CATAMARAN OCEAN CRUISE TOUR, Food & Drinks included!

The most memorable part of this three-hour catamaran cruise is the chance to watch pilot whales and dolphins in open water, then cool off in a sheltered bay with tapas and drinks. The route heads from Puerto Colón toward La Gomera, giving you a fine view of Tenerife from the sea.

I like the included south Tenerife pickup and the friendly crew, who explain the wildlife and handle the boat with care. I also like that lunch is more than a token snack: you get fruit, tapas, other bites, and a choice of drinks. The main caution is group size. The tour is advertised for up to 18 people, but one departure carried 24 adults and a child after a weather-related rescheduling.

Key points to know before booking

• Pilot whales are a real possibility: Sightings have included family pods, mothers with calves, dolphins, and fish, but no wild animal sighting is guaranteed.
• Playa de los Hippies is the second stop: You can swim, snorkel, eat, drink, or simply look back at Tenerife’s mountains.
• Pickup saves time: Hotel pickup and return are offered in south Tenerife, but you must add your hotel, telephone number, and email when booking.
• Food and drinks are included: Tapas, fruit, snacks, and drinks are served during the beach stop, with generous portions reported on some departures.
• The boat can feel busy: The advertised maximum is 18, yet capacity may be higher or a rescheduled sailing may bring more people aboard.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can cancel the trip, with a new date or full refund offered.

Setting out from Puerto Colón toward La Gomera

Your outing begins at Club Náutico Puerto Colón de Adeje in Costa Adeje. If you use the pickup option, provide your hotel details, telephone number, and email in advance. The tour returns to the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride back after the cruise.

Once aboard, the catamaran heads southwest from Tenerife’s main southern marina. The stated direction is toward La Gomera, though this is not a ferry trip to the island. You stay at sea around Tenerife, looking for whales and dolphins and enjoying the coastal view from the water.

That distinction matters. You are booking a short wildlife cruise, not a full-day island excursion. The roughly three-hour schedule leaves time for wildlife watching, a swimming stop, food, and the return journey without taking over your whole day in Costa Adeje.

The experience is offered in English. The crew welcomes you aboard, explains the wildlife, and helps organize the food and drinks. The strongest feedback centers on the crew’s calm, professional manner and their care around the animals. That is important on a whale-watching trip, where the boat’s behavior affects both your comfort and the wildlife.

Watching pilot whales and dolphins in open water

The first main part of the cruise is the search for marine life. Pilot whales have been seen in family groups, including a mother with a small calf. Dolphins have also appeared, with one sailing reporting several groups and another seeing dolphins along with whales and fish.

These moments can be powerful because the animals are not performing on a schedule. The boat may need to move slowly, pause, or adjust its course. You may see a pod clearly, catch only a brief surface appearance, or see nothing at all. The operator makes no guarantee, and the disappointing departure reported no dolphins.

I would book this for the chance to see wildlife, not as a promise of a particular species. That is the sensible approach anywhere animals are wild. If you do see pilot whales traveling in family pods, the experience can be far more meaningful than a quick photo stop. You are watching natural behavior rather than a staged attraction.

The crew’s explanations add value here. You are not left to guess whether a dark shape is a whale, dolphin, or wave. The trip is still casual and recreational, but the crew provides useful context about the animals and the ocean. Ginger has also been offered to help with seasickness, a thoughtful touch if you are unsure how you will handle the boat.

For the best chance of comfort, consider your usual reaction to open water. The trip is short, but three hours is long enough for motion to matter. Sit where you can see the horizon, follow the crew’s advice, and make use of the ginger if it is available.

Playa de los Hippies, swimming, and the Tenerife view

After the wildlife search, the boat continues to Playa de los Hippies. This stop gives the outing a welcome change of pace. Instead of watching the horizon, you can swim, snorkel, or stay aboard with a drink and look toward Tenerife’s mountains.

The beach stop is especially useful for people who want more than a wildlife cruise. You get time in the water and a relaxed meal without needing to pack a separate beach visit into your day. Families and mixed-age groups can split up naturally, with some people swimming and others staying dry.

Snorkeling is included as an activity option, but the available information does not promise particular fish, equipment details, or water conditions. Treat it as a chance to get in the water rather than a dedicated snorkeling expedition.

The view from offshore is one of the simple pleasures of this route. Tenerife looks different from a catamaran than it does from a road or hotel terrace. At Playa de los Hippies, you can settle into the slower part of the trip, watch the coast, and enjoy the sea without rushing to the next attraction.

What comes with the food and drink service

Food and drinks are included in the price. The stated selection includes tapas, snacks, fruit, and drinks, served during the stop near the beach. Some departures have had ample tapas portions, a good choice of drinks, and no stated restriction on the number of drinks. A honey-rum shot at the end has also been offered.

I like this setup because it keeps the outing self-contained. You do not need to return hungry after spending time at sea, and the meal fits the informal mood of a catamaran. The food is not presented as a formal restaurant lunch, so you should expect small shared dishes rather than a carefully timed multi-course meal.

