3h Whale Watching Share Tour Beneteau Oceanis 440

Pilot whales are the main attraction on this three-hour sail from Puerto Colón, where Captain Max takes a small group into the waters south of Tenerife. The boat is a 13.76-meter Beneteau Oceanis 440, so you get a proper sailing experience rather than a ride on a large sightseeing vessel. The trip also includes dolphin watching, snacks, cold drinks, and a short snorkeling stop.

I like the maximum of 11 people, which gives the outing a calmer feel and leaves more room to move around the boat. I also like that the vessel is approved for cetacean watching, and that you return to Puerto Colón after only three hours, leaving plenty of time for the rest of your day.

The main thing to consider is the level of guiding. One booking account describes a quiet trip in which the captain mainly pointed out the animals, with little introduction, and noted that his English was limited. You should book this for the sailing and wildlife opportunity first, not for a detailed naturalist lecture.

Key points to know before you book

• Pilot whales are the main target: These resident cetaceans live in the waters around the Canary Islands, though sightings are never guaranteed.
• Madoudou is a full-size sailing yacht: The Beneteau Oceanis 440 has indoor seating, an outdoor table, an awning, kitchen facilities, and generous water storage.
• The group is limited to 11 people: That is a small setup for a shared excursion and gives you more personal space than a large excursion boat.
• The tour includes a 30-minute swim stop: Snorkeling equipment, food, and cold drinks are provided.
• The wildlife portion lasts about one hour: The rest of the three-hour outing is spent sailing, stopping for food, snorkeling, and returning to port.
• You pay $63 per person: With sailing, whale and dolphin watching, refreshments, and equipment included, the price is reasonable if you value a small group and a yacht setting.

Setting sail from Puerto Colón

You meet at Gate 5 in Puerto Colón, Costa Adeje, in the south of Tenerife. The activity starts and ends at the same port, which makes the plan easy to fit into a beach day or an evening reservation elsewhere.

The boat is called Madoudou. It is a Beneteau Oceanis 440, a sailing yacht built for longer trips at sea rather than a basic open motorboat. At 13.76 meters long, it has enough room for the group to spread out, find a seat, and move between the outside deck and the indoor salon.

The boat has a large living area with two sofas and a table for eight. The outside table and awning are useful details in Tenerife, where a shaded place can make a real difference during a long spell on the water. The yacht also has three kitchen burners, two sinks, an oven, and two refrigerators, although you should think of these as part of the boat’s cruising equipment rather than facilities you will use during the excursion.

The aft cabins have direct access to bathrooms with showers and hot water. That is more comfort than you normally get on a short whale-watching boat, though the activity details do not specify how guests use the cabins or bathrooms during the trip.

What the Beneteau Oceanis 440 adds

The boat’s size and design shape the whole experience. You are not simply sitting in rows while a driver searches for animals. You are on a sailing yacht with an indoor salon, outdoor seating, an awning, and room to enjoy the movement of the sea.

The yacht has solar panels and a 900-liter water supply, features intended for longer independent trips. You will not need to think about those systems during a three-hour outing, but they help explain why Madoudou is equipped for open-water sailing.

The boat also carries an outboard raft. Again, this is not the same as a dedicated whale-watching vessel with raised viewing decks and powerful wildlife-search equipment. The reward is a more relaxed yacht outing. The tradeoff is that the wildlife viewing may feel less specialized.

With no more than 11 people, you should have a fair chance of finding a comfortable position. The smaller group also avoids the packed-deck feeling common on larger boats. Still, marine wildlife moves on its own schedule, and everyone may need to share the best viewing angles when dolphins or pilot whales appear.

Sailing along Tenerife’s volcanic coast

The first part of the trip is simply sailing in the waters around Tenerife. The route gives you time to settle into the boat and look back toward the volcanic coast, with its dark Atlantic edges and steep island profile.

The sailing itself is an important part of the outing. If you only want the quickest possible wildlife sighting, a purpose-built motorboat may cover water faster. If you enjoy the quiet pace of a yacht and want the sea journey to be part of the day, Madoudou makes more sense.

You may spend some of this section under sail and some time moving with the engine, depending on conditions. The supplied details do not promise a specific amount of sailing under wind power, so do not book on the assumption that the entire trip will be a silent sail.

The captain and guide can speak Spanish, English, and Italian according to the activity information. One previous booking account found that the captain’s English was not strong and that explanations were brief. If learning about whale behavior and the marine environment is central to your plans, keep that limitation in mind.

Searching for dolphins and pilot whales

The wildlife portion lasts about one hour. The boat is authorized for cetacean watching in southern Tenerife, and the main animal to look for is the pilot whale that lives in Canarian waters. Dolphins are also part of the search.

Pilot whales are not the same as the giant whales people often picture when they hear whale watching. They are toothed whales and social marine mammals, and their presence near Tenerife is one reason this coast is popular for boat trips. You may see them at the surface, but the exact quality and length of a sighting cannot be promised.

The same applies to dolphins. A sighting can be brief, spread out, or close enough for several good views. The boat’s small size should make it easier to move from one side to the other when the crew spots activity, but you may still need patience.

Keep your expectations realistic. This is a three-hour nature outing, not a show with scheduled animal appearances. The authorization to watch cetaceans is reassuring, but it does not guarantee a particular species or a certain number of sightings.

The guiding style may be fairly spare. One account describes the captain pointing out dolphins and whales without much spoken introduction. That may disappoint you if you want a running commentary, but it may suit you if you prefer a quiet ride and are happy to watch the sea without constant narration.

