Boat Rental in Tenerife — 2027 Guide: Los Gigantes, Whales and Dolphins, the South Coast and the Canaries in Winter

Tenerife is one of the few places in Europe where you can go out on a boat even in the middle of winter. Even in winter the air temperature mostly stays around twenty degrees, the sea does not drop below nineteen, and the island's south and south-west coasts are sheltered from the trade winds that blow from the north-east. From a boat you can see the Teide volcano, the Los Gigantes cliffs plunging hundreds of metres straight into the ocean and beaches of black volcanic sand, while dolphins and pilot whales live in the channel towards La Gomera all year round. A private boat lets you experience all of this at your own pace, without the crowds of the big excursion boats.

Where you set off from

The boats we list on the Santa Cruz de Tenerife page depart from the south of the island, from Puerto Colón marina in Costa Adeje, and the speedboat from the port of Los Cristianos. The south is Tenerife's boating hub anyway: the sea is calmest there, and Los Gigantes and La Gomera are closest. The exact departure point is always given in the listing.

Main routes

• South-coast beaches (2 to 4 hours). Shorter trips from Puerto Colón head to the Diego Hernández, El Puertito, El Callao or Las Vistas beaches, depending on the wind. Along the way you see sea caves and natural lava pools, and stop for a swim and snorkelling. This is a good choice for a first day, for families or for a sunset.
• Los Gigantes and Barranco de Masca (5 to 6 hours). The Los Gigantes cliffs on the west coast rise to around 600 metres above the sea and are most impressive from below, from a boat. A little further on is the mouth of the Masca gorge, which you can only reach overland by a hiking trail. Longer trips often include lunch on board.
• Whales and dolphins. Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live year-round in the sea between Tenerife and La Gomera, and the area is protected. Watching them is regulated: the boat keeps its distance, does not approach the animals abruptly and does not stay with them for long, and swimming with them is not allowed. If watching them is the main reason for your trip, ask the boat owner whether they hold a permit for it and how they plan the route.
• Inter-island cruises. Larger sailing yachts also offer multi-day cruises to La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. These are proper open-ocean passages, so they take fewer guests than day trips.

Types of boats and how to choose

• Smaller motor boats (6 to 10 guests). Nine-metre boats for short and medium trips along the south coast. The price usually includes the crew, drinks, a light meal and snorkelling gear, and on longer trips a paella.
• Speedboats. For a small group that wants to reach more distant coves faster, or get to Los Gigantes in less time.
• Large sailing yachts. A 17-metre sailing yacht with cabins, a saloon and two bathrooms takes up to 12 guests on day trips. The ocean swell here is longer than in the Mediterranean, so a large sailing yacht rides it more smoothly than a smaller boat.

Prices and skipper

• Skipper. All boats in Tenerife on Crystalium Booker are rented with a crew. In Spain, as a rule, only small boats may be driven without a licence, and on the open Atlantic a local skipper knows best where the sea is calm anyway.
• Short trips. A two-hour trip on a smaller motor boat for up to 6 guests costs 320 EUR (360 EUR at sunset), and for up to 10 guests 400 EUR. A speedboat for up to 6 people costs 285 EUR for two hours.
• Half day and full day. Four hours cost 500 to 650 EUR and six hours 850 to 950 EUR, depending on the size of the boat. The speedboat costs 590 EUR for half a day and 725 EUR for a full day.
• Large sailing yacht. A trip on the 17-metre sailing yacht costs 750 EUR for three hours, 880 EUR for four, 1,230 EUR for six and 1,570 EUR for eight hours, with crew, food, drinks and water sports gear.

Season, wind and time of day

• All year round. Tenerife has no real winter break. From November to March the island is a favourite winter destination, and in summer the sea is at its warmest.
• Trade winds. The trade winds blow from the north-east, stronger in summer than in winter. The south and south-west of the island are in their lee, but around the capes and in the channel towards La Gomera the wind can pick up suddenly.
• Mornings are calmer. The sea is usually calmest in the morning, and the wind strengthens in the afternoon. For Los Gigantes and longer routes it is better to set off early and keep the afternoon for a shorter trip and the sunset.

The other Canary Islands

On Gran Canaria we offer a Sunseeker 45 motor yacht in the port of Puerto de Mogán for 660 EUR per day with skipper, and on Lanzarote a catamaran for up to 12 people in Playa Blanca at 135 EUR per hour.

Boat rental in Tenerife with Crystalium Booker

Our picks are the sailing yacht Lady Sunshine for a long day under sail or an inter-island cruise, the motor boat Champagne for groups of up to 10, the motor boat Armani for a smaller group and a trip to Los Gigantes, and the speedboat Windward Catch from Los Cristianos. Need a custom route or advice? Send us an enquiry through the contact page. Do you rent out a boat in the Canary Islands? List it with us.