The 5 Private Drivers That Earn Their Price

1.Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with Transfer and Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,712 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71Our pick

Set out from Puerto Colón aboard the Monte Cristo Catamaran for three hours of whale and dolphin watching. Your English-speaking crew searches Tenerife’s southern waters, serves tapas and drinks, then stops for swimming and snorkeling before sailing back along the coast. Hotel pickup is available in the south.

“Fabulous from start to finish. Really well organised with pick up and drop off back to hotel all done with ease. The small number on the boat made the experience even better. Captain and deck hand were really good and knowledgeable. Saw so many pilot whales up close was truly magical. Flowing drinks and top tapas. I cannot recommend this trip enough!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise with Transfer, Buffet by MC

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 550 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

Sail from Puerto Colón with Monte Cristo Catamaran for three hours of whale and dolphin watching, swimming, tapas, and drinks. Expect an English-speaking crew, a maximum of 24 people, shaded seating, and possible hotel pickup in southern Tenerife. Crew members include Laura, Daniela, Michel, Miguel, and captain Andrea.

“The crew was wonderful! They did an amazing job with the drinks, food, and even giving us insight to the animals we were seeing. It was so beautiful and fun, would do it again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Akureyri: Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 19 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $141

Meet Saga Travel in a red jacket at Akureyri port, ride 30 minutes to Hauganes, then spend 2.5 hours watching humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises on Eyjafjörður. The tour includes port transfers, WiFi, coffee, hot chocolate, and cinnamon buns.

“zu viele Leute an Bord, zu wenig Platz zum Beobachten und Fotografieren, sonst ok”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Tour with Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · from $317

Travel from Cape Town to Hermanus with a driver-guide such as Laetitia, passing townships, wine country, Sir Lowry’s Pass, and Steenbras Dam. Then spend 2 to 3 hours at sea looking for Southern Right whales. Bring warm clothes, sunscreen, and a camera.

“Very expensive for what it is, poor management of registrations, the office where we were supposed to go did not identify us, they sent us elsewhere and after several phone calls we finally returned to the starting point, no excuses, we missed the basic debriefing and almost missed the start ... The information was very limited and accessible only to people on the upper pontoon. In case of bad weather they should perhaps cancel, poor visibility and the animals less visible ...”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Mirissa: Whale & Dolphin Watching Trip with Private Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 6 reviews · 7 - 9 hours · from $85

You’ll leave your hotel before dawn for Mirissa Fisheries Harbour, board a shared boat at 7:00 AM, and spend 3 to 6 hours searching for blue whales, fin whales, dolphins, and other marine life. A light breakfast and private return transport are included.

“An unforgettable ocean adventure! 🌊🐋 Watching majestic whales and playful dolphins in their natural habitat at Mirissa was absolutely surreal. The private transfer made the whole experience smooth, comfortable, and stress-free—pure magic from start to finish. A must-do experience in Sri Lanka! ✨”

Check availability →Read our full review