All year, no season
Neither turtles nor pilot whales are passing species in Tenerife — both populations are resident, so there is no better month than any other to try.
Tenerife marine life guide
Tenerife's marine wildlife, in its natural habitat
Turtles you can watch swimming from the shore and one of the most stable pilot whale populations on the planet, a short boat ride away — two very different ways to see wild marine life, with no cages or aquariums.
400+Resident pilot whales in the channel
All yearTurtles and cetaceans, no season
FreeSee turtles swimming from the shore
Two animals, two ways to see them
From the shore to the boat
Tenerife offers two very different marine-wildlife experiences. One needs no booking or budget: just swim a few metres from a particular bay to come across sea turtles. The other means heading out to sea, where one of the world's few resident pilot whale populations lives, accompanied by dolphins all year round.
Choose your guide
Two animals, two complete guides.
Everything you need to organise it: where to go, when and which rules to follow.
01
Sea turtles
El Puertito de Adeje is home to a resident population of green turtles that you reach by swimming from the shore, with no boat or diving equipment. Free, all year round, with clear rules so as not to disturb them.
Read the sea turtles guide →02
Dolphins and whales
The channel between Tenerife and La Gomera is home to more than 400 resident pilot whales, plus bottlenose and common dolphins. They can be seen on boat trips from Puerto Colón or Los Gigantes, all year round.
Read the dolphins and whales guide →Before you go
Three rules that apply to all marine wildlife.
Valid for both turtles and cetaceans.
Frequently asked questions
Before you choose what to see first.
Do I need to know how to dive to see marine wildlife in Tenerife?
No. Turtles are seen with shallow snorkelling, without a tank, and cetaceans are watched from the deck of a boat.
Is there a better season to see turtles or cetaceans?
Not really: both are resident populations present all year round, although the sea is usually calmer in the morning.
Is it suitable for children?
In general yes, with supervision: El Puertito has a calm, shallow entry, and most whale-watching boats accept families.
What should I see first, turtles or cetaceans?
It depends on budget and time: turtles are free and need no booking, while cetacean watching is a paid excursion of 2–3 hours.
Keep exploring
More guided plans in Tenerife.
From whale watching to other guided excursions around the island — or go back to the full beaches guide if you'd rather stay on the coast.