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Tenerife is one of the most remarkable destinations for observing whales and dolphins in the wild. The waters off the south coast of the island offer exceptional conditions for marine life, making whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife possible throughout the year.
The dramatic underwater topography between Tenerife and La Gomera creates a deep channel, with some areas reaching depths of several thousand metres. This environment supports an abundance of food and makes the area an ideal habitat for numerous cetacean species.
During our tours, we can observe a wide variety of whales and dolphins, although two species are particularly prominent: the pilot whale and the bottlenose dolphin, both resident species that remain in these waters all year round.
The pilot whale is the cetacean species we encounter most frequently during our tours.
Costa Adeje is home to a significant resident population that has found ideal conditions for feeding and travelling in these waters. The seabed drops away steeply close to the coast, allowing pilot whales to access deep areas where they find one of their main prey species: giant squid.
Although their size and appearance often lead people to associate them with whales, pilot whales actually belong to the dolphin family and are among its largest members.
They are also highly social animals. Pilot whales form family groups with a strong matriarchal structure, and we may encounter them resting at the surface, travelling together, socialising or diving in search of food.
These animals are extraordinarily well adapted to life in deep waters and use echolocation to locate their prey in areas where almost no light reaches.
Their year-round presence is one of the reasons why we can offer whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife throughout all twelve months of the year.
Alongside pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins are another of the most characteristic resident species of southern Tenerife and among the animals we encounter most frequently on our excursions.
Bottlenose dolphins are intelligent, social and highly active animals. They can form groups of varying sizes and use echolocation both to navigate and to locate food.
Sometimes they voluntarily approach the boat or display particularly active behaviour. However, as with any wild animal, every encounter is different and always depends on their natural behaviour.
That unpredictability is precisely one of the things we value most about every trip: we never know exactly what we are going to encounter
Other whales and dolphins we may encounter in Tenerife
Although short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are our most frequently encountered residents, Tenerife’s waters also welcome migratory species that may appear at different times of the year.
Among them is the Atlantic spotted dolphin , one of the species we can observe relatively frequently. We may also encounter common dolphins and striped dolphins, both adapted to life in the open ocean.
Among the larger whales, Bryde’s whale stands out, along with the fin whale , one of the largest animals on the planet.
Another possible highlight of our tours is the sperm whale , a true specialist of the deep ocean. These animals undertake extraordinary dives in search of food and use an advanced echolocation system to navigate and locate their prey.
We may also have the opportunity to observe Blainville’s beaked whales, cetaceans particularly well adapted to life in deep waters, as well as rough-toothed dolphins and false killer whales. Despite their name, the latter also belong to the dolphin family.
Sightings of these species cannot be guaranteed. Migration patterns, currents, food availability and ocean conditions influence each day at sea, ensuring that no two trips are ever exactly alike.
Much more than whales and dolphins
Tenerife’s marine environment is also home to many other species that we may encounter during our trips.
We may observe sea turtles , different species of seabirds and other ocean inhabitants. Among them is the Atlantic silver hatchetfish, a species associated with the deep waters that characterise this area.
For us, every trip is also an opportunity to discover the marine ecosystem as a whole and understand that whales and dolphins are part of a much broader biodiversity.
Our whale and dolphin watching tours in Tenerife
Our tours depart from Puerto Colón, in Costa Adeje, taking us through one of the most important areas for cetacean watching in the Canary Islands.
We offer group tours and private whale and dolphin watching tours, two different ways to explore this remarkable environment and discover the species that inhabit or pass through the waters off southern Tenerife.
During our excursions, we accompany our guests to help them identify the species we encounter and better understand their behaviour. Our aim is not simply to find whales and dolphins, but to observe them respectfully, always maintaining an appropriate distance and adapting to their natural behaviour.
Whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife allows us to discover a different ocean every day. Short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are our most familiar residents, but we never know what might appear during a trip.
And that is precisely one of the things that makes every return to the ocean a different experience.
Book your tour at whalewatchtenerife.org .
Daily departures at 9:30 am, 12 pm and 2:30 pm.
