Whale watching in Tenerife in September: the pilot whales are here as in every month, and operators report sightings on about 99 % of trips.
The sea averages 23.8 °C, the air 27.9 °C by day, with 12.4 hours of daylight and 0.6 rain days in the month; the first boats leave at 09:00, sunrise is at 07:50. September has the calmest sea and the warmest water of the year, and the summer crowds have gone.
The trades ease; September and October have the calmest sea of the year and the warmest water.
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 September the sun rises at 07:50 and sets at 20:13, so even the last 17:00 slot returns in full daylight. The sunset catamaran with pickup leaves at 17:00.
Best boat for most people
Ninety minutes, cheapest proven
Evening catamaran with pickup
September in the south of Tenerife averages 27.9 °C by day and 21.1 °C at night, with the sea at 23.8 °C. It has about 0.6 rain days and 4 mm of rain, 213 hours of sunshine and 12.4 hours of daylight a day. That makes it the eighth sunniest month of the twelve, the warmest at sea and the second warmest on land.
Against its neighbours, the sea is 0.7 °C warmer than in August and 0.1 °C cooler in October; the days are 0.8 hours shorter than in August. 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 September, from our notes on the month: the trades ease; September and October have the calmest sea of the year and the warmest water. 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. 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 September 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 September: sperm 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 07:50 and sets at about 20:13 in mid-September. The earliest departure on any listing is 09:00, well after sunrise. On the departure times we checked, four trips would come back in the last hour before sunset — the softest light of the day, and nine 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 September. 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 23.8 °C the sea is warm enough for a proper swim, so a trip with a swim stop earns its extra hour; the cheapest proven one is Whale & Dolphin-Watching Cruise with Swim at €26.40.
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 light: swimwear under your clothes, a sun hat, high-factor sunscreen and sunglasses; the deck has little shade on the small boats. With the sea at 23.8 °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 September a good month for whale watching? For the whales, yes — as good as any. It is best for calmest sea, warmest water. There is no reason to avoid it. If the dates are flexible, compare it with August and October, or see all twelve on the season page.
Yes. Short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are resident, so September is as good for seeing them as any month; operators report sightings on about 99 % of trips. September has the calmest sea and the warmest water of the year, and the summer crowds have gone.
About 23.8 °C on average, with air at 27.9 °C by day and 21.1 °C at night. Warm enough for the swim stop without a wetsuit for most people.
Swimwear under light clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a thin windproof layer for the run out.
No public holidays fall in September; boats have space most days.
Sunrise about 07:50 and sunset about 20:13 (mid-month, Los Cristianos), 12.4 hours of daylight. The first boats leave at 09:00.
The whales are the same; the sea is 23.8 °C in September and 23.7 °C in October, with 12.4 and 11.5 hours of daylight. See the October page for its numbers.