3-Hour Private Tour with Whale and Dolphin Watching

A Tenerife sailboat outing hits a sweet spot when you want wildlife, sea views, and space to breathe. This one is built around whales and dolphins in their natural habitat, with Los Gigantes cliffs and Tenerife highlights along the way.

What I like most is the pace and comfort. You’re on a small 14-meter sailboat with room to relax on deck, plus time for photos and a real break at a natural cove for swimming and snorkeling. The one thing to consider is that you are out on the open water for about 3 hours, so if you’re very sensitive to motion, strong wind days can make the trip feel choppier.

Key Highlights to Know Before You Go

• Private small-group sailing (up to 10) keeps the vibe calmer than the big-boat tours.
• Los Gigantes Cliffs, Teide, and La Gomera are part of the scenery package, not just a background detail.
• Wildlife search time is the main event, with time built in to look for whales and dolphins.
• A natural cove stop with 30 minutes to swim and snorkel gives you more than just a boat ride.
• A snack with tapas helps you stay fueled on the water.

Arriving at Los Gigantes and Getting Set for the 3-Hour Sail

You start at MPC Yacht Charter in Los Gigantes, at the Puerto Deportivo area. Your meeting point is MPC Yacht Charter, Yate El Mojo Picon (C. Pob. Marinero, 38683 Acantilados de Los Gigantes). It’s an easy place to find on Tenerife’s map, and it’s close to public transportation, which matters if you are coming from elsewhere on the island.

This is a private tour for your group only, so you do not join a random crowd. The boat is a 14-meter sailboat with capacity for 10 people, which helps explain why this feels more like a personal day on the water than a mass activity.

A small but important practical note: bring sun protection and water-ready gear. You’ll be out for about 3 hours, you’ll be taking photos, and you’ll have a short swim and snorkel window. Even in good weather, the Tenerife sun can do its job fast.

Wildlife Watching on the Water: How the Whale and Dolphin Part Works

The core of the experience is simple: you leave Los Gigantes and sail for about 3 hours looking for whales and dolphins. The tour is specifically framed as viewing cetaceans in their natural environment, so you’re not doing anything artificial like swimming with animals.

What makes this part feel worth it is the way it fits into the day. You’re not racing from spot to spot. Instead, you’re out long enough for the “search” to become part of the adventure. When you’re on a smaller sailboat, it’s also easier to keep eyes on the water and actually notice behaviors, like surfacing patterns or brief dolphin activity.

If the wildlife shows up close, you’ll feel it. One review described seeing pilot whales and dolphins, and the closeness made the moment feel extra real. That matches the tour’s promise: when conditions and animals cooperate, you get memorable views without needing a huge, crowded platform.

Los Gigantes Cliffs, Teide, and La Gomera Views From Deck

Even if wildlife is your reason for booking, this tour is also a scenery cruise. Los Gigantes is famous for its dramatic vertical cliffs, and you spend time enjoying views of those cliff walls, plus Tenerife’s Teide volcano and the sight of the island of La Gomera. The tour also references the protected reserve of Teno, which adds a sense of place to the route.

From a practical standpoint, seeing the cliffs from the water changes everything. From land, you tend to view them as a background. From deck, you can track where the sea meets the rock and get that scale that photos do not fully capture.

Photo time is built into the trip. You’ll have chances to shoot the cliffs and volcanic views from angles that are hard to reproduce on foot. If you love travel photography, this is the kind of outing where you can capture both “big Tenerife” and “small moments,” like light on the water when a pod surfaces.

The Natural Cove Stop: Swimming and Snorkeling for 30 Minutes

One of the most concrete benefits of this tour is the swim stop. You stop at a natural cove with crystal-clear water for about 30 minutes. That window is meant for cooling off, taking a dip, and snorkeling.

Thirty minutes sounds short, but it’s usually the sweet spot on a boat day. You’re not committing to a long swim session in the open water, and you still get a real break from sitting and watching. You’re also more likely to enjoy it if you treat it like a short “refresh,” not a full activity.

The cove is described as accessible only by boat, which is why the water is so clean and why it feels less crowded than shore spots. This is also where you’ll feel the trip’s value beyond the wildlife search. Watching whales is magical, but being able to get in the water makes the whole morning feel like an actual Tenerife experience, not just a viewing.

If you snorkel, bring simple essentials. The tour data confirms snorkeling time, but it does not say equipment is provided. So I’d plan to bring your own mask and snorkel if you have them, just to avoid last-minute gear surprises.

Comfort on the Mojo Picon Sailboat: Space, Sea Air, and a Calmer Vibe

You’re on the Yate El Mojo Picon, a 14-meter sailboat designed for a small group of up to 10. The key advantage here is physical space. You get a deck you can actually move around on and a setting that feels more relaxed than bigger boats.

