Whale & Dolphin Watching in Tenerife (Puerto Colon) On a Large Catamaran

Tenerife’s southwest coast offers a simple pleasure: three hours on the water, watching for whales and dolphins, then swimming from a large catamaran in a sheltered bay. The trip leaves Puerto Colón twice daily and includes food, wildlife information, and an open bar.

I like the generous boat space, which matters when as many as 70 people are aboard, and I like that you do not need to keep paying for drinks once you are out at sea. The main consideration is that wildlife sightings are never the whole story. You are also booking a boat ride, coastal views, a meal, and a swim stop.

Key points

• Two outings leave Puerto Colón daily: You can choose between the available sailing times when booking.
• Whale and dolphin watching comes first: The crew explains the species living around Tenerife while you search the water.
• A small-bay swim stop follows: The boat anchors so you can get into the water before food is served.
• Alcoholic drinks are included: This helps keep the final cost close to the advertised $54.29.
• The catamaran holds up to 70 people: There is more room than on a small boat, though this is still a shared group trip.
• The tour returns to Puerto Colón: You arrange your own way to and from Av. de Colón, 11.

Setting Out From Puerto Colón

The meeting point is Av. de Colón, 11, in Playa de las Américas, beside Puerto Colón. This is a marina departure, not a hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way there. Private transportation is not included.

That detail is easy to overlook when you are comparing excursions. If you are staying elsewhere in Tenerife, allow time to reach the marina and find the correct departure point. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, which makes it fairly easy to pair with other plans in Playa de las Américas.

There are two departures each day. The exact sailing time is not supplied here, so check your booking confirmation carefully after reserving. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Three Hours on a Large Catamaran

The boat is designed for a shared outing, with a maximum of 70 people. That is large enough to provide room to move around and avoid the cramped feel of a small excursion boat, but it is not a private charter. If you want a quiet, personal wildlife encounter, this may feel social. If you like having space and do not want to squeeze into a tiny vessel, the size works in your favor.

The catamaran format also suits a mixed group. You can watch from the deck, sit with your party, listen to the crew’s information, or prepare for the swim stop. The stated aim is to allow plenty of room for social distancing, though the actual feel of the boat will depend on how full the sailing is.

You should think of the three-hour duration as a balanced half-day outing. It is long enough to spend meaningful time offshore, but short enough to leave part of your day free. Families, couples, and groups of friends can fit this into a wider Tenerife schedule without giving up an entire day.

Searching for Whales and Dolphins

The wildlife portion begins after leaving the marina. The crew searches Tenerife’s surrounding waters for whales and dolphins and gives information about the animals and species found around the island.

That commentary adds purpose to the boat ride. You are not simply sitting on the water waiting for a fin. You get context about the marine life in this part of Tenerife and a better sense of what you are looking for.

Still, you should book with sensible expectations. This is a wildlife search, not a guaranteed animal encounter. The tour is built around looking for whales and dolphins, but nature does not work to a fixed schedule. The most honest way to value the outing is to consider the full package: time at sea, wildlife watching, crew information, food, drinks, and swimming.

Bring patience. Keep your attention on the water, but do not spend the entire trip staring at one spot. A large catamaran gives you room to shift position and enjoy the ride even during quiet stretches.

The Swim Stop in a Small Bay

After the wildlife search, the catamaran anchors in a small bay. This is the change of pace that keeps the excursion from feeling like a three-hour lookout post.

You have free time to get into the water, then food is served for everyone aboard. For many people, this will be the most relaxed part of the trip. You can cool off, enjoy the setting, and break up the time spent watching the sea.

The description does not specify the food menu, the length of the swim stop, or what swimming equipment is provided. I would not book this as a full meal experience or a serious water-sports outing. Think of the food as part of the boat trip and the swim as a chance to enjoy the bay.

If you do not want to swim, you can remain aboard and enjoy the stop from the catamaran. The activity promises free time to get in the water, not a requirement that everyone participate.

What the Open Bar Really Adds

Alcoholic drinks are included. That is a useful feature at this price because boat outings can become more expensive once drinks are added one by one.

At $54.29 per person, the cost covers the catamaran ride, whale and dolphin watching, wildlife information, the swim stop, food, and alcoholic beverages. The value depends on how much of the package you will use. If you plan to have a drink, eat aboard, and swim, the price is easier to justify than if you only want a short wildlife cruise.

An included bar can also make the trip feel more sociable. You should still pace yourself, especially in warm weather and on a moving boat. The supplied information confirms that alcoholic drinks are included, but it does not detail the full drinks menu or limits.

The lack of a private transport service does not affect the onboard price, but it does affect your total day’s cost. Add your own transport to Puerto Colón when comparing this outing with excursions that include hotel pickup.

