REVIEW · TENERIFE
Whale and Dolphin Small Group Sailing from Tenerife South
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Pilot whales can steal the show fast.
This small-group sailing from Tenerife South takes you to the better viewing areas instead of wandering around, with a captain and crew that know these waters well. Expect snacks on board and the option to snorkel with included gear, all wrapped into a 3-hour outing that’s focused on seeing animals, not just ticking boxes.
What I like most is the scale. With a maximum of 7 travelers, you’re not packed like a sardine, and you can get to quieter angles of the boat where dolphins and whales often come closer. I also like that the crew has long navigation experience in the Canary Islands and beyond, and that you can communicate in English (plus Spanish, Italian, and Irish).
One thing to keep in mind: the water and snorkeling experience depend on day-to-day conditions. If it’s windy or seas are rough, you may feel it more on a smaller boat, and snorkeling visibility (and what you actually see) can vary.
In This Review
- Key highlights worth planning around
- Tenerife whale watching from Puerto Colón: why this small boat matters
- Crew, boat size, and the 3-hour plan you can actually use
- What you’re likely to see: pilot whales, dolphins, and the joy of surprise
- Snorkeling included: gear use, real limits, and what to check first
- Snacks, breakfast, and staying energized on a short sail
- Price and value at about $60.49 per person
- Weather, wind, and motion sickness: the realities on the water
- Where this trip fits best in your Tenerife South plans
- Who should book this sailing trip from Tenerife South?
- Should you book this whale and dolphin small group sailing?
- FAQ
- How long is the whale and dolphin sailing from Tenerife South?
- Where do I meet for the tour?
- How many people are on the boat?
- Is snorkeling included?
- What food is included?
- Is the tour offered in English?
- Does the tour end back at the meeting point?
- What’s the cancellation policy?
- Is the tour weather-dependent?
- Are service animals allowed?
Key highlights worth planning around
- Max 7 travelers on a small boat keeps it personal and calm
- Targeted whale and dolphin spots reduce the guesswork
- Snacks and breakfast included so you don’t waste energy on hunger
- Snorkeling equipment included (so you can jump in if conditions allow)
- English-speaking crew with strong local sea knowledge
- 3 hours on the water makes it easy to fit into a Tenerife day
Tenerife whale watching from Puerto Colón: why this small boat matters
If you’re coming to Tenerife South for marine life, the big question is simple: will you actually get close to whales and dolphins, or will you spend half the time scanning the horizon? This small-group sailing is built around getting you to the good spots instead of playing “maybe they’re out there” all day.
The meeting point is Puerto Colón in Playa de las Américas (Santa Cruz de Tenerife). That’s handy because it’s not a complicated “hour-plus transfer to a remote harbor” type of plan. You also end right back at the same meeting point, so you’re not stuck figuring out transport at the finish line.
The big practical win is the small group size. With no more than 7 travelers, you have more room to move around, take photos from comfortable spots, and adjust your position when animals appear. In real whale watching, where you stand matters—dolphins can show up in seconds, and it helps to have the freedom to react.
Add to that a crew with 20+ years of navigation experience across the Canary Islands and in waters like Africa and the Mediterranean, and you get a trip that’s run with an “on-the-water competence” mindset, not a throw-you-on-a-boat-and-hope-for-the-best routine.
You can also read our reviews of more boat tours in Tenerife
Crew, boat size, and the 3-hour plan you can actually use
This is a 3-hour excursion, which is an underrated feature. When you’re traveling, it’s easy to overcommit. A short sailing like this lets you keep your day flexible—great if you want to pair it with a beach afternoon, a meal that’s worth the effort, or another activity later.
On board, the experience is geared toward comfort and privacy. The company highlights maximum comfort and privacy, and that matches what the trip feels like when you’re not dealing with large crowds. In the reviews, the captain personality pops up again and again—often funny, friendly, and attentive—and that matters because it turns whale watching from a quiet chore into a guided story about what you’re seeing.
