Whale watching in Tenerife with kids
Two hours, a calm sea and animals that come close: whale watching works better with children than most boat activities. Here is how to make sure it does.
Why it works
Most family boat trips fail on the same two things: they are too long and there is nothing happening. A two-hour whale watching trip on a sheltered coast avoids both. The transit out is twenty minutes, there is something to look at the whole way, and the animals themselves are large, close and unmistakable.
The hydrophone is the part that surprises parents. Children who lose interest in scanning an empty horizon get completely absorbed by hearing clicks and whistles coming out of a speaker.
Which trip to book
The 9:30 departure, without exception. The sea is calmest in the morning, which matters far more for children than adults, and it leaves the rest of the day free.
Consider the private charter if you have a nervous child or a group of four or more. Having the boat to yourselves means nobody minds if someone needs to move around, ask the same question four times or sit down for a bit. From about nine people it also works out cheaper per head than the group tour.
What to bring
- A fleece or windbreaker each. It is colder on the water than on the beach, in every month.
- Sunscreen applied before you leave, and hats that will not blow off.
- Water, and a small snack for afterwards.
- A light meal an hour before. Empty stomachs make seasickness worse.
- Shoes with soft soles. No flip-flops on a wet deck.
- Seasickness remedy an hour beforehand if your child is prone to car sickness.
What to tell them beforehand
Two things help enormously. First, that the animals are wild and decide for themselves how close to come — this prevents the disappointment of expecting a theme-park encounter. Second, that pilot whales spend most of their time resting at the surface rather than jumping. A child who knows what a resting group looks like will spot one before you do.
Very young children
Babies and toddlers are not a good fit for a small boat: there is nowhere to lie down, the motion is more noticeable than on a large vessel and two hours is a long time without a nap. Around four years old is where it starts to click, and from six upwards most children love it.
Questions from parents
What age is old enough?
There is no formal minimum, but around four is where most children get something out of it. Below that the boat is fine and the attention span is not.
Will my child be bored?
Two hours is short by boat-trip standards and that is deliberate. The hydrophone helps enormously with younger children — hearing the animals gives them something to do during the quiet stretches.
What about seasickness in children?
Children are more prone to it than adults. Take the 9:30 departure, give them something an hour beforehand if they are susceptible, keep them outside and looking at the horizon, and feed them something light first — an empty stomach makes it worse.
Are there life jackets in child sizes?
Yes. Mention children's ages when booking so the right sizes are on board.
2 h · max 10€60 per adult
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