Guide · Tenerife
Whales and dolphins off Los Gigantes
The sea off Los Gigantes is protected for whales and dolphins. It lies within the Teno-Rasca Special Area of Conservation, and in 2021 the Tenerife–La Gomera marine area became Europe's first Whale Heritage Site.
A protected stretch of sea
The Teno-Rasca marine strip runs along the west and south-west coast of Tenerife and is protected under Natura 2000 as a Special Area of Conservation (ES7020017). Warm, calm water that gets deep very close to the shore is why cetaceans are here all year round. Los Gigantes sits inside it.
Europe's first Whale Heritage Site
In January 2021 the World Cetacean Alliance recognised the Tenerife–La Gomera marine area as a Whale Heritage Site, the first in Europe. The designation reflects both the diversity of cetaceans here and the responsible way they are watched.
What you can see
- Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), with a resident population.
- Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), also resident.
- Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis).
These are wild animals: no sighting is ever guaranteed.
If you are at the helm
On a self-drive boat you may come across them. The guidelines:
- Keep your distance, and more so when there are calves.
- Never chase them or cut across their path: let them come to you.
- Keep a low, steady speed with no sudden changes of direction.
- Do not swim with them or feed them.
- Keep the encounter short.
With or without a skipper
- Self-drive boat. Until 30 September 2026 it can be hired without a nautical licence. From 1 October 2026 a licence is required to skipper it yourself.
- Private charter. A skipper comes on board, so no licence is needed at any time of year.
Where we are
Calle Poblado Marinero, s/n · 38683 Los Gigantes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Phone and WhatsApp: +34 685 455 535 ·
info@adboatrental.com
Durations and day-by-day availability are on the fleet page.