Whale & Dolphin Watching With Mustcat Virgin Coast Trip On a Large Catamaran

Tenerife’s south coast is best seen from the water, and this three-hour Mustcat trip gives you two good reasons to leave the beach: wildlife watching and a swim stop from a large catamaran. I like the practical mix of expert help spotting marine life, food, and an open bar. You also get fine coastal views without paying for a separate boat ride and lunch.

The main catch is simple: wildlife is never guaranteed. One outing produced three small whales but no dolphins, despite friendly service and pleasant views. The boat may search known areas, but nature sets the schedule. Also check the exact meeting point before departure, since the trip is described as leaving Las Galletas while the listed start point is in Playa de las Américas.

Key points to know before you book

• Three hours on a large catamaran: Enough time for wildlife watching, a meal, a swim stop, and the return to port.
• Whales and dolphins are the main purpose: The crew shares information about species around Tenerife while searching.
• Food and an open bar are included: This adds real value compared with a simple sightseeing cruise.
• Swimming near Palm Mar: The boat anchors by a small bay or Palm Mar cave for free time in the water.
• Up to 70 people: You get a stable, roomy boat, but not a small private-boat setting.
• One important location check: The listed meeting point is in Playa de las Américas, while the operating description names Las Galletas marina.

Setting out from Tenerife’s south coast

The trip begins at Av. de Colón, 11, in Playa de las Américas, according to the stated meeting details. The operating description places the marina in Las Galletas, so I would confirm the boarding point with Best Excursions Tenerife before setting off. That small check matters. Playa de las Américas and Las Galletas are both on Tenerife’s southern coast, but they are not the same port.

Once aboard, you have a large catamaran as your base for the next three hours. A bigger boat usually means more room to move around and a steadier ride than a small motorboat. The tradeoff is less of a personal feel, especially with a maximum group size of 70 people.

This is not a private nature outing. You share the water and the viewing time with a sizable group. Still, the catamaran format suits people who want a relaxed boat trip with several extras included, rather than a bare wildlife search with no meal or drinks.

Searching Tenerife’s whale and dolphin waters

The first main part of the trip is the search for whales and dolphins. The crew takes you toward areas where these animals have been seen before and provides information about the species living around Tenerife. That guidance is useful because wildlife can be easy to miss when you do not know where to look.

Keep your expectations sensible. A three-hour cruise can give you a memorable sighting, but it cannot promise dolphins, close approaches, or constant action. The available account describes three small whales and no dolphins. That is still a genuine wildlife encounter, but it shows why you should treat sightings as a bonus rather than a guaranteed show.

I like the fact that the trip has a clear purpose. You are not simply cruising offshore with scenery as the only focus. The crew is actively looking for marine life and explaining what you encounter. At the same time, the boat does not appear to offer a specialist research program or a private naturalist guide. The experience is better suited to curious holidaymakers than to serious wildlife photographers.

Bring patience. The animals may appear for only a short time, and the best view may come from a different side of the boat than the one you first choose. If whale and dolphin watching is your top reason for booking, leave room in your expectations for a quiet search.

Food, drinks, and the value of the open bar

The price is listed at $58.17 per person, with food and an open bar included. That changes how I judge the cost. You are not paying only for a seat on a catamaran. The package also covers the wildlife search, the coastal cruise, food, drinks, and a swimming stop.

The open bar is particularly useful on a three-hour trip. You can enjoy alcoholic drinks without building up a separate bar bill during the cruise. Non-alcoholic options may also be available as part of the service, but the supplied details specifically mention alcoholic drinks, so confirm any dietary or drink requirements before booking.

Food is served after the boat reaches the swimming area, according to the trip description. The exact menu is not provided, so do not book this as a special meal experience. Think of the food as a convenient part of the day that saves you from arranging lunch elsewhere.

For many people, this is a fair package price. A simple wildlife cruise can feel expensive if all you receive is transport and a short sighting. Here, the food and bar help fill the time when the sea is quiet. If you do not drink alcohol or care about the meal, the value may feel less impressive, since part of the price goes toward those inclusions.

Anchoring near a bay or Palm Mar cave

After the wildlife search, the catamaran anchors near a small bay or around Palm Mar cave. This gives the trip a second focus and breaks up the time spent scanning the sea. You can get off the boat for a swim, enjoy the setting, and take a closer look at the coast from the water.

The swimming stop is a useful feature for anyone who wants more than wildlife watching. It also gives children and less patient members of a group something active to look forward to. You should still remember that swimming depends on conditions. The tour requires good weather, and the exact stop can vary.