There is one important qualification. Food availability may not be identical on every departure. One larger sailing was described as having very limited food, while drinks remained plentiful. Since that boat carried more people than expected, the crowd may have affected how much food was available to each person.

If a substantial lunch is important to you, eat something beforehand and treat the included food as a pleasant bonus. If you mainly want snacks, fruit, tapas, and drinks after swimming, the arrangement should fit well.

Boat size, comfort, and the passenger question

The catamaran is described as spacious, and the normal advertised group size is a maximum of 18 people. A group this size can make a three-hour cruise feel personal without becoming too quiet or formal. It also gives the crew a better chance to speak with people, serve food, and help with the swimming stop.

But you should know about the capacity issue before paying. One departure had 24 adults and one child, not counting the crew or the person serving drinks and explaining the whales. The operator said the catamaran is licensed for more than 18 passengers and that weather the previous day had forced a rescheduling of people who might otherwise have missed their trip.

That explanation may make sense operationally, but it does not erase the mismatch between the advertised figure and the experience on that day. If you strongly prefer a small-group cruise, ask for the expected passenger count before booking. The boat may be spacious, yet extra people can mean less room around the rail, a busier swimming stop, and less food per person.

For most people, the group size will be a practical rather than decisive issue. For couples seeking a quiet sailing or anyone paying specifically for a small-group atmosphere, it deserves attention.

Pickup, timing, and the value of the price

At about $108.37 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend three hours on the coast. The price makes more sense when you add up what is included: south Tenerife pickup and return, the boat ride, wildlife watching, the beach stop, swimming, snorkeling, tapas, fruit, snacks, and drinks.

A separate boat trip, taxi ride to the marina, meal, and beach visit could easily take more planning. Here, the pickup is particularly useful if you are staying somewhere in south Tenerife and do not want to work out transport to Puerto Colón. The tour ends back at the marina, which keeps the day straightforward.

The average booking lead time is about 31 days. That suggests you should not leave this until the last moment, especially if you have fixed holiday dates. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability, so allow time for the booking to be confirmed.

The value depends on what you want from the outing. You are paying a fairer price if you plan to use the swimming stop, eat the included food, and appreciate the convenience of transport. The value is weaker if you only want a quick whale sighting and do not care about lunch or pickup.

Who will enjoy this catamaran cruise most

I would recommend this outing to families, couples, and small groups who want several activities in one short trip. It suits anyone who likes the idea of wildlife watching but also wants time to swim, eat, and look at Tenerife from offshore.

It is also a good choice for a mixed group. One person can watch for whales, another can snorkel, and someone else can relax with a drink. The English-speaking crew and included transport make it fairly easy for visitors who do not want to organize the day themselves.

The trip is less suitable if you need a guaranteed sighting, dislike boats, or want a very quiet and private cruise. It is also not the right pick for someone seeking a full day on La Gomera, since the route points toward the island but does not take you there.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The boat is near public transportation, though pickup is offered. Since the activity depends on good weather, keep some flexibility in your schedule if possible.

Booking, cancellation, and weather details

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and cancellations inside that period are not refunded.

The weather rule is more generous when the operator cancels. If poor conditions make the trip unsafe or impractical, you are offered another date or a full refund. Cutoff times use local Tenerife time, so check the start time carefully if you are booking from abroad.

I would also contact the operator before departure if the advertised passenger limit matters to you. The experience provider is TENERIFE BEST EXCURSIONS, and the booking requires your hotel, phone number, and email if you want pickup arranged.

Should you book this Tenerife cruise?

Book it if you want a compact mix of wildlife watching, swimming, and an included meal. The strongest points are the chance to see pilot whales and dolphins, the helpful crew, the easy pickup, and the generous drink service reported on several sailings.

Think twice if an 18-person limit is essential to you. The passenger count has not always matched that figure, and food service may feel less generous on a crowded departure. Also remember that nature sets the schedule. You could see family pods and dolphins, or you could miss them.

For most visitors staying in south Tenerife, I see this as a good-value half-day-style outing packed into about three hours. Go with realistic expectations, ask about the expected group size, and enjoy the trip for the whole package rather than for one guaranteed whale photograph.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise start?

The cruise starts at Club Náutico Puerto Colón de Adeje, Av. de Colón, 38660 Costa Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Where does the cruise finish?

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

Is pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are offered in south Tenerife. You need to provide your hotel, telephone number, and email address when booking.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

Is food included?

Yes. The package includes tapas, snacks, fruit, and drinks.

Are swimming and snorkeling included?

Yes. You can swim or snorkel during the stop at Playa de los Hippies.

Can I see whales and dolphins?

The route is designed to look for whales and dolphins, and pilot whales and dolphins have been seen. Sightings are not guaranteed because the animals are wild.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How many people can join?

The experience is advertised with a maximum of 18 travelers. The catamaran is licensed to carry more than 18 passengers, and one departure carried 24 adults and one child after a weather-related rescheduling.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the operator to cancel.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.