Tenerife : Whales and Dolphins with Food and Bath in Los Gigantes

The best part of this Tenerife boat trip is the chance to pair whale and dolphin watching with a swim beneath the towering cliffs of Los Gigantes. You sail from Puerto Colón, spend time looking for cetaceans with help from the crew, then eat lunch on board with wine, beer, water, and soft drinks included.

I like the simple all-in-one format: a wooden boat, a proper meal, and a swimming stop without extra charges for lunch or drinks. I also like that the crew explains marine life face to face instead of leaving you to guess what you are seeing. The main caution is weather. Cetaceans are not guaranteed, and rough conditions can force the boat to stay closer to Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos instead of reaching Los Gigantes.

Key points to know

• Whales and dolphins are the main event: The crew actively helps you spot them, but sightings are never guaranteed.
• Los Gigantes is the scenic reward: The cliffs rise about 600 meters above the sea and provide the setting for the swim and lunch stop.
• Lunch and drinks are included: You get rice with vegetables, coleslaw, chicken thigh, meatballs in tomato sauce, bread, banana, water, soft drinks, wine, and beer.
• The boat is the Shogun: This wooden vessel can carry up to 135 people, so expect a shared excursion rather than a quiet private cruise.
• Bring your own swimming extras: Towels, sun cream, and snorkeling gear are not supplied.
• Pickup takes planning: Hotel pickup runs roughly from 10:00 to 11:45 for the 12:00 departure from Puerto Colón.

A whale-watching trip with Los Gigantes as the backdrop

This is a full southwest Tenerife outing built around three pleasures: watching marine life, swimming in the sea, and eating lunch on a boat. The route begins at Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje and heads toward the cliffs of Los Gigantes, with the cetacean search taking place along the way.

Tenerife is a strong place for whale and dolphin watching, but the sea is not a theater with guaranteed performances. The crew searches for signs of life and points out what appears near the boat. You may see pilot whales and dolphins, as several outings have, but you should book this for the overall day at sea, not only for a particular animal.

I appreciate that the crew stays involved during the search. You are not simply sent onto the water with a vague promise of wildlife. The professional crew helps locate the animals and shares facts about marine life as you go. Still, sightings depend on nature, distance, light, and sea conditions.

The boat used for the excursion is the Shogun, a wooden vessel. With a maximum capacity of 135 people, this is a sizeable group trip. That can make the price attractive, especially when lunch and drinks are part of the package, but it also means you should not expect the personal space or quiet pace of a small private charter.

Leaving Puerto Colón at noon

The official departure is at 12:00 from Puerto Colón, Costa Adeje. If you choose hotel pickup, the vehicle collects you from an authorized point nearest your hotel between about 10:00 and 11:45. The exact pickup location and time are sent after booking, so keep an eye on your messages.

That early pickup window matters. You may not be collected directly outside your hotel, and the time can vary by location. If your hotel is not listed, select the closest available point or add the hotel address in the booking comments to check if pickup is possible.

Puerto Colón is both the starting and ending point. The listed sailing sections add up to about four hours: roughly two hours toward the whale-watching area, 40 minutes at the swimming and lunch stop, and another two hours back. With transportation and operational timing included, the full outing is advertised as approximately five to nine hours.

That broad time range is worth noting if you have an evening reservation or a flight connection. Boat trips do not always run like a train timetable, and the pickup zone can affect the total day.

Searching for whales and dolphins off Tenerife

The first two hours focus on cetacean watching. The boat heads toward Los Gigantes while the crew scans the water and explains what you are seeing. Pilot whales and dolphins are possible highlights, and one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip is that the whale-watching is joined to a larger coastal outing.

Do not treat the animal sighting as a promise. The description clearly notes that sightings are not guaranteed, even though Tenerife is regarded as an excellent place for this activity. That is normal for wildlife trips, but it should guide your expectations.

I would bring patience and a willingness to enjoy the sea even during a quiet spell. The crew can help, but no guide can make a whale surface on schedule. You may see a family of whales and dolphins, or you may spend more time watching the water and the coast.

The timing also gives you a chance to see Tenerife from offshore. On the way back, the guide provides more information about the southwest coast and details of the island. This makes the boat ride useful even after the main wildlife search has ended.

Los Gigantes, a dramatic swimming stop

The planned destination is Los Gigantes, where cliffs rise around 600 meters above sea level. Their scale is easiest to appreciate from the water. Instead of viewing them from a road or lookout, you see the rock walls from the boat while anchored below them.

The stop lasts about 40 minutes and combines swimming with lunch. You can get into the clear water for a swim, then return aboard for a freshly prepared meal. The material also refers to the stop at Masca Bay, so the exact anchorage may be described using either Los Gigantes or Masca Bay depending on the route and conditions.

This is one of the most appealing parts of the day. A boat trip can feel repetitive if it only involves sitting and scanning the horizon. Here, you get a change of pace, a chance to swim, and a meal in a memorable coastal setting.

There is an important qualification. The route is not fixed in every condition. On one outing, poor weather and sea conditions meant the boat could not travel as far as Los Gigantes or Masca Bay. The swimming stop was made in front of Los Cristianos instead. The crew was described as friendly, but the altered route left the passenger disappointed because the main scenery had been missed.

That is not a minor detail if Los Gigantes is your main reason for booking. The operator says the route can change for safety, so you should see the cliffs as a planned feature, not an absolute guarantee.

