Best Moment for Whale Watching in Tenerife

During a trip to the Canary Islands, you can't miss the chance to see whales in Tenerife. I tell you what is the best time to see them. Keep reading!

If you are planning a trip to the island and this activity interests you especially, to better choose the best boat trips for whale watching in Tenerife I recommend you to read this post where we review what is the best time for it.

Given its privileged location, Tenerife and especially the southwest coast of the island is one of the best places in Europe to see whales in freedom and other types of cetaceans at any time of the year.

Both spring and winter are the best times to see whales and dolphins on the island because the cetaceans are more active in the area. Especially in the area that separates La Gomera from Tenerife.

Bearing this in mind, when it comes to contemplating wild animals, there is always the doubt of whether there will be a high probability of sightings during the excursion. In this sense, don't worry because Tenerife's great location in the Atlantic Ocean makes the island an ideal place to see cetaceans and the chances are very high 365 days a year.

Regarding the other seasons of the year, if you want to see the babies of these animals I recommend you to go in summer as the breeding season takes place while autumn is the best time to sail.

Spring is a good time to go to Tenerife as it is low season and you will be able to enjoy the island without crowds, also on whale watching boat trips!

There are many reasons why it is worth doing a whale watching tour in Tenerife. But also, during this season is when there is more movement of whales and their activity increases so take advantage of the fact that there are not many people to join one of these excursions. You will have a great time!

For whale watching in the Atlantic, a good idea is to wear a light waterproof jacket in case you feel cold at sea and as you are going to spend a good time outdoors the sun can get annoying, so do not forget your hat and sunglasses.

What spring is like on the island

Spring is an ideal season to travel to Tenerife. The days are longer and sunnier while temperatures are mild with highs of 24ºC. If you travel with the intention of doing outdoor activities such as a whale watching cruise is a good time because it is not too cold or too hot.

So you can organize your suitcase for your trip to the island in spring, I advise you to consult both the average temperatures of Tenerife during this season or the weather forecast that will be on the date of your trip.

Autumn is also a good time to visit Tenerife and go on a whale watching cruise because the condition of the water and the waves is great. This is the best time to sail although the sightings are less regular. However, the Tenerife sky acquires a very special light and you will be able to take some beautiful pictures during the excursion.

If you are looking for tranquility on the island this is a good time. After the avalanches of national tourists that occur in the Canary Islands during the summer, in autumn you can enjoy the island calmly as it is low season, as happens in spring, and the day still has enough daylight hours to enjoy the outdoors but without the crowds of the previous season.

You can also see that the prices of this type of excursions are more adjusted during this time.

What Tenerife is like in autumn

If you have in mind to go out to do some activity in nature, as is the case of whale watching cruises, a good time to travel to Tenerife is the fall because as in spring it is not too hot or too cold.

Temperatures remain mild with highs of 26 º C in the month of October and 23 º C in the month of November. It is the ideal temperature for a day outdoors!

During the fall are few days of rain per month on the island and usually occur more in the north than in the south. In case it rains during your stay, don't worry because wearing a raincoat will solve the problem in no time and you can continue with your plans as if nothing happened.

If you do not want to miss the opportunity to take a cruise in the waters of the island and watch the whale calves play in this season or to go kayaking and snorkeling in Tenerife, I recommend that you book your place on the excursion well in advance of your travel date because it is the time of year with the highest influx of travelers, especially domestic tourists, so that leaves noticeable in the availability of excursions. It will be an unforgettable experience!

What is summer like on the island?

Summer is the time when there are more hours of daylight in Tenerife with temperatures around 30ºC. People take the opportunity to go to the beach, eat on the terraces, do sports and various outdoor activities such as boat trips in search of whales and dolphins.

If you choose to visit Tenerife in summer to enjoy the nature of the island, keep in mind that the sun shines strong and the heat can be suffocating so I advise you to go well prepared to any activity: wear sunglasses, a hat and light clothing and remember to carry in your backpack fresh water and sunscreen.

If your trip to Tenerife coincides with the winter season and you would like to participate in a whale watching cruise, during this season you will have the opportunity to contemplate shorter but intense sightings because you can observe the marine creatures preparing to hunt.

However, the days are shorter and it gets dark earlier so if you want to do outdoor activities I advise you to schedule them early in the morning to make the most of the daylight hours.

What is Tenerife like in winter

Unlike the European continental winter, Tenerife does not suffer from cold or freezing temperatures, but temperatures remain mild as in spring or autumn at around 19ºC or 22ºC. With these climatic conditions it is not surprising that the Canary Islands are known as the islands of eternal spring.

Winter is also a time of great tourist influx, especially European travelers who escape the freezing temperatures of the continent to enjoy the mild temperatures of the Canary Islands.

The advantage of visiting Tenerife in winter is that good weather is assured but remember that it is high season and prices increase so you will have to plan in advance many aspects of your trip such as hotel reservations, the plane or activities to do on the island.

Whale watching boat trips have several departures throughout the day. You will have the same chances to observe marine animals regardless of the time but if you want to make a good report, the morning light will help you to give clarity to the photographs and get a very nice result.

Another trick that will be very useful to get some great photos of your excursion is to use the rapid fire mode of the camera ("sport" setting) to portray more easily in the water to these very fast animals.

Best time of the week to take a cruise in Tenerife

Normally cruises depart daily throughout the week, but weekends and holidays are usually the busiest times for these types of excursions, so if you are looking for a quieter tour, it may be best to go during the week.

So if you are looking for a quieter tour, it might be best to go during the week, the experience will also be very good!

Whale watching on special dates

If you are traveling on special dates such as Christmas or New Year's, it is best to first check if the service is running normally.

If so, try to book your place as far in advance on the whale watching cruise as the influx of tourists in Tenerife can be very high during the vacations and some activities like this can be sold out.