Whale & Dolphin Watching With Mustcat Virgin Coast Trip On a Large Catamaran

The main draw is simple: you spend three hours on the sea looking for whales and dolphins, then stop in a sheltered bay for a swim. The Mustcat catamaran leaves southern Tenerife, serves food and drinks, and gives you a pleasant break from the busy resort strip.

I like the open bar and meal, since they keep the price from creeping up once you are aboard. I also like the relaxed mix of wildlife watching and swimming. The main catch is nature’s timetable: you may see whales but no dolphins, and sightings are never guaranteed.

Key points to know before booking

• Three hours on a large catamaran: The trip combines wildlife watching, a swim stop, and a return cruise without taking up your whole day.
• Whale and dolphin search: The crew heads toward areas where marine life has been seen and explains the species around Tenerife.
• Food and open bar included: Alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks are part of the package, along with food served during the outing.
• Swimming near Palm Mar cave: After the wildlife portion, the boat anchors near a small bay or Palm Mar cave for free time in the water.
• Up to 70 people aboard: This is a shared boat trip, not a small private sailing.
• Weather can change the plan: Poor conditions may lead to a new date or a full refund, but the standard booking is otherwise non-refundable.

Setting out from southern Tenerife

The stated meeting point is at Av. de Colón 11 in Playa de las Américas, while the boat itself leaves from the marina at Las Galletas. Both places are in southern Tenerife, but you should check the exact boarding instructions after booking so you know where to go.

The area is served by public transportation, which helps if you are staying around Playa de las Américas or nearby resorts. Allow enough time to reach the marina or meeting point. A boat trip is not the place to arrive at the last minute with sunscreen still in your bag.

Once aboard the large catamaran, you have room to settle in and watch the coast slide past. The boat is designed for a shared outing, with space for as many as 70 people. That size makes the trip easy to book for couples, families, and mixed groups, but it also means you should not expect the quiet feel of a private charter.

The first part of the journey is focused on finding marine life. The crew takes the boat toward waters where whales and dolphins have been seen before. That gives the outing a clear purpose, rather than turning it into a general cruise with wildlife as an afterthought.

Searching for whales and dolphins

The wildlife search is the heart of the trip, but it is also the part you need to approach with realistic expectations. The crew can guide you toward areas with past sightings, explain the species that live around Tenerife, and point out activity on the water. They cannot make a whale or dolphin appear on schedule.

One account of the trip describes seeing three small whales but no dolphins. That is useful context. You may have a worthwhile encounter without seeing every animal named in the title, and the views from the water still add value. At the same time, if your only goal is a close dolphin sighting, this outing carries the usual uncertainty of any wildlife trip.

The crew gives information about the animals you encounter and the species found around the island. That turns quiet stretches into a learning experience, especially if you are curious about the sea rather than simply waiting for a dramatic breach.

Bring patience. You may spend time scanning the horizon, watching seabirds, and waiting for the crew to direct your attention. Keep your phone or camera ready, but do not let the search keep you from enjoying the open water. Marine wildlife does not pose for photographs, and a brief sighting can be easy to miss.

The trip’s strongest point is its balance. You are not locked into a full-day wildlife expedition. After the search, the boat heads to a bay, giving you a second activity even if the animals are elusive.

A swim near Palm Mar cave

After the wildlife portion, Mustcat anchors near a small bay or Palm Mar cave. This is where the outing shifts from watching the sea to enjoying it directly.

The stop gives you free time to swim, provided conditions allow. The setting is described as a beautiful bay, with the coast and cave adding interest to what could otherwise be a basic stop offshore. You get a different view of Tenerife from the water, and the pause breaks up the three-hour cruise nicely.

I would treat the swim as a bonus rather than the main reason to book. The exact feel of the stop depends on the day, the weather, and sea conditions. The available details do not promise snorkeling equipment, beach access, or a long swim period, so bring your expectations down to a simple boat-based swim.

If you do not want to enter the water, you can still enjoy the anchored stop from the catamaran. The boat provides a place to rest, eat, have a drink, and look back toward the coast. Families and mixed groups may appreciate this flexibility, since not everyone needs to swim to enjoy the break.

A towel, swimsuit, sun protection, and a dry bag for valuables make sense. These are practical suggestions rather than listed inclusions, so check what you already have before boarding. Food and drinks are supplied, but personal beach items are not described as part of the package.

Food and the open bar

The included food and open bar are a real part of the value here. Many boat trips advertise a low starting price and then leave you paying for every drink. This one includes alcoholic drinks, other beverages, and food, so you can spend the cruise without watching a running tab.

At $58.17 per person, the package is best judged as a three-hour outing with four elements: boat time, wildlife watching, a swim stop, and refreshments. If you would have bought lunch and several drinks during the same afternoon, the included extras make the fare more attractive.

The description calls the food delicious, but it does not provide a menu. You should not book this expecting a particular dish or a full restaurant meal. Think of it as onboard food served during the cruise, useful for keeping the outing easy and self-contained.

The open bar also changes the mood. You can enjoy a beer, wine, or another included drink while watching the coast, but moderation still matters on a moving boat and before swimming. If you are traveling with children or do not drink alcohol, the food and nonalcoholic options still matter more than the alcohol label.

