Adeje: Whale Watching Tour to Los Gigantes with lunch & swim

The best part of this five-hour Tenerife boat trip is the combination of wildlife and scenery. You head from Puerto Colón toward the waters where pilot whales and dolphins are often seen, then continue to the enormous cliffs of Los Gigantes, where the boat anchors for lunch and a swim.

I like the clear plan: whale watching first, Los Gigantes second, with time to enjoy both instead of rushing past them. I also like the generous onboard meal, soft drinks, beer, and wine at lunchtime. The main caution is the sea. The boat can sway quite a bit, and anyone prone to seasickness should prepare carefully.

Key points to know before booking

• Pilot whales and dolphins: The boat spends about 30 minutes watching marine life in the open water.
• Los Gigantes cliffs: Vertical rock walls rise more than 600 meters above the west coast of Tenerife.
• Lunch and swimming: You anchor in a bay for a buffet-style meal and a swim in clear water.
• Puerto Colón departure: Boarding begins 15 minutes before departure at Pier 14, beside the petrol station.
• Optional pickup: Bus service is available from many locations around Costa Adeje and nearby resorts.
• Busy, social atmosphere: Music, drinks, and a lively crew make this more than a quiet nature cruise.

From Puerto Colón to Tenerife’s whale grounds

You begin at Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje. The meeting point is Pier 14, next to the petrol station, and boarding starts 15 minutes before departure. The listed departure is 11:00 a.m., though you should check the date you want because starting times can vary.

The harbor is the practical starting point for a trip along Tenerife’s southwest coast. If you are staying nearby and have a car, driving directly to the pier may be simpler than using the transfer bus. If you are based farther away, optional pickup can save you the trouble of arranging transport. Pickup points cover many hotels and apartment areas, including El Duque, La Caleta, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz, and other parts of the island.

The trip is not a small, private wildlife outing. It has a social boat-trip feel, with music, a crew that keeps the mood light, and food and drinks served later in the day. That works well if you want a fun half-day on the water. It is less suited to you if you want silence, a small group, or a specialist nature lecture.

Watching pilot whales and dolphins in open water

After leaving Puerto Colón, the boat heads toward an area with a good chance of seeing pilot whales. Tenerife’s southwest coast is known for regular marine-life sightings, but no responsible operator can promise a particular animal on a particular day. The wildlife remains wild, and the boat follows the conditions of the sea and the animals.

The planned wildlife stop lasts about 30 minutes. This gives you a reasonable amount of time to watch rather than simply point a camera at a distant fin while the boat keeps moving. You may see pilot whales and dolphins, and the trip has also produced sightings of other sea life, including turtles, flying fish, and, on one occasion, a shark.

Your best position depends on the boat and the crowd. Arriving early helps if you want a preferred seat, especially on a popular sailing. Keep your sunglasses secure, bring sunscreen, and have your camera ready, but do not spend the whole stop staring through a screen. Wildlife can appear suddenly and vanish just as fast.

The crew helps make this part enjoyable. The guides work in Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian, though language coverage may not feel equally strong in every moment. One crew member named Andy is singled out for keeping the atmosphere lively and helping passengers with practical problems, including arranging taxis after the trip.

This is a good point to set expectations. The wildlife viewing is a highlight, but it is not a guaranteed performance. You could see several pods of dolphins and pilot whales, or you might have a quieter outing. The value comes from pairing the search with a full coastal cruise, lunch, a swim, and the cliffs.

The cliffs of Los Gigantes from sea level

Once the whale-watching portion is finished, the boat continues toward Los Gigantes. The name refers to the huge cliffs that rise more than 600 meters from the sea. Seen from below, the scale is hard to judge from photographs. The boat gives you a low viewpoint, with the rock walls rising directly above the water.

This is one of the strongest reasons to choose a boat trip instead of seeing Los Gigantes only from a road or lookout. You approach the cliffs from the ocean and stop beneath them in one of the nearby bays. The route also gives you a long stretch of Tenerife’s southwest coast from the water.

The stop at Los Gigantes lasts about 40 minutes according to the planned schedule, including sightseeing, lunch, and swimming. That is enough time for a meal and a dip, but not an afternoon at the beach. If you want a long swim or a slow lunch, the stop may feel brief.

The bay is the most relaxed part of the day. The boat anchors, the cliffs provide the setting, and you can move between eating, taking photographs, and swimming. The water is described as clear and refreshing, though conditions can change with the wind and waves.

Bring a towel and swimwear in an easy-to-reach bag. You will also want sunscreen and sunglasses. A light cover-up can be useful after swimming, though it is not listed as a required item.

Lunch, drinks, music, and the onboard mood

Food is included in the $63 price, which makes the outing easier to budget. The meal is served onboard and is described as buffet style, with enough variety to satisfy different appetites. Soft drinks are included, along with beer and wine at lunchtime.

Other alcoholic drinks are not included. Cocktails and sangria are available to buy separately, and prices cited during the trip have been around 1 to 2 euros for some drinks. Check the current onboard pricing if this matters to your budget.

The meal is less about fine dining than convenience and timing. You are eating while anchored beneath Los Gigantes, not searching for a restaurant during a short coastal stop. That is a real benefit. You can keep the day moving and spend your time at sea.

