Royal Delfin 3H Dolphin & Whale Watching! Swimming & Lunch!

The best part of this Tenerife outing is the chance to watch whales and dolphins in open water, then see beneath the surface through 16 panoramic underwater windows. The Royal Delfin catamaran leaves Puerto Colón at 10:30 a.m., cruises from Playa de Las Américas toward Diego Hernandez Bay, and builds in time for a swim.

I like the underwater viewing area, which gives you another way to watch marine life when the boat is crowded above deck. I also like the simple three-hour format: you get wildlife, lunch, drinks, and a swim without giving up an entire day.

The main concern is capacity. The boat can carry up to 200 people, and one especially unhappy passenger found the upper deck and swim area too crowded to use comfortably. Wildlife is never guaranteed, either. Some trips bring dolphins close, while other outings produce only distant whale sightings.

Key things to know before boarding

• Whales and dolphins are wild sightings: The crew can look for marine life, but nobody can promise a particular species or close encounter.
• Sixteen underwater windows: You can watch below the waterline as well as from the open decks.
• Diego Hernandez Bay swim stop: The boat pauses for swimming, with children’s life jackets available according to one family’s experience.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Expect food, beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, and water. Extra snacks cost more.
• Large catamaran setting: The maximum group size is 200, so this suits people who prefer a social boat trip over a small private cruise.
• Easy three-hour schedule: Departure and return are at Av. de Colón, 11, near Playa de Las Américas.

Setting out from Puerto Colón at 10:30 a.m.

Your morning begins at Av. de Colón, 11, in the Puerto Colón area of Playa de Las Américas. The excursion returns to this same meeting point, which keeps the logistics simple if you are staying around Costa Adeje or Playa de Las Américas.

The listed departure time is 10:30 a.m., and the outing lasts about three hours. That makes it easy to fit around another afternoon plan, though you should leave room for the return to port and any delay caused by sea conditions.

Parking is not included. The meeting point is near public transport, so you may find it easier to arrive without a car. Your mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation is normally sent when you book. If you reserve within 12 hours of departure, confirmation is sent as soon as possible, subject to space.

The Royal Delfin is a purpose-built catamaran, not a small sailing boat. That brings useful comforts such as a restroom, more room to move, and several viewing positions. It also brings the central tradeoff of this trip: a larger boat can feel stable and sociable, but busy during popular wildlife sightings.

Watching Tenerife’s whales and dolphins offshore

The wildlife is the reason to book this excursion. The boat follows the southwest coast from Playa de Las Américas toward Diego Hernandez, an area known in the tour description for whale and dolphin watching. You may see animals from the side decks, the upper deck, or below the surface through the underwater viewing windows.

The underwater section is a real practical advantage. It gives you a chance to look below the waterline without leaning over a rail, and it can be useful when children want a closer look at the sea. One passenger described seeing dolphins through the clear blue water, while another saw both dolphins and whales, along with flying fish.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. Marine life moves freely, and sightings change from one departure to the next. One outing produced whales at a distance but no dolphins, which left that passenger disappointed. That is not a fault unique to this boat, but it matters when you are deciding how much of the price depends on a close encounter.

The crew provides information during the trip. Several highly positive accounts praised the staff for explaining the whales and dolphins and for staying attentive from boarding onward. I would treat the guiding as a valuable part of the outing, especially if you want more than a simple boat ride.

For the best chance of seeing something, stay alert while the crew is scanning the water. On a full boat, you may not be able to rush from one side to the other when an animal appears. Pick a viewing position early, then use the underwater windows and side areas as practical alternatives.

The 16 underwater windows and viewing choices

The Royal Delfin’s underwater viewing system is one of its more unusual features. Sixteen panoramic windows let you look below the surface from inside the boat. This is especially useful when the sea is clear and dolphins pass close enough to see beneath the water.

The windows should not replace the open deck. Above water, you can see a wider area and may spot a fin or blow before it reaches the boat. Below water, the view is more limited but can feel more immediate when an animal swims nearby.

Crowding can affect both options. One poor account described difficulty reaching the main deck and being unable to get close to wildlife sightings because too many people were competing for a view. That is the biggest practical weakness to consider, particularly if you want uninterrupted photography or need plenty of personal space.

I would not plan to spend all three hours in one spot. Move when it is practical, and use the lower viewing area when the outside rails become crowded. If you are traveling with children, decide in advance who will watch from the windows and who will stay on deck. That can prevent a frantic scramble when the crew points out wildlife.

Lunch, drinks, and the honest food assessment

Food and drinks are included in the fare. The package lists a courtesy lunch, beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, and water. This means you do not need to arrange a separate meal during the cruise, and the timing works well for a late-morning departure.

Positive accounts describe the lunch and drinks as good, with one person calling the full combination of food, drinks, wildlife, and swimming a fabulous experience. Another account also found the meal and drinks pleasant.

The picture is not perfectly consistent. One dissatisfied passenger described the food as poor, naming soggy coleslaw, dry rice, meatballs with an odd texture, and stale bread. Snacks are not included, though you can buy them onboard for an additional charge.

