Best tours to see Dolphins in La Palma

Among the best things to see and do in La Palma is dolphin watching in the coastal area. On tours and excursions starting at the marina of Puerto de Tazacorte, you can see dolphins and whales, as well as other spots on the island such as Cueva Bonita, Puntagorda, Tijarafe and Porís de Candelaria

On these excursions you can also learn about the marine flora of the island, about its volcanoes, about the volcanic sand that nourishes the beaches and about the variety of cetaceans that can be found in the waters surrounding the coasts of La Palma.

These are the most popular dolphin watching excursions off the coast of La Palma and start at the marina of Puerto de Tazacorte. In a boat tour with capacity for more than 100 people you will be able to enjoy a sea trip while the local expert guide tells you all about the cetaceans of the local fauna.

The main objective of these excursions is the sighting of dolphins, but also, depending on the weather conditions, whales, orcas, beaked whales and sperm whales can be seen. During the tour, you will usually also visit the famous Cueva Bonita de La Palma, a rock shelter that was molded by the erosion of the ocean.

These tours last approximately three hours, can be done in the morning or afternoon and are one of the best excursions for families or if you plan to visit the island with children. They are also quick excursions, ideal if you are planning a short stay in the Canary Islands. If that is your case, here is a list of activities to do during a 3-day visit to La Palma

If weather conditions permit, these excursions also usually include a stop at one of the beaches on the coast of La Palma for a swim and a walk through the Lava Delta.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate cost of 47 euros, including the assistance of the local guide, the boat ride and the sighting of dolphins and other cetaceans of the local fauna.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... It has a good quality/price ratio and is ideal for families and children.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... Sighting dolphins and swimming in a coastal beach always depends on weather conditions.

If you want to take a ride on a glass bottom boat, see dolphins and other cetaceans and get close to the solidified lava of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, these excursions could be ideal for you. From the marina of Puerto de Tazacorte you can board one of the small catamarans that will take you on an underwater adventure.

These excursions have the advantage of using small boats, so you will have the chance to see the dolphins, whales and orcas from a closer point than the larger boats have access to. You can also see the marine activity of the clear waters off the coast of La Palma through the glass bottom of the catamarans in an experience that will amaze you.

Thanks to the glass bottom of the boat you can also see rays, sharks, colorful fish, corals, octopuses and other inhabitants of the marine fauna of the Canary Islands that are not seen on the surface.

On the way back to the port of Tazacorte, the boat passes near the remains of solidified lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano, the crater that guards the island and which frequently erupts.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate price of 55 euros for adults and 30 euros for children between 4 and 12 years old. Children under 3 years old accompanied by a responsible adult are free.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 2 hours and a half.
• Advantages of these excursions... Being a smaller boat, you can get closer to the dolphins and whales and with the glass bottom you can see animals that do not come to the surface, such as sharks and rays.

In these excursions, besides the sighting of dolphins and whales, you will be able to know other points of the coast of La Palma aboard a fast catamaran that will allow you an intense tour of the main attractions of the island.

After leaving from the Port of Tazacorte you usually make a first stop at Cueva Bonita and then continue the tour through the Porís de Candelaria, one of the most beautiful places of the Isla Bonita, which stands out for the small houses carved into the rocks and the crystal clear waters that form the natural pools on the shore.

On these tours you will also visit the paradisiacal Playa de la Veta, Tijarafe, Cueva Colorada and Puerto de Puntagorda, one of the westernmost points of La Palma. On the way back you can go dolphin, whale, orca and other cetacean sightings and enjoy the bar on board while enjoying the Canary sun.

These excursions last approximately two hours, so they are perfect if you have planned a short stay on the island and want to get the most out of your visit by visiting several places on the same day. If you want to discover La Palma in 5 days, here is an itinerary with the main attractions to visit.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate cost of 60 euros, including the tour, stops and whale watching.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... It is the best alternative to know the main sites of the west coast of La Palma in a short time.

In these private sailing excursions from the marina of Puerto de Tazacorte you will be able not only to watch dolphins and whales, but also to organize your own itinerary along the coast of La Palma to see some of its main attractions, such as Cueva Bonita or Porís de Candelaria.

