Boats off the south coast
A boat tour Tenerife visitors book here is one of three: a two-deck boat that looks for whales and dolphins and stops for a swim, a small Zodiac for six people at most, or a speed boat to a snorkelling bay. They cost between $50 and $107 per person and take 2 to 3 hours. Here is what each price covers, what you may see, and which one to book.
Quick answer
The short answer. If you book one boat tour Tenerife has on this page, make it the two-deck boat at $86: 3 hours on the south coast, a swim stop in a bay, two drinks and food, pickup in the south, and 144 reviews at 4.8. For a quieter trip with six people at most, the Zodiac costs $107. If snorkelling matters more than whales, take the $50 speed boat.
What lives offshore
What the listings say you may see, and what reviewers actually saw.
Two of the boats here exist for the animals, and the third often meets them on the way. The two-deck boat lists «possible sightings of marine animals»; the Zodiac sells a respectful encounter with whales and dolphins and a guide who explains what you see. No whale tour Tenerife operators run can promise animals on the day, and nothing on this page does either.
What reviewers report is encouraging. On the two-deck boat, Hannah from the United Kingdom writes: «we were fortunate enough to see dolphins, whales, turtles and flying fish!» On the Zodiac, Susanna from the United Kingdom: «we saw dolphins and pilot whales and a cute turtle!» Note the words they choose: fortunate, lucky.
If you came to Tenerife for a dolphins Tenerife boat tour and nothing else, book one of the two boats built for it rather than the snorkel trip, and treat every sighting as a bonus. That is the honest way to buy a boat tour Tenerife sells for wildlife.
Every trip, current fare
Three boats and two jet skis. Prices are per person, except the open-sea jet ski, which is priced per machine for one or two riders.
| Trip | Price | Price is for | Length | What the price covers | Where it starts | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snorkel speed boat | $50 | per person | 2 hours | A 15-minute ride to a bay, about 50 minutes of snorkelling, wetsuit, fins and mask | Puerto Colón | 4.5 · 114 |
| Two-deck boat with a swim stop | $86 | per person | 3 hours | The trip, a swim in a bay, two drinks and food | Pickup in the south included | 4.8 · 144 |
| Zodiac for marine life | $107 | per person | 2 hours | A Zodiac for six people at most and a marine life guide | Not stated on the listing | 5.0 · 9 |
| Jet ski under the cliffs | $78 | per person | 1 hour | A guided ride below cliffs up to 600 metres, on to Punta de Teno, a swim stop | The port of Los Gigantes | 4.8 · 83 |
| Open-sea jet ski | $135 | per jet ski, 1 or 2 riders | 1 or 2 hours | One jet ski with a certified captain alongside; the 2-hour option adds a swim stop | A marina in the south; transfer on request, at extra cost | 4.6 · 183 |
Three boats
Each boat tour Tenerife offers here does a different job: snorkelling, three hours with a swim, or a small group looking for marine life.
Leaves Puerto Colón, 15 minutes by speed boat to a bay, then about 50 minutes of snorkelling. Wetsuit, fins and mask are included. Reviewers saw dolphins and flying fish on the ride over. 4.5 on 114 reviews.
The Tenerife whale watching boat tour with the most reviews of the three: 144, rated 4.8. Two decks, a swim in a bay, two drinks and food, and pickup in the south.
The small-group whale and dolphin tour Tenerife has here: a premium Zodiac, six people at most and a guide who talks about the animals. 5.0, but from 9 reviews only.
Getting there
Only one boat collects you; for the other two, you go to the harbour.
For a boat tour Tenerife south is where to stay. The two-deck boat collects you in the south, and that pickup is included in $86. Rebecca from Ireland: «We had the best day out from pick up to drop off.»
The speed boat leaves Puerto Colón, so you make your own way to the harbour. The Zodiac listing names no meeting point; one reviewer sailed from Las Galletas, so read the booking details before you set off.
From the water
Four frames from the coast where every boat tour Tenerife runs from this page spends its time.
Rounded dorsal fins on a grey, choppy sea: what people hope for on a pilot whales Tenerife boat tour. Sightings are possible, never certain.
Dark fins in deep blue water, a low headland and a lighthouse behind. Reviewers of both wildlife boats describe moments like this one.
Three people wave from a small inflatable boat, dark cliffs on one side and open water on the other. The Zodiac here takes six at most.
Two riders share one machine, a second jet ski close behind and a rocky shore beyond. On the open-sea safari, one or two riders pay the same.
