Snorkeling in Tenerife: Whales and Dolphins on a Sailboat

Snorkel among lava reefs and endemic plants after sailing past whales and dolphins

A 3-hour sailboat tour from Puerto Colón in Tenerife's south coast, departing into a protected cetacean zone where you watch whales, dolphins and seabirds, then anchor in La Caleta de Adeje to snorkel with provided equipment. The boat holds 10 passengers and a crew of 2. Snacks, food and drinks are served on board. Live guides speak English and Spanish. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale watching and snorkeling tour

• Depart from Puerto Colón
• Observe whales, dolphins, and seabirds
• Anchor at La Caleta de Adeje bay
• Distribute snorkeling equipment
• Swim in crystal clear waters
• Eat food and drink on board
• Return to port observing coast and mountains

The experience

The Roulette departs from Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje, located inside the Zec area: a zone designated for special conservation of cetaceans. Within about three miles of the coast, the sailboat typically encounters up to 29 species of cetaceans, 4 types of sea turtles and 11 types of seabirds. The boat carries 10 passengers and 2 crew members, so the group stays small enough that sightings are shared without crowding the rails.

After watching from the deck, the boat anchors in La Caleta de Adeje, a bay classified as a site of scientific interest for its diversity of lava formations and endemic plant species. This is where snorkeling equipment is distributed and you enter the water. The bay's clarity and the seabirds overhead make the snorkel stop feel less like a generic beach break and more like an extension of the marine life you've been watching from above.

Food and drinks are served on board throughout the sail: snacks during the outbound journey, a meal during the anchorage, and beverages on the return. Vegetarian options are available if you request them at booking. The experience runs 3 hours total, with departures at 10:30 am or 1:30 pm, giving you a choice between a morning or early-afternoon slot.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• snacks and a meal on board.
• beverages throughout the sail.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• use of the 12-meter sailboat for the full 3 hours.

Before you book

Days and timesMon–Fri · 10:30

Ages13 to 80 years · 3 to 12 years · Under 3 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “Customers must be at the meeting point ten minutes before departure time. Our meeting point is at the entrance to Pier 5 in Puerto Colón; it's the first pier pa…”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Barco de Vela de Lujo Roulette

Is this one for you?You're snorkeling on a shared sailboat with up to 10 other passengers, which is what keeps the group small and the boat nimble enough to follow marine life sightings. Choose this if you want to watch whales and dolphins from the deck before entering the water, rather than a beach-based snorkel with no wildlife context.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

3 to 12 years. Under 3: no ticket type, they can't be added to a booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What marine life will I actually see on this snorkeling trip from Tenerife?

The waters around Puerto Colón and La Caleta de Adeje hold up to 29 cetacean species, 4 types of sea turtles and 11 seabird species. What you encounter on any given departure depends on the season and the day's conditions, but the boat operates in a protected zone where marine life is reliably present.

Is snorkeling equipment provided, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkeling equipment is included and distributed at La Caleta de Adeje, where you'll use it to snorkel in the bay's clear water. You don't need to bring or rent your own.

How many people will be on the sailboat with me?

The 12-meter Roulette carries a maximum of 10 passengers plus 2 crew members, keeping the group small and the experience less crowded than larger tour boats.

What's included in the food and drinks on board?

Snacks and beverages are served during the sail, and a meal is provided during the anchorage at La Caleta de Adeje. Vegetarian options are available if you request them when you book.

What time does the boat depart, and how long does the whole experience take?

Departures are at 10:30 am or 1:30 pm, and the full experience lasts 3 hours. You choose your preferred time when booking.