Private Boat Tour on Royal Ocean Yacht, Tenerife

Whales and dolphins are the main draw here, but the real pleasure is having a private yacht for your own group. Royal Ocean sails from Las Galletas toward the open water, then anchors near Los Cristianos for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, snacks, drinks, and Spanish tapas.

I like the generous onboard setup, especially the restroom, towels, seating, and food service. I also like the personal feel: Captain Lui is named in the feedback, and the crew takes an active interest in making the outing comfortable. The main caution is the sea itself. If you get seasick, bring your medicine, and remember that whale sightings can never be promised.

Key points to know before booking

• Private for up to eight people: The $900.18 group price makes the most sense for a family or friend group sharing the cost.
• Whale and dolphin spotting: The boat heads toward the waters around Tenerife where pilot whales, dolphins, and porpoises may appear.
• Two very different stops: You begin with open-water wildlife watching, then anchor in a sheltered-looking bay near Los Cristianos for swimming and snorkeling.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect fruit, snacks, jamón, meats, cheeses, Spanish tapas, soft drinks, coffee, tea, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks.
• Comfortable yacht facilities: You have seating areas, a restroom, air conditioning, towels, snorkeling equipment, and a SUP.
• Weather and seasickness matter: Poor weather can cancel the trip, and rough water may make the ride unpleasant for some people.

Sailing from Las Galletas toward Tenerife’s whales

The tour begins at Royal Ocean S.L. in Puerto Deportivo Marina del Sur, in Las Galletas on Tenerife’s south coast. Pickup is offered, with X-Sur Mall listed as the main entrance pickup point. One important practical detail: confirm your exact pickup arrangement when booking, since the advertised meeting point is the marina while pickup is also available.

You board a private yacht reserved only for your group. That changes the mood at once. You are not sharing the boat with a large crowd or following the pace of strangers. If your group wants to sit at the front, linger over lunch, or spend more time in the water, the private format gives the day a more relaxed rhythm.

The first sailing leg heads toward the area known for whale and dolphin sightings. The boat is used as a viewing platform, so keep your eyes on the water and your phone ready. Past outings have included pilot whales, dolphins, and porpoises, with one group seeing around nine whales. That is an excellent result, but it is best to treat wildlife as a possibility rather than a guarantee.

I appreciate that this part is not reduced to a quick photo stop. The boat gives you time to watch the sea and enjoy the views of Tenerife from offshore. The island looks different from the water, with the cliffs around the southern coast providing a strong backdrop as you move away from the marina.

The sea can be lively, though. One family had a difficult time with seasickness, and another passenger fell on the stairs, though he accepted responsibility for the accident. Those details are useful reminders to move carefully around the boat and take seasickness medicine before departure if you need it. A private yacht does not make the Atlantic still.

Open-water wildlife watching, with realistic expectations

The wildlife portion is the least predictable part of the experience and also the most exciting. You might see pilot whales surfacing in the distance, dolphins moving near the boat, or porpoises in the water. You might also spend time scanning the sea without a dramatic sighting.

That uncertainty is normal for any responsible wildlife trip. The value here is having a private boat, a crew focused on your group, and enough time to enjoy the search rather than simply passing through an area. Captain Lui is praised for his handling of the trip and for sharing information about Tenerife, which adds useful context as you sail.

Bring a phone or camera, but do not let photography take over. A whale appearing for only a few seconds is easy to miss while you are looking at a screen. I would keep your phone accessible, then spend most of this section watching the water.

The boat has plenty of seating, so you can move around to find a comfortable viewing position. Sitting at the front gives you the strongest sense of riding over the waves, but it may also be the bumpiest place. If you are prone to seasickness, a more central seat and a fixed point on the horizon may serve you better.

The Los Cristianos bay stop for swimming and snorkeling

After the wildlife search, the yacht makes a short transit toward a wild bay among the cliffs of Los Cristianos. During this part of the ride, drinks, fruit, and snacks are offered. It is a good pause between the open-water search and the more active part of the day.

The boat anchors in clear turquoise water for swimming and snorkeling. You receive snorkeling equipment and towels, so you do not need to pack those items separately. A SUP is also included, giving you another way to enjoy the water if you would rather paddle than snorkel.

This stop is where the trip becomes less about looking and more about doing. You can swim from the yacht, try the snorkeling equipment, or simply stay aboard with a drink and watch your group in the water. That flexibility is especially helpful for a mixed group. Strong swimmers can get active while others stay dry.

The water stop depends on sea and weather conditions. The crew chooses a suitable place based on the conditions, so the exact feel of the stop may vary. Do not expect a formal beach visit or a long land excursion. The focus is the anchored boat, the sea, and the cliffs around the bay.

There is also a short walk alongside the cliffs, with access to caves. The supplied details do not set out the length or difficulty of this walk, so I would treat it as a small extra rather than the central feature. Wear footwear you can manage safely around a boat and rocky coastal areas.

Jamón, tapas, and drinks served on board

Food is one of the strongest parts of the value here. Once anchored, you are served quality food that includes jamón, meats, cheeses, Spanish tapas, fruit, and snacks. Drinks are available throughout, including alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and bottled water.

