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Tenerife: Whale Watching & Los Gigantes Catamaran with Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/9

Duration5h

GroupUp to 64

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Whales, Cliffs & a Quiet Swim Off Tenerife's Coast

You spend five hours on a catamaran watching whales and dolphins off Tenerife's south coast, swim in the bay at Masca, and eat lunch with wine on the deck overlooking Los Gigantes cliffs. The crew handles navigation and commentary, and all food and drinks are included. Plan for a full morning or afternoon out on the water, with the return timed so you're back at the port by early evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Watch and listen to whales and dolphins
Sail to Los Gigantes cliffs
Visit Masca bay for swimming
Relax and sunbathe on deck
Enjoy paella, canary mojo, and fresh fruit
Drink beer, water, and soft drinks
Sail back along Tenerife south coast

The Experience

You're out on the water hoping to see something, but not sure if it'll actually happen — and then the skipper cuts the engine and points. The whales are there, moving slow and deliberate, and the deck speakers pick up their calls underneath the boat. It's five hours total on a catamaran built for this: spacious, stable, with a crew of three who know the route and the animals. The boat leaves the south coast of Tenerife and heads toward Los Gigantes, those massive cliff walls that drop straight into the sea, and then into the quieter bay at Masca where the water is clear enough to jump in.

After the whale-watching stretch — which can last an hour or more depending on what shows up — you anchor in Masca bay and get time to swim or snorkel if you want it. The crew handles the boat, and you handle yourself in water that's calm and warm. Most people stay on deck with a drink, but the option is there. Then comes lunch: chicken and rice with vegetables, or pasta salad if that's your preference, fresh fruit, white wine, beer, water and soft drinks all included. You're eating on the deck with the cliffs in front of you and the Canary Islands wind on your face. The whole thing moves at a pace that doesn't feel rushed — the skipper isn't trying to cram in extra stops or cut corners on the whale time.

The boat is authorized and operates under a sustainability charter, which means they're not chasing the animals or breaking any rules about how close you get. The crew speaks multiple languages and will explain what you're seeing as it happens. Weather doesn't stop the trip — they run in all conditions, so bring a layer if it's windy, which it often is out there. Infants need to sit on an adult's lap, and kids have to be with a grown-up, but there's no fitness requirement. If you're vegetarian, let them know when you book and they'll swap the chicken for something else.

The only real catch is that the tour needs a minimum number of passengers to run, so there's a small chance it could be cancelled after you've booked if not enough people sign up — but if that happens, you get offered another date or your money back. It's a public catamaran, not a private charter, so you'll be sharing the boat with other travelers, usually somewhere between twenty and forty people depending on the day.

What’s included

Five hours on a catamaran with an experienced skipper and two crew members.
Whale and dolphin watching with deck speakers so you can hear them underwater.
Access to Masca bay for swimming and snorkeling (on demand).
Lunch including chicken and vegetable rice or pasta salad, fresh fruit, white wine, beer, water and soft drinks.
Live commentary about the marine life and the coast.
All fees and taxes are covered.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by White Tenerife

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see whales off Tenerife without arranging a boat or worrying about what to bring — the crew, the food and the route are all handled. Expect a full morning or afternoon on the water with other travelers; the boat holds up to forty people, and the pace is set by where the whales are that day, not by a fixed schedule.