Luxury Opera 60 Whale & Dolphin Watching Experience

From Puerto Colón, the Opera 60 takes you into Tenerife’s Atlantic waters in search of pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles, then pauses in a sheltered bay for swimming, snorkeling, and lunch. The boat is unusually large for a RIB, with room to move, sunbeds, tables, a toilet, and even showers.

I like the generous space and the small maximum group of 15, which makes wildlife watching calmer than a packed sightseeing boat. I also like that swimming gear, food, snacks, and drinks are included, so you can treat this as a full half-day outing rather than a short ride.

The main caution is value. At about $96.79 per person, this is not a cheap boat trip, and service and meal quality may vary. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and one poor experience included lukewarm food, delayed drinks, and an early return.

Key points to know before booking

• A 60-foot luxury RIB: The Opera 60 is nearly 20 metres long, with two 740-horsepower Volvo Penta engines and inflatable side defenses around a rigid hull.
• Wildlife comes first: You may see pilot whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and other marine life, but sightings depend on conditions and animal movements.
• Swimming and snorkeling are built in: The boat carries snorkeling equipment and stops in a bay for time in the water.
• A proper onboard meal: Lunch includes chicken and rice with bread, though the quality and serving temperature may not always be perfect.
• Room for only 15 people: The small group size leaves plenty of seating and gives you a better chance of seeing the water from an open position.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours: Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum group size can also lead to a new date or full refund.

Why the Opera 60 feels different from a standard boat trip

The Opera 60 is not a small open dinghy. It is a 60-foot rigid inflatable boat with a solid hull, inflatable side defenses, and two powerful 740-horsepower engines. That gives it the shape and speed of a large speedboat, but with a softer edge around the sides.

The boat was designed with comfort in mind. You have several seating areas, sunbeds, two large tables, quality speakers, a toilet, and showers for after swimming. That matters on a three-hour trip, especially if you do not want to spend the whole outing perched on a hard seat with nowhere to put your lunch or towel.

The boat can carry a maximum of 15 people. At that size, the experience feels more personal and less like a crowded harbor cruise. Families and groups of friends can usually find room to sit together, while solo visitors can move around to find a good view.

I would still keep your expectations sensible. The boat is described as luxurious, but one unhappy report found the exterior old and worn. Most of the available feedback praises the space and comfort, yet appearance and service may not feel equally polished on every departure.

Leaving Puerto Colón for Tenerife’s whale waters

The meeting point is Puerto Colón in Playa de las Américas. The activity begins and ends at the same harbor, which makes planning easy if you are staying in Tenerife’s southern resort area or using nearby public transport.

Once the Opera 60 leaves port, the first part of the trip is focused on marine life. The boat heads out to look for whales and dolphins, with the crew pointing out animals and helping you know where to look. Several outings have seen pilot whales within roughly 20 minutes of leaving the harbor, though that timing is never promised.

Pilot whales are among the main wildlife possibilities around Tenerife. You might also see dolphins and sea turtles. One outing included all three, while another saw whales but no dolphins. That difference is normal on a wildlife trip. The animals are free-ranging, and the crew cannot order up a sighting.

I like the fact that the boat is reported to keep a respectful distance from whales and dolphins. That gives you a better chance to watch natural behavior instead of chasing animals for a close photograph. Bring patience, and keep your eyes moving across the water rather than watching only one point beside the boat.

The captain and crew also affect this part of the trip. The captain has been described as professional, and the host Fabrizio receives warm praise for welcoming people and keeping drinks moving. The crew’s job is not just to steer. They help identify what you are seeing and keep the mood relaxed between sightings.

Wildlife watching without a guarantee

If seeing whales is your main reason for booking, this experience gives you a good setting, but not certainty. The available feedback includes sightings of pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles, along with a report of almost seeing a whale and another of seeing whales but no dolphins.

That is worth spelling out before you pay nearly $100. You are buying time on the ocean, access to a comfortable boat, crew attention, food, drinks, and a chance to see wildlife. You are not buying a guaranteed animal encounter.

The group limit helps. With no more than 15 people, you should have a better chance of finding a clear view than on a full-size boat carrying a much larger crowd. The open design also lets you move between seating areas, though you should follow crew instructions when animals appear.

The music and relaxed onboard atmosphere appeal to people who want more than a silent nature trip. The tradeoff is that this may not suit you if you want a strictly quiet, specialist wildlife excursion. It is part nature outing, part social boat day.

Swimming and snorkeling in a sheltered bay

After the wildlife search, the Opera 60 heads toward a small bay for swimming and snorkeling. This is the part that turns the trip into a two-in-one experience. You are not simply watching the water from a seat, then returning to port.

Snorkeling equipment is provided, and you can see different fish species in the bay. Sea turtles may appear during the wider outing, but you should not assume they will be present at the swimming stop. Bring your swimsuit, as the water break is a central part of the plan.

The bay also gives the crew a practical place to serve lunch. After a faster ride and wildlife watching, sitting at one of the large tables with the boat stationary makes the meal easier and more comfortable. You can eat, have a drink, then swim or snorkel without rushing through every part of the stop.

The boat has showers for rinsing off afterward. That is a useful detail many boat trips lack. You can leave the water without staying salty for the rest of the afternoon, though you should still bring a towel unless the operator specifically confirms one is supplied.

