Whale watching Costa Adeje: Small-group sailboat, 11 passengers

A captain who reads the sea finds cetaceans where crowded boats miss them.

A 3-hour whale-watching tour from Costa Adeje sails small groups of 11 on a luxury sailboat to the Teno-Masca Special Area of Conservation, one of Europe's best year-round cetacean grounds. You spot dolphins and tropical calderones with a captain trained in their behavior, then anchor at Diego Hernández to snorkel or sunbathe. The sailboat itself (a Beneteau, Dufour or Jeanneau between 12 and 14 meters) stays quiet and unhurried, the opposite of the packed tour boats that work the same coast.

The experience

The boat leaves Puerto Colón and heads for the Teno-Masca Special Area of Conservation, where the captain, an expert in cetacean behavior, reads the water and knows where to find them. Unlike the crowded vessels that churn through the same route, this sailboat carries only 11 passengers, which means you're not jostling for rail space or waiting for someone else's photo to finish. The captain interprets what he sees and adjusts course, not following a fixed script. Tropical calderones and bottlenose dolphins live in these waters year-round, and the quiet approach, sailing rather than motoring, increases your chances of seeing them at a distance that feels natural, not staged.

After the sighting, the boat anchors at Diego Hernández, where the day shifts from watching to doing. You can slip into the water with snorkeling gear, sunbathe on the sailboat's solarium, or simply sit with a drink and let the rhythm of the boat settle in. Sandwiches, fruit, water, soda and beer come aboard. The goggles and snorkels are provided. The whole rhythm is designed to feel unhurried: space, comfort and a relaxed atmosphere are the stated aim, not the afterthought.

The company holds Tourism certification from Tenerife and authorization from MITECO (Spain's environment ministry), and sails under a sustainability standard. A live guide speaks English, Spanish or Italian throughout the sail.

What’s included

• Sandwiches and fresh fruit.
• water, soda and beer.
• snorkeling goggles and fins.
• live guide in English, Spanish or Italian.

Options for this experience

3 options

1 Maco yachtGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 09:30, 12:30, 15:30 and 18:30Shared tour for cetaceans

2 Maco YachtGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 09:30, 12:30, 15:30 and 18:30Shared cetacean tour

3 Maco yachtGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 09:30, 12:30, 15:30 and 18:30Shared tour for cetaceans

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 3h, runs every day, 4 start times, from € 49 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and Italian, in groups of up to 11 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Saturday: 09:30, 12:30, 15:30 and 18:30Saturday: 09:30, 12:30 and 15:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (2 to 9 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h 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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Avistamiento de Cetaceos Macoyacht

Is this one for you?You choose the boat size and guide language at checkout. The fleet has three sailboats (1, 2 or 3 Maco yachts available), each holding the same 11-passenger limit. Pick the departure that fits your schedule. The small group and expert captain are the same on every sail.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 9 years); Infant (under 2).

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 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between this sailboat and the bigger whale-watching boats that leave from the same port?

This sailboat holds 11 passengers maximum, versus 40 or more on the standard tour boats. The smaller group, the quiet sail instead of a motor, and a captain trained in cetacean behavior mean you're more likely to see dolphins and whales up close and in their natural behavior, not as a brief sighting from a crowded deck.

Can I swim and snorkel during the tour, or is it just watching from the boat?

After the whale and dolphin sighting, the boat anchors at Diego Hernández in clear water where you can snorkel with provided goggles and fins, swim freely, or sunbathe on the sailboat's solarium. The snorkeling and swimming are optional. You can stay on deck if you prefer.

How long does the actual sailing take, and what happens during those 3 hours?

The tour runs 3 hours total. You sail from Puerto Colón to the Teno-Masca conservation area (the travel time depends on where the cetaceans are that day), spend time watching for dolphins and whales with the captain, then anchor at Diego Hernández for swimming, snorkeling and rest before returning to port.

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

Sandwiches, fresh fruit, water, soda and beer are provided. Snorkeling goggles and fins are also included in the tour.

Is this tour suitable if I've never been on a sailboat before or I get seasick easily?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The sailboat is between 12 and 14 meters and sails in the coastal waters of Costa Adeje. The motion is gentler than a motorized tour boat, but if you're prone to seasickness, mention it when you book so the crew can advise on timing and positioning on deck.