Wild whales, calm water, and a great lunch. This Puerto Colón sail lets you listen to pilot whales with a hydrophone while cruising Tenerife’s Teno-Rasca conservation zone. It’s a simple plan with real wildlife time, not a rushed stop-and-go.

I especially love the way the crew builds the experience around marine behavior, not just spotting from a distance. The small group setup (up to 10 people) also makes it easier to hear the guide and move around when you anchor for Canarian cuisine and a swim.

One thing to consider: if you’re prone to seasickness, this is time on open water. It’s manageable, but it’s worth planning for before you board.

Puerto Colón to Teno-Rasca: Why This Whale Sail Feels Different

This tour is built around Tenerife’s water, not a checklist of quick photo moments. You set out from Puerto Colón and head into the Teno-Rasca Special Conservation Zone, an area chosen for its protected marine life.

The big target is the largest population of pilot whales in Europe. That alone makes this worth putting on your Tenerife list. The captain’s goal is to find pilot whales, and then broaden the search to dolphins, loggerhead turtles, and even fin whales if conditions line up.

What makes the experience more than wildlife sightseeing is the hydrophone. Instead of only relying on what you see, you also get to listen to whales and dolphins through the water. That audio layer can completely change the feel of the trip. You’re not just looking; you’re building a mental picture of what’s happening under you.

I also like that the day stays grounded in practical comfort. You’re on a sailboat, you get real time at a beach for swimming or snorkeling, and you eat local food while the crew prepares lunch. That means fewer frantic moments and more time to enjoy the sea breeze, the light, and the quiet.

The Real Logistics: Duration, Small Group, and Seasickness Prep

This is a 3 to 6 hour excursion, depending on the option you choose. The shorter trip still gives you whale and dolphin time plus the beach stop, while the 6-hour version builds in extra time around Los Gigantes and more water time.

The group size stays limited to 10 participants, which matters more than it sounds. On wildlife tours, crowd pressure can ruin the moment. A smaller boat lets the captain manage spotting while keeping the deck calm and conversational. It also helps if you want to ask questions and actually get answers.

Your meeting point can vary based on the option booked, so be ready to follow the specific instructions you receive for your timing. Bring the basics listed by the operator: sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Reef-safe isn’t mentioned, so I’d still go with your best eco-minded sunscreen choice.

If you’ve ever felt motion sickness, this is the one part I’d plan for early. The operator’s guidance is pretty clear:

• Avoid excessive liquid the night before and the morning of the trip.
• Have a solid breakfast but limit liquids.
• Avoid mixing drinks like orange juice, coffee with milk, tea, water, or fruit drinks high in water content.
• About half an hour before boarding, adults may take two Biodramina with caffeine; children may take one without caffeine.

That’s not a casual suggestion. If you think you might feel rough at sea, treat it seriously.

In the Teno-Rasca Zone: Spotting Pilot Whales, Dolphins, and Turtles

Once you’re out on the water, the captain focuses on finding wildlife around Tenerife’s protected waters. The tour is aimed at seeing pilot whales as a major highlight, but you’re also on the lookout for dolphins and loggerhead turtles, with fin whales listed as another possibility.

Here’s how the hydrophone changes your attention. Even when you’re not sure what you’re looking at yet, the sounds help you understand where animal activity is happening in the water column. Then, when you spot a fin, a splash, or the lift of a blow, it connects the visual to what you just heard.

You’ll also be learning as you go. The captain is positioned as the expert on marine life, and the tour encourages you to ask questions. That matters because dolphins and whales aren’t all the same in behavior. With guidance, the time on deck feels like an education you can experience, not a waiting game.

A small note that helps set expectations: wildlife tours depend on ocean conditions. The captain is actively searching in the conservation zone, but you’re still sailing in the real world, where animals move.

Diego Hernández Beach (Hippie Beach): The Best Chunk of Real Water Time

The middle-to-late part of the tour is the payoff stop. After the whale and dolphin time, you sail to Diego Hernández Beach, also called Hippie Beach.

This is not a beach you stumble into from a busy promenade. The tour explains that the area is only accessible on foot or by boat, and you’re coming by boat. That already tells you something: you’re likely to feel a quieter pace once the crew drops anchor.

Once anchored, you’ll have time to swim or snorkel in clear sea water while the crew prepares lunch and drinks. That timing is important. You don’t have to rush from one activity to the next. You can get in the water, enjoy the conditions, and then come back up for food.

Potential drawback: the beach access is limited by design. If your comfort level with water or changing conditions is low, you might want to plan how you’ll spend this time. There’s no mention of alternatives beyond swimming or snorkeling, so go with the assumption that you’ll at least spend time at the waterline and decide what feels right when you’re there.

Lunch on Board: Canarian Food That Actually Feels Like Tenerife

Lunch isn’t just a break. It’s part of the experience, and the menu is framed as Canarian cuisine with drinks and fruit included.

What stood out in the feedback I’m drawing from is that the lunch isn’t treated as an afterthought. One birthday celebration description noted embutidos and a solid spread of small bites. Another highlighted the food as fabulous and even mentioned pastries as part of the onboard treats.

You also have the timing advantage: the crew prepares lunch while you’re in the water. That means when you come back up, you’re not waiting around. You’re ready to eat and cool down.

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes food tied to place, this is a smart use of your time in Tenerife. The beach stop gives you the sea experience, and lunch keeps the tour grounded in local flavor.

Captain Daniel and the Hands-Off Marine Etiquette

A big reason this trip earns strong scores is how the captain runs the boat. The name Captain Daniel comes up again and again. In one account, he went out of his way to make everyone feel safe and welcome, and he focused on explaining whales, dolphins, and turtles throughout the cruise.

That’s the difference between a guide reading facts and a captain who understands what you’re seeing in front of you. When you can ask questions and get thoughtful answers, spotting improves. You notice more. You interpret what you see faster.

The tour also emphasizes respect for wildlife: touching animals is not allowed. One account specifically points out that the approach is careful and thoughtful about the environment and not disturbing animals. That hands-off rule matters because it protects the animals and it keeps the boat behavior calm and controlled—good for the creatures, and good for your own comfort on deck.

Language-wise, you’re covered with English and Spanish. If you speak either, you’ll likely get more out of the hydrophone moment and the captain’s explanations.

Why the 6-Hour Option Can Be Worth It

If you choose the 6-hour excursion, you’re getting extra time built around Los Gigantes and a longer window to enjoy the water.

The tour description calls out two practical benefits:

• More time to swim
• More chances to see dolphins

Los Gigantes is often part of Tenerife’s must-see scenery, and in a longer outing you’re more likely to feel like the cruise is a full “experience day,” not just a half-day with a couple highlights.

Who should pick the 6-hour option? If you want a slower rhythm, more sea time, and you’re chasing that dolphins-in-the-sun moment, it’s a good bet.

Price and Value: Is $88 a Fair Deal for This Sail?

At $88 per person, this isn’t a tiny add-on. But it’s also not just a ticket for “maybe you see whales.”

You’re paying for:

• A sailboat cruise around the Tenerife conservation zone
• Hydrophone listening equipment so you experience whales and dolphins in more than one way
• A beach stop at Diego Hernández Beach (Hippie Beach) with time to swim or snorkel
• Canarian cuisine lunch plus drinks and fruit
• A small-group format (up to 10) with a captain who explains marine wildlife in English or Spanish

When you price out those elements separately, the cost starts making more sense. It’s not just transport; it’s wildlife time plus food plus a real on-the-water break. If your goal in Tenerife is nature with comfort, this is solid value for a half-day to full-breath session on the sea.

The best “value test” for your own decision is simple: are you planning to swim/snorkel anyway? If yes, the beach time turns this from a sightseeing tour into an actual day outdoors.

Who This Trip Suits Best (and Who Might Want Another Option)

This tour fits you well if you:

• Want pilot whales as a prime target and you like learning what you’re seeing
• Enjoy boat experiences but prefer a small group rather than a crowded deck
• Care about responsible wildlife viewing (touching animals isn’t allowed)
• Appreciate local food and want lunch included without leaving the action

It might be less ideal if you:

• Are very sensitive to motion or you know you struggle on boats. Plan carefully.
• Don’t want to spend meaningful time in the water. The beach stop centers on swimming or snorkeling, and the tour is structured around that.

Overall, the balance of wildlife time, hydrophone learning, and a true beach break is the strong point.

Should You Book Puerto Colón Whale & Dolphins Sailing?

I’d book this if your Tenerife plan needs one standout “out on the water” day that’s both calm and informative. The hydrophone add-on is a big quality marker. The small group size makes the experience feel personal rather than crowded. And the combo of wildlife time plus the Diego Hernández Beach swim stop plus Canarian lunch makes the price feel more like a whole day built on value.

Before you go, do a quick reality check:

• Are you comfortable with a few hours on the sea?
• Do you have your sun hat, sunscreen, and swimwear ready?
• Do you want to ask questions and learn, not just look?

If that sounds like you, this is a smart pick for Tenerife’s marine-life side.

FAQ

What’s included in the Puerto Colón whale and dolphins sailing excursion?

The cruise is included, along with listening to the whales using hydrophone equipment. You also get Canarian cuisine for lunch, drinks, and fruit.

How long is the tour?

It runs 3 to 6 hours, depending on the option you book. The 6-hour option includes extra time around Los Gigantes and more time to swim.

Where does the tour start?

You begin the tour at Puerto Colón. The exact meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

Are touching the animals allowed?

No. Touching animals is not allowed.

What wildlife might the captain help you look for?

The tour aims to spot pilot whales and also looks for dolphins and turtles in the sea. Loggerhead turtles and fin whales are specifically mentioned as possibilities.

What should I bring for the trip?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen.

What if I get seasick?

The operator recommends avoiding excessive liquid intake the night before and the morning of the trip, eating a solid breakfast while limiting liquids, and avoiding certain drink mixes. Adults may take two Biodramina with caffeine about half an hour before boarding, and children may take one Biodramina without caffeine.

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