3h Whale Watching Share Tour Beneteau Oceanis 440

Whales, sails, and volcanic coastlines make this three-hour trip a pleasant way to see southern Tenerife from the water. I like the small group size, with no more than 11 people, and I like that you sail aboard Madoudou, a roomy Beneteau Oceanis 440 rather than a large sightseeing boat. Snacks, cold drinks, and snorkeling gear are included too. The main caution is the guiding: Captain Max speaks Spanish, English, and Italian, but one guest found the English commentary limited and the trip unusually quiet.

Madoudou is authorized for cetacean watching in the waters south of Tenerife, where pilot whales live year-round. You get a relaxed sailing outing, roughly one hour focused on marine life, and a 30-minute stop for food and snorkeling. At $63 per person, the price is fair if you value a smaller boat and a calm pace more than a highly scripted wildlife presentation.

What Makes This Sailing Trip Worth Considering

• Maximum 11 people: The limited group gives you more room than a crowded whale-watching vessel and makes the outing feel less like a standard boat ride.
• A proper Beneteau Oceanis 440: Madoudou is a 13.76-meter sailing yacht with indoor and outdoor seating, cabins, bathrooms, showers, kitchens, storage, solar panels, and 900 liters of water autonomy.
• Pilot whales are the main wildlife draw: The trip is licensed for cetacean watching in southern Tenerife, with possible sightings of the pilot whales that live in Canarian waters.
• A 30-minute swimming stop: Snorkeling equipment is provided, along with food and cold drinks, making the middle of the trip more than a simple wildlife search.
• Three languages are offered: The activity is available in Spanish, English, and Italian, although the amount of spoken explanation may vary.
• Flexible booking: You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund and reserve without paying immediately.

Setting Out From Puerto Colón

The trip begins at Gate 5 in Puerto Colón, in Costa Adeje on Tenerife’s south coast. You return to the same meeting point after three hours, so this is easy to fit into a day based around the resort area.

Puerto Colón is a useful starting point because the boat heads straight into the Atlantic from a busy marina rather than spending much of the tour on land transfers. You will need to check the available departure times when booking, since the starting schedule is not fixed in the information provided.

The small group limit matters here. Eleven people is still enough for a social outing, but it is far less than the capacity of many purpose-built whale-watching boats. You should have a better chance of finding a comfortable place to sit, look over the side, or move between the cockpit and the front of the boat.

Bring a sun hat and your own towel. Neither is included. Food and drinks are included, but the information does not specify the full menu. One account describes ordinary sandwiches and soft drinks, so I would expect simple, practical refreshments rather than a full meal.

What Madoudou Is Like Under Sail

Madoudou is a Beneteau Oceanis 440 measuring 13.76 meters. That gives the boat a useful balance: it is large enough for comfort and open-water navigation, but small enough to avoid the feel of a commercial ferry.

The yacht has a large interior living area with a table for eight and two sofas. Outside, an awning and table offer shade and a place to eat. Those details matter on a three-hour trip, especially if you want shelter from the sun or prefer not to sit in one position for the entire outing.

The boat also has cabins, wardrobes, drawers, and storage areas. The aft cabins have direct access to bathrooms with showers and hot water. You are not booking a bare excursion boat with only a few seats and a toilet tucked somewhere below deck. Madoudou was designed for longer sailing trips, and that shows in the amount of usable space.

The kitchen includes three burners, two sinks, an oven, and two refrigerators. You will not be cooking during this short trip, of course, but the equipment helps explain why the yacht can operate comfortably away from the marina. Solar panels, an outboard raft, and 900 liters of water add to its self-contained setup.

The boat is described as suitable for deep-water navigation. That does not guarantee calm seas or wildlife sightings, but it does mean the vessel is equipped for the type of coastal sailing involved.

Sailing Along Tenerife’s Volcanic Coast

The sailing portion is one of the quieter pleasures of this outing. From the water, southern Tenerife presents a different view of the island, with volcanic shorelines shaped by wind and waves. You are not simply being driven to a whale-watching point and brought back. The movement of the sailboat is part of the experience.

The pace is intended to be relaxed. That makes the trip a good fit if you want a break from busy resort streets, loud music, and tightly timed sightseeing. You can sit beneath the awning, watch the coastline recede, and let the boat carry you into open water.

The tradeoff is that sailing trips depend on conditions and timing. The information does not promise that the yacht will sail under full sail for the entire outing. The boat may use its engine at times, and the exact route can change according to sea conditions and wildlife activity.

If you want constant narration, dramatic maneuvers, or a packed schedule, this may feel too subdued. If you like the idea of being on the water without a noisy crowd, the slower rhythm is part of the value.

One Hour Looking for Marine Life

The wildlife section lasts about one hour and combines dolphin watching, marine-life viewing, sailing, and whale watching. The main cetacean associated with these waters is the pilot whale, a species that lives in the Canary Islands.

You should treat sightings as a possibility, not a promise. Marine animals move freely, and the boat cannot control where they appear. The permit to conduct whale watching is important because it shows that this is an authorized activity in the south of Tenerife, but authorization does not guarantee a close encounter.