This is more substantial than a basic packet of crisps and a can of soda. It gives the outing a proper social feel, especially for a birthday, family gathering, or relaxed day with friends. Several people singled out the food and drinks as a highlight, and one birthday outing described the whole meal service as part of an especially comfortable day.

The included lunch also means you do not need to plan a separate meal around a three-hour activity. That matters in Tenerife, where a half-day on the water can easily disrupt a beach day or restaurant booking. You can eat while enjoying the cliffs and the sea rather than rushing back to shore.

If you have dietary restrictions, ask Royal Ocean before booking. The supplied information lists the food clearly but does not confirm special-diet arrangements. The same applies to alcohol: it is included, but drinking before swimming or while the sea is moving calls for ordinary caution.

What the yacht offers during three hours

The yacht is set up for comfort rather than a bare sightseeing ride. You have a restroom on board, air conditioning, several seating areas, towels, snorkeling equipment, a SUP, and drinks. Those details matter more as the trip progresses, especially when you are wet, eating, or waiting for wildlife to surface.

A restroom is a major advantage on a private boat. You do not need to cut a sea trip short because someone in your group needs to return to the marina. Air conditioning also gives you a place to cool down, although many people will naturally spend most of the time outside.

The advertised duration is about three hours. The main portions include the wildlife search, the transit to the Los Cristianos bay, the water stop, food service, and the return to Las Galletas. The listed stop times add up to about two hours, with travel between them making up part of the remaining time, so expect the schedule to be approximate rather than timed like a museum visit.

That flexibility is useful on a private charter. Wildlife, waves, and swimming do not always fit a strict clock. Still, if you have a dinner reservation or another paid activity afterward, leave a sensible buffer rather than planning a tight connection.

Is $900.18 good value for your group?

The price is $900.18 for the entire group of up to eight people. At full capacity, that works out to about $112.52 per person. For eight people, the price is attractive because it includes a private boat, crew, food, drinks, equipment, and roughly three hours on the water.

For four people, the cost becomes about $225 per person. For two people, it is about $450 each, which is a much bigger decision. A couple booking for a birthday may still value the privacy and personal service, but a shared boat would usually be easier on the budget if keeping costs low is your main aim.

The private format is the key value point. You are paying not only for transport and sightseeing, but also for control over the group setting. Families with children, two couples, or friends celebrating a special occasion may find that worthwhile. A solo visitor or budget-minded pair probably will not get the same financial benefit.

The included meal and drinks improve the calculation. You are not paying extra for towels, snorkeling gear, bottled water, lunch, or alcoholic drinks. Pickup may also simplify the day, especially if you are staying near the listed pickup point or have arranged transport through Royal Ocean.

Who will enjoy this Royal Ocean outing?

I would recommend this trip most strongly for:

• Families wanting a private setting and several activity choices
• Couples marking a birthday or special occasion
• Friends who want a social day with drinks and tapas
• Groups of up to eight who can share the full price
• Visitors who want wildlife watching and swimming in one outing
• People who value comfort, a restroom, and an onboard meal

The tour is less suitable if you are very sensitive to motion, dislike open-water trips, or need guaranteed wildlife sightings. It is also not designed as a long cultural tour of Tenerife. You see the island from the sea, hear information from the crew, and visit the coast near Los Cristianos, but the main experience is sailing and swimming.

Most people can participate, according to the supplied activity details. Still, the combination of stairs, moving water, snorkeling, and a short cliff walk means you should judge your own comfort carefully. If you have a mobility concern or a serious medical issue, ask the operator for more detail before paying.

Booking, pickup, and cancellation details

The meeting point is Royal Ocean S.L., Puerto Deportivo Marina del Sur, 38631 Las Galletas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Pickup details list the main entrance of X-Sur Mall. Confirmation is sent at booking, and the activity is offered in English.

The tour ends back at the marina, so plan your return trip from Las Galletas rather than from Los Cristianos. Pickup may be available, but confirm the exact location and timing in advance.

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The tour also depends on good weather. If Royal Ocean cancels because conditions are poor, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Should you book this private yacht tour?

Book it if your group can share the price and you want one easy half-day combining wildlife watching, swimming, and lunch. The private boat, onboard restroom, generous food service, towels, equipment, and flexible group setting give the outing more substance than a quick sightseeing cruise.

I would be more cautious if only two people are splitting the cost, or if seasickness is a serious problem. For everyone else, especially families and small groups celebrating something, Royal Ocean offers a polished day on the water with enough variety to keep the whole group happy. Just bring motion-sickness medicine if needed, leave your schedule flexible, and remember that the whales are a bonus, not a promise.

FAQ

Where does the private boat tour start?

The tour starts at Royal Ocean S.L. in Puerto Deportivo Marina del Sur, 38631 Las Galletas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and the listed pickup location is the main entrance of X-Sur Mall. Confirm the exact pickup details when booking.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours and returns to the original meeting point in Las Galletas.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private booking covers a group of up to eight people. Only your group participates.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Included refreshments include lunch, fruit, snacks, jamón, meats, cheeses, Spanish tapas, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and bottled water.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, towels, and a SUP are included. Swimming and snorkeling take place at the anchored bay near Los Cristianos.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If Royal Ocean cancels because of poor conditions, you can select another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time.