Whale Watching · SPAIN
Almost all of it happens in the Canaries, where deep water sits close to shore and the pilot whales never leave. The 15 below cover Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, from cheap eco-cruises to catamarans with lunch and a swim stop.
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 for two hours from Puerto Los Cristianos aboard the Bahriyeli, a spacious ketch with open decks and an inside salon. Government-certified guides explain Tenerife’s marine life in five languages while the crew searches without chasing animals. Dolphins and pilot whales are common sightings, with turtles also possible.
“the most fantastic experience, the guys are so knowledgeable and we were very lucky. they do great work, and this is very cheap, so please leave a tip!”
Cruise from Puerto Colón into Tenerife’s Teno-Rasca Whale Sanctuary on a fuel-efficient catamaran. The crew, including captains such as Carlos and Miguel, looks for pilot whales and dolphins, serves sandwiches and drinks, plays underwater sounds, and stops for swimming. Choose 3 or 5 hours.
“Superb eco-cruise experience! Few people on the boat, respect and silence when observing the whales (engine cut), which makes the moment magical. The two skippers were really friendly and passionate. I recommend it!”
Set out from Los Gigantes Port aboard the Masca Express for two hours of whale and dolphin watching, cliff views, and a swim in Masca, Juan López, or Barranco Seco. Spanish-speaking guides such as Alejandro help spot marine life, while your ticket includes one cold drink.
“Brilliant couple of hours in the water, professional crew who know their stuff. Highly recommended.”
Set out from Morro Jable on the two-hour Magic Dolphin cruise with guides speaking Spanish, English, and German. Search for wild dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish, then stop for a swim in Jandía. Drinks, a toilet, and optional resort pickup are included, but sightings are never guaranteed.
“Fantastic trip. Really knowledgeable guide, very entertaining skipper…and a load of dolphins as the stars of the show! Free drinks and a dip in Morro Jable’s crystal clear waters to round things off. Would recommend without hesitation!”
Join guides such as Maurizio, Cesar, or Cristina at Morro Jable for a fast Atlantic cruise, marine-life search, and 30-minute snorkel stop. Expect music, sea spray, and expert spotting, but no guaranteed dolphin or whale sightings. South-island transfers and equipment are included.
“Cannot recommend this activity enough our guide was outstanding great comedy throughout the tour with good knowledge of the animals we saw we had our 5 year old daughter with us and he made an incredible fuss over her allowing her the steer the boat amongst other things”
Sail from Puerto Colon with guides such as Lucy, Dani, and Tony to find resident pilot whales and dolphins near Tenerife’s southwest coast. Choose two hours for wildlife viewing or three hours for a Playa Espagueti swim and snorkel stop. Drinks are included, and sightings are guaranteed.
“Fantastic trip. Lucy and the team were amazing and we saw bottle nosed dolphins and pilot whales. Thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone”
Join Neptuno Whale Experience Tenerife aboard the pirate-style Peter Pan from Los Cristianos. Expect a two-hour, Blue Flag certified wildlife trip with English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish commentary, common pilot whale sightings, seabirds, and a 15 to 20-minute swim stop if sea conditions allow.
“Great activity for both adults and children ( our children were 17 14 & 7 ) Great views of the coastline whilst following Whales / Dolphins. Take the opportunity to dive / jump into the sea its not the sort of opportunity you get every day.. Great value for money..”
Board Ragnarok at Los Cristianos Harbour for a two-hour whale and dolphin cruise. A multilingual English and Spanish crew guides you toward pilot whales and dolphins, with Viking costumes, music, shaded seating, a bar, toilets, and wheelchair access. Bring sun protection and allow extra time for traffic.
“The boat trip was very fun and we saw the dolphins and whales and it was amazing to watch those creatures in her natural habitat! The crew was amazing and very welcoming and funny. It was my baby first Bday and they sang a bday sonf for her and it was super cute!! Time was just perfect. Highly recommend it to everyone”
Sail from Puerto Colón with up to 11 passengers, guided by English, French, German, or Spanish-speaking skippers such as Guy or Maxi. Watch for pilot whales and dolphins, then stop in a quiet bay for swimming and snorkeling. Drinks, sandwiches, fruit, and hotel pickup within 10 kilometers are available.
“Love our guide guy, he is quite professional in every aspect of the driving. He saved me from the hard seasick by letting me sit on the tail of the boat, so my feet could soak in the water, and it's really helpful! We see the pilot whales and we try the swimming a little bit. It's totally worthy to join this trip!”
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!”
Spend 150 minutes aboard a comfortable boat off Gran Canaria, searching for wild dolphins and whales with guides in English, Spanish, or German. Mario and Christian are among the friendly crew members praised for helping passengers spot pods, while the on-board bar, toilets, and open viewing areas make this a practical family outing.
“We liked most of the experience. The only thing we didn't like was the lack of clarity in timing. Based on where you are getting picked up a bus ride of 1.5-2 hours precedes the 2.5 hours boat travel. So, all future travellers, please plan your day accordingly. That being said, it was worth the wait ❤️”
From Los Gigantes, you’ll ride a speedboat to search for pilot whales and dolphins, then stop for a 15-minute swim in Masca Bay beneath the cliffs. English and Spanish guides, a drink, insurance, and whale watching are included. Guides may include Juan Carlos and George.
“A fantastic experience. We observed many pilot whales from just a few meters distance. The crew was very friendly and accommodating. If you want to go and observe whales in Tenerife, this is the company to do it with.”
Join the 23-meter, two-mast Bahriyeli gulet from Los Cristianos for a two-hour wildlife sail. Marine-life specialists explain pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, birds, and other sightings while the crew keeps a strict no-chase policy. You’ll also see Mount Teide and Tenerife’s south coast.
“Very good trip, well worth going, saw plenty of dolphins and whales, very informative and helpful staff 👍”
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.”
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