Tenerife: Catamaran Cruise with Brunch and Unlimited Drinks

Sea air, good food, and whales make this Las Galletas catamaran cruise an easy holiday win. I like the mix of coastal scenery and time on the water, and the live commentary gives the trip more purpose than a simple boat ride. You also get a proper Canarian-style meal, not just a packet of crisps.

The strongest points are the friendly crew and the chance to see pilot whales, dolphins, flying fish, and other marine life without turning the outing into a frantic chase. The main catch is that unlimited drinks means beer, soft drinks, and water, while wine, cocktails, and champagne cost extra.

This is a social, unhurried excursion rather than a luxury yacht charter. You can swim near Diego Hernández Beach, stretch out on deck, and watch Tenerife’s coast slide past. A paid VIP seat or Balinese day bed can make the ride more comfortable, but you do not need one to enjoy the cruise.

Key points to know before booking

• Departure from Las Galletas: The boat leaves from Marina del Sur, with pickup and return available at many hotels and stops in southern Tenerife.
• Wildlife watching near Punta Rasca: The cruise looks for dolphins and whales, with sightings never guaranteed but frequently reported.
• Two food options: The three-hour trip includes a turkey sandwich, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake. The four-hour brunch adds a suckling pig burrito and vegetable dumplings.
• Unlimited drinks with limits: Beer, soft drinks, and water are included. Wine, cocktails, champagne, and other premium drinks are not.
• Swimming at Diego Hernández Beach: You get about an hour for lunch, swimming, and snorkeling, though snorkel gear is not supplied.
• Comfort extras cost more: VIP seating and preferred areas are optional. Some people also pay for a Balinese bed, which is useful if you want to lie down.

From your hotel to Marina del Sur

If you are staying in Tenerife’s south, pickup is one of this trip’s practical strengths. The service covers a wide spread of hotels and meeting points around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Palm-Mar, and nearby resorts.

The coach ride to Marina del Sur takes about 45 minutes. That matters because the advertised experience lasts three to four hours, but your full outing will be longer once hotel transfers are added. You should be ready at the marked pickup point 10 minutes early. Drivers wait only five minutes after the scheduled time, so this is not the morning for a leisurely search through a large resort lobby.

The coach transfer saves you from arranging a taxi or finding parking near the marina. On the other hand, pickup routes can make the day feel less direct if you are among the first people collected. If you are staying close to Las Galletas, getting to the marina yourself may be quicker, but the included return transfer is still handy after several hours in the sun.

Leaving Las Galletas by catamaran

Marina del Sur is the starting point for the boat portion of the trip. Once aboard, the pace changes. You leave behind the roads and resort buildings and settle into open-air travel, with the sea breeze and Tenerife’s south coast providing most of the entertainment.

The catamaran offers more room than a standard excursion boat, although comfort depends on how busy the sailing is and where you sit. One recent trip had roughly 50 people, a group size that felt sociable without making the boat seem packed. Expect a shared experience, not a private cruise.

The crew’s friendly service is a big part of the appeal. They serve drinks, bring out the food, explain what you are seeing, and handle the boat at the same time. That means service may not always be instant, especially when everyone wants something at once, but the setup feels well managed.

The boat heads west from the marina, passing coastal viewpoints around Las Galletas and toward the waters near Punta Rasca. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and a light layer. Even a warm Tenerife afternoon can feel cool when the boat is moving.

Wildlife watching around Punta Rasca Lighthouse

Punta Rasca Lighthouse marks one of the main wildlife-watching sections. The crew keeps an eye out for dolphins and whales while offering live commentary in English and Spanish.

Sightings are not guaranteed, since this is the ocean rather than a wildlife park. Still, the trip has produced some excellent encounters, including pilot whales, dolphins, flying fish, and turtles. One of the most encouraging details is that the crew has been praised for keeping a respectful distance instead of chasing animals from place to place.

Pilot whales are a regular highlight on this stretch of Tenerife’s coast. You might see them surfacing in groups, though the exact view depends on the conditions and the animals’ movements. Flying fish can be a surprise bonus, appearing briefly beside the boat before disappearing into the water.

The commentary gives this part of the trip more value. You are not simply waiting for a fin to appear. The crew points out marine life and coastal landmarks, helping you pay attention to the sea around you.

If wildlife is your only reason for booking, keep your expectations sensible. The cruise is best treated as a coastal outing with a good chance of sightings, not as a guaranteed whale-watching expedition.

The Canarian brunch and three-hour food option

Food is included, but you should understand what kind of meal to expect. On the three-hour version, the included snack is a sandwich with roast turkey, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake.

The four-hour option is more substantial. It includes the turkey sandwich, a suckling pig burrito, vegetable dumplings, and cheesecake. The menu is designed around Canarian ingredients and local flavor, though it is still served in a practical format suitable for eating on a moving boat.

The meal is closer to a well-presented lunch box than a restaurant brunch. That is not a complaint. A neat, manageable meal works better at sea than a complicated plated service, especially when the boat is moving and people are also watching for wildlife.

You should tell FIVESTARBOAT about dietary needs no later than the day before. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free menus are available. This is an important detail, since the standard menu includes turkey and pork.

Drinks include unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water. That works well for a relaxed afternoon, but do not book this expecting free wine or cocktails. Wine and champagne are excluded, and paid drinks may be harder to purchase once the boat is offshore if the card machine loses its connection. Bringing some cash is a sensible precaution.

Swimming at Diego Hernández Beach

The stop at Diego Hernández Beach is the active part of the cruise. You get time for lunch, swimming, and snorkeling, with roughly an hour listed for this section.

