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Day trips

Los Cristianos: no-chase whale and dolphin watching

90-minute trip from Los Cristianos on a catamaran with underwater viewing to see pilot whales and dolphins without chasing them, plus the Cueva del Amor. 4.6/5.

4.615,598 reviews

  • 1.5 hours
  • Free cancellation up to 24h before
  • English, Spanish, French +2
  • Mobile ticket and instant confirmation
Photo credits
  1. Tony Hisgett, CC BY 2.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
  2. Unsplash, Gustavo A. Perez (Licencia Unsplash) · source
  3. jfreire, CC BY-SA 3.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
  4. Gustavo A. Pérez, CC BY-SA 4.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
  5. Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net), CC BY-SA 4.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
  6. Martina Nolte, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
  7. Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
  8. Tony Hisgett, CC BY 2.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
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Highlights

  • No-chase policy: the animals choose how close they come
  • Large, stable catamaran with an underwater viewing area
  • Resident pilot whales and dolphins off southern Tenerife
  • Pass by the Cueva del Amor
  • Part of the fare goes to marine conservation projects

Other versions of this activity

Same activity, different format or price.

Our take

This is the trip for anyone who wants to see pilot whales with a clear conscience and without spending half a day at sea: 90 minutes, a departure from central Los Cristianos and a big boat with underwater windows that children love. If you want a swim in open water or a trip with lunch, look elsewhere.

What's included

  • Whale and dolphin watching
  • Underwater viewing through the glass hull
  • Visit to the Cueva del Amor
  • Professional guides and qualified crew
  • Safety equipment and licences
  • Indoor lounge and bar on board

Not included

  • Hotel pickup
  • Swimming or snorkelling (not allowed on this trip)

Good to know

What to bring

  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat
  • Sunscreen

Not suitable for

  • Wheelchair users (including electric wheelchairs)
  • Unaccompanied minors

Things to keep in mind

  • Arrive 20 minutes before departure
  • Swimming, snorkelling and diving are not allowed
  • Sightings aren't guaranteed
  • In bad weather the trip is cancelled and you're offered another date or a refund

Meeting point

Paseo Juan Bariajo, 38650 Los Cristianos (Los Cristianos harbour, Zone A).

Once at the harbour, follow the blue line painted on the ground to Zone A, behind the large green fence, where you check in. Arrive 20 minutes early: departure times are strict.

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The experience

What you will see

A population of short-finned pilot whales lives year-round in the channel between Tenerife and La Gomera, and bottlenose dolphins and passing species turn up there regularly too. This 90-minute trip looks for them close to Los Cristianos harbour.

  • Pilot whales and dolphins in the wild, watched from deck and, when they're close, from the underwater viewing area.
  • Tenerife's south coast, with Teide in the background on clear days.
  • The Cueva del Amor, a sea cave in the cliffs around Montaña de Guaza.

How it works

You check in at Zone A of Los Cristianos harbour: from the promenade, follow the blue line painted on the ground to the green fence. Be there 20 minutes early; if you're late, the boat won't wait.

The catamaran heads out and the crew explains which species you might see and how to behave around them. The house rule is no chasing: the boat doesn't cut across the animals' path or circle them, it holds back and lets them come closer. That sometimes means seeing them from a little further away than on other trips, in exchange for not stressing them.

On board there's a covered lounge and a bar selling drinks and snacks. There's no swim stop: swimming and snorkelling are explicitly not allowed. After passing the Cueva del Amor, the boat returns to the same pier.

If the sea is rough, the trip may be cancelled or changed; you'll be offered another date or a refund.

Who I recommend it for

  • Anyone who wants responsible whale watching and cares how the animals are treated.
  • Families with children: it's short and the underwater window keeps them busy.
  • Anyone staying in Los Cristianos or Playa de las Américas who can walk to the harbour.

Who I don't recommend it for

  • Anyone wanting a swim out at sea. The eco yacht or the catamaran with a swim stop suit you better.
  • Anyone who gets seasick easily and doesn't want to risk it: some days are quite choppy.
  • Anyone who needs hotel pickup.

Accessibility

Not suitable for wheelchairs, including electric ones.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, with a full refund.

Frequently asked questions

What does no-chase mean?
The boat doesn't follow, cut across or surround the animals: it keeps its distance and lets them approach.
Can I swim?
No. Unlike some other trips from Los Cristianos, there's no swim stop on this one.
Will I get seasick?
The catamaran is large and stable, but several travellers say it moves quite a bit in a swell. If you're prone to it, take something before boarding.
Is hotel pickup included?
No, the trip starts and ends at Los Cristianos harbour.

Related reading on our guides

→ Whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife: how to choose a boat

Whale watching in Tenerife: five boat trips compared (€28 to €63 per person), which port to pick, the legal rules for boats, when to go and seasickness tips.

→ What to see in Tenerife: Teide, La Laguna, Masca, Garachico and Anaga

Tenerife guide: Teide, La Laguna, La Orotava, Garachico, Masca, Los Gigantes, Anaga and the whales of the south. How many days, where to stay and how to get around.

→ Teide cable car and summit permit sold out: what to do

If the Teide cable car or the summit permit is sold out: when places are released, tours with the cable car included, the Altavista refuge and what to see without going up.

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From €28 4.6 (15,598 reviews) · 1.5 hours