Tenerife: Catamaran Cruise with Brunch and Unlimited Drinks

Tenerife’s south coast looks best from the water, and this Las Galletas catamaran cruise gives you several good reasons to leave the beach for an afternoon. You’ll watch for pilot whales and dolphins near Punta Rasca, pass cliffs and beaches, then stop for swimming near Diego Hernández Beach. The Canarian-style meal and unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water keep the outing simple and sociable.

I like the mix of wildlife watching and swimming, since you are not stuck sitting on the boat for the whole trip. I also like the calm, practical setup: hotel pickup is offered across southern Tenerife, the crew provides live commentary in English and Spanish, and the cruise costs $71 per person. The main drawback is the sea itself. The catamaran goes well offshore, so anyone prone to seasickness should think carefully before booking.

Key points to know before sailing

• Pilot whales and dolphins are the main wildlife draw: You may also spot turtles and flying fish, depending on conditions.
• The four-hour option includes the fuller meal: Expect a turkey sandwich, suckling pig burrito, vegetable dumplings, and cheesecake.
• Unlimited drinks are limited in type: Beer, soft drinks, and water are included. Wine, cocktails, and champagne cost extra.
• Swimming time comes at Diego Hernández Beach: Snorkel equipment is not included, so bring your own if you want to look below the surface.
• A day bed or VIP place costs extra: Standard seating still gives you access to the main cruise and meal.
• Pickup can take time: The coach ride from the resort area to Marina del Sur is about 45 minutes each way.

Why this cruise works better than a simple boat ride

A short boat trip can feel like little more than a transfer with a view. This outing gives the day a clearer shape: pickup, a coastal cruise, wildlife watching, a meal, a swim stop, and a return past the resort coast.

The route begins at Marina del Sur in Las Galletas, on Tenerife’s southeast side. From there, the catamaran heads west toward Punta Rasca and the southern resorts. You get open views of the volcanic coast, beaches, cliffs, and the water around the island.

I like that the boat is not focused only on food or only on wildlife. You can spend part of the time scanning the sea, part of the time eating, and part of the time in the water. That variety makes the 3 to 4 hour length feel more useful than a shorter sightseeing cruise.

The group can be fairly social. One sailing had about 50 people, which was enough for a friendly atmosphere without making the boat feel packed. Group size can vary, so do not treat that number as a guarantee, but the catamaran is designed as a shared experience rather than a private charter.

Pickup from Tenerife’s southern resorts

Pickup is available from a long list of hotels and meeting points around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Palm-Mar, and nearby areas. The coach ride to Marina del Sur takes about 45 minutes, depending on your pickup point and the route.

This is useful if you are staying around Costa Adeje or Playa de las Américas and do not want to arrange a taxi to Las Galletas. It also means the cruise is not a quick walk-on activity for every visitor. Allow a good part of the morning or afternoon for transport, the cruise itself, and the return journey.

You should wait at your stated pickup point 10 minutes before the scheduled time. The driver waits no more than five minutes after that, so this is not the moment to wander around a large hotel lobby looking for coffee.

The return service uses the same general set of southern pickup points. Check that your hotel or nearby meeting point is included before paying, especially if you are staying outside the main resort belt.

Leaving Marina del Sur for Punta Rasca

At Marina del Sur, you board the catamaran and head west along Tenerife’s coast. The first half hour is a chance to settle in, find a seat, and get used to the movement of the boat.

Punta Rasca Lighthouse is one of the route’s visual markers. The area gives you a good change of scenery from the developed resort strip, with open sea, rocky shore, and coastal views. The wildlife search lasts about 45 minutes, though exact sightings depend on the day and sea conditions.

Pilot whales are a regular highlight of this part of Tenerife’s waters, and dolphins may also appear. Some outings have included turtles and flying fish. None of these animals can be promised, so book this for the whole sailing experience, not as a guaranteed whale show.

The crew’s approach matters here. The boat keeps its distance rather than chasing animals, which makes the wildlife watching feel less aggressive. You will need patience. Keep looking across the water, listen to the crew’s directions, and accept that a natural encounter may be brief.

Live commentary is provided in English and Spanish. It adds useful context as you pass points along the coast and search for marine life. The commentary is part of the value of the trip, since it gives you more to notice than simply the color of the water.

The Canarian meal: what you actually receive

The food changes according to the booking length. The 3-hour option includes a snack-style meal with a roast turkey sandwich, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake.

The 4-hour option includes a larger selection: roast turkey sandwich, suckling pig burrito, vegetable dumplings, and cheesecake. This is presented as a Canarian-inspired brunch using local ingredients, though you should think of it as a well-organized boat meal rather than a restaurant lunch.

That distinction helps set expectations. The food is convenient, filling, and easy to eat at sea. It is not a long tasting menu or a formal introduction to island cooking. I would choose the 4-hour version if the meal is important to you, since the extra dishes make it feel more like brunch.

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 to mention a dietary need.

The drinks arrangement is worth reading carefully. Unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water are included. Wine, cocktails, and champagne are not part of the standard package. A small champagne or cocktail option may be available with an upgraded booking, but you should expect to pay extra unless your selected package says otherwise.

Swimming near Diego Hernández Beach

After the wildlife search, the catamaran spends about an hour near Diego Hernández Beach. This is the relaxed center of the trip, with time for the water, food, and a rest on deck.

