Whale Watching Sailboat TenerifeShared Trip or Private Charter

Sailboat tour in Tenerife: whale watching and private charter

The sailboat tour in Tenerife leaves from Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje for 3-hour shared whale and dolphin watching trips, or private charters from 3 to 7 hours. Sailing is the quieter way to watch cetaceans. When conditions allow the engine cuts out, so you hear the wind and, through the onboard hydrophone, the clicks and whistles of the pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins that live year-round in the channel between Tenerife and La Gomera. Capacity is capped at 11 guests, so the boat does not feel like a tour bus.

What the trip is like

The crew sails towards the cetacean zone first, roughly 2 to 3 nautical miles offshore, then anchors in a sheltered bay for a snorkelling stop. On shared trips that is usually El Puertito de Adeje, a small protected bay where green sea turtles are seen most days. Pilot whales and dolphins are sighted on about 90% of trips according to local operator data, though sightings are never guaranteed. The waters off the south west coast hold one of the few resident populations of short-finned pilot whales in Europe, which is why the area was declared a Whale Heritage Site in 2021.

Shared trip or private charter

The shared 3-hour sailing has a fixed schedule and route with up to 11 guests. It includes a sandwich (vegetarian, vegan or intolerance-friendly alternatives on request at booking), seasonal fruit and three drinks of your choice. Departures run at 10:00, 13:00 and 16:00 every day, with an 18:30 sunset sailing in summer.

A private charter gives you the whole boat for 3 to 7 hours and a say in the route. The 3 and 4 hour charter covers whale watching plus one snorkelling bay; the 5 and 6 hour versions add Palm Mar or La Caleta; the 7 hour itinerary reaches the Masca cliffs or Abama. Food on private charters is more substantial, with Canary cheeses, cured meats, olives and bread, and each guest gets three drinks from a wider list that includes cava.

The boats and what is included

The fleet is sailing yachts between 12 and 14 metres, each with a Bluetooth sound system, a sunbathing platform, a shaded cockpit, a marine toilet and a swimming ladder. Snorkel gear comes in adult and child sizes, and drinking water and food are provided, so you do not need to bring food. The skipper and crew speak English, Spanish, and at least one of French, German or Italian.

Meeting point and getting there

Trips meet at Puerto Colón marina in Costa Adeje. Arrive 10 minutes before your departure time. Parking inside the marina is paid, and there is free street parking about 5 minutes' walk away on Avenida de Bruselas. You choose your trip type, date and number of guests during booking.

Booking and cancellation

Pick your date and trip type in the booking calendar above for live pricing. Shared trips cancel free up to 48 hours before departure and private charters up to 72 hours before. If the operator cancels for weather or insufficient numbers on a shared sailing, you get a full refund or a free reschedule. For other ways to get on the water, see the full range of boat excursions in Tenerife.