Los Cristianos: Kayak and Snorkel with Turtles and Photos

Kayaking and snorkeling together in Los Cristianos is a fun way to see southern Tenerife because you get out on the water, then slide into the sea at the caves. I especially like the volcanic cliffs and sea cave angle, plus the chance to swim close to turtles with a guide. One heads-up though: this is not a sit-and-watch cruise. You’ll be paddling for a stretch, and the water can feel cold even with gear.

The best part for me is the “done for you” feeling. You get 3mm wetsuits and snorkel equipment, plus your guide takes photos and videos with aquatic cameras that are shared for free. The possible drawback is that wildlife sightings depend on the day, and snorkeling can get adjusted if conditions are rough.

Key things to know before you go

• Volcanic sea caves from a kayak, then snorkeling right in that same area
• Turtle snorkeling where you may see them swim up close to your kayak
• Dolphin watching with season-based odds (the tour says it’s usually 80% to 90%)
• A real guide with coaching, not just “good luck” equipment handouts
• Free aquatic photos and videos, plus lockers, showers, and a snack waiting on land
• Double kayaks for stability, so you’ll match with a pair or join a guided option if you’re solo

Why this Los Cristianos kayak-and-turtle setup makes sense

Los Cristianos is a great launching point because it gives you a mix of coastline, caves, and wildlife without a long transfer. You’re not only riding over scenery. You’re actively moving through it, which changes the whole feel of the trip.

What you’re paying for is also clear. For around $34 per person (3 hours), you get the full kit: kayak setup, life jacket, a 3mm wetsuit, snorkel gear, plus a guide who stays with you and captures your moments. That’s a lot of “included logistics” for the money, especially when you consider that solo-guided tours and stand-alone rentals tend to add up fast.

Meeting at Shaka Surf: gear up fast, no stress with lockers

Your starting point is the Shaka surf Los Cristianos area at the promenade. The check-in is at the Shaka shop, in the Cristianmar Building (shop number 11), and you’ll show your voucher there.

Once you arrive, the setup is practical. You can use the changing room with lockers to store valuables and non-essentials, then get ready without lugging a bag around the beach. After the water time, you’re also offered showers (hot or cold), which matters more than you’d think once you’re wearing a wetsuit.

For what to bring, the list is simple and accurate to what you’ll need:

• swimsuit
• towel
• sunscreen
• hat
• a change of clothes

Safety briefing and the double-kayak reality

Before you paddle out, you do a safety briefing on the beach (about 20 minutes). This is where you learn how to handle your kayak, how to stay safe, and what to expect. In the better reviews, guides like Gabriel and Caroline come across as calm, attentive, and very hands-on during this part.

The tour uses double kayaks only for stability and safety, approved for up to 2 adults and 1 child. If you’re a single participant, you may go in a single kayak option with the guide or pair up with another single participant, depending on how they arrange it that day.

This affects comfort and effort. Double kayaks are steadier, but you still need to keep up with the pace. Multiple reviews call out that it’s physically demanding, describing it as roughly a 6 to 7 km paddle and constant effort for about 2 to 2.5 hours. If you’re coming straight from a lounge-chair vacation, this can be a shock, in a good way.

Stop-by-stop: what happens during the 3 hours

This tour runs from Los Cristianos back to the same meeting point, with a clear flow from prep to paddle to snorkeling and then back out for a final push.

Stop 1 and Stop 2: Shaka Surf, then Playa de Los Cristianos

You start at Shaka surf Los Cristianos, then head to Playa de Los Cristianos. The timing works because you get organized, suited up, and then you get that safety briefing before launching.

The good thing about starting on the same stretch of beach where you check in is that you don’t waste time wandering around once you’re damp and suited up.

Stop 3: Kayaking + dolphin watching + scenery

This is your main work segment: about 1.5 hours kayaking along the coast. You’ll paddle out from the beach into the Atlantic, where the water can look blue and more transparent in this area. The route is designed to bring you close to major southern Tenerife sights, including Playa de Los Cristianos, plus large black volcanic cliffs.

This is also where the wildlife search begins. The tour specifically includes dolphin watching on the way. The odds they mention are usually 80% to 90% depending on the season, but real life still matters: wind, current, and animal movement can change what you actually see.

One practical tip: if you want the best photos, stay close to the guide. Reviews stress that guides take shots as you go, and if you drift too far behind, you’re also drifting away from the camera timing.

Stop 4: Snorkeling around sea caves for fish and turtles

After the kayaking section, you get switched over to snorkeling. This stop is about 20 minutes in the water, focused on snorkeling around the caves.

What I like here is that snorkeling isn’t treated like a random add-on. It’s tied to the cave route you already experienced by kayak. That matters because you’re already orienting yourself with the coastline, and then you can appreciate the underwater setting more clearly.

The star expectation is turtles. The tour description says you’ll snorkel and swim among turtles, and the reviews reinforce that the turtles can show up very close to the kayaks. That said, turtles can hide on certain days. If you don’t see them, you’ll still get fish and a cool view of life around the cave structure.

Stop 5: Short final kayak stretch

Once you’re back on land-ready mode, there’s one more about 30 minutes of kayaking. This is where they continue scanning for wildlife, including red crabs along the coast and any dolphin sightings they can catch between the snorkeling and the ride back.

This final paddle often feels like the best payoff segment. You’ve already done the hardest mental step (getting comfortable in the water), and now you’re rewarded with more coastline time.

