Tenerife: Luxury Private Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour

Whales appear soon after leaving port. This private yacht trip from Puerto Colón combines pilot whale and dolphin watching with the comfort of a proper sailing boat, rather than a crowded sightseeing vessel. I like the generous onboard setup, including bathrooms, cabins, a salon, kitchen, sunbathing area, and snorkeling gear. I also like that drinks, fruit, baguettes, and snacks are included instead of being treated as costly extras.

The main consideration is price. At $701 for a private group of up to 11, this makes the most sense when you can fill the boat with family or friends. A smaller group pays much more per person, though you gain privacy, space, and the freedom to enjoy the boat at your own pace.

Key points before you book

• Pilot whales appear early: The boat leaves Puerto Colón and reaches the whale-watching area soon, so you are not spending the whole trip simply getting there.
• Private space for up to 11: Your group has the yacht to itself, which suits families, couples traveling together, and friends who want a relaxed day on the water.
• Choose three or six hours: The shorter cruise gives you wildlife viewing and time to swim, while the longer option allows a more unhurried outing.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect cava on arrival, soft drinks, beer, white wine, baguettes, fruit, and snacks.
• Swimming and snorkeling are part of the day: The captain anchors in a secluded bay, with snorkeling equipment available. Towels and sun cream are not provided.
• A strong multilingual option: Tours can be guided in Spanish, English, German, French, or Italian.

Leaving Puerto Colón on a private yacht

You meet at Puerto Colón, Pontoon Number 2, 15 minutes before departure. That early arrival matters because a private charter works best when everyone is ready to board on time. The setting is straightforward: find the correct pontoon, meet the captain, and settle into the yacht before it leaves the harbor.

The boat is designed for more than a quick trip around the coast. You have access to bathrooms, cabins, a large salon, a kitchen, and an outdoor sunbathing area. That makes a big difference on a three-hour outing, and it matters even more during the six-hour option. You can shift between the open air and indoor seating instead of being stuck in one position for the whole cruise.

A complimentary glass of cava welcomes you aboard. It is a small touch, but it sets the tone for a private charter that feels more personal than a basic boat excursion. Soft drinks, beer, and white wine are also available during the cruise, along with baguettes, fruit, and snacks.

You should still bring your own sunglasses, hat, swimsuit, camera, and summer beach clothing. Bring sun cream and a towel yourself, because neither is included. That is an easy detail to miss, especially when most of the other practical items are handled for you.

Watching pilot whales soon after departure

The first major part of the trip is the search for marine life. Once the yacht leaves the harbor, pilot whales should soon come into view. This gives the outing a useful rhythm: you are not waiting through a long, featureless transfer before the main activity begins.

Pilot whales are the central sighting here, but the trip also looks for dolphins and turtles. These are wild animals, so the experience is best approached as a chance to observe them rather than a fixed show with guaranteed appearances. The crew can take you into the right area, but nature controls the schedule.

The private setting helps during this part of the cruise. You are not trying to claim a viewing spot among a large crowd. You can watch from the deck, move around when needed, or sit indoors for a break. A camera is worth bringing, although you should also allow time to simply look up from the screen.

The size of your group will shape the experience. With 11 people, the $701 price works out to about $64 per person, which is a strong value for a private yacht, food, drinks, and several hours on the water. With only two people, the same price becomes a much bigger spend. The boat is at its best for a group that can share the cost.

Looking for dolphins and turtles

After the first whale sightings, the cruise continues with the possibility of seeing dolphins and turtles. The appeal is the variety. Pilot whales provide the main focus, while dolphins can bring a faster, more active moment to the day. Turtles add another type of wildlife encounter, particularly when the boat later anchors for swimming.

You should keep your expectations sensible. The information for the cruise names these animals as the species you may see, but it does not promise a specific number or length of sightings. Conditions at sea and the animals themselves decide what appears.

The captain’s role matters here. A good private cruise needs someone who can balance wildlife watching with the comfort of the group. The available feedback points to a friendly captain who shared useful information and created a relaxed atmosphere. One group of 11 also appreciated being allowed to play its own music, a detail that can make a private boat feel more like your own day out.

That flexibility is one of the clearest differences between this cruise and a larger shared excursion. You are not following someone else’s birthday party, music choice, or meal schedule. You have a private group, a captain, and a boat set aside for your party.

Anchoring in a secluded bay for swimming

The captain eventually anchors in a secluded bay. This is the point where the outing shifts from wildlife watching to relaxed time on the water. You can swim, use the snorkeling equipment, or stay aboard with a drink and a snack.

The phrase swim with the turtles should be treated as an opportunity, not a promise. Turtles may be seen during the cruise, and the bay provides time in the water, but the animals are wild. If turtles are present, you may get a memorable look at them. If not, you still have time for swimming and snorkeling in the sheltered setting.

This stop gives the six-hour trip its strongest advantage. A three-hour cruise can include wildlife viewing and a swim, but you will have less time for lingering. With six hours, the captain has more room to let the day unfold without making every stop feel rushed.

You should pack swimwear under your clothes and keep a hat and sunglasses handy for the parts of the cruise spent above deck. Since towels are not included, bring one from your accommodation. Sun cream is also essential, even if the air feels comfortable at the start of the trip.

What the food and drinks add to the day

The included refreshments are not a full restaurant meal, but they should cover the casual needs of a half-day or full-day cruise. You receive baguettes, fruit, and snacks, plus soft drinks, beer, and white wine. Cava is served at arrival.

