Whale watching in Tenerife in April: the pilot whales are here as in every month, and operators report sightings on about 99 % of trips.
The sea averages 19.6 °C, the air 23.1 °C by day, with 12.9 hours of daylight and 1.1 rain days in the month; the first boats leave at 09:00, sunrise is at 07:40. April has clear skies — calima is rare from now to September — and spotted dolphins and Bryde’s whales at their peak.
Steady trade winds; calima becomes rare — April to September are the clearest months; clocks go forward at the end of March.
Each row under the bar is one boat, in its colour; the pills are that boat's departure times on the same clock as the daylight band. The eco-yacht runs departures from 09:00 to 17:00 and the Los Gigantes sailboat leaves at 09:45 or 13:00. In April the sun rises at 07:40 and sets at 20:33, so even the last 17:00 slot returns in full daylight. The sunset catamaran with pickup leaves at 17:00.
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Evening catamaran with pickup
April in the south of Tenerife averages 23.1 °C by day and 16.0 °C at night, with the sea at 19.6 °C. It has about 1.1 rain days and 7 mm of rain, 219 hours of sunshine and 12.9 hours of daylight a day. That makes it the sixth sunniest month of the twelve, the tenth warmest at sea and the ninth warmest on land.
Against its neighbours, the sea is 0.4 °C warmer than in March and 0.8 °C warmer in May; the days are 0.9 hours longer than in March. The figures are long-term averages (AEMET normals and a ten-year sea-temperature average), so any single week can differ.
What the sea does in April, from our notes on the month: steady trade winds; calima becomes rare — April to September are the clearest months; clocks go forward at the end of March. Most days are fine for every boat; on a windy day the morning departures are calmer than the afternoon ones.
Trips are cancelled by the operator when the sea is unsafe, and the partner site refunds a cancelled trip in full. Cancellations for weather are rare in this month, but the free cancellation up to 24 hours before covers you if the forecast turns. Calima — dust haze from the Sahara — shows up on about 24 days a year by the weather service’s count; it softens the light but does not stop the boats.
The residents are here in April as in every month: short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. Operators report pilot whales on about 99 % of trips (operator data), and bottlenose dolphins on many of them. Seasonal visitors possible in April: Atlantic spotted dolphins (common in season), sperm whales (rare) and Bryde’s whales (rare). Now and then a boat also meets striped dolphins and Risso’s dolphins — rare enough that no trip can promise them.
About 362 pilot whales live along this coast, in a protected area of 69,490 hectares; that is why the same animals can be found in any month. Every licensed boat keeps 60 m from them and stays no longer than 30 minutes with a group (the rules); the dolphin and whale guide has the species one by one.
The sun rises at about 07:40 and sets at about 20:33 in mid-April. The earliest departure on any listing is 09:00, well after sunrise. On the departure times we checked, six trips would come back in the last hour before sunset — the softest light of the day, and six trips would return after dark.
Long days leave room for any departure; the evening light is best on the last boats of the day and on the sunset trips. Departure times on the partner calendar can change with the season; the times above come from the options we checked, not from a timetable.
No public holidays or school breaks fall in April. Most boats have space most days; the small sailboats with ten or twelve seats are the first to fill.
If you want a small boat on a busy day, the best-rated small groups are Los Gigantes Whale Watching Cruise by Sailboat (up to 10, ★ 4.9 from 2,265 reviews).
Our picks for the month are Los Gigantes Whale Watching Cruise by Sailboat (€75, ★ 4.9 from 2,265 reviews), Travelin' Lady: Eco Yacht Whale & Dolphin Safari + Swim (€29.90, ★ 4.7 from 19,265 reviews) and Sunset Catamaran Tour with Transfer, Buffet & Drinks (€64, ★ 4.7 from 946 reviews). At 19.6 °C the swim is brisk; many people take a short dip or skip it, so a trip without a swim stop loses little this month.
With a calm sea every boat type works; this is the month to take the small sailboat or the fast boat you might avoid in July or August. The full list sorts all boats by price, rating or time to deep water.
Pack layers: the run out at speed feels much cooler than the harbour, so bring a warm top and a windproof jacket as well as sunscreen and sunglasses. With the sea at 19.6 °C, a towel and a change of clothes are worth carrying even if you do not plan to swim — spray reaches every deck. Bring the booking on your phone; the ticket carries the meeting point and the operator’s number.
Is April a good month for whale watching? For the whales, yes — as good as any. It is best for spotted dolphins, clear skies. Think twice if you want empty boats at Easter. If the dates are flexible, compare it with March and May, or see all twelve on the season page.
Yes. Short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are resident, so April is as good for seeing them as any month; operators report sightings on about 99 % of trips. April has clear skies — calima is rare from now to September — and spotted dolphins and Bryde’s whales at their peak.
About 19.6 °C on average, with air at 23.1 °C by day and 16.0 °C at night. Refreshing for the swim stop — many people swim briefly or skip it.
Layers: a warm top and a windproof jacket for the run out, sunscreen and a hat; swimwear if you plan to swim.
No public holidays fall in April; boats have space most days.
Sunrise about 07:40 and sunset about 20:33 (mid-month, Los Cristianos), 12.9 hours of daylight. The first boats leave at 09:00.
The whales are the same; the sea is 19.6 °C in April and 20.4 °C in May, with 12.9 and 13.6 hours of daylight. See the May page for its numbers.