Is 70 People Too Many?

A maximum of 70 people is worth considering before you book. This is not a small, intimate sailing. You will share the boat, the wildlife viewing, the food service, and the swim stop with a sizeable group.

The upside is room. A large catamaran generally gives you more deck area than a compact boat, and the tour specifically promotes space for social distancing. You may also find it easier to move around and find a viewing position.

The trade-off is atmosphere. A full boat can mean more noise, more movement around the deck, and a less personal connection with the crew. If your priority is a private conversation with a marine guide, look for a smaller specialist trip instead. If your priority is a comfortable shared day at sea with drinks included, the group size is reasonable.

The maximum is 70, not a promise that every departure will reach that number. The booking details do not state the usual passenger count, so plan for a shared outing rather than expecting an uncrowded boat.

Reading the Price as a Full Package

The headline price is $54.29 per person. That is a fair comparison point because several items are bundled together: the cruise, wildlife watching, information about local species, food, a swim stop, and alcoholic beverages.

I would compare this with other Tenerife boat trips by asking three questions:

• Does the other trip include food?
• Are drinks charged separately?
• Does it offer a swim stop as well as wildlife watching?

A cheaper wildlife cruise may not include the same extras. A more expensive sailing may offer a smaller group or longer time on the water, but those features are not stated here. Price alone will not tell you which is better.

One useful caution concerns boat identity. A complaint about extra sunbed charges, cramped seating, poor food, and unclear directions has been specifically identified as relating to a different boat, not this catamaran. Do not use those details as a description of this activity. At the same time, you should still confirm the exact vessel and meeting instructions in your confirmation so you arrive at the right marina departure.

Who Will Enjoy This Outing

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a straightforward half-day on the sea rather than a highly specialized research-style expedition. The combination of wildlife watching, swimming, food, and included drinks gives the day several parts, so a quiet wildlife period does not define the whole outing.

It also suits groups with different interests. One person can focus on dolphins, another can enjoy the catamaran ride, and someone else can look forward to the bay and food. The large boat and maximum group size make it a practical option for a shared holiday activity.

Families should note that the tour allows most people to participate, but the supplied details do not provide specific child ages, safety equipment information, or accessibility specifications. If those points matter to you, ask before booking.

This is less suitable for you if you want guaranteed sightings, a private boat, detailed photographic guidance, or a very small group. The tour promises an effort to find whales and dolphins, not a guaranteed encounter with a named species.

What to Bring and How to Plan

The supplied details do not give a packing list, so keep it simple. Wear clothing suitable for a boat ride and bring anything you need for time in the water. You may also want a towel and sun protection, although those items are not specifically listed as included.

Keep your phone ticket available. The activity uses a mobile ticket, which means you do not need a printed voucher. Check the confirmation for the departure time and exact instructions, especially since the official meeting point is given as an address rather than a hotel pickup location.

Allow enough time to reach Av. de Colón, 11. The marina can be busy with several boat operators, and a clear arrival plan reduces stress. Since the tour returns to the same meeting point, you can leave larger plans for afterward rather than arranging a separate return journey.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. For your own planning, avoid placing a fixed, expensive reservation immediately after the boat trip.

Booking and Cancellation Details

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and changes within that same period are not accepted.

The cut-off uses local Tenerife time. That matters if you are booking from another country or making a late change from your hotel.

Confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability. If your plans are tight, do not wait until the last moment to check the confirmation details. You need to know the sailing time and meeting instructions before setting out.

Should You Book This Catamaran?

Book it if you want a well-rounded three-hour boat outing with wildlife watching, a swim stop, food, and alcoholic drinks included. The $54.29 price is strongest when you plan to use all of those parts. The large catamaran is also a sensible choice if you prefer room to a small, tightly packed boat.

Go elsewhere if your first priority is a private or highly focused whale-watching trip. This is a shared catamaran experience with up to 70 people, and sightings cannot be promised. Before paying, confirm the departure time, exact boat details, and marina instructions.

For many visitors staying near Playa de las Américas, this is a practical way to spend part of a day on Tenerife’s water. Just treat the wildlife search as one part of the outing, not the sole guarantee of the experience.

FAQ

Where does the whale and dolphin tour start?

It starts at Av. de Colón, 11, 38660 Playa de las Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, at Puerto Colón.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts approximately three hours.

Are food and drinks included?

Food is included, and alcoholic beverages are included. The available information does not provide a full menu.

Is transportation to Puerto Colón included?

No. Private transportation is not included, so you need to make your own way to the meeting point.

How many people can join the catamaran trip?

The activity has a maximum of 70 participants.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled.