Tenerife: Catamaran Cruise with Brunch and Unlimited Drinks

The best part of this Tenerife catamaran cruise is the mix of open-water scenery, marine-life watching, and a proper meal on board. From Marina del Sur, you follow the island’s south coast toward Punta Rasca, Diego Hernández Beach, Los Cristianos, and Palm-Mar, with time to swim and rest between sightings.

I like the relaxed pace and the unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water. I also like that the food is more than a basic snack on the four-hour trip, with roast turkey, a suckling pig burrito, vegetable dumplings, fruit, and cheesecake. The main thing to consider is the sea. The catamaran goes well offshore, and anyone prone to seasickness should prepare carefully.

Key points to know before booking

• Marine life near Punta Rasca: Keep watch for dolphins, pilot whales, whales, turtles, and flying fish, with the crew keeping a respectful distance.
• Two food options: The three-hour trip includes a turkey sandwich, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake. The four-hour trip adds a suckling pig burrito and vegetable dumplings.
• Swimming stop included: You get about an hour near Diego Hernández Beach for swimming and snorkeling, but snorkel equipment is not included.
• Drinks are not all included: Beer, soft drinks, and water are unlimited. Wine, cocktails, and champagne cost extra.
• Paid comfort upgrades: VIP seating and Balinese-style day beds offer more room to stretch out, but a standard ticket still gives you access to the main cruise.
• South Tenerife pickup: Hotel transfers cover many locations between Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Palm-Mar, and nearby resorts.

What this south Tenerife cruise is really like

This is a half-day outing built around simple pleasures: sit in the sun, watch Tenerife’s coast slide past, listen for marine-life sightings, and take a swim when the boat stops. It is not a fast sightseeing tour packed with historical visits. The value comes from having several hours on the water with food and drinks included.

The boat leaves from Marina del Sur in Las Galletas, at the southeastern end of the main resort area. Pickup is available from many hotels and selected meeting points, so check your exact location carefully. The coach ride can take about 45 minutes before the boat portion begins, and you are asked to be at the pickup point 10 minutes early. Drivers wait no more than five minutes after the scheduled time.

Once on board, the crew provides live commentary in English and Spanish. You can expect information about the coast, marine life, and places passed along the route. The experience is social without needing to be rowdy. On one outing, about 50 people shared the catamaran, yet the space still felt manageable. The crew has also been praised for keeping a sensible distance from dolphins and pilot whales rather than chasing them.

Leaving Marina del Sur for Punta Rasca

The first boat section takes you west from Marina del Sur. Las Galletas gives way to a more open view of Tenerife’s southern shore, with beaches, rocky stretches, and volcanic cliffs forming the backdrop.

Your first major stop is Punta Rasca Lighthouse, where the boat spends around 45 minutes looking for marine life. This is the part of the trip where patience matters. Wildlife is not guaranteed, and sightings depend on conditions, but the area can bring dolphins, pilot whales, whales, turtles, and flying fish into view.

The crew’s approach is important here. A good wildlife trip lets the animals choose the distance, and this cruise aims to avoid harassing them. You may spend part of the time scanning the water rather than watching nonstop action. That is normal. Bring sunglasses, keep your phone ready, and do not expect every moment to produce a close encounter.

The open water can also be the roughest part of the day. A few people may find the motion difficult, particularly when the boat moves farther from shore. If you know you get seasick, eat lightly before departure, stay hydrated, and choose a place where you can sit or lie down. The paid day bed can be useful for this reason, not only for comfort.

Brunch with Canarian ingredients

Food is included, but the exact meal depends on the duration you select. The three-hour option includes a sandwich with roast turkey, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake. The four-hour brunch includes the turkey sandwich, a suckling pig burrito, vegetable dumplings, and cheesecake.

The four-hour meal gives the experience more of a lunch outing feel. The food comes in a presented box rather than as a restaurant-style buffet, so you should set your expectations accordingly. It is practical food for a boat, easy to eat while seated, and substantial enough for a relaxed afternoon.

The Canarian angle comes through in the use of local ingredients and the suckling pig burrito. If you want a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergen-free menu, contact FIVESTARBOAT no later than the day before. Do not wait until you board, since special meals need to be prepared in advance.

Drinks are one of the stronger parts of the price. Beer, soft drinks, and water are available without a limit during the cruise. Wine, cocktails, and champagne are not part of the standard package. That distinction matters because the phrase unlimited drinks can sound broader than it is.

You can buy cocktails or wine separately, and champagne is also extra. One small bottle of Moët was described as enough for only two small glasses between two people, so anyone expecting a full champagne service should budget for it. Bring some cash as well as a card. The card machine may lose its connection once the boat is offshore.

Swimming at Diego Hernández Beach

The stop near Diego Hernández Beach lasts about an hour and is the most active part of the cruise. You can swim in the sea, relax on board, or try snorkeling.

The water is often the main reason people choose a boat trip instead of a bus tour. You get a chance to cool off and see Tenerife from a different angle, with the boat providing a comfortable base for getting in and out of the water. You do not have to swim. Staying on deck with a drink is perfectly fine.

Snorkel equipment is not included, so plan around that if seeing underwater life is important to you. The information provided does not promise a guided snorkeling session or a supplied mask and fins. The stop is better understood as free time in the sea, with snorkeling available if you have suitable equipment.

If you choose a day bed, towels may be included with that upgrade, depending on the package. A standard ticket does not promise a towel, so bring your own unless your booking specifically says otherwise. You will also want sun protection, a swimsuit, and a dry bag for valuables.

