WHALE WATCHING TENERIFE

A biologist who belongs to our onboard crew is the specialist in charge of informing and teaching the passengers about the whales and dolphins that usually appear during the excursions. Several species can be seen as the boat sails on, some of them live in the area and are frequently found all year round. Others are migratory and visitors will be able to see them only if they appear in the ocean by the moment the sailboat is on the Tenerife sea.

Resident Species: The pilot whale and bottlenose dolphin are the easiest specimens to spot on any excursion.

• The pilot whale is a cetacean more than 15 ft long and can weigh up to 2 tons. Its large melon-shaped head makes it very easy to identify.
• The bottlenose dolphin can be between 8 and 10 ft long, is gray and travels in groups of 10 to 30 specimens. It can be seen frequently near the coast.

Migratory species:

• The northern whale can be sighted between autumn and spring, there will be greater chances of seeing it if the sea is calm, while the fin whale is usually found in autumn and winter. Both can be up to 80 or 90 ft long and weigh more than 70 tons.
• The common dolphin appears in winter. The highest chances of seeing it are during December and January. It can be between 6 and 8 ft long and up to 500 lb. weight.
• The false killer whale, which is not an orca but a large dolphin, can appear year-round, but it’s more likely to be seen during spring and fall. It averages 20 ft long and can reach up to 2 tons.
• The Atlantic spotted dolphin is the smallest of these cetaceans, about 7 ft long and 300 lb. for an adult. They usually wander in the area all year round, but they’re best seen in spring or autumn.

Other not so frequent cetaceans:

Tourists who enjoy whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife will luckily have the chance to find other less common, but equally beautiful cetaceans. The sperm whale, or cachalot, swims there all year round, but it is quite unlikely to rise to the surface. Whoever happens to spot one of those should feel very lucky.

Gray pilot whales, striped dolphins, tropical fin whales and rough-toothed dolphins are species found throughout the year in the Atlantic Ocean. With favorable weather and a little luck, there’s some chance to spot them.

Every whale watching Tenerife excursion sails away from Marina del Sur towards the Punta Rasca lighthouse. After visiting the Rasca coast, a wonderful and currently protected zone, the adventure begins: whales and dolphins are out there to be discovered.

Then the trip continues up to the Cliffs of Guaza, where landscapes are really gorgeous. Colonies of sea turtles and birds can be spotted at several locations, so nature photographers will enjoy taking pictures there.

No need to worry if the visitor doesn’t know about marine fauna. During the trip the group will be accompanied by a guide and a biologist who will be happy to explain everything related to the sea ecosystem. They will teach the tourists how to distinguish between the different species that happen to show up and will talk in detail about each of them.

• An instrument called hydrophone will be ready to use during the sightings so that everyone can hear how the cetaceans communicate.
• There will also be multimedia resources available to offer plenty information about the ocean and its fauna.
• Everyone will have the chance to collect some plankton samples that will later be viewed under a microscope.

Environment awareness and safety above all

Sail trips are made only while weather conditions allow and everything is safe for passengers and crew.

Our company is highly respectful of the natural environment of marine fauna. Therefore, boats maintain safe distances that allow sighting without disturbing animals. Fortunately, that doesn’t stop confident dolphins from coming up and swimming around.

Our sailing crew will no hesitate in leaving the area if the cetaceans happen to behave in any way that could jeopardize the safety of the trip. Whether at sea or on land, wild animals that are constantly approached for observation may sometimes feel bothered by human presence. That’s not too frequent, but it can happen.

All our crew members are not only experts in marine biology, they are also excellent hosts. They will take care of every detail and make sure everyone will have a really good time.

Besides whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife, tourists will enjoy other related activities such as snorkeling, stand up paddle surfing or just a refreshing dip in the sea.

A homemade menu prepared with fresh ingredients will be served on board. If someone is allergic to any food or needs to follow a special diet, that must be told to the crew before the trip and they will make the necessary arrangements to make the food safe.