The chance to jump into the Atlantic gives the day a welcome change of pace. After sitting in the sun and watching the coast, a swim can feel like exactly what you need. The water may seem cooler than the air, so you should be comfortable with an open-water swim before getting in.

Snorkel equipment is not included. If you want to look below the surface, bring your own gear or confirm what is available before departure. Do not assume that a mask and fins will be waiting on board.

This stop also has a practical limitation: an hour passes quickly once lunch, changing, and swimming are all counted. Think of it as a refreshing swim stop rather than a long beach visit. The beach itself is viewed from the water as part of the boat route, while the main focus is the swimming break.

Passing Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos

After the beach stop, the boat continues past Playa de las Américas and Playa de Los Cristianos. These are two of the south coast’s best-known resort areas, and seeing them from offshore gives you a different view of Tenerife’s holiday strip.

The boat portion near each resort is listed at about 15 minutes. That is enough for photographs and a quick look at the shoreline, but not enough for a land visit. You will not be wandering through the promenades, shopping, or visiting attractions here.

The contrast is part of the fun. From the water, you can see the busy resort coast without dealing with traffic or crowds on land. The commentary also helps connect the views with the wider route.

The cruise then reaches the Palm-Mar area, where there is a longer scenic stretch and photo stop. You can use this time to take pictures of the shore, relax with a drink, or simply enjoy the changing views before the return to Marina del Sur.

Choosing your seat and handling seasickness

Standard seating is enough for most people. You can still enjoy the commentary, food, drinks, wildlife watching, and swimming without paying for an upgrade.

Optional VIP seating offers priority access and preferred seating. A Balinese day bed is another paid comfort extra. If you want to lie down during the cruise, especially on the four-hour option, this can be worthwhile. One guest found a free bed available and felt it made the longer ride more comfortable, while another specifically recommended a paid bed for anyone prone to seasickness.

That advice is worth taking seriously. The boat goes well offshore, and one person had a very difficult day because of motion sickness. If you know you are sensitive, consider taking your usual medication before sailing and choosing a place where you can recline. The sea may look calm from the marina and feel much less calm once you are away from shore.

The VIP option may also include extra perks depending on the package you select, but the standard cruise remains functional and enjoyable. Do not feel pressured to upgrade unless lying down, preferred seating, or additional service matters to you.

What the $71 price really covers

At $71 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an afternoon in Tenerife. It is also more than a bare sightseeing boat trip. Your price combines hotel pickup in selected areas, the catamaran cruise, live commentary, food, unlimited beer and soft drinks, a swimming stop, and return transportation.

That bundle makes the price reasonable if you plan to use most of it. A couple who would otherwise pay separately for transport, lunch, drinks, and a boat excursion may find the package good value. The wildlife sightings and friendly service add to the sense that you are getting a full half-day outing rather than just a transfer on the water.

The value is weaker if you do not drink beer or soft drinks, do not want to swim, or dislike shared excursions. You will also pay more if you add VIP seating, a day bed, wine, cocktails, or champagne.

The four-hour version is likely the better choice if you want a fuller meal and more time on the water. The three-hour option suits you if you prefer a shorter outing or want a lighter meal. Check the exact departure time and chosen duration when booking, since start times vary.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this trip to couples, families with older children, and groups of friends who want a simple day at sea with food already arranged. It works particularly well for people staying in Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, or other southern resorts covered by the pickup service.

You will probably like it if you want a mix of wildlife watching, coastal scenery, swimming, and casual social time. The crew’s warm service is repeatedly praised, and the atmosphere sounds friendly rather than formal.

It is less suitable if you want silence, privacy, or a luxury dining experience. It may also be a poor fit if you get seasick, dislike open-water swimming, or expect unlimited premium alcohol.

The cruise is also not designed as a dedicated snorkeling tour. The water stop is a pleasant extra, but the main product is the full boat outing, including scenery, marine life, lunch, and drinks.

Practical tips for a smoother day

• Arrive at your pickup point 10 minutes early. The coach may leave after a five-minute wait.
• Bring cash as well as a card. Payment connections can fail offshore.
• Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, swimwear, and a towel unless your selected upgrade confirms one is provided.
• Bring your own snorkel equipment if you want to use it.
• Tell the operator about vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergen-free food needs by the day before.
• If you are prone to seasickness, choose a reclining seat or consider the day bed option.
• Do not count on free wine, cocktails, or champagne. Beer, soft drinks, and water are the included drinks.
• Keep your camera ready around Punta Rasca, Diego Hernández Beach, Palm-Mar, and the resort coast.

Cancellation is flexible enough for normal holiday planning: you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now while paying later. The tour runs with live guides in English and Spanish.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart from?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

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

What drinks are included?

Unlimited beer, soft drinks, and water are included. Cocktails, wine, and champagne are not included.

What food is served?

The three-hour option includes a roast turkey sandwich, seasonal fruit, and cheesecake. The four-hour option includes those items plus a suckling pig burrito and vegetable dumplings.

Can I request a special meal?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free menus are available. You need to contact FIVESTARBOAT no later than the day before.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkel equipment is not included, so bring your own if you want to snorkel during the Diego Hernández Beach stop.

Should you book this Tenerife catamaran cruise?

I would book it if you want a well-organized half-day on the Atlantic with a good mix of scenery, wildlife watching, food, drinks, and swimming. The strongest reasons are the helpful crew, respectful approach to marine life, and the simple convenience of hotel transfers.

Choose the four-hour version if you want the fuller Canarian meal and more time to relax. Consider a VIP seat or day bed if you are prone to seasickness or want to lie down. Otherwise, the standard ticket at about $71 offers a solid package, as long as you understand that unlimited drinks means beer, soft drinks, and water, not an open bar of premium drinks.