Tips for Whale Watching in Tenerife

Whale watching in the middle of the ocean is fascinating and a dream for many travellers. To get the most out of your whale watching tour in Tenerife I recommend you take note of these tips to help you plan your whale watching experience in detail.

Whale watching cruises in Tenerife are one of the most popular activities to enjoy nature on the island, especially among families and foreign tourists, as it is one of the best places to observe wild whales and dolphins at any time of the year in Europe.

To make sure you don't miss out on one of these boat trips in the Atlantic I recommend you book your place online and as far in advance of your travel date as possible, especially if it coincides with the high tourist season in Tenerife (summer and winter).

Booking your tickets online to join a whale watching cruise is a good idea because it will allow you to compare schedules, tour availability, duration, fares and route types, among other things.

For example, there are activities in which in addition to watching cetaceans on board a boat, you can also listen to the sounds these creatures make, dive into the Canary Islands waters to snorkel or eat on the boat.

In Hellotickets you have many options to choose from, but before getting your tickets I recommend you to take a look at the post Whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife to help you decide on the best excursion for you.

To be precise, winter and spring are the best times to see whales and dolphins on the island. In the post Best time for whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife you can find out more about this and I also tell you what the island's climate is like in the different seasons.

It is true that their behaviour depends on many factors but Tenerife is lucky enough to be one of the best places in Europe to see them in the wild at any time of the year.

There is no doubt that on this type of excursion, an indispensable item to carry in your backpack is a good camera with which to capture the best moments of this experience for your memories.

Cetaceans are fast animals that are always moving from one side to the other, so it is not easy to get them to "pose" for a photo. A trick to get a good result when you spot one of these animals in the water is to focus on photographing it alone, forgetting about the rest of the sea creatures around it.

Another tip, if you are taking a DSLR camera try to use the fast shutter mode when taking the picture and if you opt for a mobile phone, I advise you to choose a waterproof one with a waterproof case if you plan to snorkel during the excursion to protect it when taking pictures in the water.

To go out whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife, apart from a camera, I recommend that you take a small pair of binoculars to help you spot these animals from a distance.

Sometimes the sea causes a drop in the wind chill, so it is always a good idea to bring a waterproof jacket for the cruise as well as some sun cream, a cap and sunglasses.

If the whale watching cruise includes a snorkelling stop, remember to bring a swimming costume and a towel to dry off after the cruise. Check if the tour you choose has snorkelling equipment included, otherwise you will have to rent it. Don't worry, there are plenty of shops on the island!

Oh, and if you're prone to seasickness on the boats, don't forget to bring some motion sickness medicine so that nausea doesn't spoil the experience.

Although the behaviour of wild animals is not predictable, the advantage of joining a whale watching cruise in Tenerife is that the whale watching season lasts all year round and almost every day it is possible to see one swimming peacefully in the sea.

So that you are not caught unawares on the day of the excursion, I would advise you to read a little about the cetaceans that inhabit Canary Island waters so that you can easily identify them and get to know them better. Especially if you go with children and want to tell them what they see.

In Tenerife there are resident populations of bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales but many other species also migrate to the island from time to time. In the post What types of cetaceans can I see in Tenerife? you will find more information about the marine creatures that you can see during a boat trip. Don't miss it!

It depends on what you want to achieve during the activity. If you just want to be entertained for a while watching whales and dolphins you can opt for a short boat trip of about 2 hours that will give you an informative approach to these friendly animals, while if you are looking for a plan at sea that has a little more sparkle, I recommend a whale watching cruise of a more recreational type that includes lunch on board and a stop for snorkelling.

It will take a little longer, about 3 hours, but it's a more complete and fun experience that you'll definitely remember for a lifetime.

Where do the cruises depart from?

Normally, most of the whale watching cruises in Tenerife depart from Puerto Colón, Puerto de los Cristianos or from Los Gigantes Marina. I recommend the latter option as setting sail from Los Gigantes will give you beautiful views of the cliffs along the route and a much better chance of seeing these sea creatures.

If you travel with your family to Tenerife and you have the opportunity, I highly recommend you to do this activity with the kids because they will have a great time riding a boat and seeing animals in their own habitat. It will be an experience they will never forget!

However, as with any excursion with children, there are certain things you should pay attention to in order for everything to go smoothly. For example, protect them well from the sun if you take the cruise in summer with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. If the day is cooler, do the same with the cold and take some warm clothes.

On the other hand, kids are unpredictable and can get the munchies at any time, so don't forget to pack some snacks and water in your backpack just in case.

For more tips on how to do this visit as a family, I recommend you take a look at the post Whale and dolphin watching with children.