Sailing Yacht on a Private Charter

The Atlantic is better from a quiet boat. This three-hour private yacht charter from Puerto Colón gives you a calm way to see Tenerife’s coast, with pilot whales, dolphins, swimming, and snorkeling all possible. I like the small private setting and the fact that beer, wine, Cava, soft drinks, water, and food are included. I also like that the captain can give your group personal attention instead of following a crowded boat routine.

The main caution is simple: this is sold as a sailing trip, but one passenger reported a broken mainsail, old ropes, and a messy cabin, with the boat using its motor instead. Most of the available feedback is highly positive, but you should confirm the yacht’s sailing condition if sailing under wind power is the main reason you are booking.

Key things to know before you book

• Private group of up to 11: You charter the yacht for your own party, so the atmosphere is more relaxed and personal than on a large whale-watching boat.
• Pilot whales are a real possibility: The trip has produced sightings of pilot whales and dolphins, including one outing with many small pilot whales.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect beer, wine, Cava, soft drinks, water, ham and cheese baguettes, and seasonal fruit. Vegetarian and vegan choices are available.
• Swimming depends on conditions: The yacht carries snorkeling equipment, but entering the water is allowed only when weather and sea conditions permit.
• Three hours is a useful middle ground: You get enough time for wildlife watching and a water stop without giving up an entire day in Tenerife.
• Check the sailing setup: Most feedback praises the clean, well-kept yacht, but one report raised concerns about the mainsail and general maintenance.

Leaving Puerto Colón for three hours at sea

The trip begins at Puerto Colón in Playa de las Américas, on Tenerife’s southwest coast. This is a practical starting point for a short ocean outing because you are already close to the main resort area and public transport is nearby.

The exact timing is arranged according to availability, so I would not treat this as a fixed daily departure until you receive confirmation. Your mobile ticket and booking confirmation should give you the details you need before arriving.

Once aboard, the appeal of the private format becomes clear. The yacht holds a maximum of 11 passengers, which gives your group room to sit, take photographs, enjoy the view, or move around without the packed feeling of a large excursion boat. If you charter it for only two people, as one couple did, you may have an especially spacious and quiet outing, although the price structure should be checked carefully before booking.

This is not a full-day sailing expedition. Three hours passes quickly, but it is long enough to combine several activities. You can spend part of the trip looking for marine life, part enjoying the coast, and part stopping for swimming or snorkeling if conditions allow.

Watching pilot whales and dolphins off Tenerife

The wildlife is the heart of this experience. Pilot whales and dolphins live in the waters around Tenerife, and the boat is intended to give you a chance to see them in their natural setting rather than in a staged show.

Pilot whales, also called calderones, have been seen on this outing. One particularly successful trip encountered many small pilot whales. Another group saw dolphins and pilot whales during the same three-hour cruise. That is encouraging, but wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, so you should book this for the chance to see animals, not for a promised close encounter.

A captain who moves patiently matters here. One passenger praised the skipper for taking time to approach the whales carefully, while another described the captain as friendly and well informed about the area. Those comments point to an important benefit of a private charter: the pace can feel less rushed. You are not simply racing to a location, taking a quick photograph, and heading back to port.

Keep your expectations sensible. You might see dolphins clearly and only catch a brief view of whales. You might see several pilot whales, or you might spend much of the trip enjoying open water and coastal views. The experience is strongest when you treat wildlife as a fortunate part of the outing rather than the only measure of success.

A snorkeling stop when the sea is calm

The yacht carries snorkeling equipment, and swimming or snorkeling may be offered during the trip if weather and sea conditions are suitable. This gives the cruise a pleasant change of pace. After watching the water for whales and dolphins, you can use the stop to cool off and experience the sea directly.

The important phrase is weather permitted. The crew cannot promise a water stop in every condition. Wind, waves, or other safety concerns may mean that the yacht remains underway instead. Life vests are provided, and the activity is designed for ordinary participants, with most people able to take part.

If you want to snorkel, bring the attitude of a flexible swimmer. The available information does not promise a particular reef, cove, fish species, or underwater site. What you are getting is the chance to swim from the yacht during a coastal trip, not a specialist snorkeling tour.

This part may be especially appealing to families and groups of friends. Some people can swim while others remain aboard with a drink and a snack. The private setup lets your group enjoy the stop at its own pace, within the limits set by the crew and sea conditions.

Food, Cava, and simple provisions aboard

The included food is practical rather than elaborate. You can expect ham and cheese baguettes, fresh seasonal fruit, water, soft drinks, beer, wine, and Cava. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, which is useful when several people are sharing one booking.

I see this as a real part of the value. A three-hour boat trip feels easier when you do not need to pack a full meal or buy every drink separately. The food also suits the relaxed nature of the outing. You can have a baguette after the wildlife search, take fruit during the ride, or raise a glass of Cava while the yacht is stopped.

One passenger liked the included food and drinks but suggested that a colder rosé would have improved the experience. That is a small point, but it gives you a fair idea of the setup: the provisions are a welcome extra, not a wine-tasting program or a formal meal.

Alcohol is included, yet you should still pace yourself. The boat is moving, and some passengers may feel the sea more than expected. One group even praised the skipper for being patient with passengers who boarded with a hangover, which is a funny reminder that calm behavior and sensible drinking help everyone enjoy the outing.