The 30-minute secret stop

After the wildlife search, the itinerary includes a 30-minute stop at an unspecified location. This is the most flexible part of the outing and is listed for a break, brunch, and snorkeling.

Snorkeling equipment is included, so you do not need to bring your own mask and gear. The activity details do not specify the exact cove, water temperature, visibility, or marine life at the stop, so treat snorkeling as an added pause rather than the central reason to book.

The 30-minute duration is short but useful. It gives you time to get into the water, cool off, and return to the boat without turning the trip into a full beach excursion. If you prefer to stay dry, you can use the stop as a chance to relax on deck and have the included food and drinks.

A towel is not provided. Bring one, along with a sun hat, which is also not included. The boat has an awning, but you should still plan for strong sun while moving between shaded and open areas.

Food, drinks, and onboard comfort

Snacks, cold drinks, and food are included in the price. One booking account describes the meal as ordinary sandwiches and a soft drink, so you should expect simple provisions rather than a restaurant-style brunch.

That is perfectly sensible for a short sailing trip. You get something to eat without needing to pack a full meal, and the drinks are useful after time in the sun or water. If you have a specific diet or food allergy, the supplied information does not explain what alternatives are available. Ask the operator before booking if that matters to you.

The boat’s indoor salon gives you a place to sit out of the sun, while the outside table and awning provide a more pleasant setting for eating. The cabin layout, storage, kitchen, and hot-water showers suggest a yacht designed with comfort in mind, although the excursion is too short for you to make meaningful use of every feature.

You should bring a towel and sun protection. The supplied information specifically lists a sun hat and towel as not included. Comfortable clothing and footwear suited to a boat are sensible choices, but the operator does not provide a detailed dress code.

Is $63 a fair price?

At $63 per person, this is priced in the middle range for a short marine excursion, but the value depends on what you want from the day. You are paying for three hours aboard a proper sailing yacht, a group capped at 11, wildlife viewing, snorkeling equipment, food, and cold drinks.

The small group is the strongest value point. An outing with 11 people feels more personal than a large boat carrying dozens of passengers, and Madoudou offers more interior and outdoor space than a small open craft.

The price is less compelling if your only goal is to see whales or dolphins. Wildlife sightings depend on nature, and the one-hour search period is not especially long. You are also not guaranteed a detailed commentary in English, based on the communication issue noted in a previous booking.

Think of the $63 as payment for a relaxed half-day on the water with a chance to see cetaceans. That is a fair deal if you enjoy sailing even when the animals are quiet. It is a weaker choice if you want a highly structured educational program or guaranteed close wildlife encounters.

Who will enjoy this outing most?

I would choose this trip for someone who wants a quieter boat experience, likes the idea of sailing, and prefers a limited group. Couples, solo visitors, and small families who enjoy being on the sea should find the format easy to understand and manageable within a day in Costa Adeje.

It also suits you if you want a short activity rather than a full-day cruise. The three-hour duration leaves time for the beach, lunch, or another Tenerife plan. Returning to Puerto Colón keeps the logistics simple.

Families should note that the available details do not give a minimum age, child price, or child-specific safety information. Ask the operator before booking if you are traveling with children.

I would be more cautious about booking if you need rich explanation in English, a guaranteed whale sighting, a full meal, or a long snorkeling session. The tour gives you several good elements, but each one is fairly brief.

A previous booking also involved a change after the original vessel broke down. That appears to have been an unusual operational problem rather than a standard feature of the excursion, but it is a reminder to keep some flexibility in your schedule. The stated cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, and you can reserve now while paying later.

The main strengths and weak spots

The highest praise attached to this experience is simple: one five-star account says everything was great. That fits the basic appeal of the trip. You get a small group, a comfortable sailing boat, wildlife watching, and refreshments without committing a whole day.

The clearest criticism concerns communication. If Captain Max is giving only short comments and pointing toward animals, you may need to create your own understanding of what you see. The listed languages include Spanish, English, and Italian, but language ability in practice can vary.

The boat itself is the safest reason to choose this outing. Madoudou has the feel of a real cruising yacht, not just a platform for a quick wildlife ride. Its salon, shaded outdoor area, bathrooms, and onboard equipment make the three hours more comfortable.

The wildlife remains the uncertain part. Pilot whales and dolphins live in these waters, and the boat is authorized to watch cetaceans, but no nature trip can promise an encounter. Approach the experience as sailing with a chance to see marine life, and you are more likely to feel the price is worthwhile.

Should you book the Madoudou sailing trip?

Book it if you want a small-group yacht outing from Costa Adeje, enjoy being on the water, and like having wildlife watching, snacks, and a short snorkeling stop combined into one compact trip. The $63 price is reasonable for that mix, especially with a group limit of 11.

Skip it if your priority is a long snorkeling session, expert wildlife interpretation, a guaranteed sighting, or a substantial meal. Bring a towel and sun hat, keep your expectations flexible, and remember that the best part may be the calm sailing time between sightings.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching tour start?

The tour starts at Gate 5 in Puerto Colón, Costa Adeje, in southern Tenerife.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Puerto Colón.

How long is the experience?

The experience lasts three hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join the shared tour?

The shared trip has a maximum of 11 people.

What boat is used?

The excursion uses Madoudou, a Beneteau Oceanis 440 sailing boat measuring 13.76 meters in length.

Which marine animals can you see?

The trip looks for pilot whales and dolphins in the waters around the Canary Islands. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, and the itinerary allows about 30 minutes for a break and snorkeling.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Food, snacks, and cold drinks are included. One booking account describes the food as sandwiches and a soft drink.

Which languages are available?

The listed guide languages are Spanish, English, and Italian.