Watching dolphins play around your boat is an unforgettable experience.
You don’t want to miss this opportunity?
Here’s all our advice to help you have the best possible experience:
- The best time to watch whales and dolphins on Lanzarote,
- The best boats and tour companies for you,
- What you need to know to make the most of it,
- …
We wish you unforgettable moments!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Best dolphin and whale watching tours in Lanzarote – short answer + video
If you don’t want to read the whole article, here are a few quick answers:
Video
Before we share our tips with you, here’s a video of one of our tricks. We were very lucky! It was that boat ride.
What’s the best way to see dolphins?
The only departure point for dolphin excursions is Puerto del Carmen marina.
Choose from 4 tour formats:
Note favorite:
Option 1 – Daytime speedboat – duration 1h30 with swimming
See details and availability
Option 2 – sunset speedboat – 2h30 with champagne
See details and availability
Option 3 – fast boat and Lobos Island – 5h with discovery of part of Lobos Island
See details and availability
Option 4 – Catamaran sunset cruise – 2h
See details and availability
There are resident dolphins all year round. Some say that June is the best month to see many of them, but we haven’t found confirmation.
Is it worth it?
Absolutely.
Of course, there’s no guarantee of seeing dolphins or whales, but in any case you’ll enjoy the beautiful views of the island and the pleasure of gliding along the water… And the excitement of looking off into the distance to catch a glimpse of a fin. And when you find them, it’s unforgettable!
This is a popular activity, so don’t wait until the last minute to book!
What species can you see around Lanzarote? When can I see them?
Whale and dolphin watching season
Numerous species of dolphins and whales visit the island in different seasons.
But all year round you have two resident species:
- Bottlenose dolphins
- Pilot dolphins
As a result, you can choose these tours all year round.
For whales, it’s less clear-cut. They are observed for a few days each month, by different species, but often by resident sperm whales.
Morning or afternoon?
Excursions take place in the morning, afternoon and at sunset.
There’s no better time to see dolphins and whales.
Whale sightings are uncommon, but the chances of seeing dolphins are very high throughout the day.
Lanzarote’s resident dolphins
In terms of probability, you’re more likely to see one of these 2 species:
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
This is the world’s best-known dolphin species. They are dark gray on the back and lighter on the belly.
Their average length is 2.7 meters (8.8 feet) for males and 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) for females. They live in groups of 10 to 30 members, called pods.
Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorinchus)
They are also known as pilot-whales. They belong to the delphinid family. These animals can grow to over 5 metres in length and weigh between 900 and 1,800 kg (1 to 2 tonnes). They have a highly developed forehead.
Other species
Otherwise, in the waters of the Canary Islands you can also observe, depending on the season:
- Common dolphins
- striped dolphins,
- rough-toothed dolphins,
- Risso’s dolphins
- Frasers’ dolphins
- …
Whales around the Canaries
Around the Canaries, the likelihood of seeing them is lower, but you do have..:
- Sperm whales
- Bryde’s roqual
- The common whale
- …
Which boat and tour to choose to see dolphins on Lanzarote?
There are different types of boats and tours for whale and dolphin watching. These excursions vary from 1h30 to 5 hours. But there’s a difference in price and additional activities.
Speedboat advantages
- Duration = 1h30 to 5h depending on the tour
- You can stand on the boat once it slows down to watch the dolphins.
- There are toilets on board
- The tour focuses on dolphin watching (for the full-day tour).
- Ideal for young children
- Hotel pick-up possible for the sunset and Lobos Island options, but not for the simple tour
Option 1
- Duration = 1h30
- during the day
- This includes swimming near the coast (we loved it)
- Check availability and book!
Option 2
- Duration = 2h30
- late afternoon
- This includes the sunset behind Lanzarote, champagne and cakes
- Check availability and book!
Option 3
- Duration = 5
- during the day
- This includes views along the south-east coast towards the island of Lobos
- A stop on the island of Lobos to visit a small part of it
- Check availability and book!
Advantages of a catamaran excursion
- Duration = 2h
- You can move around the boat
- Gentler on your back
- On-board toilets
- The pleasure of gliding on water
- More space for everyone to see the dolphins
- Canapés and drinks as the sun sets
- Hotel pick-up possible (Jandia peninsula)
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How to get to the port of Puerto del Carmen
All tours depart from the port of Puerto del Carmen.
It is located in :
- 30min from Playa Blanca
- 25min from Costa Teguise
Here is a map to help you find your way:
The parking lot isn’t huge, and bitcoin tours leave from here.
There’s no problem parking in the morning, but the closer you get to midday, the less space there is, especially in the high season (European vacation season).
Longer tours include bus transfers from most hotels in Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca.
To save time and explore the magnificent island of Lanzarote, we recommend renting a car. Driving is very easy in Lanzarote!
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
Swimming with dolphins in Lanzarote
In Lanzarote, no company offers a tour where you can get into the water when you come across a pod of dolphins.
Rancho Texas Park, on the other hand, is famous for its dolphin museum tunnel, shows and up-close sessions with dolphins.
We leave it to you to make your own choice about this kind of activity.
6 tips to enjoy your dolphin trip in Lanzarote
Once you’re ready for your whale-watching excursion, here are a few tips to consider to make the most of your experience: be comfortable, seize the moment and enjoy every second of it.
Tip 1 – Bring a jacket
Don’t forget that on a boat, you’re always outside, on the move. As a result, it’s windy. Even in summer, when it’s hot, you can get cold on a boat. I therefore recommend that you pack several layers of clothing, whatever the season, to keep warm.
An essential jacket. Personally, I always get cold feet, so I recommend bringing socks.
But take a small, water-resistant bag!
Tip 2 – Wear sunscreen
Because of the wind blowing over the boat, we sometimes don’t feel hot and don’t realize how much the sun is burning our skin.
The first thing to do before the tour starts is to apply sunscreen.
And if you’re going swimming, make sure you put some back on afterwards.
And don’t forget your feet. On a boat, they are as exposed as the rest of your body.
Sunglasses and a hat are also a good idea.
Tip 3 – Put on your jersey before the tour
For excursions involving swimming, you must wear your bathing suit under your clothes.
There’s not much space aboard the boats for changing. What’s more, you don’t want to miss a single second of the opportunity to bathe in such magnificent scenery.
Tip 4 – Managing seasickness
If you suffer easily from seasickness, don’t forget:
- Choose the stern of the boat
- Stay outside where the fresh air will help you
- Don’t eat too much before the boat trip.
- Look to the horizon
- Sip water slowly if you feel nauseous.
Some say that outboards trigger less seasickness. We think it depends on the sailing conditions.
Tip 5 – Photographing
Take your camera with you. It’s best to have one with a good zoom.
But don’t forget that whales and dolphins move very fast.
The best option is to take lots of photos. Take lots of photos and look at them after the tour to see if you got a good one.
And be sure to fasten your device securely to your neck or wrist, as some waves do shake the boat.
But don’t forget to enjoy the experience. Taking a photo isn’t the most important thing.
Tip 6 – Behavior
If you are lucky enough to encounter whales and/or dolphins, we recommend the following:
- Do not feed them
- Don’t pass in the middle of a group of whales – stay around them.
- Do not approach closer than 100m
- Keep noise to a minimum
- Avoid sudden changes in direction or speed
