Whale Watching Tenerife

Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live between Tenerife and La Gomera all year round, so they are seen on most trips. Atlantic spotted dolphins are also common. With some luck you can meet a sperm whale, and in winter migrating species like fin whales sometimes pass the island.

There is no wrong month, because the pilot whales and dolphins are residents. Summer brings the calmest seas and sunset trips, while late December to April adds migrating whale species. Morning departures usually have the smoothest water.

If you come mainly for the animals, choose a small boat like the Atlantic Star, Kailani or Opera 60. If you want a full family day with lunch and a party feeling, a big catamaran like the Freebird is a great choice. Our team is happy to help you pick the right boat for your group.

Yes, on the Atlantic Star you can add an optional whale guarantee. If you do not see whales or dolphins on your trip, you sail again for free or get your money back, only the guarantee fee itself is not returned. It is the only trip in Tenerife with this promise.

Budget boats start from around 13€ per child and 24€ per adult, and premium small-group boats go up to around 83€ per adult. Almost every trip includes drinks. You book with a small deposit and pay the rest on the day, and Club Canary gives a best price guarantee.

Most trips take 2 to 3 hours, which is enough to reach the whales, watch them calmly and enjoy a swim stop. Several boats also offer 4.5 to 5 hour versions that continue to Masca Bay and the Los Gigantes cliffs.

No. Whales and dolphins here are wild animals, and licensed boats keep a respectful distance at all times. Many trips do include a swim stop in a calm bay, so you still get your time in the ocean.

Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a light jacket for the sea breeze. If you are sensitive to motion, take a seasickness tablet about 30 minutes before departure. Drinks are included on almost every boat.

Most boats depart from Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje, and some from Los Cristianos harbor. Staying in Puerto de la Cruz or the north? The Freebird catamaran offers a trip with free coach pickup and drop-off.

Most boats allow free cancellation or rescheduling up to 24 to 48 hours before departure. If the captain cancels a trip because of unsafe weather, you choose between a full refund or another day.

Yes. Almost every boat has a lower child price, and babies often travel free. Family-friendly boats like the Peter Pan, Royal Delfin and Freebird are especially popular with kids.

Yes. Every boat Club Canary works with holds the official Blue Boat license for whale watching in Tenerife. That means trained captains, slow approaches, respectful distance and leaving the animals in peace when they want quiet.

Yes, when you book a licensed boat. The water between Tenerife and La Gomera is Europe's first Whale Heritage Site, and every boat Club Canary sells holds the official Blue Boat license: slow approach, respectful distance, engines to idle near the animals, never chasing. Some boats go further, like the solar-powered White Tenerife eco catamaran and the sailing boats that use wind power.

The White Tenerife is the standout: a certified eco catamaran with solar panels, wind power when possible and a hydrophone to listen to the whales. The Sea Safari is an eco-certified RIB under the Barco Azul and AROC programs, and sailing boats like the Atlantic Star and Kailani sail with the wind whenever conditions allow.

Licensed boats do not. The rules in the protected Teno-Rasca area are strict: engines go quiet when animals surface, boats keep a set distance and never chase, and the whales decide how close they come. That is why the resident pilot whales stay so relaxed around the licensed fleet.