3h Whale Watching Share Tour Beneteau Oceanis 440

Whales off Tenerife in a small sailboat sounds simple, then it gets memorable fast. I love the small group limit of 11 and the relaxed pace of sailing on the Beneteau Oceanis 440, plus you get snacks, cold drinks, and snorkeling gear included. The main drawback to consider is that the experience can feel more like quiet wildlife spotting than a chatty guided lecture, especially if English support is limited when the captain is on the mic.

Madoudou, skippered by Captain Max, is moored in Puerto Colón (Costa Adeje area) and runs whale-watching trips with authorization in the south of Tenerife. You should also plan for the reality of sea time: it is 3 hours, with about 1 hour specifically for whale watching and 30 minutes for snorkeling, so bring patience if the sea state or animal movement shifts the timing.

Key Points Before You Go

• Madoudou is a Beneteau Oceanis 440, 13.76 meters, built for comfort on open water
• Max 11 people means you are not packed in like a speedboat cattle car
• Pilot whales are the target, with dolphin watching and marine life viewing during the run
• Snacks, cold drinks, and snorkeling gear are included, and there is a stop for brunch and a swim
• Captain Max runs the show, with live guidance in Spanish, English, and Italian (varies in delivery)

Meet Madoudou in Puerto Colón, Costa Adeje

This tour starts at Puerto Colón, in the south of Tenerife, and the boat is called Madoudou. You meet at Gate number 5, so give yourself a few minutes to find it calmly. That small bit of buffer matters, because once you are aboard you will want to settle in before the lines are let go.

Madoudou is a sailing boat, not a tiny catamaran and not a huge party yacht. The vibe you are paying for is straightforward: time on the water, chances for wildlife, and a comfortable ride with breaks baked in. If you are coming from resorts around Costa Adeje, this is the kind of half-day excursion that does not eat your whole day.

What to bring is simple and very practical: a sun hat and a towel are not included. If you forget, you can still do the trip, but you will be making do. Also bring sunscreen and something light for wind, because sailing trips can cool you down even under strong sun.

The Boat Comfort That Actually Affects Your Trip

Madoudou is a Beneteau Oceanis 440, and the size is noticeable in a good way. At 13.76 meters, you get real indoor space rather than just a bench outside. The living room is large, with a table for eight and two sofas, so if you want shade or you are just trying to warm up a bit, you have options.

Cabin and bathroom layout also matters on a boat like this. The cabins are described as spacious with wardrobes, drawers, and storage. In the aft area, cabins have direct access to bathrooms with showers and hot water. That hot water detail is the kind of thing you do not notice until you need it, and then you suddenly love it.

On the practical side, the boat is set up for longer comfort at sea: it has solar panels for energy independence and a water autonomy listed at 900 liters. That does not mean you will be living aboard for days, but it does support the idea that the boat is equipped to run these trips reliably without feeling underpowered or rushed.

How the 3 Hours Are Used (And Why It Feels Balanced)

The total duration is 3 hours, with the day structured around three phases: sailing out, wildlife time, and a secret stop for food plus snorkeling. That pacing is the real value here. It is not “all wildlife, no comfort” and it is not “all sightseeing speeches, no nature.”

A useful way to think about the time:

• You get sailing time right away, so you start enjoying the experience before the first wildlife alert.
• You then get about 1 hour of whale watching, which is long enough to let you see something without feeling like you are being herded from spot to spot every few minutes.
• Finally, you get a break stop with 30 minutes of snorkeling. It is short, but it is enough for a quick gear-up, a calm look around, and then time to reboard and relax.

If you are looking for a marathon 5 to 6 hour wildlife expedition, this will feel short. If you want a high-value taste of Tenerife’s marine life without burning your whole day, this length fits nicely.

Sailing Out: Getting the Wind in Your Face

The trip begins at Puerto Colón and you head into the Atlantic waters along Tenerife’s wind- and wave-shaped coast. Since this is sailing on a Beneteau Oceanis 440, you will feel the difference between motor time and actual wind-powered movement. Even when conditions are mixed, the boat sailing setup generally makes it feel calmer than pure engine runs.

During this sailing portion, you are not just waiting for whales to show up. You are building a relationship with the sea: wind changes, spray appears on the bow, and you get those coastal glimpses that make the whole island feel close. On a short trip, this early stage is key, because it sets the mood. You get to be on vacation right away.

One more detail that helps: the boat has an outdoor table and awning, which means you are not forced to choose only indoor comfort. If the sun is out and the wind is tolerable, you can take in the motion with a drink in hand.

Dolphin Watching and Marine Life Viewing

After sailing out, the itinerary includes dolphin watching and marine life viewing. This is where a small-group format shines. When there are fewer people, the viewing experience feels less chaotic and you can actually find good lines of sight rather than craning over shoulders.

You should expect spotting to be a mix of fast moments and quiet scanning. In this kind of marine-watching setting, dolphins can show up near the route and then slip away just as quickly. The best mindset is simple: stay alert without panicking, and let the captain’s guidance do the heavy lifting.

This is also when you start building the “what are we looking at?” brain. If you are a first-timer, you may not know species differences yet, and that is fine. The goal is enjoying the animals and the moment, not turning your vacation into a marine biology exam.

Whale Watching for Calde rones (Pilot Whales) in Tenerife’s South

The headliner is whale watching in the south of Tenerife, with an authorization to do this kind of cetacean spotting. The specific target described is the pilot whales that live in Canarian waters, also referred to as calderones.