Lunch, snacks, and drinks onboard

Food is included, and the meal is generally described as chicken and rice with bread. Several accounts praise the food, including one description of tasty, simple local cooking. This is not a fine-dining cruise, but a warm meal on the water adds real value to a three-hour outing.

The strongest food-related caution is inconsistency. One account describes lukewarm chicken and rice with stale bread. That same outing also had delays in getting water and soft drinks. I would not book this trip solely for the meal, and I would pack a small backup snack if food quality matters to you.

Drinks include cool soft drinks, wine, beer, and sparkling wine. Several people describe generous or unlimited drinks, with Prosecco receiving special attention. Fabrizio is specifically praised for making sure the glasses kept coming.

The official details confirm drinks and snacks, while the exact level of drink service may depend on the day and crew. If you want water early in the trip, ask directly rather than waiting. One negative experience involved drinks not being offered during the first hour because the sea was rough.

That point is practical. Rough water can make eating and drinking uncomfortable, and the crew may delay service for safety. Still, basic water should be easy to request, especially if you are traveling with children.

Comfort, motion, and the shape of the day

A rigid inflatable boat can travel quickly, but speed does not mean a perfectly smooth ride. Sea conditions affect how much the boat moves, particularly during the open-water wildlife search. If you are prone to seasickness, choose a position that feels stable and follow the crew’s advice.

The Opera 60’s size helps compared with a smaller RIB. You have more seating options, indoor-style conveniences such as a toilet, and room to spread out. The sunbeds are useful if you prefer a quieter ride between sightings, while the tables make lunch more practical.

The three-hour duration is long enough to combine several activities without taking over your entire day. You can spend part of the time looking for animals, part at the bay, and part eating and relaxing. A few reviews describe the afternoon as calm and unhurried.

One departure reportedly returned about 20 minutes early. That appears to be an exception, but it is a reminder that timing can shift with weather, sea conditions, wildlife movements, and crew decisions. Plan your next activity with some breathing room rather than booking something immediately after the stated finish.

Who gets the best value for $96.79

At $96.79 per person, the price makes more sense if you plan to use the whole package. You receive a three-hour cruise, a large and fast boat, a small group, wildlife watching, a meal, snacks, drinks, swimming, snorkeling equipment, and access to onboard facilities.

The value is strongest for people who want one easy half-day activity. You do not need to arrange a separate whale trip, beach stop, lunch, or equipment rental. Families and groups can also benefit from the space, especially when everyone wants a different pace.

I would be more cautious if you only want a quick wildlife sighting. A simpler whale-watching trip may cost less, and this experience places real weight on the food, drinks, swimming stop, and luxury boat setting.

It also suits people who enjoy a social atmosphere. Music, sparkling wine, large tables, and an attentive host create the feel of a celebratory boat day. If you prefer a quiet, highly focused wildlife survey with minimal food service, this may feel too leisurely and festive.

The high 4.8 rating from 140 reviews and 94 percent recommendation rate support the idea that most people find the package worthwhile. Those figures should not erase the service concerns. The best choice depends on how much you value comfort and extras alongside the wildlife.

Booking details that matter

You receive confirmation when booking, and the activity is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Most people can take part, but the operator does not provide a more detailed list of physical requirements in the supplied information.

The group maximum is 15 people. That is one of the most important details to confirm if you dislike crowded excursions. It also helps explain the higher price compared with larger shared boats.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made later, along with late changes, are not refunded. The cut-off follows local Tenerife time.

The trip requires suitable weather and a minimum number of people. If poor weather cancels the outing, or if the minimum group size is not reached, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

What to bring for a better afternoon

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a light layer for the ride back. The boat has showers, but you still need something dry to change into afterward.

Keep your phone or camera protected from spray. You will want it for the coastline, the boat, and wildlife, but salt water and speedboat spray are not kind to unprotected electronics.

If you are sensitive to motion, eat lightly before departure and ask the crew where to sit. Children may appreciate the included drinks and swimming stop, but parents should remember that open-water conditions can change quickly.

I would also bring a little extra snack food if you have strict dietary needs. The included meal is simple, and no special menu information is provided.

Should you book the Opera 60?

Book it if you want a polished, social half-day on the water with a real mix of activities. The large boat, 15-person limit, swimming stop, meal, and drinks give you more than a basic wildlife cruise, and the chances of seeing pilot whales, dolphins, or turtles are a strong bonus.

Think twice if a guaranteed sighting, quiet specialist guiding, or perfect restaurant-quality food matters most. Wildlife is unpredictable, and the one detailed negative account shows that service and meal standards can slip.

For most people, I would call this a good choice for a special afternoon in Tenerife, especially for families, couples, and groups of friends who value comfort. Go with realistic expectations, pack swimwear, allow for rough-water changes, and remember that the ocean decides what you see.

FAQ

Where does the Opera 60 experience start?

It starts at Puerto Colón in Playa de las Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Where does the activity finish?

The boat returns to Puerto Colón, the same place where the experience begins.

How long does the trip last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the boat trip?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

What wildlife might I see?

You might see dolphins, pilot whales, sea turtles, and other sea creatures. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided for the swimming stop in a bay.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Snacks and drinks are included, and the trip includes a meal of chicken and rice with bread. Drinks mentioned include soft drinks, wine, beer, and sparkling wine.

Is the activity offered in English?

Yes, the experience is offered in English.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The same options apply if the minimum number of people is not reached.