Best tours to see Dolphins in La Palma

Among the best things to see and do on La Palma is dolphin watching in the coastal area. On tours and excursions starting at the marina in Puerto de Tazacorte, you can see dolphins and whales, as well as other spots on the island such as Cueva Bonita, Puntagorda, Tijarafe and Porís de Candelaria

On these excursions you can also learn about the island's marine flora, its volcanoes, the volcanic sand that nourishes the beaches and the variety of cetaceans that can be found in the waters around the coasts of La Palma.

These are the most popular dolphin watching excursions off the coast of La Palma and start at the marina in Puerto de Tazacorte. On a boat tour with a capacity of more than 100 people you will enjoy a boat trip while the local expert guide tells you all about the local cetaceans and the local fauna.

The main focus of these excursions is the sighting of dolphins, but also, depending on the weather conditions, whales, killer whales, beaked whales and sperm whales. During the tour you will usually also visit the famous Cueva Bonita de La Palma, a rock shelter that was shaped by the erosion of the ocean.

These tours last approximately three hours, can be done in the morning or afternoon and are one of the best excursions for families or if you plan to visit the island with children. They are also quick excursions, ideal if you are planning a short stay in the Canary Islands. If that is your case, here is a list of activities to do during a 3-day visit to La Palma

Weather permitting, these excursions also usually include a stop at one of the beaches on the coast of La Palma for a swim and a walk along the Lava Delta.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They cost approximately 47 euros, including the assistance of the local guide, the boat trip and the sighting of dolphins and other cetaceans of the local fauna.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... Good value for money and ideal for families and children.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... Sighting dolphins and swimming on a coastal beach always depends on weather conditions.

If you want to take a ride on a glass bottom boat, see dolphins and other cetaceans and get up close to the solidified lava of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, these excursions could be ideal for you. From the marina of Puerto de Tazacorte you can board one of the small catamarans that will take you on an underwater adventure.

These excursions have the advantage of using small boats, so you will have the chance to see the dolphins, whales and killer whales from a closer point than the larger boats have access to. You can also see the marine activity in the clear waters off the coast of La Palma through the glass bottom of the catamarans in an experience that will amaze you.

Thanks to the glass bottom of the boat you can also see rays, sharks, colourful fish, corals, octopus and other inhabitants of the marine fauna of the Canary Islands that cannot be seen on the surface.

On the way back to Puerto de Tazacorte, the boat passes near the solidified lava remains of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, the crater that guards the island and which frequently erupts.

Interesting details

• Price of these excursions... They cost approximately 55 euros for adults and 30 euros for children between the ages of 4 and 12. Children under the age of 3 accompanied by a responsible adult are free.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 2 hours and a half.
• Advantages of these excursions... As it is a smaller boat, you can get closer to the dolphins and whales and with the glass bottom you can see animals that do not come to the surface, such as sharks and rays.

On these excursions, in addition to dolphin and whale watching, you will be able to see other parts of the coast of La Palma on board a fast catamaran that will allow you an intense tour of the main attractions of the island.

After leaving the port of Tazacorte, the first stop is usually at Cueva Bonita and then the tour continues to Porís de Candelaria, one of the most beautiful places on the Isla Bonita, which stands out for the small houses carved into the rocks and the crystalline waters that form natural pools on the shore.

On these tours you will also visit the paradisiacal Playa de la Veta, Tijarafe, Cueva Colorada and the harbour of Puntagorda, one of the most westerly points of La Palma. On the way back you can go dolphin, whale, orca and other cetacean spotting and enjoy the bar on board while you enjoy the Canarian sun.

These excursions last approximately two hours, so they are perfect if you are planning a short stay on the island and want to get the most out of your visit by seeing several places on the same day. If you want to discover La Palma in 5 days, here is an itinerary with the main attractions to visit.

Interesting details

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate cost of 60 euros, including the walk, the stops and the whale watching.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... It is the best alternative to get to know the main sites of the west coast of La Palma in a short time.

On these private sailing excursions from the marina of Puerto de Tazacorte you can not only watch dolphins and whales, but also organise your own itinerary along the coast of La Palma to get to know some of its main attractions, such as Cueva Bonita or Porís de Candelaria.

