Tenerife: Luxury Private Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour

Wildlife meets yacht comfort here. This private sailing trip from Puerto Colon gives your group a polished way to look for pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles without sharing the boat with strangers. I especially like the private setting for up to 11 people and the easygoing mix of wildlife watching, swimming, food, and drinks.

I also like that the yacht has a bathroom, cabins, a sunbathing area, salon, and kitchen. That matters on a three to six-hour cruise. The main consideration is price: at $701 per group, it is a strong deal for a full party, but expensive for a small group.

Key Points Before You Book

• Pilot whales are often spotted soon after leaving Puerto Colon, making the opening part of the cruise especially promising.
• The private yacht holds up to 11 people, so you can share the outing with family or friends rather than a large mixed group.
• Cava, soft drinks, beer, white wine, baguettes, fruit, and snacks are included, which keeps the day pleasantly simple.
• The six-hour option gives you more time to stop in a quiet bay, swim, use the snorkeling gear, and enjoy the boat at a slower pace.
• A captain and live guide are provided in five languages, Spanish, English, German, French, and Italian.
• Bring your own towel and sun cream, since neither is included.

Setting Sail From Puerto Colon

Your meeting point is Puerto Colon, Pantalan Number 2. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before departure. The cruise is offered for either three or six hours, with starting times depending on availability.

Puerto Colon is a useful departure point for this kind of outing because you are quickly out on the water and focused on the Atlantic rather than spending a long time getting to the marina. The first part of the trip is straightforward: meet the captain, step aboard, and settle into the yacht.

A complimentary glass of cava welcomes you on board. It is a small touch, but it sets the tone. This is not a basic open boat with a cooler and a few seats. You have access to a fully equipped sailing yacht with a large salon and kitchen, cabins, bathroom facilities, and room to sit in the sun.

I would still dress for a beach day rather than a formal yacht party. The practical clothing list is simple: swimsuit, light summer clothing, hat, sunglasses, and camera. Wear something you can relax in for several hours. You should also pack sun cream and a towel, because both are specifically left out of the included equipment.

Looking for Pilot Whales Near Tenerife

The wildlife is the reason to book this cruise, and pilot whales are the first major sighting to look for. According to the supplied trip details, the first pilot whales should come into view soon after the yacht leaves the harbor.

That early opportunity gives the three-hour option real appeal. You do not need to spend a full day at sea to have a chance of seeing marine life. If your main goal is to spot whales and dolphins, a shorter private cruise can fit neatly into a Tenerife holiday.

The six-hour cruise makes more sense if you want the boat itself to be part of the experience. You have additional time to search the water, wait patiently for wildlife, and later stop at a secluded bay. The longer outing is less about squeezing in a checklist and more about having a relaxed day on the Atlantic.

Wild animals do not follow a tour schedule, so you should treat sightings as a possibility rather than a guarantee. The trip is built around looking for pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles, and the cruise information indicates that all three may be seen. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole time staring through a screen. Marine wildlife can appear and disappear quickly.

Dolphins, Turtles, and the Value of a Private Boat

Pilot whales are the main early attraction, but dolphins and turtles add variety to the trip. Each sighting gives the cruise a different character. Whales make you scan the open water, dolphins can create sudden movement around the boat, and turtles are tied more closely to the later swimming stop.

The private format is important here. With a maximum of 11 people, you have a more personal arrangement than a large group boat. Your friends or family can spread out, choose the sunbathing area, use the salon, or gather around the captain for information.

One particularly nice detail is that the captain may let your group play its own music. That came through in one of the strongest accounts of the trip, where a private party of 11 enjoyed having control over the soundtrack. This is a useful advantage for families and friend groups, though I would keep the volume reasonable so the natural sounds and wildlife remain part of the day.

The guide service is available in Spanish, English, German, French, and Italian. That makes the trip easier to enjoy for a mixed-language group. The supplied feedback also highlights friendly service and useful information from the guide, along with a captain who helped create a relaxed mood.

A Secluded Bay for Swimming and Snorkeling

At some point, the captain anchors in a secluded bay. This is where the cruise shifts from wildlife watching to a proper break on the water.

You can swim, use the included snorkeling equipment, or stay aboard with a drink and snack. The trip information specifically mentions the chance to swim with turtles. If you are not keen on getting in the water, the yacht still gives you a comfortable place to rest and enjoy the view.

This stop is one of the clearest reasons to choose six hours rather than three. The shorter cruise may still include time for a swim, but the longer option gives the day more breathing room. You are less likely to feel as if you are rushing from whale watching to lunch to swimming and back to port.

A towel is not provided, so pack one. You will also want sun cream, a hat, and sunglasses. The boat has a sunbathing area, which is pleasant but also means you will be exposed to strong sun for part of the outing.

The snorkeling gear is included, but no specific underwater sights are promised beyond the opportunity to swim with turtles. I would treat this as a pleasant extra rather than booking the tour solely for snorkeling.

Food, Drinks, and the Yacht Experience

The food service is simple and well suited to a boat trip. You receive baguettes, fruit, and snacks, with soft drinks, beer, and white wine available throughout the cruise. Cava is served on arrival.

