Whales off Tenerife, with lunch and open bar. I like the open bar drinks and the warm lunch served onboard, all while the crew works the route between Puerto Colón, Los Gigantes, and the Masca coastline in search of whales and dolphins. One thing to consider is that wildlife sightings and sea conditions are not guaranteed, and this trip runs on a large catamaran where motion and crowds can be a factor.

The afternoon timing (daily departures at 13:15) gives you a relaxed start, and you spend a big chunk of the cruise enjoying the views. Right before you head back, you get time to settle in on deck for sunbathing with Barranco de Masca on your radar.

Key things I’d watch for before you go

• You get lunch and drinks included, not just a snack, which makes the half-day feel complete.
• Los Gigantes and the Masca coastline are viewed from the water, so think views over long shore time.
• Whale and dolphin spotting is wildlife dependent, even though the crew actively searches.
• Sun beds cost extra and are first come, first served, so plan your timing if you care about front-row comfort.
• You’ll be on one of three large catamarans, so the vibe depends on which boat you’re assigned.

Half-Day Whale Watching: what you are really buying

This is a classic Tenerife catamaran setup, but with a practical twist. You are not just paying for time on the water. You are paying for a structured half-day that mixes wildlife searching with a scenic route along the Los Gigantes area and the Masca cliffs, plus onboard comfort and food that keeps your energy up.

At $72.08 per person for about 4 hours 30 minutes, the value comes from the bundle. The tour includes alcoholic beverages, bottled water, soda/pop, and a warm lunch (chicken meatballs, vegetable rice, bread, banana). In many whale watching cruises, either lunch is minimal or drinks are extra. Here, the included package helps you budget better, especially if you plan to spend a full afternoon on the water instead of grabbing food before or after.

Now the reality check. It is a large-catamaran outing with a maximum of 160 travelers, and there are three large catamarans operating the excursion. That matters because it affects how personalized the experience feels, and it can change how smoothly the crew can manage everyone’s comfort, including people who are sensitive to the motion. If you are the type who gets queasy easily, plan accordingly and use the crew’s guidance on where to sit.

In short, you are buying a money-and-time efficient way to do Tenerife whale watching plus scenic sightseeing, with the onboard perks that make the wait more comfortable.

From Costa Adeje to Los Gigantes and Masca, the cruise flow

This tour starts from the port of Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje, and it is scheduled for daily departures at 13:15 (and it runs most days of the year, with January 1 closed). The cruise is designed as a loop: you leave the port, search for wildlife, then work your way through the Los Gigantes and Masca coastal scenery before returning.

Here is how it typically feels in motion.

First, you head out from Costa Adeje and spend time scanning the open water for whales and dolphins. The route is not just straight travel. It is a search, with the guide explaining what to look for and where whales and dolphins tend to appear.

Then the cruise transitions toward the Los Gigantes area. This is when the scenery becomes more “wow” and less “watch the horizon.” The cliffs of Los Gigantes are dramatic, and even if you are not a hardcore photography person, you usually end up taking plenty of shots because the shapes are so bold against the Atlantic.

Finally, near the end, you get a stretch of relaxed onboard time to enjoy the coastline, including Barranco de Masca views as you admire the Masca cliffs from the water. This timing is smart. You are not rushing at the end. Instead, you get deck time to cool down, dry off after the earlier movement, and enjoy the coastline while the trip winds down.

One small practical note: if you are hoping for maximum time ashore, this is not set up like a land tour. Everything important here happens from the boat, with the best “stops” being coastal views and the onboard moments between them.

Wildlife spotting: what the crew actually does

The core attraction is seeing whales and dolphins. The way this tour is set up is pretty clear: you go out with the intent to spot wildlife, and the guide provides on-the-water commentary so you are not just staring at nothing.

The guide shares details like where whales and dolphins are found, what they eat, and how they migrate. That matters more than you might think. When you understand what you are looking for, a quiet stretch becomes part of the hunt instead of just downtime. It also helps you spot the moment of change when surface activity starts.

That said, no cruise can promise sightings. Even excellent crew efforts are still at the mercy of an animal being present, being near enough, and surfacing at the right time. On this route, you might see pilot whales, bottle-nose dolphins, dolphins that look resident to the area, or smaller sightings. Sometimes it’s a big moment. Sometimes it’s fewer animals than you hoped.

If your goal is absolute certainty, you need to lower expectations. But if your goal is a structured day on the Atlantic with a good chance at real wildlife moments, this is a solid bet.

Also, pay attention to comfort. Several passengers reported getting motion sick on big catamarans. If you are prone to sea sickness, bring your usual remedy, and choose your seat strategically. The tour includes onboard space to relax, but you still want to be thoughtful about where you stand or sit when conditions pick up.

Food and drinks onboard: what included really means

This is where the tour earns a lot of its praise, because the included package is not just water and a dry snack.

You get:

• Alcoholic beverages (included)
• Bottled water
• Soda/pop
• Lunch: chicken meatballs, vegetable rice, bread, banana

A few passengers mentioned that the bar setup can be simple, with drinks served in small plastic cups and beer being one of the main go-to options. Another way to say it: you should treat this as included “free bar” rather than a cocktail lounge. The perk is that you are not constantly doing mental math about what costs extra.

For lunch, the meal is warm and served as part of the onboard flow. The menu is described as chicken meatballs with vegetable rice, bread, and banana. In a few comments, people wanted something fresher or more choice-driven. One or two also noted mismatch feelings when advertising terms sounded more specific than what they received in practice. Still, most people ended up feeling it did the job, especially after time on open water.

