On your own or with a tour

The animals live in the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera. On the Tenerife side they are protected by the Teno-Rasca marine special area of conservation, which runs along the coast from Buenavista del Norte to Arona, the municipality of Los Cristianos. Spain's environment ministry records up to 22 cetacean species there and counts the short-finned pilot whale and the bottlenose dolphin as residents all year.

What you can do on your own is pick the boat. Under the Canary decree 178/2000, an authorised whale-watching boat must fly the Barco Azul flag, yellow with two white pilot whales and the dates of its permit, and carry a trained guide. Tenerife's tourism board publishes a list of licensed boats by port. For Los Cristianos it names Neptuno Once and Peter Pan Uno (Neptuno Sea Company), Travelin Lady, Bahriyeli (Mar de Ons) and Ragnarok (Viking Tenerife). Check the name on the hull against that list. Unlicensed trips exist: in December 2021 the Canary police inspected 18 boats in the south of the island and found four working without authorisation.

The decree also sets how boats behave near the animals: no closer than 60 metres, no faster than 4 knots within 500 metres, no more than two boats within 100 metres, no more than 30 minutes that close, and no chasing, circling or feeding. Nobody may swim or dive within 500 metres of them, so a trip that sells swimming with dolphins is breaking the rules. The ministry has linked boat traffic to stress in the pilot whales and in 2023 announced a pause on new permits until a study of how much activity they can bear.

The channel can be lively. The tourism board suggests a seasickness remedy if you need one, plus sunscreen, binoculars and a warm layer, because it feels cooler at sea. Los Cristianos is also the ferry port for La Gomera, so the harbour is busy: give yourself time to find your boat's meeting point.

Which tour to book

All three pinned trips sail from Los Cristianos with operators whose boats are on the licensed list, so choose by length, boat size and what else you want from the outing.

  • Short eco-yacht trip from Los Cristianos: our first pick. About 90 minutes on Travelin Lady, a small-group yacht, with a swim stop when the sea allows. It is the easiest to fit around a beach day or a ferry.
  • Two hours on the Peter Pan wooden boat: a larger boat that takes up to 60 people, with a lower deck close to the water and an optional swim. Pick it if you want more room on deck.
  • Three hours on a small yacht, lunch and swim: the same company's yacht takes about 20 people and splits the time between watching and a stop in a bay with a meal on board. Pick it if you want the outing to fill the morning.

Sightings are likely, not promised. Ask before you pay what the operator does if the boat sees nothing.

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  • Short eco-yacht trip from Los CristianosAbout 90 minutes on Travelin Lady, a licensed small-group yacht, with a swim stop when the sea allows.
    Check dates and prices
  • Two hours on the Peter Pan wooden boatA larger licensed boat for up to 60 people, with a low deck near the water and an optional swim.
    Check dates and prices
  • Three hours on a small yacht, lunch and swimAbout 20 people, time split between watching and a stop in a bay with a meal on board.
    Check dates and prices

Before you book

  • Bring sunscreen, a hat, a warm layer and, if you are prone to it, a seasickness remedy taken before you board.
  • Pack swimwear and a towel for the swim stop; it depends on the sea and the skipper.
  • Arrive early. Some boats close boarding a few minutes before departure.
  • Children: check the minimum age and ask about life jackets for small children.
  • Rough sea keeps boats in port. Check what refund or new date the tour offers.
  • Look for the yellow Barco Azul flag before you step aboard.