Private Yacht Excursion from Puerto Colon 3 hours

Pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, homemade paella, and a private yacht make this one of Costa Adeje’s more personal ways to get out on the Atlantic. You leave Puerto Colón with only your own group aboard, then let the crew search for marine life before stopping for swimming and snorkeling.

I especially like the small private setting and the warm, attentive service from Salvador, Ramón, and the rest of the crew. The homemade food, open bar, and chance to sail quietly when conditions allow add real value. The main caution is the sea itself: rough water can cause motion sickness, and a swim stop may not feel worthwhile on a choppy day.

Key points to know

• Private boat for up to eight: Your group has the yacht and crew to itself, with no large excursion crowd.
• Three hours from Puerto Colón: The route focuses on marine life, coastal scenery, and a possible swim or snorkel stop.
• Whales and dolphins are possible: Pilot whales are regularly seen around Tenerife, but wildlife sightings can never be promised.
• Homemade food is part of the appeal: Lunch can include paella, with cake sometimes arranged for birthdays.
• Open bar and equipment included: Drinks, snacks, snorkeling gear, and alcoholic beverages are provided.
• Pickup covers nearby hotels: Collection and return are available within 20 kilometers of Puerto Colón if requested in advance.

Setting out from Puerto Colón

Your day begins at Avenida de Colón 5 in Costa Adeje, the Puerto Colón area. If your hotel is within 20 kilometers, you can request pickup when booking. The operator confirms the collection time through the booking platform, so I would check your messages carefully rather than assume the driver will arrive at a standard hour.

The transfer is by private, air-conditioned vehicle. That matters if you are traveling with children, carrying bags, or simply want to avoid arranging a taxi before a boat trip. The activity ends back at the meeting point, with hotel drop-off included for eligible pickups.

At the marina, you board Roulette, the private luxury sailboat used for the excursion. The crew gives you a safety briefing and explains the boat before setting out. This is a useful start, especially if someone in your group has little boating experience or is nervous about the water.

The boat is private for your party, with a maximum group size of eight. That makes the three hours feel less like a standard sightseeing outing and more like time chartered for your family or friends. You can settle into the yacht, ask questions, choose when to swim, and tell the crew about a birthday or other special occasion.

Watching for pilot whales and dolphins

The main reason to book is the chance to see marine life in its natural setting. The waters off Tenerife are known for resident cetaceans, and the crew searches for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds during the cruise.

Several species have been spotted on past trips, including pilot whales with calves, dolphins, and sea turtles. One particularly unusual outing also produced sightings of hammerhead sharks and giant squid eggs, but treat those as lucky extras rather than part of the standard promise. Wildlife moves on its own schedule.

The crew’s local experience helps them read the water and look in the right places. Salvador also shares facts about the animals, the island, and the surrounding sea. That turns the search into more than a series of quick photo opportunities. You get a clearer sense of what you are seeing and why the boat may slow down or change course.

When marine life appears nearby, the crew can shut off the engine. This keeps the boat quieter and reduces disturbance around the animals. It also creates a far better moment for you: the Atlantic goes still, the yacht rocks gently, and a whale or dolphin may surface close to the boat.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. No responsible wildlife trip can guarantee whales or dolphins on every departure. You may spend part of the cruise looking across open water before anything appears. The private format helps because the crew can focus on your group, but nature remains unpredictable.

Bring a camera if you like, but keep it protected from spray. The crew may take photographs of you from the boat, which is useful if you want a group picture without asking one member of your party to miss the action.

A real lunch, not just a snack tray

Food is one of the strongest parts of this outing. Lunch is included, and the boat can serve homemade paella. Several special trips have also included cake, including a birthday outing where the boat was decorated for the occasion.

That makes this a good choice for a celebration. If you are marking a birthday or anniversary, tell the operator when you reserve. The special touches are not automatic in the basic description, but the crew has arranged cakes and decorations for previous private groups.

Drinks are available from an open bar throughout the trip, including alcoholic beverages. You can enjoy a drink while watching for whales or during the return ride, but pace yourself. Alcohol and rolling seas are not a happy combination, especially if you are prone to motion sickness.

Snacks are also included. The selection may be fairly simple, with potato chips specifically noted as one option. If you are traveling with children or want fresh food between lunch and the boat ride, bring that preference up ahead of time. The paella is a highlight, but the snack offering should not be mistaken for a full buffet.

The crew has also prepared other food by arrangement, including tortillas. If your group has dietary needs or a particular request, ask before the day of departure. The available information confirms that food is served, but it does not promise a set menu for every sailing.

Swimming and snorkeling near a quiet cove

At some point, the yacht stops near a secluded bay or cove for swimming and snorkeling. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you do not need to pack your own mask and fins. You may see small fish and other marine life close to the rocks.

This stop gives the trip a welcome change of pace. After sitting on deck and scanning the water, you can get in for a swim or simply watch others from the yacht. You are not required to enter the sea, which is important for families with mixed interests.

The cove stop is also the part most affected by weather. On one outing, rough conditions made swimming less appealing, and some people chose to remain aboard. That is sensible. The crew can offer the chance, but you should decide based on the sea state that day rather than feeling obliged to take part.

If you do swim, follow the crew’s instructions and use the supplied equipment as directed. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The tour is suitable for most people, but anyone worried about balance, waves, or getting back aboard should discuss it with the crew before entering the water.