The Palm Mar reference adds a local touch to the route. Rather than heading only into open water and turning around, the trip includes a coastal place with a bay or cave setting. The provided details do not promise snorkeling equipment, a guided cave visit, or a beach landing, so treat this as a boat-based swim stop.

The water time may be the strongest part of the experience for people who simply want a pleasant half-day on the coast. You can swim, return to the boat for food and drinks, and enjoy the view without changing locations or arranging extra transport.

What the boat size means for your day

A maximum of 70 people makes this a shared excursion. That can be a plus if you enjoy a social outing and want plenty of room compared with a smaller vessel. It also helps explain the relatively accessible price, since the cost is spread across a larger group.

The downside is that the best viewing spots may be popular. You may need to move around the deck to follow an animal or find a clear view. This is not the right choice if you want quiet, privacy, or a captain focused only on your own group.

The boat’s size can also make the outing feel more like a casual cruise than a fast wildlife expedition. That suits people who want food, drinks, and swimming alongside the search. If speed and close wildlife access are your only priorities, you may prefer a smaller specialist boat, though no alternative is supplied here for direct comparison.

The available feedback gives the crew a clear strength: they were described as very friendly. That matters on a shared boat. A warm crew can make a slow wildlife search feel relaxed rather than frustrating. The crew also provides information about the animals and species around Tenerife, giving the outing more substance than a silent ride.

Who will enjoy this Tenerife boat trip

I would recommend this outing to couples, families, and groups of friends who want several activities in one booking. You get a boat ride, a chance to see whales and dolphins, food, drinks, coastal views, and swimming time. That mix keeps the day varied.

It also suits first-time visitors to Tenerife who want to see the coast from offshore without committing to a full-day cruise. Three hours is long enough to feel like a proper excursion but short enough to leave space for other plans.

The trip is less suitable for anyone who needs a guaranteed dolphin sighting. It is also not ideal if you want a quiet, high-end sailing experience or a private guide. With up to 70 people, the mood is likely to be shared and informal.

Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation. The supplied details do not give specific information about wheelchair access, boarding assistance, or facilities for limited mobility, so ask the operator directly if those points affect your decision.

Practical details that can affect your choice

The activity lasts about three hours and ends back at the meeting point. Since the description refers to departure from Las Galletas but lists Playa de las Américas as the start, confirm where you must meet and allow enough time to reach the correct marina.

A mobile ticket is provided, which makes arrival easier if your phone is charged and accessible. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. This is worth noting if you are trying to fit the trip into a tightly planned holiday.

The tour needs good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. A minimum number of participants is also required, and if that number is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Your own cancellation terms are strict: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after booking. I would avoid booking this too early if your schedule is uncertain, even though the trip is commonly reserved well ahead of time, with an average booking lead time of about 80 days.

Is $58.17 a fair price?

At $58.17, I see this as a reasonable all-in boat outing if you will use the food, drinks, and swim stop. The price covers more than a short wildlife ride, and the three-hour duration gives you time for the crew to search properly before heading to the bay.

The value is less clear if you are booking solely for dolphins. The experience can produce whales without dolphins, as the available account makes clear. You may see a few animals, several animals, or none at all. No responsible wildlife trip can control that result.

I would compare the price with your own priorities. If you want an easy social day on the water, the package is attractive. If you want the highest possible chance of a particular species, focus less on the included bar and more on the operator’s current wildlife conditions and departure details.

Should you book the Mustcat catamaran trip?

Book it if you want a relaxed three-hour outing with wildlife watching, food, drinks, and swimming in one package. The friendly crew, coastal views, and open bar add comfort, while the Palm Mar swim stop keeps the trip from depending entirely on animal sightings.

Skip it if a dolphin sighting is essential, or if you dislike larger group excursions. The report of three small whales and no dolphins is a useful reminder that this is a real nature search, not a guaranteed performance.

Before paying, confirm the exact marina, check the weather forecast, and decide how much value you place on the open bar and meal. With those points clear, this looks like a sensible, good-value way to spend part of a Tenerife day on the water.

FAQ

How long does the Mustcat whale and dolphin trip last?

The activity lasts approximately three hours and returns to the meeting point at the end.

What is included in the tour?

The tour includes whale and dolphin watching, food, an open bar, and a swim stop near a bay or Palm Mar cave.

Where does the tour depart from?

The listed meeting point is Av. de Colón, 11, 38660 Playa de las Américas. The operating description says the catamaran leaves from Las Galletas marina, so confirm the exact boarding location before departure.

Will I definitely see whales or dolphins?

No. The crew searches areas where whales and dolphins have been spotted, but sightings are not guaranteed. One recorded outing saw three small whales and no dolphins.

How many people can join the trip?

The maximum group size is 70 people.

What happens if poor weather cancels the tour?

If bad weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.