The boat has music and a playful atmosphere. Crew members use humor and keep passengers involved, which suits families, couples, and groups looking for a cheerful day out. The same energy may not suit you if you prefer a calm, quiet cruise. This is an excursion with a party-boat edge, though the wildlife and scenery remain central.

The return sail along Tenerife’s southwest coast

After the swim and meal, the boat returns toward Puerto Colón along the southwest coast. The return is part of the experience, not just transportation back to the harbor. You have another chance to see the coast from the water and take in the scale of the cliffs from a different angle.

The full boat portion is listed at roughly five hours, with the wildlife cruise, Los Gigantes stop, and return sailing forming the core of the day. If you use the optional bus pickup, allow much more time overall. The transfer schedule can add about two and a half hours each way in the itinerary, depending on where you are collected and dropped off.

That makes the bus useful but not especially fast. If your hotel is close to Puerto Colón, go directly to the pier. If you are staying in Puerto de la Cruz or another resort covered by the pickup route, the bus may be worth the extra time because it removes the need to arrange your own transport.

The tour ends back at the same meeting point in Puerto Colón. If you are arranging an evening meal or another activity, leave some room around the stated five-hour duration, especially if you rely on a shared transfer.

Is $63 good value for this half-day outing?

At $63 per person, the price covers a lot: the boat trip, wildlife search, Los Gigantes cruise, lunch, soft drinks, beer and wine with lunch, and the swimming stop. You are also paying for the convenience of combining several separate activities in one day.

A whale-watching cruise alone can take up much of a half-day. Here, you add a major coastal sight, an onboard meal, and time in the water. For many people, that is better value than booking transport to Los Gigantes, finding a separate meal, and arranging a different wildlife trip.

The price is less attractive if you do not plan to eat, drink, or swim. One passenger avoided lunch because of seasickness and felt that part of the fare went unused. That is a fair concern. The tour is designed as a package, so the value depends on using most of what is included.

Remember that photos, videos, and extra alcoholic drinks cost more. You may want to keep your spending simple by sticking with the included drinks and bringing your own camera rather than buying images afterward.

Seasickness, seating, and practical comfort

The biggest practical issue is motion on the water. The boat can sway, and strong waves have caused some passengers to feel very sick. If you know you are sensitive to seasickness, speak with a pharmacist or doctor before the trip about suitable medication, and take sensible precautions.

Choose an early seat if that helps you feel more stable or gives you a better view. Keep some water nearby, avoid a heavy meal before departure, and focus on the horizon when the sea becomes rough. The trip may be uncomfortable for you during the crossing even if the wildlife and cliffs are excellent.

The supplied packing list is short:

• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Sunscreen

Add comfortable clothing and a secure way to carry small items. The key point is to keep your belongings organized. You will move between watching wildlife, eating, photographing the cliffs, and swimming.

The tour is offered with live guidance in five languages: Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian. If you select optional pickup, wait at your chosen stop and contact the emergency telephone number if the bus has not arrived five minutes after the scheduled pickup time.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this outing if you want a full, social day on the water rather than a narrowly focused wildlife trip. It suits you especially well if you want to see pilot whales and dolphins, visit Los Gigantes, eat lunch, and swim without arranging each part separately.

Families may like the variety. There is enough change during the day to keep the outing from feeling repetitive, and food and soft drinks are included. Couples and groups can enjoy the scenery while still having music, drinks, and a lively crew.

It is also a practical choice if you are staying around Costa Adeje and want a simple half-day excursion. Optional pickup makes it available from a wide area, though direct arrival at Puerto Colón is more efficient when you have your own transport.

I would think twice if you want a quiet boat, very detailed naturalist commentary, or guaranteed close wildlife sightings. I would also be cautious if seasickness is a serious problem. The swaying boat is the one drawback that can affect the whole day.

Cancellation and booking flexibility

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option also helps if your Tenerife plans are still shifting.

Check availability for the exact starting time, pickup point, and language options before booking. Boarding begins 15 minutes before departure at Pier 14, beside the petrol station, and the activity finishes back at Puerto Colón.

Should you book the Los Gigantes whale-watching trip?

Book it if you want wildlife, cliffs, lunch, and swimming in one well-packed outing. The $63 price is reasonable for the amount included, and the strongest moments are the chance to see pilot whales or dolphins, the view of Los Gigantes from the water, and the stop in a clear bay beneath the cliffs.

Skip it if you are highly prone to seasickness or want a quiet, small-boat nature tour. For everyone else, this is a lively and useful way to spend a day on Tenerife’s southwest coast. Arrive early for a better seat, pack your swim gear, and treat sightings as a welcome possibility rather than a promise.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching tour leave from?

The tour departs from Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje, at Pier 14 next to the petrol station. Boarding begins 15 minutes before departure.

How long does the activity last?

The boat excursion lasts five hours. Check availability for the exact starting time on your chosen date.

What animals might I see?

The trip searches for pilot whales and dolphins in their natural environment. Sightings may also include turtles, flying fish, and other marine life, but no specific sighting is guaranteed.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Food and soft drinks are included, along with beer and wine at lunchtime. Photos, videos, and other alcoholic drinks are not included.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes. The boat anchors in a bay beneath the Los Gigantes cliffs, where you can swim in the clear water. Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is optional and is offered from many locations around Tenerife, including areas near Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz, and other listed stops. The tour also ends back at Puerto Colón.