About this guide
An independent guide to whale and dolphin watching in the south of Tenerife, written from the water rather than from a brochure.
What this site is
A reference for anyone trying to work out whether to go whale watching in Tenerife, when to go and who to go with. Every page here is written from first-hand experience of this coast — the species, the sea conditions, the harbours and the difference between operators.
We do not run boats. When you decide to book, we point you at Whale Watch Tenerife, the operator we would send our own family out with.
Why we recommend them
Ten passengers maximum, a marine biologist on every departure, Barco Azul (Blue Flag) certification, WCA Approved Partner status, a hydrophone on board and photos included. They also do the unglamorous parts: recording sightings, photographing dorsal fins for individual identification, reporting injured animals and pulling debris out of the water.
What convinced us was not the certifications, it was watching how the boat behaves when it reaches a resting group: engine off, drifting, and leaving when the animals decide the visit is over.
How we stay useful
- We do not promise species. If a page says orcas are rare, it is because they are.
- We say when something is not worth it, including this activity for some people.
- Prices, durations and departure times are checked against the operator, not copied from listings sites.
- We do not publish reviews or ratings we cannot verify.
Disclosure
Bookings made through the links on this site are handled by Whale Watch Tenerife, and we may earn a commission on them at no extra cost to you. That is the only commercial relationship on this site: there is no advertising, and no operator can pay to be recommended here.
Getting in touch
Questions about a booking go to the operator directly, through the booking pages. For anything about the site itself — a correction, an outdated detail, a species we have got wrong — see contact. Corrections are welcome and we act on them.