A few operational points you should know:
- English is available, which makes the explanations more useful if you actually want to understand behavior rather than just look for fins.
- The crew also speaks Spanish, Italian, and Irish, which can help if you’re traveling with mixed-language friends.
- You’ll have snacks during the outing, and the trip includes breakfast as part of what’s offered.
In other words, you’re not just passengers-on-a-deck. You’re part of a short, guided window of time where the captain aims to make the most of the best conditions.
What you’re likely to see: pilot whales, dolphins, and the joy of surprise
The star species here is often pilot whales, and multiple experiences describe seeing them close to the boat. When pilot whales are feeding, they don’t just surface once and disappear. You can get repeated looks, and sometimes longer stretches where they move alongside or in the same zone as the boat.
Dolphins are usually the other main act—especially dolphins that come near and play around the sailing route. One of the most practical reasons I’m a fan of a small boat is that when dolphins show up near the hull, it’s easier for you to get the angle you want without fighting crowds for space.
You might also see other sea life. There are mentions of sea turtles and plenty of fish during swim/snorkel time. Just don’t treat sightings like a checklist. Whale and dolphin watching is still weather- and movement-dependent. The real value of this tour is that you’re being taken to promising areas, not waiting passively and hoping.
Also: some trips include time offshore where whales are often seen, then time back toward shore for dolphin action. That kind of pattern tends to work because whales and dolphins can show up in different zones for different reasons (feeding, movement, and water conditions). With a captain who knows where to look, the odds improve.
Snorkeling included: gear use, real limits, and what to check first
Snorkeling is included here through use of snorkeling equipment, and that’s a big deal—because it removes one more planning headache. You don’t need to rent a mask and snorkel on arrival. If conditions are good, you can also treat snorkeling as a bonus rather than a separate half-day excursion.
That said, snorkeling in Tenerife isn’t a guarantee of a bright reef carnival. On some days, the water can be less clear, and what you see may be more about general fish life than dramatic coral scenes. Some experiences describe snorkeling as enjoyable, while others point out that underwater visibility or what’s reachable can be less impressive than expected.
So here’s what you can do to protect your expectations:
- Set your goal as a swim/snorkel break, not a strict “world-class reef snorkeling” promise.
- Check your mask and snorkel before you go in. One review mentions the masks might not be cleaned between uses, so a quick look and rinse if needed is smart.
- If you’re prone to motion sickness, snorkeling can be the last thing you want to do on a rough day. You’re still allowed to stay on the boat and enjoy the scenery.
If you want an easy win: bring your own comfort items (like a towel or swim gear that dries quickly). The tour includes the gear, but it can still help to have your personal “ready to go” kit.
Snacks, breakfast, and staying energized on a short sail
A 3-hour tour can feel long if you’re hungry, and short enough that meal timing matters. This one includes snacks and also lists breakfast as included. That’s a practical combination because it keeps you from starting the outing stressed about lunch plans back on shore.
In the reviews, food and drink show up as a strong positive. Many accounts describe snacks and sandwiches, plus frequent mentions of drinks offered on board. Even if drink choices vary by day and captain, the consistent point is that you’re not left with just water and a vague hope.
Why this matters: whale watching can require patience. Sometimes you’re cruising and scanning. Snacks help you stay steady without breaking your flow, especially for families and mixed-age groups.
Also, a small boat setup often makes the food feel more relaxed. You’re not shuffling through cafeteria lines. It’s more like a casual break between animal sightings and swimming time.
You can also read our reviews of more sailing experiences in Tenerife
Price and value at about $60.49 per person
At roughly $60.49 per person, this isn’t the cheapest thing you’ll do in Tenerife South. But it’s also not trying to be a bargain-basement cattle boat. The value comes from a few clear things you get together:
- Small-group size (max 7 travelers)
- Targeted whale and dolphin watching instead of aimless cruising
- Snorkeling equipment included
- Snacks and breakfast included
When tours include gear and food, you’re effectively reducing what you’d pay separately. Add in the benefit of a smaller crowd—where you can actually see and react when animals appear—and the price starts to look more reasonable.