Stop 6: Back at Shaka Surf, snack time, then showers

When you return, the tour doesn’t just end. You’re offered free water and a small snack like cookies, a cereal bar, or bananas. Reviews also mention the snack choices are simple but welcome after paddling.

Then you can rinse off with showers and dry off in the changing-room area. It’s a small thing, but it keeps the experience from turning into wet-suit misery at the end.

Wildlife odds: dolphins and turtles are real, but not guaranteed

Here’s the honest deal: you’re in the Atlantic, not a controlled aquarium. The tour says dolphin chances are usually 80% to 90%, with the reminder that sightings change by season. That’s a useful expectation-setting number.

Turtles are the big headline, and on many days you can get close enough for it to feel personal. Reviews include times when turtles swim alongside the group, and other times when they stay out of sight. Both versions are believable, and both can still be a great tour if you treat it as a wildlife search, not a timed appointment.

Beyond the headline animals, be open to surprise sea life. One review mentions a stingray sighting, and another calls out a Portuguese man o’ war. Seeing different marine life is part of why snorkeling here feels more interesting than a quick, shallow stop.

The underwater part: what snorkeling with a wetsuit actually feels like

The tour provides a 3mm wetsuit and snorkel mask and tube. That matters because the ocean around Tenerife can feel cold, even when the sun is out. Several reviews explicitly mention how cold the water felt, and they strongly recommend taking the wetsuit offer seriously.

In the water, the setup is typically calm and guided. Reviews mention that the snorkeling can be eventful, but also that conditions are sometimes adjusted depending on sea state. If wind or chop makes snorkeling harder, you might get a different outcome that day. Still, you’ll usually come away with something worth the money, because you’re doing both the kayak portion and the cave-focused snorkeling rather than just one activity.

If you get nervous in the first minute, you’re not alone. At least a few reviews describe being initially worried, then relaxing once they’re guided and equipped. I’d treat snorkeling as a step-by-step process: breathe, float, look around, and let the guide manage the pace.

Guides: the difference between okay and great

Guides make or break outdoor tours, and this one seems to lean into coaching and good energy. Reviews repeatedly mention guides like Gabriel (also written as Gabri and Gabriël), Caroline, Karolien, and Liam as friendly, patient, and upbeat.

What stands out in the strong reviews:

• The guide gives training and keeps you moving safely
• They wait if someone is slower, especially for single-kayak arrangements
• They share animal and place facts so you’re not just staring at water
• They take time to look around for wildlife, not only follow a checklist

Even when wildlife doesn’t show up that day, reviews still rate the experience highly because the guide work feels professional and human. That’s a big part of why the overall rating is very strong.

Photos and videos: this is real value, not a gimmick

One of the best perks here is the photos and videos taken with aquatic cameras, sent to participants for free. You’re not responsible for filming everything one-handed while paddling with a snorkel mask swinging around. That alone is worth something.

A practical tip from the experience style: stay near the guide. Reviews mention that staying close helps you get more shots. And if you want extra footage for yourself, one review suggests bringing a GoPro. The tour photo package is already included, but your personal camera can still add another angle.

Price and value: why $34 can feel like a bargain

Let’s do the value math in plain terms. For about $34, you get:

• kayak with paddles and soft seats
• life jacket
• 3mm wetsuit
• snorkel mask and tube
• water bag
• photos and videos
• changing-room access with lockers and showers
• water plus a snack

That’s not just transportation. It’s equipment, safety gear, guided animal searching, and a photo deliverable. If you were trying to recreate the same day on your own, you’d pay for rentals, a local guide (or at least a lot of time figuring out where to go), plus safety planning.

So yes, it’s good value. But it’s only good value if you’re ready for the effort level. If you want a gentle stroll and zero physical work, this probably won’t be the best match.

Weather and sea conditions: why some days feel different

This tour is weather dependent. If there’s bad weather, strong wind, or adverse sea conditions, the excursion could be canceled and you’d get a full refund. That’s the right approach for water safety.

In lower-than-perfect conditions, you might still go, but the exact experience can shift. Reviews mention days when dolphins or turtles were harder to spot due to wind, and one person notes they did not get a turtle sighting because conditions prevented snorkeling that day. That’s part of the tradeoff with marine wildlife tours. You’re going out to where animals live, and you’re adapting to the day you’re given.

Who should book this tour

This is a great pick if you want:

• active sightseeing on the volcanic coast
• a guided search for turtles and dolphins
• snorkeling in a cave-focused area
• included gear plus a guide who takes free aquatic photos and videos

It may not be the right pick if you:

• are pregnant (not suitable)
• have back problems (not suitable)
• have pre-existing medical conditions (not suitable)
• weigh over 220 lbs (100 kg) (not suitable)
• want alcohol to be part of the plan (alcohol and drugs are not allowed)

Also, if you haven’t kayaked much, you should still be okay. But prepare for effort. A couple reviews directly advise having some kayaking experience if possible. The guide training helps, but stamina still matters.

Should you book this kayak, snorkel, and turtle tour?

I’d book it if your Tenerife plan includes two things: being on the water for a few hours and wanting a guided, cave-focused snorkel with a real chance at turtles and dolphins. The combination of gear + guide + sea cave snorkeling + free aquatic photos is strong value for the time.

Skip it if you’re easily overwhelmed by physical activity or if you know you can’t handle cold water in a wetsuit. Also, if you’re looking for guaranteed turtles and dolphins on a specific date, this kind of tour is always a little weather-and-wildlife dependent.

If your priority is an authentic marine adventure from Los Cristianos with a guide who stays engaged and takes care of safety, this one is a solid yes.