Sealife Dolphin & Whale Watching aboard Portuguese schooner

The main draw here is the boat itself: an old-style Portuguese wooden schooner that gives a simple wildlife outing more character than a standard motor cruiser. From Los Cristianos, you head out to look for pilot whales and dolphins, then anchor offshore for food and a swim.

I like the unobstructed views from the decks, and I like that the price includes food and a drink rather than leaving you to pack supplies. The upper deck is useful for relaxing between sightings. The main caution is that wildlife is never guaranteed, and the meal arrangements need checking, since the quality and delivery of the included lunch have not been perfectly consistent.

Key points to know before you book

• Wooden Portuguese schooner: You sail on a traditional-looking vessel built to recall the sailing boats and pirate tales of earlier centuries.
• Pilot whales and dolphins: The first part of the trip focuses on finding Tenerife’s resident cetaceans.
• Lunch and Atlantic swimming: After the wildlife search, the boat anchors near the coast for a meal and a swim.
• Open bar and central table: Food and drink are included, with an onboard open bar and a large shared table.
• Small enough to feel personal, but not tiny: The maximum group size is 60 people.
• Allow extra time: The stated duration is about two hours, but one account describes a trip lasting around three hours.

A schooner, not just another whale boat

Many whale-watching trips around Tenerife use plain excursion boats built for speed and capacity. This one trades some of that modern feel for atmosphere. The Portuguese schooner is made of wood and is presented as a vessel from the last century, designed to bring back the mood of old sailing days.

That matters because the boat is part of the experience, not just transport. You can sit at the large central table, use the open bar, or go upstairs to the upper deck for sun and open views. The design gives you several ways to spend the quieter stretches, which can be important on a wildlife trip where the sea may appear empty for a while.

The boat can carry up to 60 people. That is not an intimate private sailing, but it is also not an enormous ship. If you want a calm family outing with room to move around, the size should work well. If you want silence and personal attention, you should keep your expectations modest.

The open deck is especially helpful for photographs. You are not looking through a window or from a low enclosed cabin, so you have a clear view in several directions. Still, keep your camera ready. Dolphins and whales do not follow a timetable, and a sighting can be brief.

Leaving Los Cristianos at 10:00

The meeting point is at Puerto Los Cristianos, at the Fishermen’s Wharf in the port of Los Cristianos, Arona. The scheduled start is 10:00 in the morning, and the trip returns to the same meeting point.

The location deserves care. One family had trouble because the directions led them to the wrong place, although the crew helped them reach the correct departure point and held the boat. I would not rely on a last-minute search around the harbor. Use the exact Puerto Los Cristianos meeting details, allow time to find the Fishermen’s Wharf, and arrive early enough to avoid a rushed start.

Los Cristianos is a practical departure point for the southern part of Tenerife. Once aboard, you leave the harbor and head toward the waters used by pilot whales and dolphins. The change from town and harbor activity to open Atlantic views is part of the pleasure, even before any wildlife appears.

The ticket is mobile, so you do not need to print it. The tour is offered in English. Confirmation is provided at booking, and most people can take part, but the information supplied does not give detailed accessibility guidance. If you need specific boarding assistance, ask the operator before paying.

Looking for pilot whales and dolphins

The wildlife section is the heart of the outing. The crew heads toward a colony of pilot whales and also looks for dolphins in the surrounding waters. The descriptions indicate that the crew provides explanations during the trip, and one particularly positive account praised the quality of those explanations along with the friendly staff.

Pilot whales are not the same as the large baleen whales many people picture. They are social, dark-colored toothed whales, and they often travel in groups. Seeing them in their natural setting is more valuable than being promised a particular trick or performance. The same is true of dolphins. You are watching wild animals on their own schedule, not attending a show.

That also creates the trip’s biggest uncertainty. You may see whales and dolphins, but there is no guarantee of how close they will come or how long they will remain visible. One outing produced sightings of both as planned. Another account described seeing a few whales and dolphins but judged the overall value disappointing. That is a fair warning for anyone booking mainly for a perfect close-up photograph.

The boat’s open layout helps. You can move your gaze across the water instead of looking through a narrow viewing area. Several people can photograph at once, and the upper deck gives you another angle. I would still treat the wildlife as a bonus rather than the only reason to pay for the trip.

The sea can also feel slow. One account described spending a long period in roughly the same area not far from shore. That is normal for a wildlife search, but it may feel dull if you need constant activity. This is a better match for someone who enjoys watching the sea, sharing the excitement of a possible sighting, and accepting pauses.

Lunch at anchor and a swim in the Atlantic

After the cetacean search, the schooner sails toward the coast and anchors in open Atlantic water. This changes the pace. The first section asks you to scan the sea; the second gives you time to eat, sit in the sun, and swim.

The included food is an important part of the value. The information describes lunch and a drink, and a meal reported on one outing included rice, chicken legs, salad, rolls, and a beverage. Another account praised the food. That is a reasonably substantial meal for a short boat trip, especially if you would otherwise buy lunch near the harbor.

There is a point to check before booking, though. One person paid for the trip expecting lunch and said no lunch was served, while the boat crew continued offering different cocktails for sale. That conflicts with the stated inclusion of food and drink. The safest approach is to confirm exactly what is included on your sailing, particularly the meal and any drinks beyond the listed offering. Do not assume every cocktail is part of the price.

