Whale watching in Tenerife in January: the pilot whales are here as in every month, and operators report sightings on about 99 % of trips.
The sea averages 20.1 °C, the air 21.7 °C by day, with 10.6 hours of daylight and 1.8 rain days in the month; the first boats leave at 09:00, sunrise is at 07:58. January brings the fewest boats of the year and quiet marinas, with the chance of migrating baleen whales passing further out.
Trade winds lighter than in summer; January and February have the longest calima (dust haze) spells; winter swell is possible on the west coast.
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 January the sun rises at 07:58 and sets at 18:35, 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.
January 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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January in the south of Tenerife averages 21.7 °C by day and 15.2 °C at night, with the sea at 20.1 °C. It has about 1.8 rain days and 17 mm of rain, 193 hours of sunshine and 10.6 hours of daylight a day. That makes it the 11th sunniest month of the twelve, the ninth warmest at sea and the 12th warmest on land.
Against its neighbours, the sea is 1.1 °C cooler than in December and 0.7 °C cooler in February; the days are 0.2 hours longer than in December. 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 January, from our notes on the month: trade winds lighter than in summer; January and February have the longest calima (dust haze) spells; winter swell is possible on the west coast. On the water that means the easiest conditions of the year for anyone worried about seasickness; even the small sailboats and speedboats have a comfortable ride on most days.
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 January 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 January: 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 07:58 and sets at about 18:35 in mid-January. The earliest departure on any listing is 09:00, well after sunrise. On the departure times we checked, nine trips would come back in the last hour before sunset — the softest light of the day, and 27 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 January: 1 Jan 2027 · New Year's Day, 6 Jan 2027 · Epiphany, Canary school Christmas break · 23 Dec 2026 – 8 Jan 2027 and Carnaval de Santa Cruz opening gala · 22 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 20.1 °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 20.1 °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 January a good month for whale watching? For the whales, yes — as good as any. It is best for fewest boats, winter light. Think twice if calima haze bothers you. If the dates are flexible, compare it with December and February, or see all twelve on the season page.
Yes. Short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are resident, so January is as good for seeing them as any month; operators report sightings on about 99 % of trips. January brings the fewest boats of the year and quiet marinas, with the chance of migrating baleen whales passing further out.
About 20.1 °C on average, with air at 21.7 °C by day and 15.2 °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.
January 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 07:58 and sunset about 18:35 (mid-month, Los Cristianos), 10.6 hours of daylight. The first boats leave at 09:00.
The whales are the same; the sea is 20.1 °C in January and 19.4 °C in February, with 10.6 and 11.3 hours of daylight. See the February page for its numbers.