If you like ocean time with a real chance of whales, this fits. I like how this Puerto Colón sailing tour mixes wildlife spotting with real food and a proper swim break. You sail into open water with a local skipper, then cool off in a bay near a sandy beach.

I’m also a fan of the hands-on, small-group feel (max 11). With a friendly captain giving explanations in Spanish, you’re not just staring at water—you’re learning what you’re looking at while you hunt for dolphins and whales. One thing to consider: it sails into open ocean, so the day can feel bouncier than a calm harbor cruise.

Key Things I Think You’ll Care About

• Small group (11 max): more time for questions and better chances to hear spotting tips.
• Local skipper guidance: you’re searching with someone who knows where to look.
• Meal + drinks included: paella and cava, plus more snacks with beer or a drink during the anchored stop.
• Swim stop at a sandy beach bay: you get the water time, not just photos from the deck.
• Open-ocean sailing: pack for wind and sun; consider motion if you’re sensitive.

Puerto Colón Sailing: What Makes This Tour Fun (and Practical)

This is a 3-hour sailing tour from Puerto Colón on Tenerife, built around one main goal: seeing dolphins and whales out in the Atlantic. The setup is straightforward. You leave port, cruise while your skipper keeps an eye out, then you come back with a beach swim stop and included food.

The part I like most is that it’s not “watch once, go home.” You spend real time on the water searching. That matters because wildlife sightings usually come and go fast, and your best odds come from time + attention, not luck alone.

Another big plus is the way food and drinks are folded in. You’re not paying extra just to eat, and you’re not stuck with only snacks. The tour includes a meal—paella is part of it—plus a glass of cava, and there’s additional snacking during the stop in the bay.

Meeting at Pantalan 1 and Finding Mola Mola 2

Plan to arrive with enough slack to find the boat without stress. The meeting point is Pantalan 1. Look for the sailboat named Mola Mola 2.

There’s no hotel pickup, so you’ll need to get yourself to the dock area. The good news: it keeps things simple. Once you’re at the right dock, the day runs on tour time, not a bus schedule.

Tip for smooth boarding: show up a bit early, and bring your sunscreen and swim stuff in a way you can grab quickly. You’ll be glad later when the swim stop comes.

Leaving Port: Sailing for Dolphins and Whales in Open Water

After boarding in Puerto Colón, the tour heads out into open ocean. This is key. The trip isn’t limited to close-to-shore sightseeing. You’re spending time in the water area where dolphins and whales are more likely to show up.

As you sail, you keep an eye out with your skipper. Some sightings may be closer and easier to follow, like the pilot whales mentioned in one of the positive reviews. Other days may be more subtle—dolphins can be easier to spot than whales, but either way, you’ll want to watch the surface and listen to the captain’s cues.

Because the guide language is Spanish, it helps if you’re comfortable with basic Spanish, or you’re the type who can still follow along with hands signals and on-the-spot explanations. Even if you don’t speak much Spanish, having a local skipper point things out makes the experience feel more like a guided wildlife hunt than a passive cruise.

One consideration: because it sails into open ocean, you may feel motion. If you’re motion-sensitive, bring what helps you (like a light meal beforehand, if that’s your thing). This tour is short enough that you can plan around it, but the ocean is still the ocean.

The Food Part: Paella, Cava, and Snacks at the Bay Stop

One reason this tour feels good value at $68 per person is that you’re not just buying time on a boat—you’re getting a meal and drinks included. That means you can show up hungry and you don’t have to hunt for food in town during a tight Tenerife day.

What you’ll likely enjoy:

• A delicious paella style meal (the tour highlights paella as part of the flavors of Tenerife)
• A glass of cava
• During the anchored time in the bay, sandwiches with a beer or a glass of drink

The exact meal timing depends on your tour time, since lunch or dinner is included depending on departure. Either way, the pattern is the same: food is part of the experience, not an afterthought.

Also, small but important: drinks are included. On a sun-and-sea trip, hydration and something cold to sip can make a big difference in how comfortable you feel during the wildlife search.

