Whale Watching · SAILING &
Cut the engine and the whales stay longer, which is the whole argument for a sailing boat. The 15 below cover the Icelandic schooners, the Atlantic ketches and the Pacific yachts, priced and timed.
Join Travelin Lady from Los Cristianos for a 90-minute, no-chase whale and dolphin trip on Tenerife’s purpose-built eco-yacht. Guides such as Ines explain the wildlife in several languages, with time for the Cave of Love and a swim stop if conditions allow.
“It was great! We saw a group of dolphins and pilot whales, amazing!”
Sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor aboard the spacious Amelia Rose for about three hours. Guides such as Lucky and Roman help you spot humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Three viewing decks, a warm lounge, bar, WiFi, blankets, and optional hotel pickup make this a comfortable cruise.
“So beautiful and fun! I got to see humpback whales and it was such a special encounter! highly recommend this tour!”
Join Travelin Lady for a 90-minute sunset cruise from Los Cristianos. Guides such as Ines, Sergio, Cintia, and Fede explain the marine life in several languages while you look for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and more from a low, stable eco-yacht.
“It was an amazing trip, we got to see multiple dolphins, a sea turtle and even a hammer shark. Ines was an amazig guide, with her great sense of humor and her multy lenguage skills I am sure people got value for money, I know I did.”
Join David, Jamie, Eileen, or another member of the Third Element crew for a three-hour sailing trip from Los Gigantes. Look for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds, then swim and snorkel by the cliffs. The boat carries no more than 10 people and serves fruit, sandwiches, and drinks.
“Excellent day on the boat . Third Element is the great choice if you want to spend nice time spotting dolphins and whales . Definitely worth the money . Would choose them again .”
Sail from Funchal with up to 20 people, searching for dolphins, whales, and sea turtles within 3 miles of Madeira’s coast. Stop to swim or snorkel below 580-meter Cabo Girão, then watch sunset with drinks on board. Guides include Bruno, Roberto, Marco, and José.
“We went out into the ocean (you will need to take off your shoes at the beginning, I advise you to take a change of clothes and socks with you, there is a chance to get wet from the waves) at 4 pm and began to slowly swim towards Ponta de São Lourenço, they began to offer us drinks (wine, beer, soft drinks), then the captain said that there was a chance to see marine life, and after a while we watched a group of local whales that acrobatically swam parallel to us. Then we headed closer to the shore, the water (24/01) was +19 degrees and some people, including…”
Join a Blue Boat-certified yacht from Los Cristianos for a 1-hour-40-minute search for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds. You’ll pass the Cave of Love, hear wildlife information from the crew, and usually have time for a swim. Bring your own snorkel gear and arrive 20 minutes early.
“It was worth it. We were happy with the experience, going for a swim was nice too. We went on the 9am tour so it was not crowded at all which was really nice.”
Join Gaviao Madeira in Funchal for a three-hour sailing trip toward Cabo Girão. Bruno, Joseph, or another friendly crew member may guide the outing, with chances to see dolphins, whales, and turtles, plus a swimming and snorkeling stop. Drinks are included, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
“I really enjoyed this amazing trip! Unforgettable experience, we also saw lots of dolphins and the views were breathtaking Thank you so much for excellent organization!”
Set out from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor aboard MY Harpa or MY Amelia Rose with guides such as Lucky or Rebecca. Search Faxaflói Bay for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, seabirds, and summer puffins, with warm blankets, WiFi, a bar, and a return ticket if sightings fail.
“we were so happy, within 20 mins of being out in the boat we saw Banana and Apple the 2 humpback whales, they came right up to boat and kept playing circle games with us. what an experience.”
Sail from Los Gigantes aboard the 14-meter yacht El Mojo Picón with Antonio or another multilingual skipper. Look for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and fish, then stop to swim or snorkel beneath the 600-meter cliffs. The three-hour trip includes equipment, cold tapas, fruit, and drinks.
“This was a phenomenal trip. Antonio was absolutely lovely- a very kind man. We saw a bunch of pilot whales then saw masca beach then went snorkelling and I’ve never seen so many fish it was amazing. The boat itself is lovely- it’s a great chance to go on a boat like this which has always been a dream! On the way back Antonio had made us all some food which was lovely and just what you needed after some snorkelling. We had a selection of meats, breadsticks, fruit skewers, olives ect. I can’t express how great Antonio was- he was so funny, and so chill. I feel like you…”
Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay aboard a spacious yacht for about three hours. An onboard guide explains whale behavior as the crew searches for minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and perhaps orcas. You also get fine views of Harpa, Engey, Lundey, Viðey, and the coast.
“We saw dolphins, porpoises and whales. It was wonderful and they told us all about whales and the different seasons and what to expect from season.”
Join Salvador and the Roulette Charters crew for a three-hour sail from Puerto Colón. With only 10 passengers, you can watch pilot whales and dolphins from a quiet 12-meter sailboat, swim and snorkel in a sheltered bay, and enjoy sandwiches, cake, snacks, and drinks.
“Salvador was an excellent captain and very knowledgeable. Great time on the boat”
Sail from Los Gigantes aboard a 45-foot Bavaria Cruiser with no more than 10 people. Your crew, often including Jaime, Eileen, or David, looks for pilot whales and dolphins, stops for swimming and snorkeling, and serves sandwiches, fruit, drinks, and wine.
“Absolutely fantastic trip from start to finish. We booked hotel collection, on time, friendly. Boat was immaculate, staff happy and friendly and very knowledgeable of the local area, we saw dolphins and pilot whale's. We felt a little sea sick but the staff looked after us. Snacks and drinks were available. Stopped at a swim spot. Can't fault anything at all and easy to book with viator. Through viator you can message the boat staff directly which is great. Highly recommend this trip!”
Join Tenerife Sailing Charters for a three-hour cruise from Puerto Colón, limited to 11 people. Captains such as Guy, Alex, Dani, and Maximilian search for pilot whales and dolphins, then stop for swimming, snorkeling, sandwiches, and drinks.
“Capt Guy was a truly lovely man and very knowledgeable about the sea and animals within. Very comfy boat, plenty of time to search for whales and dolphins with a stop for swimming and snorkeling. Would highly recommend going with Capt Guy!”
Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor aboard Harpa or Amelia Rose for about three hours in Faxafloi Bay. An onboard guide points out whales, dolphins, and summer puffins, while you enjoy several viewing decks, warm blankets, indoor seating, Wi-Fi, and a bar. If no wildlife appears, your next tour is free.
“Excellent observation decks at multiple levels. The indoor decks and bar were appreciated for warming up”
Sail from Puerto Colón with a skipper and a maximum of 11 people, watching pilot whales and dolphins near Tenerife’s coast. You’ll have time to swim, use onboard catering, and enjoy a quieter boat setting. Guides such as Raúl, Álvaro, Víctor, and Ismael are praised for calm, respectful wildlife viewing.
“The best out of all the trips. Small group which was very nice and the boat was the nicest there. The two men on board were very good when helping us around the boat and spotting the dolphins and whales. Both were very kind, and they also made such a lovely lunch! I would definitely go again and have recommended to all my friends.”
Pick an animal, a boat or a season.