The trip includes about 1 hour set aside for whale watching. That hour is intentionally meaningful. Short enough to keep the day relaxed, long enough that you can get more than one look window if movement or conditions require patience.

Here is the practical thing I’d advise: keep your expectations realistic and your eyes ready. These animals do not pose on schedule. Your job is to find a comfortable viewing spot, hold steady, and watch for surfacing cues. Even when you are not seeing whales constantly, you can still enjoy the ocean activity around you.

One caution from experience with this kind of tour format: if the captain’s style is more pointing-and-scanning than storytelling, the trip can feel quiet. That was a real theme in one piece of feedback: dolphins and whales were spotted, but there was little introduction beyond identifying where they were. If you want a lot of narration, you may want to ask about guide emphasis when you check in.

The Secret Stop: Brunch and 30 Minutes of Snorkeling

Then comes the best “reset” part of the afternoon. There is a secret stop with break time and brunch, and this is also where you get snorkeling with equipment provided. Snorkeling time is 30 minutes, which is enough for a quick, fun look around if you are comfortable getting in and out without needing a long gear session.

What makes this stop valuable is that it breaks the wildlife-only rhythm. After scanning the water, you shift to a different kind of curiosity. You are still exploring nature, but up close instead of from the surface.

Two practical notes:

• You will want to keep your towel and hat ready, because you are going to get wet and sun exposure can be strong after you reboard.
• Since towel is not included, it is worth planning for drying off. Wet gear plus wind can make you feel colder than you expect.

Brunch is included, along with drinks. This matters because on a short tour, having real food stops you from feeling drained midway. You come off the snorkeling stop feeling fed, not just slightly salty and tired.

What’s Included (And What You’ll Likely Pay Elsewhere)

Here is the full list of what is included: whale watching, sailing on Madoudou, snorkeling equipment, drinks, and food. The way it is described in the trip setup also includes snacks and cold drinks, plus brunch at the stop.

That food and drink package is where the value becomes clear. You are not just renting access to open water. You are getting a guided outing structure with hydration and meals built in. If you were to DIY this, you would likely pay for a boat ticket and then still need to handle food and gear separately.

What is not included is small but important: sun hat and towel. If you travel light and forget them, you might end up buying them on the fly, which eats into the good value.

Languages, Captain Max, and the Vibe of the Guidance

The tour includes live tour guidance in Spanish, English, and Italian. The captain name listed for this boat is Captain Max, and he leads the excursions.

Here is what I’d watch for, based on how these tours can work in practice. Even when English is listed, the communication style can vary. One feedback detail points out that the captain did not speak English well and kept quieter for a big portion of the trip, mostly pointing out where dolphins and whales were rather than offering extended introductions. That does not reduce the wildlife value, but it does change the experience if you came for commentary.

So how do you handle that? Plan to treat the trip as a nature spotting experience first. If you want extra context, you can pair the outing with a little pre-trip reading about Tenerife’s cetaceans, so you already know the basics and you can enjoy what you see even if the narration is brief.

Value for $65: Small Group, Short Time, Real Marine Time

At $65 per person for a 3-hour shared tour, the math makes sense if you care about getting out on the water without turning it into a whole-day mission. The max group size of 11 people helps a lot with comfort and viewing quality.

Sailing itself is a value add, because it tends to feel more relaxed than straight line engine travel. Then you layer on the included snacks, cold drinks, and the fact that snorkeling equipment is provided. If you count those items as separate costs, the price feels more reasonable.

The one tradeoff is time. You only have 3 hours, so you are doing a hit-and-run version of whale watching. That can be perfect for many visitors, but if your top goal is maximizing odds through multiple hours at sea, you might prefer a longer outing.

Who This Tour Is Best For

This tour fits best if you:

• Want a short, low-stress marine trip from Costa Adeje
• Like a small group and a comfortable sailing boat
• Want both wildlife spotting and a quick snorkeling window
• Prefer included snacks and drinks so you can focus on the experience

It may be less ideal if you:

• Need nonstop commentary and a talkative guide style
• Are expecting a long snorkeling session
• Want a full day at sea chasing whales for hours

Should You Book This Tenerife Whale Watching Share Tour?

If your goal is a relaxed, small-group introduction to Tenerife’s cetaceans, I think this is a strong choice. The combination of pilot whales targeted in authorized waters, a calm sailing boat like the Beneteau Oceanis 440, and included snacks, drinks, brunch, and snorkeling gear makes the price feel fair.

My go-to decision advice: book it if you can accept quiet scanning as part of wildlife viewing. If you really want lots of spoken storytelling, consider asking what the captain’s guidance style is like in your language before you go. Otherwise, pack your sun hat and towel, show up at Gate 5, and treat the 1 hour whale-watching block as the main event.

FAQ

How long is the whale watching share tour?

The tour lasts 3 hours.

Where do I meet the tour?

You meet at Gate number 5 in Puerto Colón.

What boat is used for the trip?

The boat is Madoudou, a Beneteau Oceanis 440.

What is the group size?

This is a shared trip with a maximum of 11 people.

What animals can you watch for?

The trip includes dolphin watching and marine life viewing, with whale watching focused on pilot whales in the south of Tenerife.

Is snorkeling included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is available, and there is a stop that includes 30 minutes for snorkeling.

What food and drinks are included?

Snacks and cold drinks are included, and brunch is provided at the stop.

What languages are available for the live guide?

Live tour guidance is available in Spanish, English, and Italian.

Do I need to bring a towel or sun hat?

Sun hat and towel are not included, so you should bring your own.