Lanzarote: Whale & Dolphin Catamaran with Hydrophone

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.77 (88 reviews) 88% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/15

Duration4h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN · FR +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Three Hours on a Silent Catamaran, Listening to Whales Off Lanzarote

You board a fully electric catamaran at Puerto Calero and spend three to four hours watching for whales and dolphins while listening to their calls through a hydrophone. The boat stays silent—no diesel engine—which keeps the animals close and curious. You get fresh fruit, water, and snacks included, and the group never exceeds twelve people, so you're not crammed in with strangers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale and dolphin observation tour

Depart from Puerto Calero
Sail towards the open sea
Observe whales and dolphins
Listen to animals via hydrophone
Return to Puerto Calero

The Experience

The boat was supposed to leave at 9:30, but the captain was still checking the hydrophone when we arrived—one of those small delays that actually matters when you're trying to catch animals that don't keep schedules. Once we cast off from Puerto Calero, though, it became clear why the wait was worth it. The catamaran itself is electric, completely silent, which means the whales and dolphins don't hear you coming. That quiet is the whole point. Most boats out here run diesel engines loud enough to scatter cetaceans for miles; this one just glides.

The hydrophone—basically an underwater microphone—gets lowered into the water once you're out past the breakwater, and that's when things get strange in the best way. You're standing on deck in the salt air, and through the speakers you hear clicks, whistles, and these long, eerie calls that don't sound like anything from the surface world. Our guide explained which species make which sounds, but honestly, you don't need the translation. Hearing a dolphin echolocate while you're watching it breach fifty meters away does something to you that a documentary can't touch. The tour runs about three to four hours depending on where the animals are, and the boat caps out at twelve people, so there's actual space to move around instead of being packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

Fresh fruit, water, and local snacks come with it—nothing fancy, but enough that you're not hungry or thirsty by the time you're heading back to Puerto Calero. The sea can be choppy out there, and the boat moves, but it's not a white-knuckle ride. If you've ever wanted to see whales and dolphins without the engine noise that usually drives them away, this is the setup that makes it possible.

What’s included

Your three to four hour tour includes pickup from Puerto Calero, use of the silent electric catamaran, access to the hydrophone system for listening to whale and dolphin calls underwater, fresh fruit, water, soda, organic soft drinks, and local snacks. The boat accommodates a maximum of 12 guests.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcome

Operated by WeWhale

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to watch whales and dolphins without the diesel engine noise that usually drives them away—the silent catamaran and hydrophone are what make close encounters possible in the first place.