Boat Tours & Cruises

Local Wisdom, The Afternoon the Wind Changed Everything

I was on a sailing yacht off Los Gigantes, the 600m cliffs that drop straight into the Atlantic, when the wind died. Completely. The sails went slack. The captain, a weathered Canarian named Domingo who has been sailing these waters for 35 years, shrugged: "The Atlantic decides. We wait." For 45 minutes we drifted in silence, the cliffs towering above us, seabirds circling, the water so deep blue it looked black. Then the wind returned, a thermal rushing down the cliff face, and we heeled over and shot across the channel toward La Gomera. Domingo grinned. "She was just thinking about it." That is sailing in Tenerife. The wind is not predictable. The Atlantic is not a lake. But when it works, when you are under sail with Los Gigantes behind you and the sun dropping into the ocean, there is no better way to see this coastline. Book a small yacht, not a big catamaran, you want a captain like Domingo, not a PA system.

Sailing Tenerife's 342 Kilometres of Coastline

Tenerife has 342 kilometres of coastline. The Los Gigantes cliffs rise 600 metres straight from the Atlantic, and the scale doesn't register until you're looking up from water level. I've sailed the base of those cliffs dozens of times with groups, and every time someone falls silent as the full height of the basalt wall becomes apparent. It's the kind of situation that demands to be seen from the sea. I recommend booking the Los Gigantes Cliffs Sailing Tour for the most intimate perspective, just 12 passengers under sail, getting close enough to feel the scale of the basalt.

The variety of boat tours reflects this coastline's diversity. Family catamarans that cruise the south-west coast looking for dolphins and drop anchor at a secluded bay for swimming. Private sailing charters that visit the Los Gigantes cliffs, the vertical basalt walls feel much bigger when you're looking up from a small boat. Fishing trips. Party boats. Sunset cruises with sparkling wine. The range is wide, and which one suits you depends entirely on what kind of day you want on the water.

I remember taking a group of Danish retirees on a private catamaran charter two summers ago. One of them, a 72-year-old former fisherman named Erik, spent the whole trip at the bow, pointing out seabirds and reading the swell patterns. When we anchored at Masca Bay for the swim stop, he was the first one in the water, and he stayed in so long the captain had to call him back. "I've been on boats my whole life," he said, drying off, "but never in water this clear."

One afternoon I joined a sunset cruise with a honeymoon couple from New Zealand. They had booked the trip as a surprise for each other, both had planned the same tour independently. When the Los Gigantes cliffs caught the last orange light, the husband said quietly, "I didn't know the ocean could look like this." Moments like that remind me why I write these guides.

The south coast, around Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, has the calmest seas and the most operator choice. Larger catamarans hold 50-80 passengers and offer good value; smaller yachts cap at 12-20 and give you a more personal experience. If you're prone to seasickness, a morning catamaran departure is your safest bet, the ocean is usually calmest before 11am. The highlight for me is sailing the base of the Los Gigantes cliffs. Most tours that go there also stop at Masca Bay, a cove accessible only by boat, for a swim. The water is deep and clear, and the cliff face behind you is genuinely dramatic.

The most experienced captains make the trip. There's a skipper I know who's been sailing these waters for 25 years, he knows every cove, every current, and will tell you stories about the island that you won't find in any guidebook. A good captain turns a boat ride into an experience. A bad one turns it into a commute.

Tenerife's Three Climates in One Day

Tenerife's coastline is as diverse as the island itself, shaped by the same microclimate system that creates three distinct worlds inland. On the south-west coast around Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, the climate is dry, warm, and consistently sunny, calm seas and reliable trade winds make this an ideal area for catamaran cruises and sunset sailing. Head north to the Puerto de la Cruz area and you'll find greener landscapes, more cloud cover, and a different sea state altogether, the Atlantic swells are larger here and the coastal cliffs are draped in vegetation. The Los Gigantes cliffs on the western coast sit at the meeting point of these climate zones, which is why the conditions there can change from mirror-flat calm to rolling swell within hours. Boat captains understand these patterns intimately: morning departures in the south offer glassy seas, while afternoon sails on the west coast catch the reliable sea breezes that make sailing (not just motoring) possible.

Catamaran, Sailing Yacht, or Private Charter?

For more on wildlife-focused boat trips, see the whale watching guide. For underwater exploration, the snorkeling tours page covers boat-access snorkeling spots.

Seasickness Advice

Morning departures are calmest. Choose a catamaran over a RIB for stability. Winter (December to February) has choppier seas; book a larger vessel if visiting during this Most operators offer free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, so you can book without worrying about weather.

Who These Tours Are NOT For

Boat tours aren't ideal if you're prone to severe seasickness, even large catamarans feel the Atlantic swell. If you want to see marine wildlife up close rather than from a deck, a RIB tour is better than a catamaran. Winter months (December to February) have choppier seas; morning departures are smoother than afternoon. I'd also say skip the budget catamarans during peak season if you value personal space, I have been on boats with 80 passengers where you cannot reach the rail without squeezing past three rows of chairs. And do not book a party boat if you want to hear the captain's stories or appreciate the coastline in peace; the music and crowds drown out everything else.