Whale & Dolphin Watching from Los Cristianos

Verified content· Updated 27 June 2026

Los Cristianos3 hours

Short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins resident all year roundSightings possible 8 out of 10 daysTenerife-La Gomera waters: first Whale Heritage Site in Europe (2021)

Boat excursion from the port of Los Cristianos to spot short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, two species with resident populations year-round in the channel between Tenerife and La Gomera. These deep, food-rich waters allow sightings on average 8 out of 10 days, with a near 100% chance of seeing cetaceans. The Tenerife-La Gomera marine area was declared in 2021 as the first Whale Heritage Site in Europe by the World Cetacean Alliance, in recognition of responsible whale watching.

Authorized vessels are identified with the Blue Boat flag, certifying compliance with sighting regulations. Departures also take place from Puerto Colón and Los Gigantes, but Los Cristianos is one of the three main ports for the activity.

Gallery

Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) in the waters off the south coast of Tenerife, one of the few resident populations in the world and the main highlight of whale watching from Los Cristianos. — Gustavo A. Pérez (Guszenagger) (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Pod of pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) surfacing off the southwest coast of Tenerife, within the protected Teno-Rasca zone where whale-watching boats operate. — RaSlaMa (CC BY 3.0)

Short-finned pilot whale spy-hopping near the coast of Tenerife, a common sight during cetacean-watching excursions in the south of the island. — Cayambe (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Essential information

Accessibility

Departures take place from the port of Los Cristianos, in the municipality of Arona, one of the three main whale watching ports on the island.

Risk Level

Open sea activity: choose vessels with Blue Boat flag, respect the distance regulations to cetaceans, and consider sun protection and seasickness prevention.