Tenerife: Shared Yacht Cruise with Champagne and Tapas

This is a small yacht trip with a big advantage: you get open-water views and a proper swim stop without being packed onto a large excursion boat. The Beneteau Antares 42 leaves Puerto Colon at 10:30 AM, then follows Tenerife’s southern coast before stopping near La Caleta.

I like the small group limit of 10, which gives you room to stretch out and makes it easier to chat with the crew. I also like the useful mix of pleasures: champagne and tapas for the relaxed part, then paddleboards, snorkeling gear, and sea scooters when you want some action.

The main thing to consider is the sea itself. This is not a good choice if you are prone to seasickness, and sightings of dolphins or whales can never be promised. One other practical note: the trip needs at least four people to run, so a low booking count can lead to a new date.

Key points at a glance

• A 42-foot Beneteau yacht: You sail on a proper cruising yacht rather than a large party boat.
• A real small-group feel: The maximum is 10 people, and groups of six or fewer can feel especially spacious.
• Food and drinks included: Champagne, wine, beer, soft drinks, water, baguettes, tortilla española, jamón, cheese, and fruit are part of the price.
• La Caleta swim stop: Plan on time for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and using the sea scooters.
• Wildlife watching: Dolphins, pilot whales, sea turtles, flying fish, and other marine life have been spotted, though nature makes no promises.
• A $100 half-day outing: For three hours of sailing, food, drinks, equipment, crew, and fuel, the price is strong if you value comfort over a large-scale cruise.

Setting sail from Puerto Colon

You meet at Puerto Colon Pantalán No. 2, at the top by the gate, 15 minutes before departure. Puerto Colon is in the Playa de las Américas area, so check the exact route from your hotel before setting off. Pickup can be added from selected hotels, but it is an option rather than an automatic part of every booking.

Once aboard, you receive a glass of champagne. It is a pleasant start, but the real appeal is having three hours with no separate bill for each drink. Champagne, wine, beer, soft drinks, and water are included, so you can settle into the boat without watching the clock or counting purchases.

The yacht is the Beneteau Antares 42, a vessel suited to a relaxed coastal cruise. You can sit on deck, watch Tenerife recede, and take in the southern coastline from the water. The setting feels more personal than a large sightseeing boat, though you should not mistake a shared yacht for a private charter unless your group happens to fill the booking.

The crew may include captains and guides such as Juan, Maxi, Michelle, Martina, Juan, Raúl, or Eduardo. The names vary, but the important point is that the team handles the boat, serves the food and drinks, explains the area, and helps you use the water equipment.

What $100 buys you on the water

At $100 per person, this cruise sits above a basic sightseeing boat but below the cost of hiring a yacht privately. That is the point of the experience. You share the boat, but you still receive the feel of a more personal outing, with a maximum of 10 people and a full crew.

Your price covers the three-hour charter, fuel, captain, crew, safety equipment, welcome champagne, drinks, tapas, snorkeling gear, paddleboard use, and sea scooters. You also have the chance to watch for dolphins and other marine life.

That package gives the price real weight. A cheaper boat trip might get you out on the water, but it may not include unlimited drinks, a sit-down spread of Spanish snacks, or room for everyone to use water gear. A private yacht would offer more control and privacy, but the cost would be much higher.

The value is strongest for couples, friends, and small families who want a polished morning rather than an all-day sailing charter. It is less compelling if you mainly want a serious water-sports session, since the cruise divides its time between sailing, wildlife watching, food, and the swim stop.

The tapas spread and all-inclusive drinks

The food is simple, Spanish, and well suited to a boat. Expect fresh baguettes, tortilla española, Spanish jamón, cheese, and fruit. This is not a formal lunch with multiple courses, but it is more substantial than a few packaged snacks.

The tortilla española is the most local touch. This classic Spanish potato omelet travels well and makes sense at sea, where neat, sturdy food is easier to serve than anything fussy. Jamón, cheese, bread, and fruit round out the spread.

