Tenerife
The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is dominated by Mount Teide (the third-tallest volcano structure on earth) but it’s also home to beautiful beaches and picturesque villages.
The waters between the west coast of Tenerife and La Gomera was declared a Whale Heritage Site in 2021, the first designation of its kind in Europe. The most commonly seen species in these waters are short finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins but more than 20 different species, some resident and some transient, have been recorded in waters around Tenerife.
The volcanic geology of the islands leads to sharp changes in depths and together with the geography that exposes the islands to oceanic cold currents, this creates excellent conditions to bring coastal and oceanic cetaceans together.
Our operations are based in Los Gigantes, a town on the west coast of the island with plenty of options for visitors in terms of accommodation, leisure activities and places to dine.
A striking feature close to the town is Acantilados de Los Gigantes, giant rock formations that rise from the sea to a height of 600 metres. Los Gigantes means ‘The Giants’. Nearby to Los Gigantes are the resort towns of Puerto de Santiago and Playa de la Arena.
Our boat in Tenerife
‘Esiel’ is our hybrid electric boat based in Tenerife, powered by a quiet, eco-friendly electric motor that significantly reduces emissions and environmental impact.
With its hybrid system, ‘Esiel’ ensures minimal pollution, offering a much greener alternative to traditional fuel-powered boats. The vessel is equipped with a hydrophone, allowing guests to listen to the underwater world of whales and dolphins, and features a 360-degree camera to capture panoramic views of your wildlife encounters.
Designed for a more intimate and sustainable marine experience, ‘Esiel’ sets a new standard for eco-friendly whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife.
Whale and dolphin observation experiences
Join us aboard ‘Esiel’, our hybrid electric boat in Tenerife, for a quiet, low-emission dolphin and whale watching experience in the Atlantic.
Our experiences in Tenerife include two daytime tours. They are available both as a shared group experience or as a private experience (where you can book the entire boat for a private journey with friends/family/workmates etc.)
Tenerife Conservation Programme
By joining the Tenerife Conservation Programme for between 1 and 8 weeks, you can be part of a unique movement and mission to make whale observation trips noise and emission free. You’ll learn more about whale and dolphin species, help to create awareness of the challenges they face, and get hands-on experience working with the WeWhale team.
You’ll learn about whale and dolphin bioacoustics and behaviour from our Head of Conservation, Mercedes Reyes, one of the most renowned marine mammal biologists of the Canary Islands. Housing is provided by us in the WeWhale Ocean House in Los Gigantes, with a stunning view of the harbour (you can even see our boat from the balcony!)
