Day trips2-3 hoursFree cancellation up to 24h before

Tenerife: Whale watching at Los Gigantes cliffs

Whale and dolphin watching boat trip from Los Gigantes, departing below the most dramatic cliffs in the Canary Islands. Pilot whales resident year-round. 4.7/5 with 5,888 reviews.

4.75,888 reviews

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Photo credits

Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
Martina Nolte, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
Martina Nolte, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 4.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source

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Practical details

Duration: 2-3 hours
Guide languages: Spanish · English
Mobile ticket: No need to print
Instant confirmation: Right after booking
Wheelchair accessible: No
Minimum age: No restriction
Pets: Not allowed
Cancellation: Free up to 24h before

Highlights

Pilot whales resident year-round in the waters off Tenerife's west coast
Los Gigantes cliffs — 800-metre vertical walls rising from the sea
Bottlenose dolphins and spotted dolphins common year-round
Small boats for closer encounters (not large cruise-style vessels)

Our take

Los Gigantes combines two of Tenerife's greatest natural spectacles: the tallest sea cliffs in Spain and resident pilot whales just offshore. One of the best whale-watching sites in Europe.

What's included

Boat trip (2–3 hours)
Whale and dolphin watching with a naturalist guide

Not included

Transport to Los Gigantes
Food and drink

Good to know

What to bring

Warm layer (the open sea can be cool even in summer)
Sun protection
Camera with good zoom

Not suitable for

People with very severe motion sickness

Things to keep in mind

Pilot whales are sighted on nearly every trip — they are resident, not seasonal
Whale-watching is regulated in the Canary Islands; boats must maintain a minimum distance
Morning departures usually have calmer seas and better light for photography

Meeting point

Puerto de Los Gigantes, Tenerife

Los Gigantes is on Tenerife's west coast, about 45 km from Santa Cruz and 30 km from Las Américas. From the south, take the TF-1 and TF-47 motorways. Parking available at the port. Confirm the exact meeting point with the operator on your voucher.

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The experience

Tenerife's best whale watching

The channel between Tenerife and La Gomera is one of the richest cetacean habitats in the Atlantic. Short-finned pilot whales live here year-round — they are not migratory, which means sighting rates are consistently high regardless of season.

Los Gigantes: a spectacular setting

The trip departs from Puerto de Los Gigantes, at the foot of the most dramatic sea cliffs in the Canary Islands. The basalt walls rise vertically up to 800 metres from the waterline — a geological spectacle in their own right.

What you'll see

Pilot whales are the star attraction: large, sociable cetaceans that travel in family pods of 10 to 30 individuals. They surface frequently and approach boats with curiosity.

Bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic spotted dolphins are also very commonly sighted, often bow-riding alongside the boat.

In calm seas, loggerhead turtles are regularly spotted at the surface.

About the trip

The trip lasts 2–3 hours on a small boat (better for spotting wildlife than a large cruise vessel). A naturalist guide provides commentary on the animals and the conservation regulations that govern whale-watching in the Canaries.

Best time to go

Year-round, but spring and autumn typically offer the calmest seas. Morning departures (9–10 AM) have better light and smoother water.

Accessibility

Limited accessibility. The boat boarding requires stepping over a gunwale. Not suitable for wheelchairs.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before with full refund.

Frequently asked questions

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

No operator can guarantee wildlife sightings, but pilot whales are resident in the waters off Tenerife's west coast year-round (not migratory), making sighting rates very high — typically over 90% on individual trips. Dolphins are also seen on most trips.

Which whales will I see?

The most common species is the short-finned pilot whale (resident year-round). Bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic spotted dolphins are also very frequently seen. Less common sightings include sperm whales and loggerhead turtles.