One practical advantage is that you do not need to plan a separate lunch around the excursion. The boat leaves, searches for wildlife, anchors for the swim and food service, then returns to the same general starting point.

What the three-hour schedule feels like

The stated duration is about three hours. That is long enough for the boat to reach wildlife areas and make a proper swim stop, but short enough to combine with another Tenerife plan.

The sequence is straightforward:

• You meet at the stated southern Tenerife location and board the catamaran.
• The boat leaves the marina and heads toward areas where whales and dolphins have been spotted.
• The crew shares information about local marine life and helps you watch for activity.
• The catamaran anchors near a small bay or Palm Mar cave.
• You swim, eat, and enjoy the open bar.
• The boat returns to the meeting point.

This order makes practical sense. Wildlife watching works best before people settle into the swim and meal portion, while anchoring later gives you a clear pause before the ride back.

The schedule may not run like a clock. Wildlife sightings, sea conditions, and anchoring all depend on the day. Keep the rest of your plans flexible, even though the trip itself is only around three hours. The provider says the activity ends back at the meeting point, which makes it easier to plan a later meal or resort afternoon.

How the catamaran affects the experience

A large catamaran offers a stable platform compared with a smaller boat, though no vessel is completely still at sea. You can move around, look for marine life from different positions, and enjoy the wide view as the boat travels.

The maximum group size is 70 people. That is not a tiny sailing, and you will share the boat with a substantial group. The benefit is a lower price than many private or small-group charters. The tradeoff is less personal space and less direct attention than you would receive on a small vessel.

The catamaran itself earns positive attention for the overall ride, and the crew is described as very friendly. That matters on a wildlife trip. A pleasant crew can make the quiet waiting periods easier and help you understand what you are looking at when something appears.

There are no named guides provided, so you should not book this expecting a particular guide or captain. The important service is the crew’s wildlife information and help locating animals. The trip is offered daily, giving you some flexibility when choosing a date.

Price, group size, and overall value

At $58.17 per person, this sits in the middle of the market for a three-hour sea excursion, though exact comparisons depend on what other operators include. Here, the price covers the catamaran trip, wildlife search, crew information, food, an open bar, and a swim stop.

That bundle is strongest for you if you want a social outing with several parts. You get more than a simple boat ride, but you also avoid paying for a full-day excursion when you only want a half-day taste of Tenerife’s coast.

The value is less certain if whale and dolphin sightings are your only priority. No operator can promise animals, and the available experience included whales but no dolphins. If the search produces little, the food, views, and swim stop become the main reasons the outing still feels worthwhile.

The maximum of 70 people is worth weighing against the price. A group this size can make boarding and swimming feel less intimate, but it keeps the cost accessible. I would choose it for a relaxed shared cruise, not for privacy or a personal naturalist experience.

The trip is booked an average of 80 days ahead, which suggests that popular dates may fill early. You do not need to wait until your holiday begins to decide. If your dates are fixed, booking ahead is sensible, especially for busy periods.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

This outing suits you if you want a simple introduction to Tenerife’s sea life without giving up a whole day. It works well for couples, families, and friends who like the idea of combining wildlife watching with swimming and drinks.

It is also a good fit if you want your costs mostly settled before you board. The food and open bar remove the need to carry money for every refreshment, and the return to the starting point keeps the plan easy.

You may want another option if you need a quiet, private boat, a guaranteed dolphin sighting, or a tightly timed itinerary. The group can reach 70 people, the animals are wild, and the standard booking cannot be changed or refunded for personal reasons.

Most people can participate, and the activity is near public transportation. The supplied information does not give specific details about step-free access, boarding assistance, or swimming requirements, so ask the provider directly if those points affect your choice.

Weather, cancellations, and booking cautions

This experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The trip also needs a minimum number of participants, and if that minimum is not reached, you will be offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Your own booking is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. Read that condition carefully before paying, especially if your Tenerife schedule is uncertain.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. Since the trip is booked well ahead on average, do not assume that your preferred date is secure until confirmation arrives.

The meeting information names Playa de las Américas, while the operating description places departure at Las Galletas marina. Confirm the exact departure point and arrival time in your booking details. This is the most important practical detail to settle before the day.

Should you book the Mustcat catamaran?

Book it if you want a three-hour sea outing with food, drinks, wildlife watching, and a swim stop in one package. The friendly crew, good coastal views, and easy format give you several ways to enjoy the day even if dolphins stay out of sight.

Skip it if a guaranteed animal encounter, small group, or private service matters more than the included extras. The most honest way to view this trip is as a balanced coastal cruise with a chance to see whales and dolphins, not as a promise of a wildlife spectacle.

FAQ

Where does the Mustcat whale and dolphin trip start?

The meeting point provided is Av. de Colón 11, 38660 Playa de las Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The boat is described as leaving from the marina in Las Galletas, so confirm the precise boarding location after booking.

How long does the activity last?

The trip lasts approximately three hours and returns to the meeting point.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The experience includes food and an open bar with alcoholic drinks and other beverages.

Will I definitely see whales and dolphins?

No. The crew searches in areas where whales and dolphins have been spotted and provides information about local marine life, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Is swimming included?

Yes. The catamaran anchors near a small bay or Palm Mar cave, where you have free time to swim before returning to the marina.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, you will be offered a different date, another experience, or a full refund.