Los Cristianos is the port for the short trip. The pilot whale colony lives a few kilometres from the harbour mouth, over water about 1,000 metres deep: according to one comparison website, you're in deep water in about 12 minutes. That's why 1.5-hour excursions work here, whereas in Puerto Colón the usual starting point is 2 hours: you spend more time watching and less time getting there.
Mind you, it isn't the port with the most boats. It's the ferry port for La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma, and it has just 11 registered whale-watching boats, against 64 in Puerto Colón. But the two whale-watching trips with the most reviews on the island sail from here. If you're staying in Los Cristianos, Las Américas or Las Galletas, this is your port.
Our picks
1
The best short trip
Travelin' Lady: a whale-watching yacht, 1 h 30 with pilot whales, the Cueva del Amor and a swim by Montaña de Guaza. Drinks not included.
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Travelin' Lady: Eco Yacht Whale & Dolphin Safari + Swim
4.7 (19,421 reviews)
from €29.90Check availability
2
No swim, with underwater viewing
Mar de Ons catamaran with glass viewing areas below the waterline, sold as stable for anyone who gets seasick. No swimming on this one.
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Tenerife: Eco No-Chase Respectful Whale & Dolphin Encounter
4.6 (15,400 reviews)
from €28Check availability
3
With a swim at the end
Peter Pan, a wooden schooner for 60 people: 2 h and a 15–20-minute swim, sea permitting.
GetYourGuide2 - 3 hours
Tenerife: Whale-Watching Cruise & Swim from Los Cristianos
4.7 (4,267 reviews)
from €27.81Check availability
4
For children
Ragnarok, the Viking ship: swords, costumes, a photo on the throne and a route up to La Caleta.
GetYourGuide2 hours
Tenerife: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise with Swim Stop
4.7 (3,717 reviews)
from €28Check availability
5
At sunset
Travelin' Lady's sunset trip, which only runs from October to February.
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Sunset by Travelin´ Lady: Eco Yacht Whale Watching
4.6 (2,293 reviews)
from €29.90Check availability
Who actually sails from Los Cristianos
The official register of whale-watching boats lists 11 vessels based in Los Cristianos: Bahriyeli (two), Jolly Roger, Lady Shelley, Le Monte Carlo, Moira, Neptuno Once, Peter Pan Primero, Travelin' Lady (two) and Tropical Delfin. The best-selling trips belong to four companies.
Travelin' Lady. A yacht built in the Canaries and used only for whale watching, with engines below the hull, a low rail, shade, separate men's and women's toilets and a small bar. The route takes 1 h 30: the pilot whale grounds, Montaña de Guaza, the Cueva del Amor and a swim stop before heading back. The commentary is in Spanish, English, French and Italian, with audio in German and other languages. Snorkel masks are hired separately, and to swim you must be able to manage unaided. It's the whale-watching trip with the most reviews on GetYourGuide. Read our full review.
Mar de Ons (Mar Borondon S.L.). The company behind the best-selling "Eco No-Chase" trip, which appears on GetYourGuide under the provider name "Vision Submarine". It sails a catamaran with glass viewing areas for looking underwater, passes the Cueva del Amor and doesn't allow swimming. It says it carries a marine biologist guide on board and donates part of every ticket to Paul Watson's foundation (Neptune's Pirates). It has nothing to do with Bonadea II–Diomedea, the small RIB in Puerto Colón it's often confused with: we clear that up in our review of Bonadea and the "No-Chase".
Neptuno Whale Experience. It runs the Peter Pan, a Portuguese-style wooden schooner for 60 passengers with two toilets, an upper sun deck and an indoor saloon. The trip lasts 2 hours and ends with a 15- to 20-minute swim, at the captain's discretion. Boarding is at 09:45, 11:45, 12:45 or 13:45 depending on the option. Water is included; other drinks are extra. The same company has the yacht Neptuno, for 3 hours with lunch and a swim, for up to 20 people, with shared departures at 10:00 and 13:00. More in our Peter Pan review.
Ragnarok. The Viking-themed ship, in Tenerife since 2018, with room for nearly 100 people and, according to the company, adapted for disabled passengers. It runs 2- and 3-hour trips from Los Cristianos up to La Caleta, with a sword show, costumes and a photo on the throne; only the 3-hour trip includes a swim. A curious detail: the official register gives its home port as Amarilla Marina (formerly Marina San Miguel), not Los Cristianos, so check the boarding point on your voucher. Read our review.
Prices and what each boat includes
| Boat | Duration | Swim | Adult / child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar de Ons ("No-Chase") | 1.5–2 h | no | €25 / €12 online |
| Travelin' Lady | 1 h 30 | yes | from €27.90 on its website |
| Peter Pan | 2 h | yes, at the end | €27 / €15 from resellers |
| Ragnarok | 2 h | no | €28 / €20 from resellers |
| Ragnarok | 3 h | yes | €38 / €25 from resellers |
Mar de Ons advertises a €50 list price, but online it costs €25 per adult, €12 per child aged 1 to 10 and €5 per baby. On GetYourGuide it starts at €28. Travelin' Lady costs from €27.90 on its website and from €29.90 on the platform. The Peter Pan doesn't publish prices on a website of its own; resellers sell it at €27 (children aged 2 to 11, €15; under-2s free) and charge €5 more for a hotel pick-up.
| Platform | Product | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Tenerife: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise with Swim Stop | 4.7 (3,717) | €28 | See on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Los Cristianos: Viking Tenerife Ragnarok Cruise | 4.5 (23) | €28 | See on Tiqets |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They can change with the date; each platform confirms the final price.
