Small-Group Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise with Buffet Lunch Tenerife

Hotel Pickup and Puerto Colón Marina

With the default option, our driver collects you from your hotel in south Tenerife, including Las Américas, Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Adeje, Playa Paraíso, Callao Salvaje, Alcalá and Golf del Sur, and takes you to Puerto Colón in an air-conditioned vehicle. Send us your hotel details at least 24 hours before the trip so we can confirm your pickup time. At the end of the cruise you are taken back to the same point.

Puerto Colón is the main excursion marina of the south, set between the beaches of Torviscas and Playa de las Américas, with a promenade of cafés and shops around the docks. The catamaran leaves from Dock 6. If you prefer to make your own way, a second option meets you directly at the boat; the marina has paid public parking nearby.

Whales and Dolphins of the South Coast

The southwest coast of Tenerife faces one of the richest marine areas in Europe, the Teno-Rasca protected strip, where the seabed drops to great depths only a short distance from shore. A resident population of short-finned pilot whales lives here all year in family groups, and bottlenose dolphins are seen regularly. In some months, spotted and common dolphins arrive in lively pods, and you may also spot loggerhead turtles and seabirds following the boat.

Whale watching in Tenerife is regulated, so the crew approaches slowly, keeps a respectful distance and limits the time spent with each group. Your local guide points out the animals, explains how pilot whales rest, dive and look after their young, and helps you tell them apart from dolphins. Sightings are very common, though they always depend on the sea and cannot be guaranteed.

Swim and Snorkel in a Sheltered Bay

After the wildlife watching, the catamaran anchors in one of the sheltered bays along the Costa Adeje coastline, where the volcanic seabed and clear water make for good snorkelling. Masks and snorkels are provided, so you can look for parrotfish, ornate wrasse, small shoals of silvery fish and sea urchins clinging to the rocks. If you prefer, simply swim from the boat or relax in the sun on deck.

The water in the south of Tenerife is pleasant for swimming most of the year, warmest from late summer into autumn. Bring your own towel and sunscreen, as they are not included. The catamaran is stable at anchor, so this is a comfortable stop for children and for those who are new to snorkelling. The best snorkelling is usually close to the rocks, where most of the fish gather to feed among the algae and boulders.

Tapas Lunch and the Coastline of the South

Lunch is served as a buffet of Spanish tapas, the small plates made for sharing that are part of everyday eating across Spain, with a vegetarian option available if you ask when booking. Bottled water is provided throughout. Eating on deck with the island in view is one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip.

On the way back, the catamaran cruises close to the shore so you can see the coast from the sea: the beaches of Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas, the table-topped Roque del Conde rising above Arona, and, on clear days, the peak of Mount Teide behind. The cruise ends at Puerto Colón about three hours after departure, and with the pickup option you are then driven back to your hotel.