Excursion to see the whales – 3 Hours

Pilot whales and dolphins are the main attraction here, but the small-group boat setting may be the real pleasure. The three-hour outing combines open-ocean wildlife watching, glass-bottom viewing, a swim stop, and a simple lunch without turning the day into a full-day cruise.

I like the chance to travel with a specialist cetacean guide and a skilled captain, and I like that a beer, soft drink, or water and a sandwich are included. The main thing to watch is the group description: some information lists a maximum of 12 passengers, while other details say up to 18, and one booking problem involved confusion over a private departure.

Key points at a glance

• Pilot whales and dolphins: The cruise looks for cetaceans in the Atlantic waters near Tenerife, with sperm whales also possible.
• Glass-bottom viewing: You can look beneath the surface as well as scan the open water.
• Three-hour format: This gives you time for wildlife watching and a swim without taking over your whole day.
• Swim stop included: The boat may anchor at El Puertito or Playa de Las Vistas.
• Food and drink covered: You receive a sandwich plus beer, water, or a soft drink.
• Small private setting: Capacity details vary between 12 and 18 passengers, so confirm the exact arrangement before paying.

What the three-hour cruise is really about

This is a compact whale-watching trip from Tenerife’s Puerto Colón, designed for people who want a taste of the Atlantic without committing to a long boat excursion. You leave from Lina Yacht, spend the main part of the trip looking for dolphins and whales, and return to the same starting point.

The focus is not a guaranteed animal encounter. Marine life moves freely, and the exact sightings will depend on conditions and luck. The experience gives you a chance to see pilot whales, sperm whales, and dolphins in their natural habitat, but no responsible operator can promise a particular species.

That uncertainty is part of the point. You are not visiting an aquarium or watching a fixed performance. You are scanning the sea, listening to the guide, and waiting for a fin, blow, or moving group to appear. The trip is best for you if that kind of anticipation sounds enjoyable.

The stated rating is 4.5 out of 5 from 13 ratings, and the strongest praise centers on the crew’s flexibility and personal attention. One particularly successful outing involved only two passengers after a weather-related change. Alessandro and Micky were praised for their professionalism, kindness, and informative approach, with a family group of pilot whales providing the highlight.

That small number of passengers is not guaranteed on every departure, but it shows what the format can feel like at its best.

Leaving Lina Yacht for Puerto Colón

The route begins at Lina Yacht and includes a guided visit around Puerto Colón. The boat then heads out toward open water before returning to Lina Yacht at the end of the three hours.

Puerto Colón is a practical starting point for this sort of cruise because the activity stays focused on the ocean rather than adding long road transfers. You should still allow enough time to find the meeting point and arrive ready to board, since the supplied details do not give a separate transfer service or hotel pickup.

The boat-based nature of the outing also means that your comfort depends partly on sea conditions. A strong-wind warning led the operator to contact one booking party and move the appointment to another time. That is good operational practice, and it is a useful reminder to keep some flexibility in your Tenerife plans.

If your schedule is tight, avoid placing this cruise immediately before an important flight or fixed appointment. The trip itself is three hours, but boarding and returning to port require a little breathing room.

Looking for pilot whales, sperm whales, and dolphins

Once the boat reaches open water, the main activity is wildlife watching. The guide and captain help you look for dolphins and whales, with pilot whales and sperm whales among the possible sightings.

Pilot whales are a particularly appealing target because they often travel in family groups. The reported sighting of an entire family close to the sailboat shows how memorable the encounter can be when conditions line up. You might see animals at a distance, or you might have a much closer view. The experience cannot control that part.

Sperm whales are also listed among the possible sightings, though the information does not promise them on every trip. Dolphins may provide more active movement around the boat, while whales can reward patience with a slower, more dramatic appearance.

The specialized cetacean guide matters here. Instead of simply pointing toward an animal, the guide can help you understand what you are seeing and keep the attention of a small group moving in the right direction. The listed languages are French, English, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian, which is useful if you want explanations in one of those languages.

Bring realistic expectations. A whale-watching trip can be magical, but it can also involve stretches of open water with no immediate sighting. The value comes from the full setting, including the sea views, the guide’s help, and the chance to encounter free-ranging animals.

Glass-bottom viewing beneath the boat

The underwater viewing feature adds another angle to the cruise. You are not limited to watching the horizon. Glass-bottom viewing lets you peer below the surface and look for marine life in the water under or near the boat.

This is a simple feature, but it helps break up the waiting time between sightings. It is also useful for children, who may enjoy looking down through the viewing panel while adults scan for fins farther away.

The supplied details do not promise a full underwater wildlife show, so I would treat this as an extra way to see the sea rather than a separate snorkeling excursion. The boat provides underwater vision, but the principal purpose remains whale and dolphin watching.

A swim stop at El Puertito or Playa de Las Vistas

The cruise includes time to anchor for a swim at El Puertito or Playa de Las Vistas. This gives the outing a change of pace after the open-water search.

At El Puertito or Playa de Las Vistas, you can take a refreshing swim before the boat returns. The exact stop depends on the outing, and the details do not specify how long you will remain in the water. Think of it as a swim break within the cruise, not a full beach day.

This stop makes the tour more appealing if you want a relaxed boat trip rather than a strictly scientific wildlife outing. You can watch the sea, take a swim, and enjoy the views from the water.

