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Whale Watching
4 experiences and tours
Whale Watching Schooner Cruise from Los Cristianos
2hFree cancellation
From €25
Whale & Dolphin Sailboat Tour with Sandwiches & Drinks
3h
From €58
Viking Ship Whale & Dolphin Cruise, Los Cristianos
2hFree cancellation
From €28
Los Gigantes Sailing Tour with Snorkelling & Tapas
3h
From €70More experiences in Tenerife
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Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live off the south-west coast of Tenerife all year. You do not have to wait for a season: the deep water of the channel to La Gomera starts close to the shore.
Trips leave from the harbours of Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje and Los Gigantes. You can choose a classic schooner, a fast sailboat with lunch on board, a large Viking-style ship or a sailing trip below the Los Gigantes cliffs with time to snorkel. Each card shows the departure harbour, the length of the trip and what is included.
About Whale Watching
The sea between Tenerife and La Gomera is deep, calm and rich in food. Short-finned pilot whales and common bottlenose dolphins live in this channel all year round, and Tenerife has one of the largest groups of pilot whales in the world. Other species, such as sperm whales, minke whales and other dolphins, pass through at times. In total, 21 species of whales and dolphins have been seen in the waters around Tenerife.
Most of this coast is part of the Teno-Rasca marine area, a protected Natura 2000 site of about 69,500 hectares. It runs along the west and south-west of the island, from Buenavista del Norte down to Arona. In 2021 the Tenerife-La Gomera Marine Area became a certified Whale Heritage Site. The title goes to places that protect whales and dolphins and manage whale watching with care.
In the Canary Islands, whale watching boats need a licence, under a regional law from 2000. Licensed boats fly a yellow flag with a blue boat in the middle, known as the Barco Azul or Blue Boat flag. These boats keep at least 60 metres from the animals, move slowly near them and stay with one group for no more than 30 minutes. Nobody may swim with, feed or touch the whales and dolphins.
What to expect on a Whale Watching experience
Most trips last two to three hours. The boat leaves the harbour and sails out along the coast, and the crew watches for fins and blows. When they see a group, the captain slows down and lets the animals come closer on their own. Pilot whales often rest near the surface, and dolphins sometimes swim along the bow.
After the watching part, many boats stop in a quiet bay so you can swim or snorkel, away from the whales and dolphins. Some trips include drinks, sandwiches or tapas on board. The trips from Los Gigantes sail below cliffs that drop straight into the sea.
Wild animals do not follow a timetable, so no trip can promise a sighting. Sightings off this coast are common, but they still depend on the day.
Best time to visit
You can go whale watching in Tenerife in any month, because the pilot whales and dolphins live here all year. The sea is usually calmest in the morning, and the light is soft for photos.
The south-west coast is the most sheltered part of the island, with less wind than the north. On windy days the captain may change the route or cancel the trip if the sea is too rough. If you feel seasick easily, choose a larger boat and stay on the open deck.
Getting around
All the trips start at a harbour in the south or west of Tenerife: Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje or Los Gigantes. Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje are close to the main resort areas, so many guests walk or take a short taxi ride to the boat.
Check each card for the exact meeting point and the time to arrive. Most boats ask you to be at the harbour some minutes before the departure time.