Whale watching in Tenerife in December: the pilot whales are here as in every month, and operators report sightings on about 99 % of trips.
The sea averages 21.2 °C, the air 22.8 °C by day, with 10.4 hours of daylight and 3.5 rain days in the month; the first boats leave at 09:00, sunrise is at 07:49. December is the wettest month, though only a few days of rain; around Christmas the boats are busier.
The wettest month, still only about 3.5 rain days; winter swell and wind cancel more trips than in summer.
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 December the sun rises at 07:49 and sets at 18:14, so the 17:00 eco-yacht slot comes back close to sunset — the most atmospheric light of the day. The lunch catamaran leaves Puerto Colón at 11:00, 14:00 or 17:00.
December has 2 public holidays on the Canary calendar and school holidays. Boats fill up around holidays and weekends; book a few days ahead and use the free cancellation if plans change.
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December in the south of Tenerife averages 22.8 °C by day and 16.5 °C at night, with the sea at 21.2 °C. It has about 3.5 rain days and 30 mm of rain, 195 hours of sunshine and 10.4 hours of daylight a day. That makes it the tenth sunniest month of the twelve, the seventh warmest at sea and the tenth warmest on land.
Against its neighbours, the sea is 1.4 °C cooler than in November and 1.1 °C cooler in January; the days are 0.4 hours shorter than in November. 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 December, from our notes on the month: the wettest month, still only about 3.5 rain days; winter swell and wind cancel more trips than in summer. 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. Winter swell and wind cancel more trips than in summer, so keep a spare day in your plans and use the free cancellation up to 24 hours before 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 December 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 December: sperm whales (rare) and fin 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 07:49 and sets at about 18:14 in mid-December. The earliest departure on any listing is 09:00, well after sunrise. On the departure times we checked, seven trips would come back in the last hour before sunset — the softest light of the day, and 32 trips would return after dark.
Short days mean the afternoon departures run into the evening light; if you want to see the whales in full sun, book a morning boat. Departure times on the partner calendar can change with the season; the times above come from the options we checked, not from a timetable.
The calendar for December: 8 Dec 2026 · Immaculate Conception, 25 Dec 2026 · Christmas Day and Canary school Christmas break · 23 Dec 2026 – 8 Jan 2027. Boats fill up in these weeks, especially the small sailboats and the trips with lunch; book a few days ahead, as every trip on this site cancels free up to 24 hours before.
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 Marine-Life Tour with Transfer, Buffet and Drinks (€63, ★ 4.8 from 2,213 reviews). At 21.2 °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 21.2 °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 December a good month for whale watching? For the whales, yes — as good as any. It is best for winter sun, festive towns. Think twice if you need guaranteed calm sea. If the dates are flexible, compare it with November and January, or see all twelve on the season page.
Yes. Short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are resident, so December is as good for seeing them as any month; operators report sightings on about 99 % of trips. December is the wettest month, though only a few days of rain; around Christmas the boats are busier.
About 21.2 °C on average, with air at 22.8 °C by day and 16.5 °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.
December has 2 public holidays on the Canary calendar and school holidays. Boats fill up around holidays and weekends; book a few days ahead and use the free cancellation if plans change.
Sunrise about 07:49 and sunset about 18:14 (mid-month, Los Cristianos), 10.4 hours of daylight. The first boats leave at 09:00.
The whales are the same; the sea is 21.2 °C in December and 20.1 °C in January, with 10.4 and 10.6 hours of daylight. See the January page for its numbers.