The smaller boat can be an advantage during this part of the trip. With up to 11 people, you should find it easier to move your attention around the boat and look for animals on different sides. It also avoids the scale of a large vessel packed with people standing shoulder to shoulder.

The guiding style deserves a realistic note. Captain Max is named as the skipper, and the tour is offered in Spanish, English, and Italian. However, one account describes limited English from the captain, with the wildlife mostly pointed out rather than explained through a detailed introduction. If your top priority is marine biology, species identification, and constant commentary, ask about the language support before booking.

If you are content with a peaceful trip and the chance to see dolphins or pilot whales, the quieter approach may suit you. The experience appears to put more weight on sailing and observation than on formal interpretation.

The Secret Stop and 30-Minute Break

After the wildlife search, the boat makes a stop at an undisclosed location for about 30 minutes. This break includes brunch and snorkeling, with equipment available on board.

Keeping the exact stop secret suggests that the place may depend on the day’s route and sea conditions. The information does not identify a named cove or guarantee a particular snorkeling site, so you should not book this expecting a famous beach or a specific underwater attraction.

The value of the break is simple: it breaks up the three-hour outing. After sitting and watching the water, you get a chance to eat, stretch, and enter the sea if conditions allow. Cold drinks are included, and snorkeling gear is provided, but you should bring your own towel.

Food appears to be basic. The available account describes sandwiches and soft drinks. That is enough for a mid-morning or midday boat break, but it is not a substitute for a substantial meal. If you have dietary needs, ask the operator before departure because no special menu information is provided.

The snorkeling stop also comes with a practical uncertainty. The details do not state water temperature, depth, visibility, or whether everyone will be able to snorkel. The stop is best viewed as an included extra, not the central reason to book the tour.

Is $63 a Fair Price?

At $63 per person, this trip sits in a reasonable range for a three-hour boat outing that includes sailing, wildlife watching, snacks, cold drinks, and snorkeling equipment. The price becomes more attractive if you prefer a maximum of 11 people and a yacht with proper indoor and outdoor space.

You are also paying for the boat itself. Madoudou is not a simple open launch. Its cabins, bathrooms, kitchen, shade, storage, solar panels, and water capacity provide comfort that can make a difference during a full afternoon on the Atlantic.

The value is less clear if you mainly want a guaranteed whale sighting or a polished educational talk. The marine animals are wild, and the amount of spoken explanation may be limited, particularly in English. In that case, you may feel that the main benefit is the boat ride rather than the interpretation.

The current rating is 3.8 out of 5 from four ratings. That is a modest sample, so I would not treat it as a firm verdict. It does fit the available picture: one person found everything great, while another enjoyed seeing the animals but found the communication and food fairly basic.

Who Will Enjoy Madoudou Most

I would choose this experience if you want a small-group sailing trip with a chance to see pilot whales and dolphins. It suits couples, solo visitors, and families who prefer a calm boat rather than a large commercial excursion.

It is also a good option if you like having several elements in one outing. You sail, watch for wildlife, eat, and have time for snorkeling without spending an entire day at sea.

You may want a different tour if you need detailed English commentary, a guaranteed sighting, or a full lunch. The available information points to a quiet outing led by a captain who may speak only limited English during parts of the trip.

The boat has bathrooms and showers, but no specific accessibility information is provided. If you have mobility requirements, contact Madoudou SL before reserving.

Booking is flexible: you can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Those terms reduce the risk when your Tenerife schedule is still changing.

Should You Book This Whale-Watching Trip?

Book it if the idea of a three-hour sail on a comfortable yacht appeals as much as the wildlife itself. The small group, proper sailing boat, included refreshments, and snorkeling stop give the trip more character than a basic point-and-return whale excursion.

Approach it with realistic expectations. Pilot whales and dolphins may appear, but sightings cannot be guaranteed. The commentary may be limited, especially in English, and the food is likely to be simple sandwiches and soft drinks.

For a relaxed half-day on the water from Puerto Colón, $63 is a fair price. I would recommend it most strongly to people who value peace, space, and the feel of sailing. If detailed guiding is your main goal, confirm the language support before you pay.

FAQ

How long is the whale-watching trip?

The activity lasts three hours, including sailing, wildlife watching, a food break, and snorkeling.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Gate 5 in Puerto Colón, Costa Adeje, in southern Tenerife.

Where does the tour finish?

The boat returns to Puerto Colón, at the original meeting point.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $63 per person.

How many people can join the boat?

The shared trip has a maximum of 11 people.

What wildlife might I see?

The trip focuses on dolphins and the pilot whales that live in Canarian waters. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Is Madoudou authorized for whale watching?

Yes. Madoudou has authorization for cetacean watching in the south of Tenerife.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Food and cold drinks are included. One account describes sandwiches and soft drinks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is available as part of the experience.

What languages are available?

The activity is offered in Spanish, English, and Italian. The amount of spoken explanation may vary.

Do I need to bring anything?

Bring a sun hat and a towel, since neither is included. Availability and departure times should be checked before booking.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.