Puerto de la Cruz: Submarine Trip and Beach Stop in Tenerife

The most unusual part of this Tenerife day trip is the moment the yellow submarine settles on the ocean floor, about 30 meters below the surface. Through 22 large windows, you can watch fish gather near the vessel while underwater staff draw them closer. It is a simple, family-friendly way to see Atlantic sea life without getting wet.

I like the calm, enclosed setting, especially if you are uneasy in open water, and I like the useful combination of a one-hour submarine trip with two hours at Playa de las Américas. The main drawback is the long coach ride from Puerto de la Cruz, about 105 minutes each way, so much of your seven-hour day is spent getting to and from the south.

Key points to know before booking

• The submarine reaches about 30 meters: You sit on the ocean floor rather than simply cruising below the surface.
• The windows are made for viewing: The Sub Fun Cinco has 44 seats and 22 large screen windows.
• Sting rays are a major attraction: You may also see flute fish, octopus, barracuda, parrot fish, and sand eels.
• The audio guide covers 15 languages: Headphones are provided, with explanations about sea life and ocean protection.
• Playa de las Américas adds a second activity: You get about two hours to eat, shop, or sit on the beach.
• The day is transport-heavy: The coach trip from Puerto de la Cruz takes roughly three and a half hours round trip.

What the Puerto de la Cruz submarine day is really like

This is a long but neatly arranged excursion from northern Tenerife to the island’s southern coast. You leave from a hotel pickup point in Puerto de la Cruz or Las Caletillas, reach Amarilla harbor near Amarilla Golf, spend about an hour aboard the submarine, then continue to Playa de las Américas for free time.

The submarine is the star, but the beach stop matters. It breaks up the schedule and gives you a chance to eat or stretch your legs after the ocean trip. I would think of this as a full-day outing with one special attraction, not as a relaxed beach day with a short boat ride attached.

At $87 per person, the price includes round-trip transport, a guide, the submarine outing, and a dive certificate. Food and drinks are extra. The value is strongest if you are staying in Puerto de la Cruz and want a simple way to reach the south without arranging buses, taxis, or a rental car yourself.

The 105-minute ride from northern Tenerife

Pickup is available from a set of hotels and accommodation points in Puerto de la Cruz and Las Caletillas. Listed locations include Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden, Hotel Parque San Antonio, HC Hotel Magec, Sol Costa Atlantis, Hotel Riu Garoe, Maritim Hotel Tenerife, and several other properties.

Your exact pickup time is supplied after booking. Be at the meeting point at least five minutes early, since the driver waits no longer than ten minutes after the scheduled time. The driver has a passenger list, so using the correct pickup point matters.

The ride to the south takes about 105 minutes. That is not a minor transfer. It is the main practical issue with this trip, particularly for young children or anyone who dislikes long coach journeys. On the other hand, you are spared the work of arranging a separate trip to Amarilla harbor.

The transport also gives you a look at how different Tenerife’s two main resort areas feel. Puerto de la Cruz is in the north, while the submarine departure point and Playa de las Américas are both in the south. You are crossing much of the island for a focused day of sea life and beach time.

Boarding the yellow Sub Fun Cinco at Amarilla harbor

The submarine departs from Amarilla harbor at the southern tip of Tenerife. The vessel, called Sub Fun Cinco, has 44 comfortable seats and 22 large screen windows. That window count is important because underwater viewing works best when you are not forced to peer over someone else’s shoulder.

The vessel is described as spacious and airy, which should make the hour on board more comfortable than a cramped boat trip. You stay seated and look outward as the submarine reaches its viewing depth. This setup makes the experience suitable for people who want to see underwater life but do not want to swim, snorkel, or enter open water.

A live guide is available in English, German, and Spanish. The audio guide adds a wider choice of languages: Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Russian, and Chinese. Headphones are supplied free of charge.

That language range is useful for families or groups who do not all speak the same language. The audio program also gives the trip more purpose than simply looking through a window. It explains the Atlantic sea creatures and the need to protect delicate marine ecosystems.

Reaching the ocean floor at 30 meters

The submarine descends to approximately 30 meters, or about 100 feet. During the underwater portion, Sub Fun Cinco settles on the sea bed. This is the feature that gives the trip its character. You are not just passing over the water below you. You have time to sit in one place and watch the surroundings.

Underwater staff join the submarine and encourage fish to come closer to the windows. That can make a real difference to what you see and photograph. Marine life is not guaranteed to appear in a perfect parade, but the setup gives you better viewing opportunities than a quick ride through open water.

The main creatures listed for the trip include flute fish, octopus, barracuda, parrot fish, sand eels, and sting rays. The sting rays are a particular highlight. The experience is built around observing animals rather than handling them, so you can take pictures through the windows while remaining inside the vessel.

The one-hour duration is long enough to make the journey worthwhile, but it is not an extended marine expedition. One useful expectation to set is that this is a short, guided viewing session. If you want hours underwater or a chance to explore independently, this will feel brief. If you want a controlled introduction to Atlantic sea life, the length is easier to appreciate.

What you can see through the submarine windows

Large windows are essential here. The Sub Fun Cinco has 22 of them, giving the 44-seat vessel two seats per window on average. Your actual view will depend on where you sit and where the animals appear, but the design is clearly intended for shared viewing rather than a single viewing platform.

The sea bed setting gives the trip a fixed point. You can watch for movement around the submarine and look for smaller creatures such as sand eels or octopus. Barracuda and parrot fish provide a different kind of sight, while the sting rays offer the most memorable shape and motion.