Several people have found the food plentiful, with one small complaint about crisps running out. Another useful point is dietary choice: one person suggested adding more vegetarian sandwiches or wraps instead of relying heavily on ham. If you do not eat meat, contact the provider before booking and ask what can be arranged. The supplied information confirms the standard food, but not a dedicated vegetarian menu.

The drinks are a major part of the mood. Champagne is available from the welcome glass onward, along with wine, beer, water, and soft drinks. Most people can choose to sip slowly and enjoy the view, but the free-flowing alcohol can change the character of the trip. If you want a quiet, nature-focused outing, keep your own pace and remember that the boat can move even when the drinks are flowing.

The first 45 minutes: coastline and marine life

The opening stretch is a mix of cruising, sightseeing, and wildlife watching. The crew gives a safety briefing and may explain what you are seeing along Tenerife’s coast and offshore waters.

This is when you should keep your camera and sunglasses handy. The boat provides a moving view of the island, and the crew may point out dolphins, pilot whales, turtles, flying fish, or other sea life. Several outings have included dolphins and pilot whales, while some groups have also seen sea turtles and whales.

Still, wildlife is the part of the day you cannot control. The crew can search and explain what appears, but no responsible operator can guarantee a particular species. If the boat does not find dolphins, you still have the coastline, the yacht, the food, and the swim stop, but you should book this as a yacht cruise with wildlife potential, not as a guaranteed whale safari.

The sea can also be choppy. One person who became seasick received help from the crew, including advice about where to sit. If you are sensitive, take that warning seriously. The trip specifically is not suitable for people prone to seasickness, and sitting in a stable position can help, but it cannot remove the risk.

La Caleta and the main water stop

The cruise spends about 90 minutes around La Caleta, making this the heart of the outing. Here you have time for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and the provided sea scooters, subject to conditions and the crew’s instructions.

This break gives the trip a useful rhythm. You are not simply sitting with a drink for three hours. After the first coastal run, you can get into the Atlantic, explore at your own pace, or stay aboard and watch the others.

The paddleboard is a good choice if you want gentle activity and a view back toward the yacht. The sea scooters offer a more playful way to move through the water. Snorkeling gear lets you look for marine life beneath the surface, though the trip does not promise a particular underwater sight.

Bring swimwear and a towel. Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a camera are also sensible. You may want to apply sunscreen before boarding, then reapply after swimming. The sun can feel mild when the boat is moving, but you are exposed on deck and near the water.

The water stop is not always the same in every practical detail. One person expected more water activities, and another noted that the slide shown in some photos was not available, although other equipment was provided. The supplied details confirm paddleboards and sea scooters, but you should not book expecting a slide or a full water park.

There is also a useful distinction about timing. The itinerary allows around 90 minutes at La Caleta, but individual conditions can affect how much of that time you spend swimming or using equipment. Follow the crew’s instructions, especially around currents, boat traffic, and wildlife.

The final 45 minutes back to Puerto Colon

The return run gives you another 45 minutes of cruising and sightseeing. This is a good time to dry off, finish the tapas, and enjoy a final drink while the crew continues watching the water.

The yacht returns to Puerto Colon, with drop-off at Pantalán No. 2. Some arrangements also list Playa de las Américas as a drop-off location. If you selected hotel pickup, wait outside your hotel reception at the agreed time for a staff member to approach you. Since pickup is optional, confirm your selected option rather than assuming transport is included.

The trip ends where it began, which makes it easy to plan around a morning in the resort area. At three hours, it leaves the rest of your day open for lunch, the beach, or another Tenerife activity.

How personal is a shared yacht?

The group size is one of the strongest reasons to choose this outing. With a maximum of 10 people, you are not competing with dozens of other passengers for a seat, a drink, or a turn on the paddleboard.

A group of six can feel especially comfortable. A group of four may find the boat almost private, although the experience remains a shared charter in principle. One booking with only five people became a private-style outing because no one else joined.

