Tenerife: Catamaran Cruise with Brunch and Unlimited Drinks

Tenerife’s south coast is best seen from the water, where pilot whales, dolphins, and flying fish may appear beyond the harbor. This catamaran cruise combines wildlife watching with a swim stop, coastal views, and a meal built around Canarian ingredients.

I like the easy hotel pickup from Tenerife South resorts, and I like the relaxed setup on board: sit back, eat, watch the sea, and take a swim when the boat stops. The main thing to consider is motion sickness, since the catamaran heads well offshore and the sea can feel rougher than it looks from land.

Quick points to know

• Wildlife watching near Punta Rasca: Look for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and flying fish, with the crew keeping a respectful distance from marine life.
• Two food options: The 3-hour cruise includes a turkey sandwich, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake. The 4-hour sailing adds a suckling pig burrito and vegetable dumplings.
• Unlimited does not mean everything: Beer, soft drinks, and water are included. Cocktails, wine, champagne, and the special mini bottle of Moët cost extra.
• Swimming at Diego Hernández Beach: You get about an hour for lunch, swimming, and snorkeling, but snorkel gear is not included.
• Optional day beds and VIP seating: A paid upgrade may give you a better place to stretch out, with VIP benefits depending on the option booked.
• Useful planning detail: Pickup drivers wait only five minutes, so be at your designated stop 10 minutes early.

A relaxed way to see Tenerife from Las Galletas

The cruise begins at Marina del Sur in Las Galletas, on the island’s southeast coast. If you are staying around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, or nearby resorts, the included coach transfer saves you the trouble of arranging a taxi to the port.

The bus ride can take about 45 minutes, depending on your pickup point. That is not a small detail. This is not a quick walk-on boat trip for someone already beside the marina. It is a half-day outing with a transfer at each end, so allow plenty of time around the advertised three or four hours.

Once you reach the marina, the catamaran heads west along Tenerife’s coast. The wide deck gives you room to move around, although seating preference matters. Standard seating is included, while VIP seating and certain front or day-bed positions cost extra.

I would not feel obliged to pay for an upgrade. One booking party found that unused beds became available, while another considered a Balinese-style day bed especially useful for lying down and managing seasickness. The upgrade makes the most sense if you want to stretch out, prefer a front position, or expect to spend much of the trip resting.

Punta Rasca and the search for marine life

The first major section of the cruise takes you toward Punta Rasca Lighthouse. This is the wildlife-watching part of the day, with around 45 minutes listed for dolphin and whale spotting.

The exact sighting cannot be promised because the animals are wild. Still, the outing has produced sightings of pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and flying fish. The crew’s approach is an important plus: they keep their distance instead of chasing animals for a closer photograph.

Live commentary is provided in English and Spanish. You can listen for information about Tenerife, the coastline, and the marine life as the boat moves offshore. The commentary also gives the ride some shape, so you are not simply sitting with a drink while the boat travels from one point to another.

Bring patience. Wildlife watching is not a staged show, and the best moment may be brief. Keep your eyes on the water, especially when the crew points out activity. A phone camera may catch a fin or splash, but binoculars are not listed as part of the experience, so do not expect specialist equipment on board.

This is also the point where seasickness matters most. One passenger had a very difficult time because the boat went far out to sea. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where the crew recommends, use the available chance to rest, and consider the day-bed upgrade if it is offered for your sailing.

Canarian food, with a clear difference between three and four hours

Food is one of the nicer details here, but you need to choose the cruise length with care. The 3-hour option includes snacks, while the 4-hour option includes brunch.

On the shorter sailing, expect a sandwich with roast turkey, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake. It is a simple boxed meal, not a restaurant lunch. That suits the casual nature of the trip, but anyone expecting a large hot meal may find it modest.

The longer option adds more variety. The brunch includes the turkey sandwich, a suckling pig burrito, vegetable dumplings, and cheesecake. The menu is presented as fully Canarian and uses local ingredients, though the supplied details do not identify every ingredient or preparation.

The four-hour meal is still best understood as a prepared boat lunch rather than a formal dining service. That is perfectly practical when you are eating in the sun, beside the water, and around a swim stop. The food needs to be easy to handle on deck, and these portions appear designed for that.

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free menus are available, but you need to contact FIVESTARBOAT no later than the day before. Do not wait until boarding. If you have a serious allergy, make the request early and confirm that the crew has received it.

Unlimited drinks, with a few important limits

The included drinks are beer, soft drinks, and water. That is useful on a sunny sailing, especially when you are swimming and spending several hours outside.

The wording can be easy to misread. Cocktails, wine, and champagne are not included. Canarian wine may be available to purchase, but it is not part of the unlimited drinks package. One booking party also found that a small bottle of Moët provided only two small glasses between two people, so do not assume an extra champagne purchase will be a full-size bottle.

A cocktail may also be available at an additional charge. Bring cash as well as a card. Card payments are accepted, but the connection can fail once the boat is offshore. This is a small point that can save an awkward moment when you want to buy something extra.

The crew is working while the drinks are being served, the boat is being steered, and the commentary is happening. There are only about four staff members, so service may not be instant at every moment. I see that as a normal part of a working boat rather than a serious flaw.

Swimming and snorkeling at Diego Hernández Beach

The cruise stops at Diego Hernández Beach for about an hour. This is the main chance to get into the water, eat your meal, and break up the time spent sitting on deck.

The swimming has been a major highlight, with clear blue water reported during the stop. You may also see people snorkeling, but snorkel equipment is not included, so bring your own if you want to explore below the surface.