The swim stop is about 15 minutes according to one account. That is enough for a quick plunge and a cool-off, but not a long beach-style swim. You are in open water, not at a sandy shore, so you should be comfortable entering the Atlantic from the boat. The supplied information does not specify details such as a swimming ladder, changing facilities, or flotation equipment, so ask if those points matter to you.

For children, the stop can be a welcome break from sitting and watching the sea. A family outing received especially warm praise for the crew’s efforts, including helping save a turtle. That unusual moment is not something you can count on, but it does suggest the crew can respond well when something unexpected happens on the water.

What the two-hour schedule really means

The advertised duration is approximately two hours. The basic plan is clear: depart Los Cristianos, search for pilot whales and dolphins, anchor for lunch and swimming, then sail back to the port.

The timing described in one account was closer to three hours. I would not build a tight afternoon connection around the published two-hour estimate. Boat trips can stretch because the wildlife search takes time, the anchoring period varies, and the return depends on conditions.

That extra time can be pleasant if you enjoy being at sea. It can feel long if you are traveling with children who need frequent changes of activity or if you dislike slow cruising. The German-language account rated the outing as boring despite seeing dolphins and swimming, while still saying the food tasted good. That is useful guidance: the trip offers several elements, but the tempo remains gentle.

You can make the pace work better by choosing your expectations carefully. This is not a fast sightseeing cruise packed with stops. It is a short marine outing built around waiting, watching, eating, and swimming. The schooner, upper deck, and central table give you ways to pass the quiet stretches, but they do not turn the trip into an action-packed excursion.

Is the $57.96 price fair?

At $57.96 per person, the cost is reasonable if you value the whole package: a distinctive sailing boat, wildlife watching, lunch, a drink, and a swim. A plain two-hour boat ride with no meal would be harder to justify at this rate.

The price becomes less attractive if the wildlife sightings are distant and the lunch is not delivered as expected. One dissatisfied account calculated the cost at about €98 for two people and felt the trip was not worth it after seeing only a few animals and receiving no lunch. That is the key value test here. You are paying for a complete outing, not a guaranteed whale encounter.

The schooner adds something a standard boat may not. It gives the trip a sense of place and makes the ride itself part of the day. The included meal also helps families and couples avoid extra planning. If you want a low-effort morning on the water, the package is sensible.

If your only goal is to photograph whales close up, I would be more cautious. Wildlife conditions can make the result uncertain, and the trip may involve long periods of slow sailing. If you care more about the boat, the ocean views, and a pleasant shared meal, the price is easier to defend.

Who will enjoy this sailing most

I would recommend this for families, couples, and first-time whale watchers who like a relaxed boat ride. The crew has been praised for friendly service, clear explanations, and making a special effort with children. The swim stop gives younger passengers something active to look forward to after the wildlife search.

It also suits anyone who likes traditional boats. The schooner is not a modern thrill ride, and that is precisely its appeal. You can sit at the central table, use the open bar, climb to the upper deck, and watch Tenerife recede behind you.

I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone who gets bored easily on slow water trips. The sea may look empty for stretches, and the wildlife may remain distant. The German-language account was blunt about finding the long period in one area boring, even after seeing dolphins.

This is also not the best choice if you need a carefully timed excursion. The listed duration is about two hours, but a longer trip has been reported. Keep the rest of your day flexible.

Booking, cancellation, and practical checks

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the scheduled start. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local Tenerife time.

The tour depends on suitable weather. If poor conditions cancel the sailing, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached, with the choice of another date or experience, or a refund.

Before you go, I would confirm three things: the exact harbor meeting point, what the included lunch consists of, and which drinks are included. These checks are worthwhile because the meeting directions have caused confusion and the meal arrangements have not been equally clear to everyone.

Should you book the Portuguese schooner?

Book it if you want a relaxed, family-friendly morning that combines traditional sailing, whale and dolphin watching, lunch, and an Atlantic swim. The crew’s friendly manner, clear explanations, open decks, and memorable wooden boat give the trip more character than a basic harbor cruise.

Skip it if you need guaranteed close wildlife encounters, a fast pace, or a precise two-hour schedule. The best way to judge this outing is to see the animals as one part of the day, not the whole promise. Confirm the lunch details before booking, arrive early at the Fishermen’s Wharf, and leave room in your schedule for the sea to set the pace.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and ends at Puerto Los Cristianos, at the Fishermen’s Wharf in the port of Los Cristianos, Arona, Tenerife.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 in the morning.

How long does the experience last?

The listed duration is approximately two hours. One account describes an outing of about three hours, so it is sensible to allow extra time.

What animals might I see?

The boat looks for pilot whales and dolphins. Sightings are possible, but the information does not guarantee a particular number, distance, or duration.

Is food included?

The tour information says food and drink are included, with lunch served after the wildlife search. One reported meal included rice, chicken legs, salad, rolls, and a drink. Because lunch arrangements have not been consistent, confirm the details before departure.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes. The boat anchors in the Atlantic after the wildlife observation for a swim. One account describes approximately 15 minutes of swimming.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If bad weather cancels the experience, you are offered a different date or a full refund. A full refund is also available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.