The reviews also point to comfort and safety being handled well. Several comments mention a friendly captain and feeling safe at sea, including for families. Even without adding hype, that matters, because safety culture changes how you experience wind, waves, and movement.

There is one practical consideration to keep in mind. One detailed comment mentioned strong wind and also noted that parts of the boat looked worn. Another reply from the operator addressed the wind detail. Bottom line: you’re sailing, and sometimes conditions are windy. The captain’s job is to manage that, but you should still dress for it and expect motion if the sea is active.

Food, Snacks, and Photo Breaks: A Small Meal That Fits the Day

You get a snack accompanied by tapas. On a 3-hour sail, that’s a smart inclusion. It’s enough to keep your energy steady during the wildlife search and the deck time, without turning the morning into a full meal schedule.

You also get breaks that are naturally built into the experience. While you are looking for animals, you’re also taking photos and soaking in the views. When you do stop and swim, the snack helps you avoid that post-cold-water slump that can happen on hot days.

If you’re a light eater, this may be exactly right. If you’re a bigger breakfast person, consider eating a solid breakfast before you arrive at the port so the tapas snack feels like a bonus, not your main fuel.

Meeting Point and Getting There Smoothly (Without Overthinking It)

Your meeting point is clear: MPC Yacht Charter at the Puerto Deportivo area, Yate El Mojo Picon. Because it’s near public transportation, you do not need a private car to make it work, as long as you plan your timing.

For the best start, arrive early enough to park your phone, sort your sun gear, and get settled before the boat departs. This is especially useful because once you are sailing, everything becomes about deck space, movement, and weather.

This is also a mobile ticket experience. That’s convenient, and it cuts down on the usual hassle of printed paperwork. Still, I’d keep a backup plan in your phone settings, like offline access to the ticket details.

Price and Value: What $687.84 Per Group Really Buys

The listed price is $687.84 per group, for up to 10 people, and the tour duration is about 3 hours. Read that as group pricing, not per-person pricing.

So how do you judge value? Here’s the honest way I’d look at it:

• If you’re traveling as a couple or a small group, the total can still feel high, but you are paying for a private small sailboat and a proper swim stop.
• If you can fill most of the boat with friends or family, it becomes much more reasonable because you’re splitting the cost across more people.
• You’re also getting multiple “roles” in one tour, wildlife watching plus cliffs and volcanic scenery plus a cove swimming stop plus tapas snack.

This matters because wildlife tours on Tenerife can vary a lot. Some are quick, crowded, and focused only on spotting animals. This one tries to combine the best parts of both worlds: serious looking time for cetaceans plus a real break where you get in the water and enjoy the setting.

If whale and dolphin watching is your top priority, and you want a calmer boat experience rather than a mass ride, I think the price can make sense, especially if you plan your group size.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Want a Different Option)

I’d put this tour in the “best for people who want both wildlife and scenery” category. If you love Tenerife’s coastline and you also care about spotting dolphins or whales, you get both without turning your day into a checklist.

It also suits families in the sense that the small-group setting and calm captain approach can make the experience manageable for kids. But you should still think about your own family’s comfort with open water and wind.

This tour may not be the best match if:

• you hate boats or get motion sick easily
• you want long snorkeling time (the stop is about 30 minutes)
• you are hoping for a very structured, educational classroom-style experience with lots of time on shore (this is a sailing day, mostly on water)

Should You Book the 3-Hour Private Whale and Dolphin Cruise?

If you want a private, small-group Tenerife whale and dolphin outing with standout views of Los Gigantes cliffs, plus a real swim and snorkel break, I’d lean yes. The biggest strengths are the combination of wildlife search time, the calmer deck setting, and the fact that you’re not just viewing from a distance.

Book it if:

• your group can take advantage of the up-to-10 private format
• you’re excited by the idea of sailing past the cliffs and seeing Teide and La Gomera from the sea
• you’ll actually use the swim stop, not just watch from the deck

Skip or choose a different style if you’re very weather-sensitive or you know you get uncomfortable on boats. In that case, the “out on the water for about 3 hours” part will outweigh everything else.

FAQ

How long is the private whale and dolphin watching tour?

The tour lasts about 3 hours.

How many people are on the sailboat?

It is a private tour for your group only, and the 14-meter sailboat can carry up to 10 people.

Where do we meet for the tour?

You meet at MPC Yacht Charter, Yate El Mojo Picon, Puerto deportivo, C. Pob. Marinero, 38683 Acantilados de Los Gigantes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is snorkeling included?

Yes. There is a stop at a natural cove with about 30 minutes to swim and snorkel.

What food or drinks are provided?

You’ll have a snack accompanied by tapas during the tour.

What happens if the weather is poor?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.