Snorkelling
Fifty minutes in the water for the lowest boat price on this page.
The cheapest boat here is a snorkel trip first. After 15 minutes at speed you get about 50 minutes in the water with a wetsuit, fins and mask. Liadan from Ireland: «We did snorkelling and saw soo much, fish, starfish, even an octopus!» Kristopher from the United Kingdom is just as honest: «Saw lots of fish but sadly no turtles.»
The ride is part of the fun. Rachel from the United Kingdom says the captain slowed down whenever there was something to see, and on the way back «drove the boat fast over the waves so we flew and dipped and it was like a rollercoaster (make sure you have a strong stomach)».
How to choose
Answer them in order and the right boat tour Tenerife offers here picks itself.
For whales and dolphins, the two-deck boat or the Zodiac. For time in the water with a mask, the $50 speed boat.
The Zodiac states six at most. For a whale and dolphin watching Tenerife tour in a small group, that is the one. The other listings give no number.
Only the two-deck boat includes one, in the south. For the speed boat, get yourself to Puerto Colón.
The two-deck boat takes 3 hours; the Zodiac and the speed boat take 2.
For contrast
Two jet skis for anyone who would rather drive than watch.
A jet ski is not a boat tour Tenerife wildlife fans should pick, but it suits anyone who wants to drive. Under the Los Gigantes cliffs, which rise up to 600 metres, a guided hour costs $78 per person and runs on to Punta de Teno with a swim stop on the way back. Kyle from the United Kingdom: «Great views of cliffs and exploring the coastal caves».
The open-sea safari off the south coast is priced per machine: $135 for one jet ski, solo or with a passenger, so two sharing pay $67.50 each. Choose 1 or 2 hours; the longer one adds a swim stop. Every jet ski safari on the site is on the main safari list.
Before you book
Two minutes on the listing saves booking the wrong boat tour Tenerife sells.
All three boats and the Los Gigantes jet ski are priced per person. The open-sea jet ski is $135 per machine for one or two riders.
Pickup is included only on the two-deck boat, in the south. Transfer for the open-sea jet ski is on request, at extra cost.
Animals are wild. Reviewers who saw whales call themselves lucky; one snorkeller saw no turtles. Book for the trip, not for a sighting.
All three boats list free cancellation. Check the deadline on the listing before you book.
Our verdict
Book the two-deck boat. For most people looking for the best whale watching tour Tenerife has on this page, it is this one: $86 per person for 3 hours, a swim stop, two drinks and food and a pickup in the south. That works out at $28.67 an hour, and 144 reviewers rate it 4.8.
Want a small group? The Zodiac at $107 takes six at most, with a guide. Its 5.0 comes from 9 reviews. On a budget? The speed boat at $50 is mainly a snorkel trip; any dolphins on the ride are a bonus.
Book direct
The three boats by number of reviews, then the jet ski under the Los Gigantes cliffs. All four are priced per person.
★ 4.8 · 144 reviews
★ 4.5 · 114 reviews
★ 5.0 · 9 reviews
★ 4.8 · 83 reviews
Common questions
On this page, $86 per person for the 3-hour two-deck boat with a swim stop, food and pickup in the south, and $107 per person for the 2-hour Zodiac. The snorkel speed boat, which is not sold for whales, costs $50.
No. Sightings are possible, not certain, on any boat. The two-deck boat lists «possible sightings of marine animals». Many reviewers saw whales, dolphins and turtles, and several call themselves lucky.
The two-deck boat takes 3 hours. The Zodiac and the snorkel speed boat take 2 hours each. The jet ski safaris take 1 hour, or 1 to 2 hours for the open-sea option.
Only on the two-deck boat, and only in the south of the island. The speed boat starts in Puerto Colón. The open-sea jet ski offers transfer on request, at extra cost.
Yes on two boats: the two-deck boat stops in a bay, and the speed boat gives about 50 minutes of snorkelling with a wetsuit, fins and mask. The Los Gigantes jet ski and the 2-hour open-sea jet ski also stop for a swim.
The boat listings state no minimum age. Snorkel boat reviewers brought children aged 9 and 11. On the jet skis, passengers must be 8 or older and 1.35 metres tall at Los Gigantes, and at least 125 centimetres on the open-sea safari.
Go deeper
Where to snorkel on Tenerife by kayak or speed boat: sea caves, marine reserves, what gear is included and what each price covers.
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