Passing Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos

After the swimming stop, the catamaran passes Playa de las Américas and Playa de Los Cristianos. Each section lasts around 15 minutes, making these short coastal viewing periods rather than shore visits.

From the water, the resort towns give you a useful contrast with the quieter stretches near Punta Rasca and Diego Hernández Beach. You see the coastline from the sea instead of from a promenade or road. The boat does not give you free time to walk around either town, so do not book this as a town tour.

This portion is good for photographs, especially if you want a broad view of the southern resort coast. The boat cruise itself remains the focus. You can sit back, listen to the commentary, and use the time to finish your food or drink.

Palm-Mar and the return to Las Galletas

The route continues toward Palm-Mar, with about 45 minutes set aside for a photo stop and boat cruising. This is another chance to photograph the coast and enjoy the changing view before turning back.

The return to Marina del Sur takes about 30 minutes by boat. After docking, the coach returns passengers to the same general pickup network used in the morning. The exact day can run longer than the advertised three or four hours once transfers are added, so avoid scheduling a tight dinner, flight, or separate excursion afterward.

The route gives you several kinds of scenery in one outing: lighthouse and volcanic coast near Punta Rasca, a beach stop at Diego Hernández, resort views around Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, and the Palm-Mar shore. It is a good way to see the south without spending the day moving between viewpoints by road.

Standard seating, VIP space, and day beds

A normal booking gives you the cruise, food according to the selected duration, live commentary, and included drinks. You do not need a premium seat to enjoy the main experience.

VIP seating with priority access and preferred seating is available only if selected. Paid Balinese-style day beds are another upgrade. They are useful if you want to stretch out, lie down during the longer cruise, or make seasickness easier to manage. Some people find an available bed and upgrade on the day, but you should not count on that.

The day bed can also include towels and other perks, depending on the option booked. One cruise guest found it particularly worthwhile for the four to five hours involved. Still, the standard seating is not a poor second choice. If you plan to swim, walk around the deck, and spend time watching the coast, the upgrade may not be essential.

The boat has a toilet, and smoking is allowed at the back area according to the supplied trip details. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed as prohibited items, and nudity is not permitted.

Is the $71 price good value?

At $71 per person, the trip sits in a sensible middle range for a half-day boat outing with hotel pickup. You are paying for transport to and from the marina, the catamaran cruise, live commentary, a meal, and unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water.

The value is strongest if you use several parts of the package. A person who wants a marine-life trip, a swim, lunch, and drinks may find it cheaper and easier than arranging those elements separately. The four-hour version gives you more time on the water and a fuller meal, so it is likely the better choice if the price difference is modest.

The value is weaker if you do not drink, dislike organized group activities, or mainly want a quick whale-watching trip. You may spend a fair amount of the day in transit if your hotel is far from Las Galletas, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Extra costs can change the total. Add-ons may include VIP seating, a preferred day bed, cocktails, wine, champagne, and possibly other onboard purchases. Snorkel gear is not included. Read the selected option carefully before paying so you know exactly which meal and seating arrangement you have chosen.

Who should book this catamaran cruise?

I would recommend it to couples, families, and groups who want a relaxed sea day rather than a demanding activity. It suits people who like a little wildlife watching but also want food, sun, swimming, and an easy schedule.

The cruise is especially useful for visitors staying in Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Palm-Mar, or nearby resorts because pickup is offered at many hotels in those areas. The coach transfer adds time, but it removes the need to arrange your own transport to Las Galletas.

You should think twice if you are highly prone to seasickness. The catamaran goes far enough offshore that the motion can be uncomfortable, and one person described having a very difficult day because of it. A day bed may help, but it cannot guarantee calm conditions.

You should also choose the four-hour version if food and time on the water matter most. Pick the three-hour trip if you prefer a shorter outing with a lighter meal and less time exposed to the sea.

The activity has a 4.5 rating from 607 reviews, and the strongest pattern is clear: the crew, marine-life sightings, swimming stop, and easygoing atmosphere receive the most praise. People have seen pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and flying fish, but you should treat these as possible sightings, not promises.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you want a comfortable introduction to Tenerife’s south coast with wildlife watching built into a social boat ride. The food and unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water make the $71 price easier to justify, especially on the four-hour option.

Skip it if you want guaranteed close-up animals, a quiet private boat, or a full drinks package including wine and cocktails. For everyone else, this is a well-rounded choice: expect open water, changing weather, simple boat food, a useful swim stop, and a crew that works hard to keep the day moving.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart?

The boat departs from Marina del Sur in Las Galletas, in southern Tenerife.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from selected locations in southern Tenerife, including many hotels in Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Palm-Mar, and nearby areas.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise is offered as a three-hour or four-hour activity. Pickup and return transfers add extra time, including a coach ride of about 45 minutes for some departures.

What food is included?

The three-hour option includes a roast turkey sandwich, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake. The four-hour option includes a roast turkey sandwich, suckling pig burrito, vegetable dumplings, and cheesecake.

What drinks are included?

Unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water are included. Cocktails, wine, and champagne are not included in the standard price.

Can I swim during the cruise?

Yes. The boat stops near Diego Hernández Beach for about an hour, where you can swim or snorkel.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkel equipment is not included.

Are vegetarian or allergen-free meals available?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free menus are available if you contact FIVESTARBOAT no later than the day before the cruise.

What languages are spoken on board?

Live commentary is available in English and Spanish.