What lunch includes on the boat

The included lunch is substantial rather than fancy. The meal consists of:

• Rice with vegetables
• Coleslaw
• Chicken thigh
• Meatballs in tomato sauce
• Bread
• Banana

Water and soft drinks are available without an extra charge, while wine and beer are included during lunch. This is useful because food and drinks on a boat can quickly add to the cost of a day out. Here, you can swim, sit down, and eat without searching for a restaurant at the next port.

I would keep your expectations practical. This is a catered group meal served on a wooden boat, not a restaurant tasting menu. One account found the meal fairly ordinary, so the value comes from the complete package rather than culinary ambition.

The meal also gives the outing a relaxed middle section. After the wildlife search, you have time to eat and look up at the cliffs. If you do not swim, you can still use the stop to enjoy the setting from the deck, though the supplied information does not specify a separate activity for non-swimmers.

The return along Tenerife’s southwest coast

After swimming and lunch, the Shogun returns to Puerto Colón. The return crossing takes about two hours and follows the southwest coast of Tenerife. The guide uses this part of the trip to explain the coast and share more details about the island.

That return can be welcome after the morning’s early pickup and the activity at sea. It also means you get a longer view of the coast rather than rushing straight back to port. If the wildlife sightings are brief, the return narration helps give the trip more shape.

The total time on the water is long enough that you should think about comfort. The boat may carry as many as 135 people, and the tour is offered in English. You will want to be prepared for a shared atmosphere, a full day away from your hotel, and changing conditions at sea.

Is $66.42 good value?

At about $66.42 per person, the price is reasonable for a package that includes a wooden boat trip, whale and dolphin watching, a coastal crossing to the Los Gigantes area, a swimming stop, lunch, water, soft drinks, wine, beer, and possible hotel pickup.

The value is strongest if you plan to use the whole package. Buying a separate boat trip, paying for lunch and drinks, and arranging transport could cost more and take more effort. The included meal is not a gourmet feature, but it removes the need to organize food during a long excursion.

The value is less clear if you mainly want a guaranteed visit to Los Gigantes. Weather can change the route, and the boat may remain near Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos for safety. In that case, you may still get wildlife sightings and a swim, but not the exact scenery you expected.

The large group also helps keep the price down. If you want privacy, quiet, or a highly tailored route, this is probably not the right format. If you want a social boat day with several included elements, the cost is easier to justify.

What to bring and what is missing

The tour does not include snorkeling equipment, towels, sun cream, or photos. Bring your own towel and sun protection, and pack snorkeling equipment if you want to look beneath the surface during the swim. The water may look inviting, but the excursion does not provide the gear for you.

You should also watch your belongings during the swimming stop. The supplied details do not describe storage arrangements, so it is wise to bring only what you need and keep valuables secure.

The boat trip is offered in English, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation. These details make the trip fairly straightforward for many people, but the information does not give specific guidance about wheelchair access or reduced mobility.

Weather, route changes, and the realistic expectation

Good weather is required for this experience. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The operator can also alter the route during the day when sea conditions make the planned crossing unsafe.

That safety decision is sensible, but it creates a clear booking trade-off. You may have a wonderful day with pilot whales, dolphins, a swim, and the cliffs towering overhead. You may also have a pleasant boat outing that stays closer to shore and misses Los Gigantes.

The strongest accounts praise the sightings, the setting, and the crew. One particularly positive outing included many whales and dolphins, with the stop near Masca described as the best part. Another combined pilot whales and dolphins with a swim and lunch under the cliffs. These are the features that make the trip appealing.

The less positive experience still included whales and dolphins and described the crew as very nice. The problem was that the route did not match expectations because the sea forced a change. That is the key lesson: the wildlife element can succeed even when the cliff route does not.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. Plan carefully if your schedule is uncertain.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would choose this outing if you want several Tenerife experiences in one day and do not mind sharing the boat with a large group. It suits you if you like wildlife watching, swimming, coastal views, and a straightforward included meal.

It is also a good fit if transport is useful. Pickup from an authorized point near your hotel can remove the need to arrange your own way to Puerto Colón, though you must wait for the exact pickup instructions.

I would hesitate if your only goal is to stand beneath the cliffs of Los Gigantes. Route changes are possible, and the trip may stop closer to Los Cristianos in poor conditions. I would also look elsewhere if you want a small, quiet boat or a refined meal.

For the best chance of enjoying it, book with flexible expectations. Think of Los Gigantes as the planned setting, whales and dolphins as a welcome possibility, and the whole day at sea as the actual product.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-priced, full boat day with wildlife watching, lunch, drinks, and a swim bundled together. The crew’s direct guidance and the chance to see pilot whales and dolphins give the trip real appeal, while the cliffs of Los Gigantes add a strong visual reward when conditions allow.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed route to Los Gigantes, dislike large groups, or expect restaurant-quality food. For everyone else, the $66.42 price offers solid value, provided you accept the basic rule of boat trips: the sea gets the final say.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Puerto Colón S.A., Puerto Colón, Costa Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

What time does the boat leave?

The boat leaves Puerto Colón at 12:00.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered from an authorized point closest to your hotel, generally between 10:00 and 11:45. The exact place and time are provided after booking.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately five to nine hours, including pickup and transport. The listed sailing sections total about four hours, with roughly two hours outbound, a 40-minute stop, and two hours returning.

Are whales and dolphins guaranteed?

No. The crew searches for whales and dolphins, but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes rice with vegetables, coleslaw, chicken thigh, meatballs in tomato sauce, bread, and a banana.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Water and soft drinks are available, and wine and beer are included during lunch.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. You may swim during the stop, but snorkeling equipment, towels, sun cream, and photos are not included.