What the private format changes

A private charter is not just a smaller version of a group tour. It changes how you use the time. You can take photographs without competing with a crowd, ask the captain questions, sit in the sun, or choose a quieter place on board.

The available space is limited to 11 passengers, so this works best for families, couples, and groups of friends who want to share the boat. It may also suit a mixed group where not everyone wants the same activity. Some people can focus on whale watching, some can swim, and others can simply enjoy the ride.

The crew’s manner appears to be one of the strongest parts of the experience. Several passengers praised a friendly, calm, and patient captain. One Spanish-language account described the captain as punctual and courteous, with a clean and well-maintained sailing yacht. That combination is valuable on a small boat because the captain’s attitude affects the whole trip.

There is also Wi-Fi on board. I would treat it as a convenience rather than a major reason to book. The point of the outing is to look outward, not spend three hours on your phone, but Wi-Fi can help with messages or photographs if the connection works well offshore.

The yacht condition deserves a careful look

Most of the available feedback describes the yacht positively. A Spanish-speaking passenger found it clean and well maintained, and other comments praised the organization and communication. That is the picture you want for a private boat trip.

Still, one detailed complaint cannot be ignored. A passenger expected to sail but reported that the mainsail was broken, the ropes were old, and the cabin was untidy. The passenger also felt disappointed because the boat used its motor instead of sailing.

That criticism matters because the word sailing can mean two different things. Some people use it to describe a yacht excursion, even when the motor runs for much of the route. Others want the quiet movement, sound, and skill of traveling under sail. If you fall into the second group, ask the provider whether the mainsail is working and how much of the trip is normally under sail.

The reported condition may have been temporary, since other feedback describes the yacht as clean and maintained. Even so, a quick confirmation before payment is sensible. It can prevent a mismatch between what you imagine and what the boat delivers.

Is $74 good value for this Tenerife charter?

At $74, the experience can offer good value if the price applies to the passenger arrangement you are considering and you make use of the inclusions. You receive about three hours on a private yacht, a captain, drinks, food, snorkeling equipment, wildlife watching, and possible swimming.

The private element is the key. On a standard boat trip, $74 might buy only a seat among a much larger group, with food and drinks charged separately. Here, your party has access to the yacht for a more personal outing, up to the stated limit of 11 passengers.

The value is weaker if your only goal is guaranteed whale watching or serious sailing. No wildlife trip can guarantee animals, and one report raises a question about the working sail. The price makes more sense when you want a flexible coastal experience that combines marine life, refreshments, and time on the water.

For a group of friends or a family, the cost may feel easier to justify when divided among the people joining. For one or two passengers, ask exactly how the private charter price is calculated. The available information gives a listed price of $74, but it does not explain whether that is per person or a base charter rate.

Who will enjoy this private yacht trip most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a quiet and sociable way to spend part of a Tenerife day. It fits people who enjoy open water, coastal views, wildlife watching, and a relaxed drink more than a tightly scheduled sightseeing program.

It is also a good match for:

• Families wanting a private boat and flexible atmosphere
• Couples who prefer a small outing to a large excursion
• Friends who want food and drinks included
• People hoping to see pilot whales and dolphins
• Swimmers who would like a possible snorkeling stop
• Groups with vegetarian or vegan passengers

I would be more cautious if you need guaranteed snorkeling, a specific whale sighting, or a fully wind-powered sailing trip. You should also consider the sea if you are prone to motion sickness. The information confirms that life vests are supplied, but it does not provide a separate motion sickness service or promise calm water.

Service animals are allowed, and the experience is near public transportation. Most people can participate, which makes it broadly accessible, though the data does not give detailed information about wheelchair access or boarding assistance.

Booking, weather, and the return to Puerto Colón

The activity ends back at the same meeting point, Puerto Colón. That makes planning easier because you do not need to arrange a separate return from another harbor.

Confirmation is sent at the time of booking, and the ticket is available on your mobile device. I would save the meeting details before leaving your accommodation, then allow enough time to find the Puerto Colón departure point.

Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded. The cut-off uses local Tenerife time.

Good weather is required. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. This policy is fair for an ocean activity, but it means you should avoid booking the charter as the only fixed highlight of a tightly packed final day.

Final decision: should you book it?

I would book this private yacht charter if your ideal Tenerife outing includes pilot whales, dolphins, a possible swim, easy refreshments, and a small group. The calm captain, private setting, included food and drinks, and reports of successful wildlife sightings give it real appeal.

I would ask one question before booking: is the mainsail currently operational? If the answer is yes, the trip better matches its sailing description. If the answer is no, decide if you are still happy with a private motor-assisted whale-watching and snorkeling outing.

For a flexible three-hour escape from Playa de las Américas, this is a strong choice. Just remember that marine life is unpredictable, snorkeling depends on the weather, and the condition of the yacht is worth confirming in advance.

FAQ

Where does the sailing yacht charter begin?

It begins at Puerto Colón in Playa de las Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Where does the activity end?

The trip ends back at the meeting point at Puerto Colón.

How long does the yacht charter last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

How many passengers can join the private charter?

The maximum capacity is 11 passengers.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Beer, wine, Cava, soft drinks, and water are included, along with ham and cheese baguettes and fresh seasonal fruit.

Are vegetarian and vegan food options available?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Is snorkeling included?

Snorkeling equipment is provided, and swimming or snorkeling may be possible when weather and sea conditions permit.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.