That arrangement is useful because you do not need to organize a separate picnic or worry about buying drinks during the trip. It also keeps the day relaxed. After time on deck or in the water, having fruit, bread, and snacks ready is more practical than waiting until you return to shore.

Food quality received strong praise, with direct comments about the meal and service being excellent. Still, you should think of the food as light onboard catering rather than a formal lunch. If someone in your group has strict dietary needs, the available information does not confirm special menus, so ask before booking.

Alcohol is included, but swimming and sea conditions call for judgment. You can enjoy a beer, white wine, or cava, but you should plan sensibly if you intend to snorkel or swim. The yacht also has a kitchen and salon, adding comfort when you want a break from the sun.

Choosing three hours or six hours

The three-hour option is the practical choice if you want a compact outing. You can board at Puerto Colón, look for pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles, enjoy the included refreshments, and have time to anchor for a swim. It fits more easily around other plans in Tenerife.

The six-hour option is better if the yacht itself is part of the attraction. You have more time to sit in the sunbathing area, use the salon, enjoy the food and drinks, and spend time at the bay. It also gives the wildlife search more breathing room.

For a group of friends or a family marking a special occasion, I would lean toward six hours if the schedule allows. The private setting has more value when you are not rushing from one activity to the next. For a couple or a smaller group focused mainly on seeing whales, three hours may provide enough of the core experience without committing to a full day at sea.

Starting times vary, so you need to check availability before choosing. The meeting point remains Puerto Colón, Pontoon Number 2, and you should arrive 15 minutes early.

How private group size changes the value

The price is $701 per group of up to 11 people. This is not a cheap individual ticket, but it is a different kind of purchase. You are paying for a private yacht rather than a seat on a shared boat.

At full capacity, the value is clear. Eleven people sharing the cost pay roughly $64 each, before considering the included drinks, snacks, snorkeling equipment, and private use of the boat. At six people, the cost is about $117 per person. For two people, it is about $351 each, which is a much harder price to justify unless privacy is especially important.

The private format suits groups that want control over the mood and pace. You can enjoy your own music, sit together, and avoid the noise of a large mixed party. It is also useful for families who want bathrooms, cabins, indoor seating, and room to move around.

The boat accommodates up to 11 people, but that does not mean a larger group will feel equally spacious in every area. A full group shares the salon, deck, and sunbathing space. You gain privacy from other parties, not unlimited personal space.

The captain, service, and multilingual help

The captain welcomes you aboard and guides the cruise. The available feedback gives special credit to the captain’s friendly service, useful information, and easygoing approach. That combination matters because the captain shapes both the wildlife portion and the general mood of a private outing.

The cruise can be conducted in Spanish, English, German, French, or Italian. That is helpful for mixed-language groups and makes it easier to ask questions about the animals, the route, or the timing of the swim stop.

The overall rating is 4.9 from 14 reviews, with especially strong praise for the service, food, relaxed day, and whale sightings. I would give the most weight to the repeated practical points: the boat feels comfortable, the captain is friendly, the food and drinks are appreciated, and the experience can include both marine wildlife and swimming.

That high score should not erase the main limitation. This is still a weather-dependent outing built around wild animals. The cruise gives you a good chance to see marine life, but no responsible operator can control exactly what appears.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families or friend groups that can share the $701 cost
• People who prefer a private boat to a large shared excursion
• Anyone who wants wildlife watching plus swimming time
• Groups that value included drinks, snacks, fruit, and light food
• Visitors who want a multilingual captain or guide
• Anyone planning a relaxed celebration on the water

I would be more cautious if you are traveling alone or as a couple and mainly want the least expensive way to look for whales. The private price may be too high for your needs. A shared boat would likely make more financial sense, though this specific experience offers private use of the yacht rather than a shared group setting.

Practical details to keep in mind

Wear summer beach clothing, a swimsuit, and a hat. Bring sunglasses, a camera, sun cream, and a towel. The boat supplies snorkeling equipment, but not the towel or sun protection.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Tenerife plans are not fully settled.

The tour is private, and the duration is either three or six hours. Starting times depend on availability. Meet at Puerto Colón, Pontoon Number 2, 15 minutes before departure.

Should you book this private Tenerife cruise?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and you want more than a short wildlife trip. The private yacht, onboard food and drinks, multilingual service, whale and dolphin watching, and swimming stop combine into a relaxed day with plenty of comfort.

Choose the three-hour version if you want the main experience without giving up too much of your schedule. Choose six hours if you want time to enjoy the yacht itself and linger at the bay.

I would skip it only if the price for your group is uncomfortable or if you need guaranteed wildlife sightings. For families and groups of friends, this is a well-rounded private outing with particularly good value at close to full capacity.

FAQ

Where does the whale and dolphin tour depart from?

The cruise departs from Puerto Colón, Pontoon Number 2. You should arrive 15 minutes before departure.

How long does the cruise last?

You can choose a three-hour or six-hour sailing trip. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join the private yacht trip?

The price covers a private group of up to 11 people.

What marine animals might I see?

The cruise looks for pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles. Sightings are based on wild animals, so specific sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The cruise includes cava on arrival, soft drinks, beer, white wine, baguettes, fruit, and snacks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included. Towels and sun cream are not provided.

Which languages are available?

The live guide service is available in Spanish, English, German, French, and Italian.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.