Swimming in the open sea is one of the strongest parts of the outing. The stop breaks up the boat ride and lets you enjoy Tenerife from a different angle. If you prefer not to swim, you can stay aboard and enjoy the views, food, and drinks.

Snorkel equipment is not included. Bring your own mask and snorkel if you want to use them, though the activity details do not promise specific underwater sights or conditions. A towel is also worth bringing unless you have selected an upgraded option that includes one.

The sea may not suit everyone. One person on a sailing had a very difficult time with seasickness, and the catamaran travels far enough offshore for that to matter. If you are sensitive to motion, choose a seat where you can lie down if possible, avoid heavy food before departure, and consider bringing whatever seasickness remedy you normally use.

Smoking is permitted at the back of the catamaran, according to a booking experience, and a toilet is available onboard. These details matter on a several-hour cruise, especially if you are traveling with family or prefer not to return to shore for basic comforts.

Passing Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos

After the swim stop, the boat continues past Playa de las Américas and Playa de Los Cristianos. Each section lasts about 15 minutes, giving you a water-level view of Tenerife’s best-known resort coast.

From the catamaran, the resorts read differently than they do from the pavement. You see the line of beaches, hotel areas, and coastal development from a broader angle. It is a pleasant contrast with the quieter section near Punta Rasca.

This part is more about views than getting off the boat. There is no extended shore visit at either resort, so do not book the cruise expecting time to shop, walk the promenade, or visit a beach on foot.

The boat then passes Palm-Mar, with a photo stop and about 45 minutes of cruising. This is a good time to take pictures of the coast and look back toward the resort areas. Keep your phone secure, since wind and spray are natural parts of an open-water cruise.

Standard seating, day beds, and VIP upgrades

Standard seating is enough for the main experience. You receive the cruise, commentary, meal selected with your booking, and included drinks without paying for a premium place.

The catamaran has upgraded day beds on the side. They cost extra, but they can be useful if you want to stretch out during the cruise or you are concerned about motion. One booking experience found the day bed particularly worthwhile on the longer sailing, while another noted that not having one did not reduce the overall enjoyment.

VIP seating provides priority access and preferred seating. Depending on the option, it may also include extras such as towels or a cocktail. This is a comfort upgrade, not a requirement for seeing wildlife or using the swimming stop.

I would consider the day bed if you are prone to seasickness, want to lie down, or value a quieter place to rest. For most people focused on the coast, meal, and swim, standard seating offers better value at the $71 base price.

Is $71 good value?

At $71 per person, the price is reasonable for a half-day outing that includes transport from selected hotels, a catamaran cruise, live commentary, a meal, and unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water.

The value improves if you use the pickup service and make good use of the full route. A whale-watching trip alone may cost less or more depending on the boat and duration, but this cruise adds swimming and food. The included drinks also help if you plan to spend several hours onboard.

The value is weaker if you do not drink beer or soft drinks, do not want to swim, and mainly want a short wildlife trip. In that case, much of the package may not matter to you.

Remember the extras. Wine, cocktails, champagne, snorkel equipment, and VIP seating are not included in the standard price. Bring cash as well as a card. A card machine may not connect once the boat is offshore, and the small crew may be busy steering, serving food, and explaining the sights.

The rating is 4.5 from 607 bookings, and the strongest praise centers on the crew, smooth organization, wildlife sightings, swimming, and the relaxed mood onboard. That matches what the experience is built to do well: give you a pleasant sea day without requiring much planning.

Who should book this catamaran cruise?

I would recommend it to couples, families, and groups of friends who want a social afternoon with several activities in one package. It suits you especially well if you like the idea of spotting whales but do not want a wildlife trip that ends as soon as the animals disappear.

It is also a good choice if you are staying in southern Tenerife and prefer organized transport. Pickup from many hotels removes the need to plan your own route to Las Galletas.

You may want another activity if you dislike shared tours, need guaranteed wildlife sightings, want a quiet luxury boat, or often suffer from seasickness. The standard cruise is friendly and comfortable, but it is not a private yacht trip.

Book the 4-hour option if you want the fullest meal and more time on the water. Choose the 3-hour option if you prefer a shorter outing and are satisfied with the sandwich, fruit, and cheesecake.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want Tenerife’s coast, wildlife, swimming, food, and drinks in one fairly easy half-day plan. The crew’s friendly service and respectful wildlife watching are major advantages, and the $71 price makes sense when you use the transport and included refreshments.

Skip it if the open sea makes you nervous or if you expect wine and cocktails to be included. For the best experience, confirm your pickup point, request any special meal by the day before, bring sun protection and a towel, and consider an upgraded day bed if you need to lie down.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart from?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

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

How long does the experience last?

You can choose a 3-hour or 4-hour version. The coach journey to Marina del Sur takes about 45 minutes from the resort area.

What languages are available?

Live commentary is available in English and Spanish.

What food is included on the 3-hour option?

The 3-hour option includes a roast turkey sandwich, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake.

What food is included on the 4-hour option?

The 4-hour option includes a roast turkey sandwich, suckling pig burrito, vegetable dumplings, and cheesecake.

What drinks are included?

Unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water are included.

Are wine, cocktails, or champagne included?

No. Wine, cocktails, and champagne are not included in the standard package.

Is snorkel equipment provided?

No. Snorkel equipment is not included, so bring your own if you want to snorkel.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free menus are available. You need to contact FIVESTARBOAT by the day before the cruise so the meal can be prepared.