Eco Tour in the South of Tenerife with Snorkeling and Bathing Included

This eco tour in the south of Tenerife is interesting because you get the coastline of Rasca Reserve from two angles, first from a boat and then on foot near the Rasca Lighthouse. I like the small-group feel (up to eight people), plus the fact that the schedule leaves room to actually relax, swim, and snorkel. One possible drawback to plan for, the route can shift with sea conditions, so don’t expect every exact viewpoint every time.

I also like that the guides focus on real nature and local context, including biodiversity and maritime history, instead of turning this into a speed tour. You’ll get that calm, ocean pacing, and you can enjoy panoramic views with a modern, comfortable setup on board. If you get motion sick easily, though, you’ll want to think about it ahead of time since you’ll be out on the water for about two hours.

If you’re pairing this with beaches or hiking later, this is an easy add-on because it starts and ends right at Marina del Sur, near Puerta de las Galletas. You can make it a simple, sun-and-sea day without complicated transfers. Just keep your day flexible and bring a mindset that this is about the coast, not a checklist of boxes.

Key things that make this Rasca eco tour worth your time

• Two environments, one route: boat views first, then a short walk through Rasca with lighthouse and bays.
• Snorkeling and swim time built in: you’re not just riding past the water, you’re in it.
• Small group size: maximum eight travelers means more hands-on help and a quieter feel.
• Volcanic setting with big-name landmarks: Montaña Amarilla, Bahía Las Maravillas, and Rasca Lighthouse.
• Sighting potential: you might see wildlife from the water, including sea turtles on some trips.
• Easy start point: Puerta de las Galletas (Marina del Sur) makes it straightforward to fit into your schedule.

Why the Rasca Reserve tour feels special from the start

Rasca Reserve sits in Tenerife’s south with dramatic volcanic features and a coastline that looks different depending on how you approach it. On this tour, you start from Puerta de las Galletas (Marina del Sur) and head out by boat, so you get those long ocean lines and coastal shapes that you just can’t see from the road.

The Montaña Amarilla area and the Bahía Las Maravillas stretch are a big part of the magic. You’ll sail past the Yellow Mountain zone, and you’ll also get views that connect the coast to the horizon. Then, you switch gears. After the sea part, you step onto land for a focused, scenic walk around Rasca, including time at the lighthouse and bays.

What I really like for practical travelers is that the experience is paced. The day has a clear rhythm, boat time for views and swim moments, plus a walk that isn’t a long hike. That helps if you’re traveling with kids, or if you just want a memorable coastal outing without hauling gear or doing stairs for hours.

One more plus: this is run by Ocean Friends Buceo y Apnea-Freediving, and that shows in how the tour is structured around water time. You’re not left guessing what to do once you’re on deck.

Getting to Puerta de las Galletas and what the small-group boat setup means

The meeting point is Paseo Espigón las Galletas, 1, 38631 Arona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, and the tour ends back where you start. That matters more than people think. Tenerife’s south has lots to do, but not all tours make the logistics easy. Here, it’s a simple out-and-back.

You’ll be on a modern boat with onboard facilities and a comfort-and-safety focus, and the group size is capped at eight travelers. Small group tours tend to be nicer because you can hear the guide, you’re not fighting for position at the rail, and you get better help if you’re new to snorkeling.

This is also the kind of tour where a “mobile ticket” comes in handy. You confirm and receive your details at booking, and you can keep everything on your phone.

Stop 1: Montaña Amarilla, Las Maravillas Bay, and the swim-and-snorkel window

Stop 1 is where the tour starts to feel like a day at sea, not just a sightseeing ride. After leaving Puerta de las Galletas, you sail toward Las Maravillas Bay and the Montaña Amarilla area. The exact focus can shift depending on sea conditions, so don’t be surprised if the captain adjusts the route toward the Yellow Mountain zone or other nearby wonders.

From there, you continue toward the Rasca Lighthouse, and this is also where seabird sightings can happen along the way. That matters because it gives the trip texture. The coast is the backdrop, but the ocean life and birds make it feel alive.

Here’s what you can expect from the water portion during Stop 1:

• Guided nature and local context as you travel, including biodiversity and history themes.
• Time on deck where you can look for underwater life from above the waterline.
• Free time to relax and actually get in for swimming and snorkeling.

Snorkeling is included. The tour provides snorkeling equipment, so you don’t need to bring gear unless you just prefer your own set. You’ll also be offered support as you need it, since guides are there to answer questions while you’re in the water.

This is one of the most praised moments in the tour experience. People highlight the stop for bathing and relaxing on deck, plus the beauty of the coves once you’re floating in them. One review even mentioned a turtle sighting while sailing. That is not guaranteed every single time, but it tells you the water can be productive for wildlife watching when conditions are right.

Practical tip: choose your swim time based on what your energy level can handle. If you’re traveling with kids, or if you’re not a strong swimmer, it’s usually smarter to plan one comfortable snorkeling session rather than trying to do everything at once.

Stop 1 is about 50 minutes. In a tour this short, that’s a meaningful chunk of time, not a token splash.

