Royal Delfin – 4’5H Dolphin & Whale Watching – Los Gigantes Masca – Lunch & Swim

The best part of this cruise is the chance to see pilot whales and dolphins in open water, with Los Gigantes’ enormous cliffs as the backdrop. You also get a proper half-day at sea rather than a rushed wildlife run: the boat includes lunch, drinks, a swim stop, and underwater viewing windows.

I like the generous food and drink service, which includes lunch, water, soft drinks, juice, beer, and sangria. I also like the stop at Masca Bay, where you can swim beneath the cliffs instead of simply looking at them from offshore. The main caution is simple: wildlife is wild, and the boat can feel crowded, especially near its 200-person maximum.

Quick points before you book

• Pilot whales and dolphins are the main event: Sightings can be excellent, but no crew can promise close encounters or animals beneath the viewing windows.
• Los Gigantes gives the cruise its visual punch: The cliffs rise dramatically beside the route, and Masca Bay is the setting for lunch and swimming.
• The glass viewing areas are a useful extra: They offer another way to watch the water, though animals may stay near the surface or away from the boat.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect a simple lunch of rice, meatballs, and salad, plus snacks, water, soft drinks, juice, beer, and sangria.
• This is a full 4.5-hour outing: You have time for wildlife watching, the coast, a meal, and a swim, but the longer trip is not essential if animals are your only goal.
• The sea can be bumpy: The first part may feel rough in normal wave conditions, so bring your usual motion-sickness precautions.

Setting sail from Puerto Colón at 2 pm

You meet at Av. de Colón, 11, in Playa de las Américas, and the boat returns there after the cruise. The meeting point is near public transportation, but the practical instruction is to walk directly to the boat area rather than rely on a vague meeting label.

The Royal Delfin is a purpose-built catamaran, not a small private yacht. That matters in two ways. You get more room to move around, a restroom on board, and several viewing positions, but you should not expect an intimate sailing trip. Capacity can reach 200 people, and the boat may feel full when everyone gathers for food, drinks, wildlife sightings, or the swim.

The cruise leaves in the afternoon and follows Tenerife’s southwest coast from Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas toward Los Gigantes. This is a popular stretch of ocean for cetacean watching, and the route combines open-water searching with close coastal views.

I would arrive with enough time to find the departure point without rushing. Bring sun protection, a light layer, a swimsuit, and a towel. Even on a warm Tenerife afternoon, the wind at sea can make the return ride feel cooler than the beach.

Watching whales and dolphins in their natural habitat

The crew searches for cetaceans as the catamaran travels along the coast. The animals are not performing, and that is both the appeal and the uncertainty of this trip. On a good day, you might see dolphins repeatedly, pilot whales near the boat, flying fish, or even a turtle. On a quieter day, sightings may be brief or far from the catamaran.

That distinction is important when you compare this cruise with an aquarium or a staged wildlife show. The boat cannot direct the animals, guarantee a close approach, or make them appear beneath the underwater windows. Some people see dolphins several times and pilot whales at close range. Others see only a few animals, sometimes on the surface and at a distance.

The boat moves slowly when animals approach, allowing you to watch without a frantic chase. That is a good sign for anyone who cares about responsible wildlife viewing. You may spend stretches of time looking at empty water while the crew searches, so set your expectations accordingly.

The underwater glass viewing rooms are one of the catamaran’s distinctive features. They give you a lower angle on the water and can offer a thrilling view when an animal passes nearby. Still, I would treat them as a bonus rather than the reason to book. The animals choose where to swim, and a crowded boat can make these areas difficult to use at the busiest moments.

Bring patience. Keep your eyes moving across the water, and listen for announcements from the crew. A sighting may last only a short time, so it helps to be ready rather than settled in one seat with your camera put away.

The route from Costa Adeje to Los Gigantes

The coastal scenery improves as the catamaran heads toward Los Gigantes. From the water, Tenerife’s southwest coast feels more rugged and spacious than it does from the resort streets. The cliffs become the focus as you approach the western end of the route.

Los Gigantes is known for its immense dark cliffs, and seeing them from sea level gives you a better sense of their scale. The catamaran lets you look up at the rock walls rather than simply viewing them from a road or lookout. Keep your camera ready during this section, but do not spend the entire ride staring at a screen.

The route is mainly coastal, not a far offshore expedition. That suits people who want scenery and a comfortable half-day outing, but it may disappoint you if you imagine sailing into empty ocean for hours. One mixed impression of the cruise comes from this balance: some people appreciate the cliffs and sheltered bay, while others feel the boat spends too much time close to shore.

The longer duration allows the crew time to search for wildlife and reach Masca Bay without rushing. It also means you are committing to four and a half hours on the water. If you want only a short chance to see dolphins and pilot whales, a shorter cruise may offer better value.

Masca Bay: swimming beneath the cliffs

The swim stop at Masca Bay is where the cruise becomes more than a wildlife search. The catamaran stops in the bay near Los Gigantes, giving you time to get into the warm water, float, or simply sit on deck and enjoy the setting.

This is one of the strongest parts of the experience for me. You are surrounded by the cliffs, and the view changes from a moving panorama to a place you can enjoy at a slower pace. The water may be calm enough for a pleasant swim, though conditions can vary and some people will prefer to stay on board.

You do not have to swim to make the stop worthwhile. You can use the pause to eat, take photographs, or watch others from the deck. If you do enter the water, keep your swimsuit and towel handy rather than burying them in a bag.

The swim stop also breaks up the wildlife-searching rhythm. Four and a half hours can feel long when animals are scarce, but a meal and time in the water give the afternoon a clear change of pace.