If you are traveling with kids or you want to avoid hunger mid-cruise, this matters. You do not have to plan an extra snack stop. You also do not have to rely on finding a restaurant after a sometimes-choppy morning.

One extra detail: ice creams cost extra. If you know you or your group loves a sweet treat, factor that into your budget.

Comfort, sunbathing decks, and the sunbed decision

The catamaran has space for relaxing and sunbathing on the decks, which is half the point of the cruise. Even when wildlife spotting takes time, you can still enjoy the weather and coastline from a comfortable vantage.

Now, the decision you will face is the sun bed situation.

Sun beds at the front of the boat are extra and are first come, first served. That means you should arrive and board early if you really care about that front-row comfort. Some passengers reported prices around 25 euros each for front sunbeds, and also commented that the physical space can feel tight depending on body size and whether you are sharing.

If you skip the paid sunbeds, you still have deck areas to sit and watch, but you might not get the same prime location. I’d treat sunbed rental as a comfort upgrade, not a guarantee of the best view.

One more comfort factor: wind. This is an afternoon departure, and the coastline is still open Atlantic water. Bring a light layer even if the weather feels warm on shore, especially if you run cool or you get chilly when standing outside.

Group size, boat logistics, and managing expectations

This tour is capped at a maximum of 160 travelers, and you might be on one of three large catamarans. That combination has a predictable effect: the crew can be efficient, but the overall experience can feel less intimate than smaller-boat whale watching tours.

So what does that mean for you?

• You might get more general commentary rather than highly tailored explanations.
• You might find that the crew moves quickly once they spot animals, because there is a lot of coordination required with many passengers.
• You might feel the boat crowding a bit during the busiest spotting moments.

The upside is the organization. Several comments highlighted professional crew service and solid onboard teamwork. Some also described the captain’s skill, including careful maneuvering in port when needed for passenger situations. That kind of competence is worth something on a sea day, especially when everyone’s comfort depends on how smoothly the boat handles turns and stops.

If you want a quieter vibe, you might prefer a smaller vessel. But if you want the value of lunch plus drinks plus the chance at real wildlife sightings within a half-day schedule, this size is part of the trade-off.

A practical planning tip: since the tour is booked ahead fairly often (about 17 days on average), it’s smart to reserve early, especially if you are traveling during busier weeks.

Price value: why $72.08 can feel fair, and when it might not

Let’s talk about the money in a way that helps you decide.

You are paying $72.08 per person for a 4.5-hour excursion that includes:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Soft drinks and bottled water
• A warm lunch
• Wildlife searching and onboard guide commentary
• Scenic time along Los Gigantes and Barranco de Masca

For many half-day cruises, lunch and alcohol are either not included or only lightly included. Here, the included elements cover the most expensive part of your comfort on a boat: food and drinks. That makes the price feel fair if you actually plan to enjoy the onboard perks.

The flip side is that some passengers felt the included drinks and food were basic or limited. One wrote that beer pours were in small cups and that there were not many drink options. Another felt the lunch matched the listed items but wished for something more varied. Those concerns matter if you expected a premium meal and bar experience.

Also, remember the main product is wildlife spotting, which cannot be fully controlled. If you do not see much, the value can feel worse no matter what is included.

My take: this is good value if you show up ready to enjoy the whole package, not just the outcome of whales. If your number one priority is maximum guaranteed sightings, you should look at smaller-boat options with a different spotting strategy. If your priority is a smooth half-day with food, drinks, and a strong scenic route, this one fits.

Who this tour fits best

I think this tour is a great fit for you if:

• You want whale and dolphin watching with an onboard guide explaining what you’re seeing
• You want to avoid the hunger problem by having a warm lunch included
• You like the idea of an open bar perk during the cruise
• You want classic Tenerife scenery, especially Los Gigantes and Masca cliffs, from the water

It might be less ideal if:

• You need a small-group, quiet experience
• You are extremely motion sensitive and do not do well on open water
• You want a wide choice of premium drinks or a made-to-order style meal

If you are traveling as a couple, with friends, or with family and you want a straightforward half-day plan that keeps everyone fed and happy, this works well. Just go in knowing it is a big-catamaran format, and you should treat the wildlife sightings as a bonus that you are genuinely hunting for.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a practical half-day that combines three things you actually spend money on separately on most tours: time on open water for wildlife, scenic viewing of Los Gigantes and Masca from the deck, and a warm meal plus alcoholic drinks included.

Skip or rethink it if you are a “small boat only” person, you are very sensitive to sea conditions, or you need a high certainty of seeing lots of whales. In those cases, the big-boat logistics and wildlife unpredictability can clash with what you want most.

If you do book, my best advice is simple: come prepared for motion, board early if you want a paid sun bed, and treat the guide’s whale and dolphin talk as your tool for making every spotting moment count.

FAQ

What time does the Tenerife half-day whale watching tour depart?

It departs daily at 13:15, from the port area in Costa Adeje.

Where is the meeting point, and is pickup available?

You meet at Av. de Colón, 11, 38660 Playa de las Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Pickup is offered from set hotels in the south of Tenerife, but some hotels close to the port require you to go directly to the port. You will also be asked to provide your mobile number with country code and your email for meeting instructions.

What food and drinks are included?

Lunch is included, with chicken meatballs, vegetable rice, bread, and banana. Drinks included are alcoholic beverages, bottled water, and soda/pop. Ice creams are not included.

Are sun beds included?

No. Sun beds at the front of the boat are extra and are first come, first served.

What languages is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English and Spanish.

What happens if weather cancels the trip?

This experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.