You should bring a camera if you want pictures, but remember that you are shooting through glass and water. The staff’s work outside the submarine may help bring fish into view, yet nature does not operate on a timetable. Enjoy the watching first and treat the photographs as a bonus.

The trip also has an educational side. The audio guide explains sea creatures and the delicate ecosystems around them, along with why protection matters. That makes the outing more useful for children than a purely visual attraction, especially if you take a little time afterward to talk about what you saw.

Two hours at Playa de las Américas

After the submarine outing, the coach takes you to Playa de las Américas. You have approximately two hours of free time. This is not a guided sightseeing visit, so you choose how to use it.

You can relax on the beach, shop, or find something to eat. Food and drinks are not included, so plan to pay separately for anything you buy during this stop. The free time is also your best chance to stretch after the coach ride and the submarine session.

The beach stop gives the day a more flexible feel. You are not being moved from one guide-led activity to another. If you want a quiet break, sit near the beach. If you prefer shops or a meal, use the time in town. The tradeoff is that two hours passes quickly, especially if you want to eat and shop as well as spend time beside the water.

Playa de las Américas is not presented as a full beach resort stay, and you should not plan your day around several hours of swimming and sunbathing. It is a useful two-hour pause added to the submarine excursion. For some people, that is exactly enough. For others, the beach stop may feel too short after the long morning transfer.

Who will enjoy this Tenerife excursion most

This outing suits families with children aged two and older, couples looking for an unusual half-day attraction, and adults who want to see underwater life without getting in the ocean. It is also a good option if you are staying in Puerto de la Cruz but want to visit the southern resort area without organizing the transportation yourself.

The enclosed submarine is especially helpful if you are nervous around water. You remain inside the vessel while watching the Atlantic through the windows. One passenger with a fear of water found the setting reassuring and felt well looked after, which points to one of the trip’s practical strengths.

Children under two cannot participate. The seven-hour schedule and long coach transfers may also be tiring for very young children, even though the submarine itself is family-friendly. Older children may get more from the audio guide and the chance to identify different fish.

This is less suitable for someone seeking a quiet, slow beach day. It is also not the right choice if you expect guaranteed close-up views of a particular animal. The staff can encourage fish toward the windows, but the sea still sets the terms.

Is $87 good value for a seven-hour day?

The $87 price includes the two-way coach transfer, the guide, the submarine trip, and a dive certificate. You still pay for your own food and drinks, but the main costs of the day are covered.

I see the value in the transport most clearly. From Puerto de la Cruz, reaching Amarilla harbor and Playa de las Américas independently would take planning. Here, you have a set pickup and drop-off arrangement, with several hotel points available in the north.

The less favorable part of the calculation is time. About 210 minutes are spent on the outbound and return coach rides, while the submarine portion lasts about one hour and the beach stop about two hours. You are paying for convenience and a distinctive activity, not for a full day of uninterrupted sightseeing.

The trip earns its price if the submarine itself is high on your list. If you only want to visit Playa de las Américas, you may prefer a simpler southbound excursion with more free time. If you want the submarine and would otherwise struggle to reach the harbor, the bundled transport makes the cost easier to justify.

Practical details that make the day smoother

Wear comfortable clothes for a long day that includes several coach transfers. Bring anything you need for the beach stop, since the two hours at Playa de las Américas are free time rather than a fully supplied beach visit.

Keep your booking confirmation details available and go to the exact pickup location early. Pickup and drop-off points are tied to specific hotels and accommodation areas, and the driver will not wait beyond ten minutes.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled activity, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

The tour provider is Submarine Safaris. No individual guide names are supplied, but live guiding is offered in English, German, and Spanish, with the multilingual audio system covering 15 languages.

My verdict: book it if the submarine is the main reason

I would book this excursion if you are staying in Puerto de la Cruz, want an easy route to the south, and are excited by the idea of watching sting rays and other sea life from a submarine. The ocean-floor stop, large windows, and multilingual audio guide give the one-hour underwater session enough substance to justify the long journey.

I would skip it if you dislike coach travel or want a generous day at the beach. The 105-minute trip each way is a serious commitment, and the Playa de las Américas stop lasts only about two hours.

For families, first-time underwater viewers, and anyone who prefers to stay dry, this is a well-priced way to add something unusual to a Tenerife holiday. Just book it for the submarine, treat the beach time as a pleasant extra, and plan for a full seven-hour day.

FAQ

How long does the full excursion last?

The experience lasts seven hours, including transportation from Puerto de la Cruz or Las Caletillas, the submarine outing, and free time at Playa de las Américas.

Where does the submarine depart?

The submarine departs from Amarilla harbor near Amarilla Golf in the south of Tenerife.

How deep does the submarine go?

Sub Fun Cinco reaches approximately 30 meters, or about 100 feet, below the surface and settles on the ocean floor.

How long is the submarine portion?

The guided submarine and marine life viewing session lasts about one hour.

What sea life might I see?

You might see flute fish, octopus, barracuda, parrot fish, sand eels, and sting rays.

How much free time is provided at Playa de las Américas?

You receive approximately two hours of free time for the beach, shopping, or food.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Round-trip bus transportation is included from listed pickup points in Puerto de la Cruz and Las Caletillas.

What languages are available?

Live guides are available in English, German, and Spanish. The audio guide is available in 15 languages, including French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Russian, and Chinese.

Can children join the excursion?

Children aged two and older can participate. Children under two are not permitted to join.