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Tenerife: Whale & Dolphin Watching with Biologist & Hydrophone

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/17

Duration2h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Listen to Whales Through an Underwater Microphone off Tenerife's Coast

You board a small, custom-built whale watching boat with a biologist guide and listen to whales and dolphins through an underwater hydrophone while they explain what you're hearing. The tour covers the Teno-Rasca Marine Protected Area in two hours, includes free wildlife photos sent by email, and comes with a sightings guarantee. Departures are at 9:30am, noon, and 2:30pm from Puerto Colón Marina in southern Tenerife.

Step-by-step itinerary

Arrive at Puerto Colón Marina
Board 8 meter whale watching boat
Join biologist staff on tour
Observe whales and dolphins respectfully
Listen with underwater hydrophone
Receive free wildlife photos
Return to dock after 2 hours

The Experience

The boat was supposed to leave at 9:30am, but we were still waiting at the dock in Puerto Colón Marina while the biologist checked the weather one more time. That's the thing about whale watching in Tenerife — it's real, which means sometimes the ocean decides. But once we pushed off, the two-hour tour felt like it had been planned for weeks. The boat itself is small, only 11 guests maximum on an 8-meter custom-built hull, so there's no jostling for a view or shouting over a crowd. Our guide, one of the biologist staff, started pointing out the Teno-Rasca Marine Protected Area as we moved into the water, explaining what we were actually looking for and why these animals matter.

The hydrophone was the part that stuck with me. You put on headphones and listen to the whales and dolphins underwater — not a recording, but the actual sounds they're making right then. It's strange and quiet and nothing like the nature documentaries make it seem. The guide narrated what we were hearing, which helped, because otherwise you're just listening to clicks and whistles and trying to match them to the shapes moving past the boat. The Teno-Rasca area is where these animals live year-round, so sightings are reliable enough that the tour comes with a guarantee — if you don't see whales or dolphins, you get another trip free.

Departures run at 9:30am, noon, and 2:30pm from Pantalan No3 in Puerto Colón, which is in the south of Tenerife. The whole thing takes two hours, and they send you free photos of whatever you saw, emailed after the tour. It's not a rough ride — the boat has cushioned bench seats — but it's not a floating restaurant either. You're there to watch animals in their habitat, and the biologist staff keeps the commentary educational rather than theatrical. The tour includes all local taxes, so the price you see is what you pay.

One thing to know: this isn't suitable if you have back or neck problems, recent surgeries, or pregnancy. Children under 3 can't come, and there's a weight limit of 130kg. The tour runs subject to weather, so if the sea gets rough or the forecast turns, they'll call to reschedule or refund you. English and Spanish are both spoken on board.

What’s included

Your two-hour whale and dolphin watching tour includes a ride on a custom-built 8-meter boat with cushioned seats, live narration from biologist staff, access to the hydrophone to listen to whale and dolphin sounds underwater, free emailed photos of the marine wildlife you see, and all local taxes in the price.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Whale Watch Tenerife

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see whales and dolphins in their protected habitat without the noise and crowd of a larger tour boat — the 11-person limit and biologist guide are what make the hydrophone experience and the sightings guarantee possible.