Best Moment for Whale Watching in Tenerife

During a trip to the Canary Islands, you can't miss the chance to see whales in Tenerife. Read on!

If you are planning a trip to the island and you are particularly interested in this activity, to choose the best boat trips for whale watching in Tenerife, I recommend you read this post where we review the best time of year for whale watching.

Given its privileged location, Tenerife and especially the southwest coast of the island is one of the best places in Europe to see whales in the wild and other types of cetaceans at any time of the year.

Both spring and winter are the best times to see whales and dolphins on the island because the cetaceans are most active in the area. Especially in the area that separates La Gomera from Tenerife.

Bearing this in mind, when it comes to seeing wild animals, the question always arises as to whether there will be a good chance of a sighting during the excursion. In this sense, don't worry because Tenerife's great location in the Atlantic Ocean makes the island an ideal place to see cetaceans and the chances are very high 365 days a year.

Regarding the other seasons of the year, if you want to see the babies of these animals I recommend you to go in summer as the breeding season takes place while autumn is the best time to sail.

Spring is a good time to go to Tenerife as it is low season and you can enjoy the island without the crowds, also on whale watching boat trips!

There are many reasons why it is worth going on a whale watching tour in Tenerife. But what's more, this is when the whales are most active, so take advantage of the fact that it's not too crowded to join one of these excursions. You'll have a great time!

For whale watching in the Atlantic, a good idea is to take a light waterproof jacket in case you feel cold at sea and as you'll be spending a lot of time outdoors the sun can get in the way, so don't forget your hat and sunglasses.

What spring is like on the island

Spring is an ideal time to travel to Tenerife. The days are longer and sunnier while the temperatures are mild with highs of 24ºC. If you are travelling with the intention of doing outdoor activities such as a whale watching cruise, it is a good time of year because it is neither too cold nor too hot.

So that you can organise your suitcase well for your trip to the island in spring, I advise you to consult both the average temperatures in Tenerife during this season and the weather forecast for the date of your trip.

Autumn is also a good time to visit Tenerife and go on a whale watching cruise because the water conditions and waves are great. This is the best time to sail although sightings are less regular. However, the Tenerife sky takes on a very special light and you will be able to take some beautiful photographs during the excursion.

If you are looking for peace and quiet on the island, this is a good time. After the floods of domestic tourists in the Canaries during the summer, in autumn you can enjoy the island in peace and quiet as it is low season, just as it is in spring, and the day still has enough daylight hours to enjoy the outdoors but without the crowds of the previous season.

You may also find that the prices for these types of excursions are more affordable during this time of year.

What Tenerife is like in autumn

If you are thinking of going on an activity in the countryside, such as a whale watching cruise, a good time to visit Tenerife is in autumn, as it is neither too hot nor too cold.

Temperatures are still mild with highs of 26ºC in October and 23ºC in November. This is the ideal temperature for a day outdoors!

During autumn there are few rainy days per month on the island and more in the north than in the south. In the event of rain during your stay, don't worry because a rain jacket will solve the problem in no time and you can carry on with your plans as normal.

If you don't want to miss the opportunity to go on a cruise in the waters of the island and see the whale calves play during this season or to go kayaking and snorkelling in Tenerife, I recommend that you book your place on the excursion well in advance of your travel date, as this is the time of year with the greatest influx of travellers, especially national tourists, and this will affect the availability of the excursions. It will be an unforgettable experience!

What summer is like on the island

Summer is the time of year when there are the most hours of daylight on Tenerife with temperatures of around 30ºC. People take the opportunity to go to the beach, eat on the terraces, do sports and various outdoor activities such as boat trips in search of whales and dolphins.

If you choose to visit Tenerife in summer to enjoy the island's nature, bear in mind that the sun shines brightly and the heat can be suffocating, so I advise you to be well prepared for any activity: wear sunglasses, a hat and light clothing and remember to pack cool water and sun cream in your rucksack.

If your trip to Tenerife coincides with the winter season and you would like to take part in a whale watching cruise, during this season you will have the chance to see shorter but more intense sightings because you can observe the sea creatures preparing to hunt.

However, the days are shorter and it gets dark earlier so if you want to do outdoor activities I advise you to schedule them early in the morning to make the most of the daylight hours.

What Tenerife is like in winter

Unlike continental European winters, Tenerife does not suffer from cold or freezing temperatures, but rather temperatures remain mild as in spring or autumn at around 19ºC or 22ºC. With these climatic conditions it is not surprising that the Canary Islands are known as the islands of eternal spring.

Winter is also a busy time for tourists, especially European travellers who escape the freezing temperatures of the mainland to enjoy the mild temperatures of the Canary Islands.

The advantage of visiting Tenerife in winter is that good weather is guaranteed but remember that it is high season and prices increase so you will need to plan ahead for many aspects of your trip such as hotel bookings, flights and activities to do on the island.

Whale watching boat trips run several departures throughout the day. You will have the same chances of spotting marine animals regardless of the time of day, but if you want to get a good report, the morning light will help you to get clear pictures and get a very nice result.

Another trick that will be very useful to get some great pictures of your excursion is to use the rapid fire mode of your camera ("sport" setting) to take pictures of these very fast animals in the water more easily.

Best time of the week to go on a cruise in Tenerife

Normally cruises depart daily throughout the week, but weekends and public holidays are usually the busiest times for these excursions, so if you're looking for a quieter tour, it may be best to go during the week.

So if you're looking for a quieter tour, it might be best to go during the week - the experience will be great too!

Whale watching on special dates

If you are travelling on special dates such as Christmas or New Year's Day, it is advisable to first check if the service is running normally.

If so, try to book your place as far in advance on the whale watching cruise as the influx of tourists in Tenerife can be very high during the holidays and some activities like this can be sold out.