the richest and least-visited upwelling waters in the Atlantic. All four northern skua species are expected, along with Grey Phalarope, Sabine's Gull, Kittiwake, Black Tern and European Storm-petrel. Cetacean possibilities include Fin Whale, Sperm Whale, Northern Bottlenose Whale and Cuvier's Beaked Whale.
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The ship explores the deepwater channels around La Gomera, a known hotspot for whales and dolphins. Barolo's Shearwater, Cory's Shearwater, Bulwer's Petrel and White-faced Storm-petrel are among the targets, alongside Rough-toothed Dolphin and Short-finned Pilot Whale.
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The expedition reaches the remote Selvagens in the afternoon — perhaps the most important seabird breeding site in the western Palearctic. Approximately 15,000 Cory's Shearwaters, 5,000 Bulwer's Petrels, 60,000 White-faced Storm-petrels and 1,500 pairs of Madeira Storm-petrels breed here. An evening zodiac cruise offers close views of seabirds gathering offshore before returning to their nests after dark.
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The afternoon is spent sailing alongside the Desertas — a protected nature reserve belonging to the Madeira archipelago. Desertas Petrel, Cory's Shearwater, Bulwer's Petrel and Madeira Storm-petrel breed here. Sperm Whale, Common Dolphin and Bottlenose Dolphin are regularly seen in the surrounding waters, along with a small resident population of Mediterranean Monk Seal.
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The final morning finds the ship approximately 20 nautical miles north of Madeira, in waters where Zino's Petrel — endemic to the island — is known to forage. Around midday the MV Plancius arrives in Funchal, where passengers disembark.
Please note: the above itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions, wildlife sightings and the decisions of the expedition leader on board. Flexibility is essential on expedition cruises.
Prices and cabins
Cabin options
Rates are shown per person, based on shared cabin occupancy. Single occupancy is available for selected double cabins at 1.7× the shared rate, subject to availability. The applicable single occupancy price will be confirmed when you submit the request form below.
Included in this voyage
- Voyage aboard the vessel indicated in the itinerary
- Support from our Warbler Tours team throughout booking and planning, as well as during your expedition
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship, including snacks, coffee and tea
- All excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- Complimentary use of waterproof neoprene expedition muck boots
- Baggage handling
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
- Governmental taxes, port charges, taxes and AECO surcharges
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
- Complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity. All guests receive 1.5 GB of data usage per day, which resets every 24 hours
Not included in this voyage
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post-land arrangements
- Passport and visa expenses
- Government arrival and departure taxes
- Meals ashore
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended)
- Excess baggage charges and personal expenses such as laundry, bar, beverage and telecommunication charges
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard
- Transaction costs
How to book a tripCómo reservar un viajeCom reservar un viatge
Three simple steps to get you there.Tres pasos sencillos y estarás en camino.Tres passos senzills i ja estaràs en camí.
Booking form
Prefer to write directly?
Reach us at warblertours@gmail.com or on WhatsApp.
FAQs
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This voyage is designed for seabirders, bird photographers and naturalists who want to spend serious time at sea, people who understand that the best pelagic experiences come from being in the right waters at the right time, with the right people to help identify what flies past.
If you have done pelagic trips from shore or on ferries and want to go further — longer route, rarer species, more time at sea — this is the logical next step.
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No. Birds are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed. But the route and expedition team focus on areas where the mentioned species can be found.
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You’ll board Zodiacs several times. The crew assists always with Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation, but you should be comfortable climbing between the ship and Zodiac. Contact us before booking if you have mobility concerns.
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The rate includes the voyage, all meals, Zodiac excursions, expedition lectures, and rubber boots in case they are needed. Flights, travel insurance and pre/post-trip accommodation are not included. Solo travellers can share a cabin at no extra cost or book single occupancy at 1.7× the shared rate, subject to availability.