For a family whale watching trip in Tenerife, pick a short, steady boat: the 90-minute eco-yacht from Los Cristianos has a toilet on board and a low centre of gravity (★ 4.7 from 19,265 reviews, from €29.90), and the two-hour boats from Los Gigantes reach the whales fastest. Most listings set no minimum age; a few exclude babies under one or children under two, and 2 catamarans are adults-only.
Ninety minutes, cheapest proven
Shortest run, cheapest
Pirate boat, toilet on board
The “not suitable for” column is copied from each listing. “Not stated” means the operator does not say — ask before booking.
With young children, shorter is better. The pilot whales are close to the coast, so a 90-minute or two-hour trip spends most of its time with the animals, and nobody has to last through lunch on a moving boat. The eco-yacht from Los Cristianos is the classic first trip: steady, a toilet on board and a bar for snacks.
With older children who swim, a three-hour trip adds a swim stop in a cove and, on the catamarans, lunch and shade. The pirate boat from Los Gigantes (★ 4.6 from 2,370 reviews) is the one children remember — food and a toilet on board, two to three hours.
Bring hats, sunscreen and a layer for the run out; sailboats and speedboats have little shade. If anyone is prone to seasickness, go in the morning.
A few boats exclude babies under one or children under two, usually the speedboats and small private boats; most do not mention age at all. Pushchairs are awkward on every boat — expect to fold them at the pier.
One sailboat lists pregnant women as not suitable; the rest do not say. If you are pregnant, a short trip on the steady eco-yacht is the gentlest option — check with your doctor, and check the partner page of the boat you choose.
See the eco-yachteco yacht★ 4.719,265 reviews“We saw pilot whales and sea turtles so amazing. There was shade and enough seats for everyone to see. When we went for a swim it was easy to get back on the boat with their good ladder. The trip was great.”
boat★ 4.75,712 reviews“Amazing, loved the captain and the crew. Honestly a true gem”
pirate boat★ 4.62,370 reviews“It was lovely, cool ship, great team and tour guide. Saw lots of pilot whales & got to rope swing into the sea!! Very enjoyable!! Recommended.”
All 72 boats: cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
source · partner listingsEco-yachts built with a low centre of gravity are the steadiest; mornings and September–October are the calmest water.
source · operator listings · AEMETLicensed boats keep 60 m from the animals and nobody enters the water near them. The swim stop is a cove afterwards.
source · Decreto 178/2000About 24 noticeable days a year, longest in January–February. Visibility drops but trips still run.
source · AEMETSwimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat and a light layer for the run out.
source · operator listingsThe best-rated boats of two hours or less with at least a hundred reviews: Puerto Colon: Dolphin and Whale Watching Speedboat Tour — ★ 4.9 from 134 reviews, 2–3 hours from Costa Adeje, €50, with speedboat cruise and snorkeling gear; Travelin' Lady: Eco Yacht Whale & Dolphin Safari + Swim — ★ 4.7 from 19,265 reviews, 1.5 hours from Los Cristianos, €29.90, with bar service and free time to swim and snorkel; Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop — ★ 4.7 from 5,712 reviews, 2 hours from Los Gigantes, €28, with cruise and stop at Los Gigantes cliffs; Whale-Watching Cruise & Swim from Los Cristianos — ★ 4.7 from 4,243 reviews, 2 hours from Los Cristianos, €27.81, with two-hour whale watching cruise and short swim stop; Whale-Watching Catamaran Tour with Drinks — ★ 4.7 from 4,179 reviews, 2–3 hours from Costa Adeje, €35, with whale and dolphin watching cruise and free onboard drinks, including water, soft drinks, and beer.
23 trips last two hours or less, the right length for most children under eight.
Seven listings set a lower age limit: Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise by Speedboat (children under 2 years), Whale-Watching Sailboat Cruise (children under 3 years), South Tenerife: Private Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour (children under 3 ft (90 cm)), VIP private boat experience in Tenerife (babies under 1 year), Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran Cruise (babies under 1 year, children under 2 years), Ocean Pack Jet Ski and Yacht Whale Watching (children under 16 years) and Luxury Eco-Marine Safari: Whale Watching Adventure (children under 5 years). Two are adults-only: Adults-Only 3-Hour Whale and Dolphin Catamaran and Adults-Only Whale & Dolphin Catamaran Cruise.
Only seven listings mention a toilet on board, the eco-yachts among them. Shade is best on the catamarans and the big motor boats; sailboats and speedboats have little. For children who feel the motion, the steadiest boats are the eco-yachts and the catamarans; sit them low and in the middle, and give them a view of the horizon.
Puerto Colon: Dolphin and Whale Watching Speedboat Tour — ★ 4.9 from 134 reviews. 2–3 hours from Costa Adeje, from €50 per person, with food and a swim stop.
Travelin' Lady: Eco Yacht Whale & Dolphin Safari + Swim — ★ 4.7 from 19,265 reviews. 1.5 hours from Los Cristianos, from €29.90 per person, with a swim stop and a toilet; up to 80 people.
Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop — ★ 4.7 from 5,712 reviews. 2 hours from Los Gigantes, from €28 per person, with a swim stop.
Whale-Watching Cruise & Swim from Los Cristianos — ★ 4.7 from 4,243 reviews. 2 hours from Los Cristianos, from €27.81 per person, with a swim stop.
We read the most recent reviews of each boat of two hours or less — 79 in all, written between 27 Aug 2021 and 21 Sep 2026, averaging ★ 5.0. 49 mention whales, 30 mention dolphins, 11 mention turtles, 44 mention the crew or the guide, 5 mention the food or drinks, 13 mention the swim and 3 mention seasickness. Seasickness comes up in three of them — worth taking seriously if you are prone to it; the steadiest boats are the eco-yachts and the catamarans. This is a sample of the latest reviews, not the whole record; the rating next to each boat covers every review.
How we compare: every number here comes from the GetYourGuide listings as we read them on 23 Sep 2026 — price, duration, what is included, the rating and the number of reviews — and from public sources we name next to the figure. We rank by rating only among boats with a hundred reviews or more, because a ★ 5.0 from three reviews says little. Where a listing does not state something, we say so instead of guessing. We earn a commission on bookings; it is the same for every boat and does not decide the order.
Yes — the whales are close to the coast, so short trips work well. The 90-minute eco-yacht from Los Cristianos is the easiest first trip.
Most listings set none. A few exclude babies under one or children under two; two catamarans are adults-only.
The eco-yachts from Los Cristianos, the pirate boat from Los Gigantes and a few yachts list one; most small boats do not state it.
Ninety minutes to two hours with young children; three hours with a swim stop for older children who swim.
Expect to fold it at the pier; no boat lists pushchair access.
One sailboat says it is not suitable; others do not say. A short, steady trip is gentlest — check with your doctor.