Sailing tours are often more enjoyable than on board a catamaran or a larger boat and will give you the chance to interact directly with the crew, learning the secrets of the ocean and the legends surrounding the Canary Islands. During the duration of the excursion, which is usually about 4 hours, you will be able to decide the route of the trip.

This is one of the best tours on La Palma because you can travel at your own pace in a group of up to 6 people, accompanied by the crew and in some cases lunch is included.

Interesting details

• Price of these excursions... They have an initial cost of 90 euros per person in groups of 6 tourists and include the assistance of the crew and, in some cases, lunch.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 4 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You can choose the itinerary along the west coast of La Palma and travel at your own pace.
• Advantagesof these excursions... They can be costly options.

When booking a dolphin watching excursion you should be aware of the difference between the different types of boats as this could change your experience.

On a sailboat or small catamaran you will be able to watch the dolphins and whales from closer positions, whereas larger boats will be further away from the whales and dolphins, but will be able to look for sightings in the deeper parts of the ocean.

Sailing experiences tend to be more pleasant, as the sailing is more serene, although it is the type of boat with the shortest deep-water travel and on days with adverse weather conditions, when the cetaceans are far offshore, you may not get to see the dolphins.

You can book a dolphin watching tour in La Palma in advance online or book it once you are on the island, although you should be aware that if you plan to visit the Canaries during the summer or high season months, tours may sell out or prices may increase at the last minute.

If you book in advance you can arrange a travel plan that includes dolphin watching as well as other excursions further away from the island, such as those that include a full day tour of Lanzarote. If you are planning a 5 day stay on La Palma here is a list of activities so that you can organise an itinerary.

It depends on the excursion you book, but dolphin watching tours along the coast of La Palma last between 2 and 4 hours and also include a visit to some of the main sites on the west coast of the island, such as Porís de Candelaria, Cueva Bonita or Puerto de Puntagorda.

The quickest excursions are catamaran trips, while the longest tours are those that include a private sailing trip with an itinerary planned by the visitor.

On these excursions you will be able to see dolphins, orcas, whales and beaked whales as well as the main sites on the west coast of La Palma, such as Porís de Candelaria, Cueva Bonita, Puerto de Puntagorda, Tijarafe, Playa de la Veta and Cueva Colorada.

You can also see the Lava Delta and the Cumbre Vieja volcano, which together with the Roque de los Muchachos and the Timanfaya National Park is one of the main attractions of the Canary Islands.

On glass-bottom catamaran trips you can also see some of the marine animals that don't come to the surface, such as sharks, rays, goldfish and octopus.

If you are planning to visit La Palma during the summer or during the high season months I advise you to book your dolphin watching excursions well in advance to avoid selling out or last minute price increases.

Also bear in mind that the success of the whale watching excursion depends on the weather conditions, so if you can analyse this before you book the tour you will have a better experience.

If you are planning a short stay in La Palma, I advise you to opt for one of the fast catamaran options to discover as many sites on the west coast of the island in less time as possible.

I also recommend that you don't miss a visit to Porís de Candelaria, Tijarafe, Puerto de Puntagorda or Playa de la Veta.

It depends on the excursion chosen, but the cheapest options have an initial cost of 47 euros and consist of a tour aboard a boat with 100 other people to see dolphins, whales and other cetaceans of the fauna of the Canary Islands.

The glass-bottom catamaran tours cost approximately 55 euros and the fast catamaran tour options cost approximately 60 euros.

The most expensive excursions are the private sailing tours along the coast of La Palma, with an itinerary chosen by the group of visitors, and have a starting price of 90 euros per person, in groups of 6 tourists, although they usually include the assistance of the boat crew and also lunch.

The coast of La Palma has one of the most varied marine fauna in Spain, as it is home to the natural habitat of more than 30 species of cetaceans, including dolphins, whales, killer whales and sperm whales, which provide a spectacle for the whole family during sightings.

This activity, which is ideal if you are planning to visit the Canary Islands with children, can only be done by hiring an excursion.

On the other hand, the excursions include the assistance of an expert local guide or crew members, so you will not only live the experience of the sightings but the guides will also tell you why La Palma is known as the Isla Bonita and is considered one of the paradisiacal places in Spain.