The Swim Stop: Cooling Off Near a Sandy Beach Bay

This is the “okay, now the fun really starts” moment. The tour anchors in a bay near a warm, sandy beach and gives you time to swim in the cool water.

What to expect:

• You’re anchored in the bay for a break from sailing
• You get time in the water during the swim stop
• The tone shifts from wildlife scanning to relaxing in sun before heading back

A towel is not provided, so bring your own. If you forget, you’ll end up improvising, which is never the way you want to end a nice day on the water.

Quick practical tip: pack your swimwear where it’s easy to change after the boat ride. You may not have a lot of time once you’re anchored, and you’ll want to get in and enjoy the water before it’s time to move on.

Back to Port: Relaxing Sail Time After the Best Moments

Your sailing day doesn’t end the second the swim stop finishes. You sail back to port and enjoy the warm sun on your skin while heading toward the dock.

This part is underrated. Even if you don’t catch a “close family” whale sighting, you still get the calm payoff: the ocean breeze, the sun, and the feeling of having a full outing rather than a quick stop-and-go.

And since the group is capped at 11, the boat time feels more personal. There’s space for people to shift position and get a better view when the skipper points something out again on the return.

Who This Tour Is Best For (and Who Might Want to Skip)

This tour is a strong match if you want:

• A short, focused outing (about 3 hours)
• Real wildlife search time with a local captain
• A day that includes food, drinks, and a swim stop
• A small group setting (up to 11)

You’ll probably enjoy it most if you like ocean settings and you’re okay with the unpredictability that comes with wildlife watching. Whale and dolphin sightings can be amazing when they happen, and even on quieter days, the sailing and swim break keep the trip satisfying.

It’s not a fit if you need accessibility accommodations. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or visually impaired people, according to the tour info. If any of those apply, it’s worth looking for a different style of cruise with fewer physical barriers.

Value Check: Is $68 Worth It?

Here’s the simplest way to judge value: you’re paying for a 3-hour boat trip plus included food and drinks, with a dedicated swim stop. That combination is what makes the price feel more reasonable than a pure “sightseeing-only” cruise where you still pay for lunch afterward.

Also, the tour includes:

• Boat trip
• Lunch or dinner (depending on your tour time)
• Drinks
• Swimming stop

Add in the small-group cap and a local skipper who helps you spot wildlife, and the total package makes sense for people who want one ticket that covers the main experiences. If you’d otherwise spend money on boat time and then pay separately for a meal, it’s easier to see where the value lands.

Smart Planning Tips Before You Go

You’ll have a smoother day if you pack for sun, water, and boat time. Based on the tour’s own recommendations, bring:

• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Beachwear

If you’re the kind of person who likes to be comfortable, I’d also plan for wind. Even on warm days, being out on open water can feel cooler than you expect once you’re sailing.

One more practical note: the tour has a live tour guide in Spanish. If you’re planning to ask questions, think about a few simple things you want to know before you board (like what you’re looking for when you scan for fins).

What About the Wildlife Odds?

This trip is built around searching for dolphins and whales. The tour describes seeing whales and dolphins as a core expectation, and the best review highlights a close pilot whale family sighting. That’s the dream scenario.

But you’re still dealing with nature. Your best “strategy” is to stay present, follow the skipper’s spotting signals, and keep your eyes up when the captain calls it out. The point of going with a local captain is that you’re improving your odds through their experience and their choice of where to sail.

If you’re the type who can enjoy the sea even when wildlife is fleeting, you’ll have a good time either way.

Should You Book Puerto Colón’s Whale-Watching Sail?

Book it if you want a short sailing outing that’s more than just sightseeing. I’d choose this tour when you care about three things together: wildlife searching, included paella + cava, and an actual swim stop.

Skip it if you’re sensitive to ocean motion, or if accessibility needs make open-ocean sailing and a swim stop hard to manage. Also, if you prefer a “sit in comfort, never get wet” day, this one may feel too active.

If you can handle open water and you’re excited about the chance of whales and dolphins, this tour offers a well-rounded Tenerife experience without turning the day into a long, complicated itinerary.

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