Sailing tours are usually more pleasant than aboard a catamaran or a larger boat and will give you the chance to interact directly with the crew, learning the secrets of the ocean and the legends surrounding the Canary Islands. During the duration of the excursion, which is usually approximately 4 hours, you will be able to decide the route of the trip.

This is one of the best tours of La Palma because you can travel at your own pace in a group of up to 6 people, with the accompaniment of the crew and in some cases lunch included.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an initial cost of 90 euros per person in groups of 6 tourists and include the assistance of the crew and, in some cases, lunch.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 4 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You can choose the itinerary along the west coast of La Palma and travel at your own pace.
• Advantages of these excursions... They can be expensive options.

When booking a dolphin watching excursion you should be aware of the difference between the different types of boats as this could change your experience.

On a sailboat or small catamaran you will be able to watch the dolphins and whales from closer positions, while larger boats will be farther away from the cetaceans, but will be able to look for sightings in the deeper areas of the ocean.

Sailing boat experiences are usually more pleasant, as the sailing is more serene, although it is the type of boat with the shortest deep water travel and on days with adverse weather conditions, when the cetaceans are far from the coast, you might not get to see the dolphins.

You can book a dolphin watching tour in La Palma in advance online or book it once you are on the island, although you should keep in mind that if you plan to visit the Canary Islands during the summer or high season months, tours may sell out or prices may increase at the last minute.

If you book in advance you can organize a travel plan that includes dolphin watching and also other excursions further away from the island, such as those that include a full day tour of Lanzarote. If you are planning a 5-day stay in La Palma, here is a list of activities so you can organize an itinerary.

It will depend on the excursion you book, but the dolphin watching tours along the coast of La Palma last between 2 and 4 hours and also include a visit to some of the main sites on the west coast of the island, such as Porís de Candelaria, Cueva Bonita or Puerto de Puntagorda.

The fastest excursions are the catamaran trips, while the longest tours are those that include a private sailboat tour with an itinerary planned by the visitor.

On these excursions you will be able to see dolphins, orcas, whales and beaked whales and also get to know the main sites of the west coast of La Palma, such as Porís de Candelaria, Cueva Bonita, Puerto de Puntagorda, Tijarafe, Playa de la Veta and Cueva Colorada.

You can also contemplate the Lava Delta and the Cumbre Vieja volcano, which together with the Roque de los Muchachos and the Timanfaya National Park is one of the main attractions of the Canary Islands.

On glass-bottom catamaran excursions you can also meet some of the marine animals that do not come to the surface, such as sharks, rays, colorful fish and octopuses.

If you are planning to visit La Palma during the summer or during the high season months I advise you to book the dolphin watching excursions in advance to avoid selling out or last minute price increases.

Also keep in mind that the success of the whale watching excursion depends on the weather conditions, so if you can analyze this before booking the tour you will have a better experience.

If you are planning a short stay in La Palma, I advise you to opt for one of the fast catamaran options to discover as many sites of the west coast of the island in less time.

Likewise, I recommend that you do not miss a visit to Porís de Candelaria, Tijarafe, the Port of Puntagorda or Playa de la Veta.

It depends on the excursion chosen, but the cheapest options have an initial cost of 47 euros and consist of a tour aboard a boat with 100 other people to see dolphins, whales and other cetaceans of the fauna of the Canary Islands.

The glass-bottom catamaran tours are priced at approximately 55 euros and the fast catamaran tour options cost approximately 60 euros.

The most expensive excursions are the private sailing boat tours along the coast of La Palma, with an itinerary chosen by the group of visitors, and have a starting price of 90 euros per person, in groups of 6 tourists, although they usually include the assistance of the boat crew and also lunch.

The coast of La Palma has one of the most varied marine fauna in Spain, as it is home to the natural habitat of more than 30 species of cetaceans, including dolphins, whales, orcas and sperm whales, which provide a spectacle for the whole family during the sightings.

This activity, which is ideal if you plan to visit the Canary Islands with children, can only be done by hiring an excursion.

On the other hand, the excursions include the assistance of an expert local guide or crew members, so you will not only live the experience of the sightings but the guides will also tell you why La Palma is known as the Isla Bonita and is considered one of the paradisiacal places in Spain.