You should still plan sensibly. The information confirms a swim stop but does not list provided towels, snorkel gear, or other water equipment. Bring only what you need and check the operator’s current instructions before departure.

What comes with the €45 adult fare

The stated adult price is €45, with children aged 2 to 10 listed at €22. The headline price supplied for the activity is $51 per person, so the amount you see at checkout may depend on currency conversion, booking platform, or the date of purchase. Check the final price before confirming.

For three hours on the water, the fare offers reasonable value if you care about both wildlife watching and a swim. You are not paying only for transport. The price includes the crew, fuel, port taxes, and IGIC, along with the guide, a sandwich, and one complimentary drink.

The drink choice is beer, water, or a soft drink. That is a modest but useful inclusion, especially because you do not need to arrange food during the cruise. The sandwich keeps the trip from feeling like an expensive boat ride with no refreshments, though you should not expect a full meal.

The value is strongest for you if you want several elements in one outing:

• Whale and dolphin watching
• A specialist guide
• Glass-bottom viewing
• A swim stop
• A sandwich and drink
• A small-group boat experience

If your only goal is to spend the entire day searching for whales, a longer cruise might suit you better. If you want a manageable half-day activity with several parts, three hours is a sensible length.

Group size and the private-cruise question

The group format needs careful attention. The highlights describe a friendly group of no more than 12 passengers. Another part of the information says the boat can take a maximum of 18 passengers, while the booking details describe the experience as a private group.

That is a meaningful difference. A 12-person boat trip feels intimate and gives you a better chance to hear the guide and move your viewing position without a crowd. Eighteen people is still a fairly small boat group, but it will feel busier.

There was also a serious booking mix-up in which a party arrived and found that the excursion was private, so they could not join despite having tickets. Another boat eventually took them, but the situation involved a long price discussion. This appears to be an exception rather than the normal experience, but it is too important to ignore.

Before booking, confirm three things directly:

• Is your departure shared or exclusively private?
• What is the actual passenger limit for your date?
• Is the departure definitely confirmed?

That quick check can prevent confusion at the harbor. It is especially important if you are booking as an individual or small party and expect to join other people.

Weather changes and the crew’s flexibility

Boat trips depend on wind and sea conditions. The operator’s response to a strong-wind warning was a positive sign: the appointment was rescheduled rather than pushed ahead in poor conditions.

That kind of flexibility protects both comfort and safety. A calm day also gives you a better chance of enjoying the views and spotting animals, although sightings can never be guaranteed.

The outing is run by Ocean Blue, with a skilled captain and a cetacean guide onboard. Alessandro and Micky were specifically praised for a professional and friendly approach on one sailing. Since crew assignments can change, you should not assume those two will be on every departure, but their names give you a useful sense of the personal service associated with the trip.

The guide languages are French, English, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian. If you need a particular language, confirm it for your chosen time rather than assuming every guide speaks all five on every sailing.

Who will enjoy this outing most

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a short, friendly introduction to Tenerife’s marine life. It suits couples, families, and small groups who like the idea of wildlife watching but also want a swim and refreshments.

It is particularly well matched to:

• Families who want a three-hour activity rather than a full-day cruise
• Couples looking for a quieter boat outing
• Visitors interested in dolphins and whales in the open Atlantic
• People who value a multilingual guide
• Anyone who wants a swim stop included
• Visitors who prefer a private or small-group setting

The experience may be less suitable if you need a guaranteed whale sighting, dislike uncertain sea conditions, or want a long period in the water. It may also be a poor fit if you cannot tolerate ambiguity about the group size or private booking arrangement.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, which broadens its appeal. Still, boarding conditions can vary by boat and harbor, so ask for current access details if you use a wheelchair or need specific assistance.

Booking advice before you pay

The cancellation terms are useful: you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Tenerife schedule is still changing.

I would book for a day when you have some flexibility around the three-hour window. That gives the operator room to adjust for wind and gives you time to enjoy the outing without watching the clock.

Check the final adult and child prices, the exact passenger limit, and whether the departure is private or shared. Those details matter more here than they would on a standard sightseeing boat because the small-group format is one of the main reasons to choose this experience.

Should you book the Ocean Blue whale-watching cruise?

Book it if you want a compact, varied boat trip with a real chance of seeing pilot whales, dolphins, or sperm whales, plus glass-bottom viewing, a swim, a sandwich, and a drink. The best outings appear to offer warm crew service and unusually close wildlife moments.

I would be cautious only about the inconsistent group information and the reported private-booking confusion. Confirm the departure in writing, especially if you are not reserving the whole boat.

For most visitors, this is a good-value choice when you want three hours on the Atlantic rather than an all-day marine expedition. Go for the setting, the guide, and the possibility of a memorable encounter, not a guaranteed animal checklist.

FAQ

How long is the whale-watching activity?

The experience lasts three hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

Where does the boat leave from?

The activity starts at Lina Yacht, includes a guided visit around Puerto Colón, and returns to Lina Yacht.

What animals might I see?

The cruise looks for dolphins, pilot whales, and sperm whales. Sightings are possible but cannot be guaranteed.

Is a swim included?

Yes. The boat anchors at El Puertito or Playa de Las Vistas for a refreshing swim stop.

What food and drink are included?

You receive a sandwich and one complimentary beverage, which can be beer, water, or a soft drink.

What languages are available, and is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Guiding is available in French, English, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.