One more value signal: this tour is often booked ahead (on average about 17 days in advance). That’s usually a sign the sailing is popular, especially with people who don’t want the stress of last-minute planning.
Weather, wind, and motion sickness: the realities on the water
This experience depends on good weather, and that’s not just a policy line—it’s the core of how whale watching works. Wind and swell affect:
- how smoothly the boat rides
- how comfortable snorkeling time is
- your chances of spotting animals without straining through harsh conditions
Because it’s a small boat, rougher seas can feel more noticeable for some people. One low-rated experience mentioned being sea sick and that the captain did not go out during the swim portion due to conditions. That’s the kind of reminder that even with a great captain, nature sets limits.
If you’re sensitive to motion:
- consider bringing motion sickness medication
- stay hydrated
- try to sit where you feel the least movement (front/side positions can vary by boat)
If visibility drops due to wind or water conditions, it doesn’t mean you’ll see nothing. It usually means snorkeling might be less satisfying and sightings may be harder to spot quickly.
Where this trip fits best in your Tenerife South plans
This is a smart “morning or daytime” activity because it’s only about 3 hours. You’ll be back at the start point at the end, so you can keep your itinerary simple.
It also fits well if you care about:
- a more relaxed boat day
- getting closer to marine life than you typically would on larger cruises
- a guided experience where the captain shares what to look for
- snorkeling as an optional bonus, not a separate project
Families do well too. There are multiple accounts describing trips that worked for kids, including kids jumping in for a swim in calm enough moments. The small-group environment tends to be easier for families because there’s less noise and pushing.
Language-wise, offered in English, which helps if you’re not fluent in Spanish.
Who should book this sailing trip from Tenerife South?
Book it if you want:
- small-group whale and dolphin watching with a real captain
- a better chance at close-up sightings like pilot whales and dolphins that come near the boat
- included snacks, breakfast, and snorkeling gear
- a trip that feels more like a guided outing than a mass-market cruise
You might skip it if:
- you’re strongly anti-small-boat comfort issues (motion can be a factor in wind)
- you expect guaranteed “clear-water reef snorkeling” on every outing
- you’re very picky about snorkeling gear hygiene (a review raised concerns about mask cleaning and gear condition)
If you fall in the middle—curious, flexible, and happy to be guided—you’ll likely enjoy it.
Should you book this whale and dolphin small group sailing?
For many people, this is a high-value way to spend a short chunk of Tenerife South. The best reasons are practical: max 7 travelers, focused whale watching, and the combo of snacks/breakfast plus snorkeling gear included. When conditions line up, you can get memorable, close sightings—especially of pilot whales and dolphins that play around the boat.
If you’re the type who needs perfect snorkeling and crystal-clear water, go in with softer expectations. Weather matters, and a smaller sailing boat can feel the sea more. Still, that trade-off often comes with the upside of a calmer, more personal experience.
My call: if your priority is actual time on the water with whales and dolphins, and you like the idea of a small-group sailing over a bigger crowd, this is an easy one to recommend.
FAQ
How long is the whale and dolphin sailing from Tenerife South?
It lasts about 3 hours.
Where do I meet for the tour?
The tour starts at Puerto Colón in Playa de las Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
How many people are on the boat?
The experience has a maximum of 7 travelers.
Is snorkeling included?
Yes. The tour includes the use of snorkeling equipment.
What food is included?
Snacks are included, and breakfast is also listed as included.
Is the tour offered in English?
Yes, the experience is offered in English.
Does the tour end back at the meeting point?
Yes, it ends back at the meeting point.
What’s the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.
Is the tour weather-dependent?
Yes. The experience requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Are service animals allowed?
Yes, service animals are allowed.