What the three-hour route feels like

The itinerary is deliberately simple: board at Puerto Colón, cruise along the coast in search of marine life, stop for swimming or snorkeling, eat and drink aboard, then return to the marina.

Three hours is a useful length for this kind of trip. It is long enough to reach productive viewing areas and enjoy lunch, but short enough that young children are less likely to become restless. It also leaves part of your day free for the beach, a hotel pool, or another Costa Adeje activity.

The pace is not fixed minute by minute. The crew may spend longer near whales, move to another area if sightings are limited, or adjust the swim stop if the sea becomes rough. When the wind is favorable, the crew may use the sails on the return journey. That creates a quieter, more traditional finish and avoids engine noise near marine animals when conditions permit.

You should not expect a fast ride packed with constant entertainment. The pleasure is in the open water, the views of Tenerife from the sea, and the relaxed rhythm of a private boat. Music and dancing have been part of some celebrations, but they are not the central activity.

Service from Salvador and the crew

Salvador is the captain most often associated with this sailing, assisted by crew members such as Ramón. Their role goes beyond steering the boat. They serve drinks, prepare and bring out food, explain the wildlife, answer questions, and help make the group comfortable.

That personal service is particularly useful on a private charter. You are not one small face in a crowded boat. If your children want to know what they are seeing, or if you want to understand the island’s coastal waters, you can ask directly.

Families have found the format especially practical. Children may enjoy being shown the boat, learning about marine animals, and taking part in the experience rather than sitting in a fixed seat during a large group cruise. Couples also get a quieter setting for a birthday, anniversary, or simple afternoon at sea.

The crew can create a festive mood, but the trip is not only for celebrations. A group of friends, two families, or a couple who wants extra space can all make good use of the yacht. Since the entire boat is private, you control the atmosphere more than you would on a shared sailing.

Cost and what you receive for $543.07

The price is $543.07 per group of up to eight people. For a full group, that works out to roughly $68 per person, though the total cost per person rises if only two or three people book.

That price includes a private yacht, crew, hotel pickup and return within 20 kilometers of Puerto Colón, unlimited drinks, alcoholic beverages, snacks, lunch, and snorkeling equipment. You are paying for privacy as much as for the boat ride. A shared excursion may cost less per person, but it will not give your group the same control over the space, schedule, or meal setting.

For a family or group of friends, the value is strongest. Eight people can share the fixed price, enjoy a private celebration, and avoid paying separately for transport, lunch, drinks, and snorkeling gear. For a couple, the price is a larger splurge, but it may still make sense for a milestone occasion.

There is also a small parking charge of €1.20 per hour, payable at check-in. It is not included in the advertised price. If you use the supplied pickup, this may not affect you, but confirm the details if you plan to drive to Puerto Colón.

Who should book this yacht trip?

I would choose this excursion for a small family, two families traveling together, or a group celebrating something special. The private format gives children room to ask questions and gives adults a calmer setting than a large shared boat.

It also suits couples who want a more personal outing and do not mind paying more for privacy. The combination of wildlife, lunch, open bar, and a possible swim stop gives the trip enough variety to fill an afternoon without feeling rushed.

You should think twice if your main goal is guaranteed whale watching, a long snorkeling session, or a high-energy water-sports program. Sightings are never certain, the snorkeling stop depends on conditions, and the trip lasts only about three hours.

If you are sensitive to motion sickness, prepare carefully. One outing encountered large waves, and some people felt unwell. The crew can make the ride enjoyable, but they cannot flatten the Atlantic. Eat lightly before departure, choose your place aboard with care, and tell the crew if you start feeling sick.

Booking details and cancellation

Confirmation is provided when you book. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and most people can take part. The activity is near public transportation, though pickup is available from qualifying hotels.

Request hotel pickup when you make the reservation, and wait for the operator to confirm the location and collection time. The pickup area is limited to hotels less than 20 kilometers from Puerto Colón.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. The cutoff follows local Tenerife time.

Should you book the Roulette private yacht?

Book it if you want a private, food-focused wildlife cruise rather than a standard boat ride. The strongest reasons are the small group, attentive crew, homemade paella, open bar, and the possibility of seeing pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles close to the boat.

I would also book it for a birthday or family occasion, especially if you arrange a cake or decorations ahead of time. Just remember that wildlife sightings and calm water are never guaranteed. If your group accepts that uncertainty and shares the cost, this is a thoughtful way to spend three hours off Costa Adeje.

FAQ

Where does the private yacht excursion begin?

It begins at Av. de Colón 5, 38660 Costa Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, in the Puerto Colón area.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included for hotels located within 20 kilometers of Puerto Colón. You must request the pickup when making your reservation and wait for confirmation of the location and time.

How long is the yacht trip?

The excursion lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The listed price covers one private group of up to eight people. Only your group participates in the activity.

What food and drinks are included?

The trip includes lunch, snacks, unlimited drinks from an open bar, and alcoholic beverages. Homemade paella has been served on the boat.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is included.

Can I swim during the excursion?

Yes. The yacht stops at a cove or bay where you can swim and snorkel, although the crew may adjust the stop according to sea conditions.

Will I definitely see whales or dolphins?

No. The crew searches for whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine life, but sightings depend on natural conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.