Boat trips around Tenerife are a great way to get to know the island’s geography and the special characteristics of its coast, along which you can see over 20 species of cetaceans. Dolphins, whales, sperm whales, turtles… The impressive diversity of marine animals that live in the area is no surprise given the perfect temperature and the presence of octopus, cuttlefish and other molluscs—the basic food source for these species.
This is why, the southern coast of Tenerife is the place to live this experience. So get out your sunscreen, and prepare your camera and the binoculars. This article will give you all the information you need about boat trips in Tenerife. Can you feel the sea breeze? Let’s get started!
The incredible sensation of sailing on a catamaran around Tenerife
There are many companies that offer the opportunity to sail on a catamaran along the coast of Tenerife. These elegant vessels with twin hulls, normally equipped with a sail system, are one of the most comfortable options to sail the Atlantic, since their size allows them to transport relatively large groups.
However, those who prefer to enjoy a more intimate experience—although, of course, a more expensive one—can also rent smaller boats.
Regardless of the type of boat chosen, if you are in Tenerife and have decided a boat trip is what you want to do, we recommend that you also take the opportunity to watch whales and dolphins up close. Boat trips can be enjoyed in many coastal areas, but finding such a diversity of species elsewhere is not that easy.
Spotting cetaceans in Tenerife: sailing among whales and dolphins
If we insist on this type of excursion by boat, it is for the simple reason that in the oceanic strip between the south of Tenerife and the island of La Gomera there is a very high probability of sighting the following species:
- The bottlenose dolphin. This friendly species, the most common in the family of dolphins, can be seen at a short distance from the coast; its average length is 2.5 metres, in the case of females, and 2.7 metres, in the case of males.
- The short-finned pilot whale. Usually categorised as a whale due to its considerable size: some specimens measure over 5 metres and weigh between one and two tonnes.
These are only some of the marine animals that you will probably be lucky enough to see, but there are many more, including species that live in the area all year round but approach the coast only sporadically (such as sperm whales, able to descend 2,000 metres deep when searching for food) and others whose presence is seasonal, such as the false killer whale, which can weigh approximately 1,500 kg.
Where can I enjoy watching whales and dolphins in Tenerife?
The most common departure points for boat trips around Tenerife are Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón and Los Gigantes. Although you can find companies offering whale and dolphin watching excursions in other sections of the coast, such as Playa San Juan and Las Galletas, the most are concentrated in these first three ports.
Depending on what you are looking for, you can enjoy two-hour excursions—the cheapest option, which usually only includes transfers to the sighting point and the experience itself—, three-hour excursions—which also give you the option of swimming in a small bay, or a five-hour trip. The five-hour excursions normally include a pleasant boat trip, a swim and the option of having lunch on board.
Reasons to explore Los Gigantes by boat
If the combined experience of sailing and dolphin and whale watching already seems like an excellent day-trip, why not top it off with a visit to the Los Gigantes Cliffs? The experience will be unforgettable. The cliffs are as impressive as their name. This monumental geographical feature is the result of ancient eruptions of the Teide volcano.
At certain points the cliffs reach up to 600 metres high and they extend another 30 metres below sea level. Its total extension is approximately 15 kilometres, along a strip that runs between the municipalities of Santiago del Teide and Buenavista del Norte. Despite the fact that the waters of the ocean in this area are quite shallow, the sensation of sailing along the great ‘wall of hell’, as the Guanches—the aboriginal population of the Canary archipelago who lived on the islands before the Spanish conquest in the fifteenth century—referred to it, is indescribable.
So set up your camera to make sure you capture the sublime spectacle of the Atlantic with the impressive rocky walls of Los Gigantes as a backdrop.
With this information on boat trips around Tenerife you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Why wait to set sail?