Marine life guide · Whale and dolphin watching
Between Tenerife and La Gomera lives one of the most stable pilot whale populations on the planet — resident, not passing through. There's no need to wait for a particular season: the channel has cetaceans 365 days a year.
One of only 4 places in the world
The short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) normally travels long distances following its prey — except here. The stretch of sea between Tenerife and La Gomera is home to more than 400 resident individuals all year round, something found in only three other places on the planet: Hawaii, California and Japan.
Add to that bottlenose and common dolphins, also regularly present — which makes this stretch one of the most reliable whale-watching areas in Europe.
What's in the channel
Where they live, where trips leave from to see them and which other species appear.
Sightings usually happen a mile from the coast, although many trips sail up to three miles out to sea. The depth and calm of this channel between the two islands are the reason the population has never left.
Most trips leave from Puerto Colón, in Costa Adeje, or directly from Los Gigantes — the closest point to the strip where the pilot whales live. Las Galletas is a third, somewhat less common option.
Alongside the pilot whales you find bottlenose and common dolphins, and more occasionally striped dolphins. It is common to see them playing at the bow or in the wake of the boat, taking advantage of its momentum.
Whale watching in the Canary Islands is regulated by Decree 178/2000. Authorised boats carry the Blue Boat Flag — the guarantee that they respect the legal distance and behaviour around the animals. Avoid booking with operators that don't display it.
How to organise it
The difference between a good sighting and a disappointing one is usually the operator, not luck.
Book online
All comply with the responsible-watching regulations — compare and book the one that fits best.
These links are affiliate links: if you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only include operators with verified ratings and a good reputation.
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★ 4.5 (3.059)Practical information
Ports, duration and what to expect on board.
Regulates cetacean watching in the Canary Islands. Always look for the Blue Boat Flag on the vessel.
The two most common starting points; Las Galletas is a less frequent third option.
Enough to reach the sighting area, observe and, in many cases, swim.
As it is a resident population, there is no pilot whale season — they are present all 365 days.
More sporadically, sperm whales, fin whales and other passing species are seen.
Most boats are set up to carry children; it is best to book in advance in high season.
Sunglasses, sunscreen and a light layer — it is windier on deck than it seems from land.
If you're prone to it, a seasickness tablet taken well before departure makes all the difference.
Before you board
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Short-finned pilot whales are a resident population in the Tenerife–La Gomera channel, present 365 days a year, not just in one particular season.
The short-finned pilot whale (or “pilot whale”) is actually a large member of the dolphin family, not a true whale — which is why in Tenerife people talk interchangeably about “cetacean watching” to cover both groups.
Mainly from Puerto Colón, in Costa Adeje, and from Los Gigantes. Las Galletas also has departures, less frequently.
With a certified operator carrying the Blue Boat Flag, yes: the regulations limit the distance and the time spent with each group and prohibit chasing or swimming with the animals.
Between 2 and 3 hours with most operators, including transit, sighting and often a swimming stop.
Most commonly you see short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose or common dolphins. Other whales — sperm whales, fin whales — appear occasionally, with no guarantee.
Next stop
El Puertito de Adeje is home to a population of sea turtles that you reach by swimming from the shore — another way to see wildlife in the wild, with no need for a boat.
Cover photo: Gustavo A. Pérez, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo of the channel: Tony Hisgett, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Photo of the fin: Cayambe, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo of the dolphin: NASA, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