Lunch, snacks, and drinks on board

Food is included, and service is a practical part of the price. Lunch is generally rice, meatballs, and salad, served around the Masca Bay portion of the trip. Some people find it tasty and satisfying, while others consider it basic and not especially local.

That is the right expectation. You are not booking a Canarian food tour. You are getting a filling boat meal that saves you from packing lunch or buying food during the cruise. A small sandwich is also provided as a snack, though the available option may not suit vegetarians because it has been served with salami.

Drinks include water, soft drinks, juice, beer, and sangria. These are available throughout much of the trip, and the generous supply is a real value point at sea, where buying several drinks separately can quickly add up. Coffee and tea are not included, and stronger spirits such as whiskey, rum, and vodka are also excluded.

The lunch service can make the boat feel busier for a while. If you prefer a quieter meal, find your place early and be prepared for people to move around the deck. Music is part of the atmosphere too. Some people enjoy the lively playlist, while others find it too loud, especially when combined with a full boat.

What the $72.29 price really buys you

At $72.29 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a few hours on Tenerife’s coast. Its value depends on how many parts of the package you will use.

The price covers a 4.5-hour catamaran ride, a whale and dolphin search, views of Los Gigantes, a swim stop at Masca Bay, lunch, snacks, nonalcoholic drinks, beer, sangria, and use of the boat’s restroom. If you would otherwise pay separately for a wildlife cruise, lunch, and drinks, the package is reasonably competitive.

The value drops if you care only about seeing dolphins. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, and some days produce only distant or limited encounters. In that case, a shorter trip may be a smarter purchase, since even the cruise operator acknowledges that people focused only on cetaceans can reasonably choose a shorter option.

The value improves for a relaxed group outing. Families with older children, couples, and groups of friends may appreciate having several activities in one booking. You get scenery, wildlife, a meal, drinks, and swimming without arranging each part separately.

I would also consider the boat’s size. A large catamaran offers stability, toilets, and plenty of onboard services, but it does not deliver the quiet feeling of a small charter. If space and personal attention matter more to you than included extras, a smaller boat may suit you better, assuming one is available.

Comfort, crowds, and the motion of the sea

The Royal Delfin has a restroom and enough facilities for a long outing, which makes a difference when you are spending an afternoon offshore. The catamaran format should also feel more secure and spacious than a tiny open boat, though no vessel is free from movement.

The first part of the trip can be bumpy. This is normal when the boat reaches rougher water, and the cruise may be canceled if conditions become seriously unsafe, but ordinary waves can still surprise anyone expecting a smooth ride. If you are prone to seasickness, sit where movement is least noticeable, look toward the horizon, and bring medication if you normally use it.

Crowding is the bigger comfort issue. With up to 200 people, the best viewing spots can fill quickly. The underwater rooms, railings, and front areas are especially popular when dolphins or whales appear. You can improve your chances by moving early, but you will not have a private view every time.

Music adds to the holiday mood, although the volume may not suit everyone. If you want a quiet nature experience, this is not the safest choice. The atmosphere is social, casual, and sometimes lively.

Who should book the Royal Delfin?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a well-rounded half-day on the water rather than a narrowly focused wildlife trip. It works particularly well if you like the idea of combining coastal scenery, a swim, lunch, and drinks with the possibility of seeing cetaceans.

It is also a good match for people who prefer a larger boat with a restroom and organized food service. Families can appreciate the change of activity, though the operator does not provide a detailed child-focused itinerary. Keep an eye on younger children around the deck and during the swim stop.

You should think twice if you need guaranteed dolphin sightings, dislike crowds, or want a quiet boat with personal guiding. The cruise can be excellent when animals come close, but it can feel expensive when sightings are limited.

The current average score is 3.8 out of 5 from 192 ratings, which fits the experience well: the crew and scenery earn strong approval, while wildlife luck, food quality, crowding, and expectations about the route create the weaker impressions.

Booking, cancellation, and useful planning details

The cruise starts at 2 pm and finishes back at the same meeting point after about four and a half hours. A mobile ticket is accepted, and the experience is offered in English.

Confirmation is normally sent at booking. If you book within 12 hours of departure, confirmation arrives as soon as possible and depends on availability. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. Weather can cancel the cruise, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund. The same choice applies if the minimum number of people is not reached.

Parking fees are not included, so check your parking plan before heading to Puerto Colón. Public transportation is available near the meeting point.

Should you book this Tenerife boat trip?

Book it if you want the full package: Los Gigantes cliffs, Masca Bay, swimming, lunch, drinks, and a real chance to see dolphins or pilot whales. The cruise is at its best when you treat wildlife as a fortunate encounter, not a guaranteed show.

Skip it, or choose a shorter outing, if cetaceans are your only priority. Also look elsewhere if you want a quiet, uncrowded boat or a more distinctive meal. For an easy, social afternoon that mixes nature with plenty of included comforts, the Royal Delfin offers fair value, provided you accept the size of the boat and the unpredictability of the sea.

FAQ

Where does the Royal Delfin cruise depart from?

It departs from Av. de Colón, 11, 38660 Playa de la Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 2 pm.

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour finish?

It returns to the original meeting point in Playa de las Américas.

Are whale and dolphin sightings guaranteed?

No. The cruise searches for whales and dolphins in their natural environment, so sightings, distance, and duration vary.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include dolphins, pilot whales, flying fish, and a turtle, although no particular animal is guaranteed.

Is swimming included?

Yes. The catamaran stops in Masca Bay near Los Gigantes for a swim.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, along with a small sandwich snack.

What drinks are included?

Water, soft drinks, juice, beer, and sangria are included. Coffee, tea, and stronger spirits are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the cancellation.