The Ragnarok costs the same on both platforms, €28. On GetYourGuide you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before; on Tiqets the policy varies by provider, so read it before you pay. On board, on the 2-hour trip each drink costs €3 (water is free), and burgers and hot dogs €10 to €11.50. On the 3-hour trip drinks are included.
How to find the Excursion Zone
All the excursions board at the Excursion Zone (Zona de Excursiones), also called Zone A, on Los Cristianos quay. There's no need to ask: follow the blue line painted on the ground to a green fence. That's where each company's numbered kiosks are. Travelin' Lady's is kiosk no. 2, and its boat is a red-and-white yacht.
It's also the quay for the Fred. Olsen and Baleària Canarias (formerly Naviera Armas) ferries to the other islands; the Excursion Zone is a separate area, and the blue line is the easiest way not to get lost.
There's a paid car park a short walk from the boarding area, but in high season it's often full. If you're staying in Los Cristianos, walk. Allow 15 to 20 minutes: Travelin' Lady asks for 15 on its website and 20 on GetYourGuide, and if you're late you lose your place.
Getting there by bus
- From Tenerife South airport: bus 40, roughly every 30 minutes, €3.20. The harbour is about 18 km from the airport.
- From Costa Adeje and La Caleta: bus 467 along the coast, €1.45–1.50. Travelin' Lady reckons on about ten minutes by car, bus or taxi from Costa Adeje.
- From Los Gigantes and Playa San Juan: bus 473, €4.65.
- From Golf del Sur, Las Galletas or El Médano: buses 470 and 483, €2.80 from Golf del Sur.
- From Santa Cruz: bus 112, plus the 110 and 111 towards Costa Adeje. From Puerto de la Cruz, the 343, which calls at both airports.
Up-to-date timetables on titsa.com and on the Los Cristianos harbour website.
The sea between Los Cristianos and La Caleta
The south-west coast lies sheltered from the prevailing wind and the shelf is narrow: a few kilometres out of the harbour you're already over deep water, pilot whale territory. Travelin' Lady's route sums up what the short trip gives you: the pilot whale grounds, a loop round Montaña de Guaza, a pass by the Cueva del Amor and a swim before heading into port. The Ragnarok heads the other way, up towards La Caleta.
Even so, the sea isn't always millpond-flat: the Peter Pan's listing warns that it can sometimes be choppy. For delicate stomachs, this port has the edge, because the two best-selling trips last 1.5 hours rather than three. Mar de Ons advertises its catamaran as stable, and Travelin' Lady says its yacht, with its low centre of gravity, rolls less; you can also swim from this one.
Which boat to choose in Los Cristianos
- The most efficient trip: Travelin' Lady. An hour and a half, swim included, no detours. Bring your own water, as drinks aren't included.
- If you get seasick or don't want to swim: the Mar de Ons catamaran. It isn't suitable for wheelchair users, and nor are Travelin' Lady or the Peter Pan.
- Classic-boat atmosphere and a swim: the Peter Pan, 2 hours.
- With children aged 4 to 11: the Ragnarok. The whale-watching area is the same; the Viking show is what wins the little ones over.
- At sunset: Travelin' Lady's sunset trip runs only from October to February.
Species, months and the law explained are in the main whale-watching guide; beaches and things to do in town, in our Los Cristianos guide.
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Travelin' Lady: Eco Yacht Whale & Dolphin Safari + Swim
4.7 (19,421 reviews)
from €29.90Check availability
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Tenerife: Eco No-Chase Respectful Whale & Dolphin Encounter
4.6 (15,400 reviews)
from €28Check availability
GetYourGuide2 hours
Tenerife: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise with Swim Stop
4.7 (3,717 reviews)
from €28Check availability
Tiqets03:00
Tenerife: Dolphin & Whale Watching Catamaran Tour + Lunch + Transfers
3.9 (8 reviews)
from €46Check availability
GetYourGuide2 - 3 hours
Tenerife: Whale-Watching Cruise & Swim from Los Cristianos
4.7 (4,267 reviews)
from €27.81Check availability
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Sunset by Travelin´ Lady: Eco Yacht Whale Watching
4.6 (2,293 reviews)
from €29.90Check availability
See all options on GetYourGuide →
Frequently asked questions
Where do the whale-watching boats leave from in Los Cristianos?
From the Excursion Zone (Zona de Excursiones), or Zone A, on Los Cristianos quay. Follow the blue line painted on the ground to the green fence, where each company has its numbered kiosk.
How long does dolphin watching from Los Cristianos take, and how much does it cost?
The best-selling trips last 1.5 hours and cost from €25 online (Mar de Ons) or from €27.90 (Travelin' Lady). The 2-hour trips with a swim, such as the Peter Pan, are around €27.
Is there parking near Los Cristianos harbour?
There's a paid car park a short walk from the boarding area, but in high season it's often full. If you're staying nearby, it's better to walk or take the bus.
Which Los Cristianos boat trips include a swim?
Travelin' Lady, by Montaña de Guaza; the Peter Pan, with 15 to 20 minutes at the end; and the 3-hour Ragnarok. Mar de Ons's "No-Chase" catamaran doesn't allow swimming.
Does Travelin' Lady leave from Costa Adeje?
No. All its trips leave from kiosk no. 2 in the Los Cristianos Excursion Zone, about ten minutes from Costa Adeje by car, bus or taxi.