My advice is to treat lunch as a convenient included meal, not the reason to book the cruise. If food quality is central to your plans, bring realistic expectations and consider purchasing a snack onboard if needed. The drinks and included meal add value, but the wildlife and swim stop are the main attractions.

Beer and sangria are included for adults, along with nonalcoholic drinks. If you are booking for a family, the soft drinks, juice, and water make the package more useful for children. Alcohol is available, but this is still primarily a daytime wildlife and swimming outing.

Swimming at Diego Hernandez Bay

The catamaran stops at Diego Hernandez Bay for swimming. After time on the water looking for wildlife, this is a welcome change of pace. You can get into the sea, cool off, and enjoy the bay before the boat returns to Puerto Colón.

The swim stop is part of the value of the three-hour format. You are not simply sitting on a boat waiting for an animal to appear. Even on a quiet wildlife day, you still have a planned activity and time in the water.

There is one important warning: the swim area is at the rear of the boat, and it may feel tight when many people enter at once. One family reported being kicked and scratched in the crowd, with a child struck in the face by a flipper. That is a serious safety concern, even if it may not reflect every departure.

Use care when entering and leaving the water. Give children extra room, pay attention to other swimmers, and avoid treating the swim stop as a race. Children’s life jackets are available, according to one family’s account, which is useful for younger swimmers. The supplied information does not specify water temperature, depth, or the exact amount of time allowed in the bay, so do not plan around a long, private swim.

How much value does the $60.15 fare offer?

At $60.15 per person, this is more than a basic harbor cruise but less than a full-day boat excursion. The price includes three hours on the catamaran, wildlife watching, underwater viewing, a swim stop, lunch, and a range of drinks.

That combination gives the outing solid value if you want several activities in one booking. You avoid paying separately for a meal and a shorter wildlife cruise, and the underwater windows add a feature that many ordinary boat trips do not have.

The value falls if you mainly want a quiet wildlife experience. With a maximum of 200 people, the boat can feel busy, especially around sightings and at the swim platform. If you need space, privacy, or uninterrupted views, a smaller and more expensive boat may suit you better, though no such alternative is included here for comparison.

I would also place a reasonable value on the guide’s explanations. Staff members have been praised for being friendly, attentive, and informative. That matters because the crew’s ability to spot and explain wildlife can make the difference between a passive ride and an engaging one.

Who will enjoy the Royal Delfin most?

This trip fits families, couples, and first-time visitors who want a straightforward taste of Tenerife from the sea. The three-hour length is manageable, and the mix of wildlife, food, drinks, and swimming gives everyone something to look forward to.

It is also a good match for children who enjoy boats and sea life. The underwater windows offer another way to watch marine animals, and children’s flotation vests have been available on at least one departure. Families should still keep a close eye on children during the swim stop, particularly if the rear platform becomes crowded.

You may also like it if you want an easy English-language experience. The tour is offered in English, includes a restroom, and ends where it begins. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

This is less suitable if you dislike large groups, want a quiet meal, or expect guaranteed dolphin sightings. It is also a poor fit for anyone who would be upset by seeing whales only at a distance. Nature decides the wildlife portion, and the boat size can limit your freedom to move quickly.

Practical details that affect the day

Wear clothing suitable for sun, sea spray, and a swim. The supplied details do not state whether towels or changing facilities are provided, so plan conservatively and bring what you need for getting wet. A phone with a mobile ticket is useful for boarding.

If photography matters to you, keep your expectations flexible. Wildlife may appear on the opposite side of the boat, and a crowd can block the best angle. The operator also offers photos and video for purchase as souvenirs, according to one account.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the departure, you are offered another date or a full refund. The trip also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation for low demand brings the choice of another date or experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. That cutoff matters if your Tenerife plans are still shifting.

Should you book this catamaran trip?

I would book the Royal Delfin if you want a well-priced half-day sea outing with several parts: wildlife watching, underwater windows, lunch, drinks, and a swim. The staff and wildlife explanations receive strong praise, and the chance to see dolphins through clear water can be memorable.

I would not book it expecting a private cruise or a guaranteed close encounter. The 200-person maximum creates a real possibility of crowding, and the food quality appears variable. Book it for the complete package and the possibility of seeing wild marine life, not for a promised dolphin performance.

If you can accept those limits, the $60.15 fare is reasonable for a three-hour introduction to Tenerife’s southwest coast. Go with patience, claim a viewing position early, and treat the swim and lunch as useful extras on a wildlife trip whose best moments depend on the sea.

FAQ

Where does the Royal Delfin tour depart from?

The tour departs from Av. de Colón, 11, 38660 Playa de Las Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, near Puerto Colón.

What time does the boat leave?

The scheduled start time is 10:30 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The boat trip lasts approximately three hours and returns to the original meeting point.

Are whales and dolphins guaranteed?

No. The tour offers a chance to see whales and dolphins in their natural environment, but sightings depend on the day. Some trips may produce distant whale sightings or no dolphins.

Is food and drink included?

Yes. Lunch, beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, and water are included. Snacks are not included but are available onboard for an extra charge.

Is swimming part of the tour?

Yes. The boat stops at Diego Hernandez Bay for swimming. Children’s life jackets have been available on the boat, according to one family’s experience.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather or insufficient participation cancels the tour, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.