I like this arrangement because it covers the basics without turning the cruise into a formal meal. You can have a drink while watching the water, grab a baguette when you are hungry, and eat fruit or snacks between sightings. Several of the strongest comments praise the food and generous refreshment service.

There is no need to plan a separate picnic, though you should not expect a restaurant menu. The offering is casual and practical. If someone in your group has special dietary needs, the supplied details do not explain how those are handled, so ask the provider before booking.

The yacht’s interior matters more than it may sound. A bathroom, cabins, salon, and kitchen give you options when the sun is strong or the sea feels less comfortable. On a short outing, these facilities are convenient. On a six-hour cruise, they become a major part of the value.

The private booking also lets your group set the pace within the captain’s plan. You can spend time in the sun, sit in the salon, swim, snack, or listen to music. That freedom is hard to match on a tightly scheduled shared boat.

Choosing Three Hours or Six Hours

The two duration options serve different kinds of days.

Choose three hours if you want:

• A focused wildlife cruise
• A shorter outing that fits around other Tenerife plans
• A private boat without committing most of the day
• Time to look for pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles, with the possibility of a swim

Choose six hours if you want:

• A slower day on the yacht
• More time to wait for wildlife
• A longer stop in a secluded bay
• More time for swimming, snorkeling, food, and drinks
• A special group celebration or relaxed day with friends

The six-hour option is probably the better choice for a group treating the yacht as the main event. The three-hour option is more efficient if you are testing the waters, literally and financially.

Because the rate is $701 per group up to 11, the math changes dramatically with group size. Eleven people would pay about $64 per person before any separate booking charges, while a couple would carry the full cost between them. For a large family or group of friends, private access, food, drinks, and snorkeling gear make the price much easier to justify.

I would compare this with the cost of several individual seats on a shared whale-watching boat, but the important difference is privacy. You are paying not only for time at sea, but also for control over the company, space, music, and pace.

What the Strong Feedback Tells You

The experience has a 4.9 rating from 14 reviews, with the available comments giving a consistent picture of what works best.

Service receives repeated praise. The captain and guide are described as friendly, helpful, and informative. That matters on a wildlife cruise because a good captain does more than steer the yacht. You want someone who can explain what you are seeing and create a calm atmosphere while searching the water.

Food and drinks also earn strong approval. The combination of baguettes, fruit, snacks, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks means you are not left managing meals during the cruise. One German-language account describes the day as relaxed, with plenty seen and excellent catering.

The private group setup is another major success. A party of 11 enjoyed having the whole boat, snacks, drinks, swim time, and the freedom to play its own music. That is the kind of arrangement that works well for birthdays, reunions, family outings, and groups who simply prefer their own space.

The wildlife sightings are clearly central to the excitement. Pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles are all part of the expected search, and the available feedback describes seeing whales and enjoying the swimming stop. The safest way to approach the trip is to value the full outing, not only one perfect photograph.

Who Will Enjoy This Cruise Most

I would recommend this yacht for families, couples traveling with friends, and groups of up to 11 who want a private day on the water.

It is especially suitable if you value comfort. The bathroom, cabins, salon, kitchen, and sunbathing area make the yacht more flexible than a basic sightseeing boat. It also works well for people who want some activity but do not want every minute planned. You can watch wildlife, swim, use snorkeling gear, or simply eat and relax.

The cruise is less appealing if you are traveling alone or as a very small group and mainly want the cheapest way to see whales. The $701 group price has its best value when shared among many people.

It may also disappoint anyone expecting a formal luxury meal or a guaranteed wildlife encounter. The luxury is mainly in the private yacht, space, service, and relaxed setting. The food is casual, and the animals remain wild.

Booking Details That Matter

The meeting point is Puerto Colon, Pantalan Number 2. Arrive 15 minutes before departure so you can board without a last-minute scramble.

The activity includes a live guide in Spanish, English, German, French, and Italian. It is a private group experience, not a shared tour.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which helps if your Tenerife schedule is still changing. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

Bring:

• Swimsuit
• Summer beach clothing
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Camera
• Towel
• Sun cream

The final two items are worth highlighting. Towels and sun cream are not included, and both are easy to forget when you are thinking about whales and cava.

Should You Book the Tenerife Private Yacht Tour?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the $701 price and want more than a quick wildlife ride. The combination of pilot whale and dolphin watching, a secluded-bay stop, swimming, snorkeling equipment, drinks, food, and a private yacht gives the day plenty of substance.

Choose three hours for a focused outing. Choose six hours if you want the yacht, swimming, and relaxed food service to fill most of your day.

I would skip it only if your group is very small and price is the main concern, or if you require guaranteed wildlife sightings. For a family or friend group of up to 11, this is a well-rounded Tenerife experience with a clear advantage: you get the sea, the wildlife, and the company you actually came with.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from Puerto Colon, Pantalan Number 2. You should arrive 15 minutes before departure.

How long is the yacht trip?

You can choose a three-hour or six-hour cruise. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join the private cruise?

The price covers one private group of up to 11 people.

What animals might I see?

The cruise is designed for sightings of pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles. Wildlife sightings are not presented as guaranteed.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The cruise includes cava on arrival, soft drinks, beer, white wine, baguettes, fruit, and snacks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a camera, summer beach clothing, and a hat. You should also bring a towel and sun cream because they are not included.