The Rasca Lighthouse and reserve walk: Stop 2 on foot through bays and volcanic views

After the sea time, you switch to land for Stop 2. This is a 50-minute walk through the Rasca Reserve area, with a focus on the Rasca Lighthouse and different bays along the route.

This stop has two jobs:

1. It connects the dots between what you saw from the boat and what you can understand on land.
2. It gives you calmer, slower views than what you get from the rolling deck.

You’ll also get big viewpoints tied to Tenerife’s wider geography. The route includes views toward Teide and La Gomera, depending on the sightlines and conditions. Even if you’ve seen Teide from elsewhere, it feels different from this southern coastal angle, because you’re mixing mountain perspective with sea coves.

What I like about this part is the pace. A 50-minute walk in a reserve is long enough to feel like you went somewhere, but short enough that you’re not stuck away from your rest of the day. It’s a good fit if you want authentic nature without turning your holiday into a workout.

Possible consideration: you’re walking outdoors. The sun in southern Tenerife can be intense. Bring a hat or something to shield your face and try to keep water access in mind, even though the tour includes a snack and soft drink.

Stop 3 back at Marina del Sur: the calm wrap-up you didn’t know you needed

Stop 3 is the easy part: you return to Marina del Sur and get a 20-minute wrap-up period before the tour ends back at the meeting point. This is often when the group’s energy settles.

You can use that time to:

• take a final look at the coastline while you’re still in tour mode
• re-check your photos
• grab your bearings for the rest of your day in Arona

Since the whole tour is about two hours, this quick landing also makes it easier to plan dinner afterward. You’re not losing a half-day to transport and waiting around.

What’s included, and how the $114.52 price stacks up for value

At $114.52 per person, the big value question is simple: do you feel like you got enough out of those two hours?

Here’s what the tour includes:

• Snorkeling equipment
• Fuel surcharge
• A soft drink plus a snack (soda/pop and water or soft drink + snack)
• The structured boat routing with lighthouse and reserve elements
• A small-group format capped at eight travelers
• Admission is listed as free for the key stop areas

In practice, the value comes from the combination. A lot of Tenerife boat activities give you views but don’t include swim time or snorkeling gear. Here, the schedule clearly includes water contact, plus you still get a lighthouse and reserve walk. For families, that pairing is a win, because kids often remember the swim and the coves more than the distant photos.

Also, the tour is short but not rushed. Reviews emphasize an authentic, eco-focused feel without the frantic tempo of bigger group tours. That makes the price easier to justify.

One more value note: the route may adjust to sea conditions. That’s not a cost issue, it’s a safety and comfort issue, and it usually means the captain is making smart calls instead of forcing an exact plan.

Who should book this eco boat and Rasca walking tour

This is a great match if you fit one of these profiles:

• You want a water-focused experience in southern Tenerife with snorkeling included.
• You like small groups and quieter pacing.
• You’re traveling with kids and want a tour that builds in real swim time.
• You want an easy half-day style plan that returns to the same starting point.

It’s also a good choice if you care about nature and want your time guided. The tour description highlights that expert guides share information about biodiversity and history, and the overall structure supports that.

Accessibility and participation notes are straightforward: service animals are allowed, the tour is near public transportation, and most travelers can participate. If you have mobility limits, you’ll want to think about the reserve walk on land, since the tour includes that walking segment.

Weather, sea conditions, and how to plan the rest of your Tenerife day

This experience depends on good weather, and it can be adjusted when sea conditions change. In your planning, treat it like a sun-and-sea activity first, and plan a flexible rest of day.

If you’re deciding between beach time and this tour, I’d think about how you want to spend your limited energy. Tenerife’s south can tempt you into staying on land all day. This flips the script. You get the coast from the ocean, then you get the lighthouse and bays from the reserve walk.

For your day planning, it helps that:

• the tour is about two hours
• it starts at a known easy meeting point
• it ends right back at the same place

So you can pair it with other southern Tenerife plans, without needing another transfer chain.

Should you book this Rasca eco tour?

Book it if you want a small-group boat outing that includes snorkeling and real bathing time, plus a lighthouse reserve walk. The short duration is perfect when you want something memorable without losing a full day, and the structure makes it easy to relax.

Skip it or reconsider if you strongly prefer long hikes, or if you can’t handle time out on the water due to motion sensitivity. Also, if you need every second to be perfectly predictable, know the route can shift with sea conditions.

My bottom line: if your ideal Tenerife day includes coastline views, a swim window, and the chance to see wildlife like turtles when conditions allow, this is a smart, good-value choice.

FAQ

How long is the eco tour in the south of Tenerife?

The tour lasts about 2 hours total, including visits to the lighthouse and the Yellow Mountain or other areas within the Rasca Reserve, plus time at the reserve walk.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Paseo Espigón las Galletas, 1, 38631 Arona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

Is snorkeling included, and is equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, and you also get free time to swim or snorkel during the boat portion.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 8 travelers.

What is included besides snorkeling equipment?

The tour includes fuel surcharge and a refreshment package with water or soft drink plus a snack.

Does the tour require good weather?

Yes. The tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.