A towel is not listed among the standard inclusions. That makes the paid day-bed or VIP option more useful for some people, since one upgraded package may include towels, but you should check the exact option before booking. Otherwise, bring your own towel and a change of clothes.

The beach stop is not a long shore excursion. You are not getting a guided visit to Diego Hernández Beach or a full beach day. It is a practical swim stop from the catamaran. Stay aware of the boarding time, and keep valuables secure according to the crew’s instructions.

Coast views from Playa de las Américas to Los Cristianos

After the swim and lunch, the boat passes the coast around Playa de las Américas and Playa de Los Cristianos. Each stop is listed as a short boat visit of about 15 minutes, so think of these as coastal viewing points rather than time ashore.

From the water, the resort coast gives you a different view of Tenerife’s south. You see beaches, waterfront buildings, and the shape of the coast without dealing with traffic or crowds on land. This part is less about a single landmark and more about watching the island move past at a gentle pace.

The boat then continues toward Palm-Mar for a photo stop and another stretch of cruising. Palm-Mar and the nearby Punta Rasca area offer a more open coastal setting than the main resort centers. Keep your camera ready, but also take time to look away from the screen. The sea breeze, cliffs, lighthouse, and changing shoreline are the real point of this section.

The return to Marina del Sur completes the loop. The published route includes Las Galletas, Diego Hernández Beach, Punta Rasca Lighthouse, the Cliff of Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, Playa de Los Cristianos, and Palm-Mar. Exact timings can shift with sea conditions, wildlife, and the pace of the cruise.

Transfers, group size, and comfort

Pickup is available from many south Tenerife hotels and selected meeting points. The list includes resorts in Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Palm-Mar, and nearby areas. You must wait at the designated stop 10 minutes before pickup, because the driver waits no longer than five minutes after the scheduled time.

The coach transfer is a strong value point if your accommodation is included. It removes the need to arrange transport to Las Galletas, and the return transfer brings you back to a nearby hotel or meeting point. Check your exact pickup and drop-off location carefully, since not every Tenerife hotel is covered.

One booking group described a boat of around 50 people and found that it did not feel crowded. That gives you a useful sense of scale, though the number may vary by departure. This is a social excursion, not a private sailing. You will share the deck, meal service, swimming area, and commentary with other passengers.

The catamaran has a toilet. Smoking is permitted at the back of the boat, according to one booking account. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed as rules of the activity, and nudity is prohibited.

What the $71 price really gets you

At $71 per person, the value depends on what you would otherwise pay for transport, a wildlife cruise, lunch, and drinks. The price includes pickup from selected areas, the boat trip, live commentary, either snacks or brunch depending on duration, and unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water.

That is a fair package for a half-day on the water, especially if you use the included transfer and drinks. The wildlife search alone is not a guaranteed show, so I would judge the price as a combination of experiences rather than paying only for whale watching.

The main extras are VIP seating, preferred seating, day beds, snorkel gear if available separately, and alcoholic drinks beyond beer. Add those costs before deciding on your budget. If you are happy with a standard seat, the included package is much easier to justify.

A four-hour departure offers the fuller meal and more time at sea, but it also gives motion sickness more time to become a problem. The three-hour option is better if you want a shorter outing or are unsure how you will handle the boat.

Who will enjoy this catamaran most

I would recommend this cruise to couples, families, and small groups who want one easy day combining wildlife, swimming, food, and coastal scenery. It suits people who prefer a ready-made outing rather than arranging separate transport, boat tickets, lunch, and drinks.

It is also a good choice if you want a social boat trip with some comfort. The staff are described as friendly and helpful, and the crew keeps the wildlife viewing respectful. The live English and Spanish commentary helps you follow what is happening.

I would think twice if you dislike group activities, need complete control over meal times, or feel sick on open water. The boat can travel well offshore, the route lasts several hours, and the meal is a prepared sandwich-style service rather than a full restaurant lunch.

Choose the 4-hour version if the Canarian brunch and longer sailing appeal to you. Choose three hours if you want a lighter outing. Ask for a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergen-free menu by the day before, and bring swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and cash for extras.

Should you book it?

I would book this catamaran cruise if you want an uncomplicated half-day from Tenerife’s south coast, with a real chance of seeing pilot whales or dolphins and a proper swim stop. The friendly crew, careful wildlife approach, included transfers, and drinks make the $71 price reasonable.

Book the four-hour version for the more substantial brunch and longer time at sea. Pick the three-hour option if you prefer a shorter trip. Pay extra for VIP seating or a day bed only if lying down, having a preferred position, or receiving added extras matters to you. Otherwise, standard seating should give you the core experience.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from Marina del Sur in Las Galletas, Tenerife.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included from selected locations in southern Tenerife. The listed points include hotels and meeting locations around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Palm-Mar, and nearby resorts.

How long does the activity last?

You can choose a three-hour or four-hour cruise. Check the available departure times when booking.

What food is included?

The three-hour option includes a roast turkey sandwich, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake. The four-hour option includes those items plus a suckling pig burrito and vegetable dumplings.

Which drinks are unlimited?

Unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water are included. Cocktails, wine, and champagne are not included.

Can I swim or snorkel?

Yes. The boat stops at Diego Hernández Beach for swimming and snorkeling. Snorkel equipment is not included.

Are special dietary menus available?

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free menus are available. Contact FIVESTARBOAT no later than the day before so the meal can be prepared.