That small scale also helps the crew notice when someone needs assistance. The team has helped people feeling seasick and has kept an eye on swimmers. Guides such as Juan, Maxi, Michelle, and Raúl have been praised for explaining local wildlife and respecting animals by not approaching pilot whales too closely.

Do not expect a formal lecture, though. The information comes naturally during the cruise, while the crew is steering, serving food, or pointing out wildlife. English and Spanish are the tour languages.

The best reasons to book, and the limits to know

I would choose this cruise for the blend of comfort and activity. You get a proper yacht setting, but you do not have to commit to a private charter. You also get enough time in the water to make swimwear worthwhile, rather than simply looking at the sea from a deck.

The crew is another strong point. Reports of Juan, Maxi, Michelle, Raúl, Martina, and Eduardo describe attentive service and useful local information. Names and crew combinations can change, but the standard is clear: expect the staff to manage the boat, explain the area, keep drinks moving, and help with equipment.

The main limitation is that the advertised experience can sound more action-packed than it is. This is still a food-and-sailing outing first. The water equipment is an added benefit, not the entire purpose of the trip. One person found the water-sports offering less extensive than expected, and another noted that the slide shown in photos was absent.

The second limitation is the uncertainty of wildlife. You may see dolphins, pilot whales, turtles, or even flying fish, but you may also have a quieter day. That is not a failure of the cruise. It is simply the nature of watching wild animals at sea.

Who will enjoy this most?

I recommend it for couples wanting a relaxed half-day together, friends who like a drink with a swim, and families with older children who can follow water-safety instructions. It also suits people who want a more personal alternative to Tenerife’s larger boat excursions.

It is particularly good for a small group celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or final holiday morning. The champagne, tapas, and open deck give the outing a special feel without the full cost of booking the whole yacht.

I would be more cautious if you have strong seasickness, want guaranteed whale watching, or expect a full range of slides and motorized water toys. The crew can help with discomfort, but the sea remains the sea.

Book at least 24 hours ahead if your plans are firm, since cancellation is free up to that point and the trip requires a minimum of four people. If fewer than four book, you are rescheduled for another day. That condition is easy to overlook, but it matters if your Tenerife schedule is tight.

Should you book this Tenerife yacht cruise?

Yes, if you want a small, comfortable coastal outing with food, drinks, wildlife watching, and a genuine swim stop. At $100, the inclusion of the yacht, crew, fuel, tapas, drinks, and water equipment makes it a fair deal, especially compared with a private charter.

Book it for the whole mix, not for one guaranteed feature. The dolphins may appear, the pilot whales may be offshore, and the sea turtles may show themselves, but your reliable pleasures are the yacht, the coastline, the La Caleta stop, the tapas, and the small group.

If you are prone to seasickness or mainly want intense water sports, choose something else. For everyone else, this is one of the more appealing ways to spend three hours off Tenerife’s southern coast.

FAQ

Where does the yacht cruise depart from?

The meeting point is Puerto Colon, Pantalán No. 2. Go to the top where the gate is and arrive 15 minutes before departure.

How long does the yacht trip last?

The shared yacht cruise lasts three hours.

What time does the cruise depart?

The stated departure time is 10:30 AM. Check availability when booking because starting times can vary.

How many people can join the cruise?

The small group is limited to 10 participants.

How many people are needed for the cruise to operate?

At least four people must book for the trip to go ahead. If fewer than four book, you will be rescheduled for another day.

What food is included?

The tapas selection includes baguettes, tortilla española, Spanish jamón, cheese, and fresh fruit.

Which drinks are included?

Champagne, wine, beer, soft drinks, and water are included.

Can I swim or use water equipment?

Yes. The trip includes access to a paddleboard, sea scooters, and snorkeling gear, with time near La Caleta for swimming and water activities.

Is wildlife watching guaranteed?

No. The trip provides opportunities to look for dolphins and other marine life, but sightings are not guaranteed.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, a camera, and sunscreen.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is available if you select that option. Wait outside your hotel reception at the agreed time for a staff member to approach you.

What languages are spoken?

The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.