Tenerife: Catamaran Cruise with an Open Bar

The best reason to book this cruise is the chance to see pilot whales and dolphins from the water, then swim directly from the catamaran at Masca Bay. The longer trip also brings you close to the towering Cliffs of Los Gigantes, one of Tenerife’s most striking coastal sights.

I like the easy half-day format and the friendly, attentive crew, especially if you choose hotel pickup. I also like the choice between a shorter snack-and-drinks sailing and a longer cruise with lunch and an open bar. The main drawback is that the food can be poor, and the boat’s music may be too loud if you want a quiet day at sea.

Key points

• The 4.5-hour cruise reaches Los Gigantes and Masca Bay, while the 3-hour trip is a shorter coastal outing.
• Pilot whales and dolphins are commonly seen, but wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.
• Swimming is from a full set of lowering steps, making the water stop easier than climbing over a boat’s side.
• The longer cruise includes lunch and unlimited drinks, while the 3-hour option offers snacks, a sandwich, drinks, and bubbly.
• A double sunbed costs an extra €25, an important charge to know before you board.
• The toilet is reached by steep, vertical wooden ladder steps, which may be difficult for anyone with limited mobility.

Choosing between the 3-hour and 4.5-hour cruise

This experience really offers two different outings. The 3-hour cruise is a relaxed taste of life on the water. You can arrive at the marina on your own or use pickup from selected hotels in southern Tenerife. Once aboard the Freebird catamaran, you have time for coastal views, snacks, a sandwich, drinks, and bubbly.

I would choose this shorter version if you want a gentle morning or afternoon without giving up most of your day. It is also the safer choice if you are not sure how you handle a longer time at sea. The tradeoff is clear: you do not get the full Los Gigantes route, the longer swimming stop, or the included lunch.

The 4.5-hour sailing is the fuller experience. It follows more of Tenerife’s western coast, passes the Cliffs of Los Gigantes, looks for whales and dolphins, stops at Masca Bay, and includes a buffet meal. At $55 per person, that longer option can be good value if you make use of the food, drinks, and swimming stop.

The price is less appealing if you only want a short scenic boat ride. Also, the advertised open bar does not mean every extra is covered. A double sunbed costs €25, so two people can share the charge, but you should not assume a premium lounging spot is part of the basic fare.

Boarding the Freebird at southern Tenerife

The cruise begins at a picturesque marina. You can make your own way there, or request hotel pickup if you are staying in the south of Tenerife. Pickup is not available from every hotel, and rural areas are excluded, so check the assigned meeting point before booking.

The transfer is by air-conditioned coach. That is useful after a sunny day on deck, and it removes the need to arrange transport to the marina yourself. One passenger who used a walking stick was given a designated coach seat and boarded the boat early, which shows that the crew can provide practical help when arrangements are made.

Still, the boat is not fully easy-access. The toilet is reached by fully vertical wooden ladder steps. If you have mobility limitations, ask about the facilities before paying, and do not assume that early boarding solves every access problem.

At the marina, an English- or Spanish-speaking host or greeter helps get the group aboard. The Freebird is a deluxe catamaran with an open upper deck, seating, and room to watch the coast as it slips past.

What the western coast looks like from the water

Tenerife’s western coast has a different feel from the resort areas farther south. From the catamaran, you see the island’s curving shoreline from a low, open viewpoint, with bright water, steep coastal rock, and long stretches without buildings right at the edge.

The top deck is the place to be for the best views. Bring a layer even on a warm day, since the boat’s movement creates a breeze. You can also retreat from the sun when you have had enough, though the exact seating arrangement depends on the boat and how busy the sailing is.

The longer trip reaches the Cliffs of Los Gigantes, known in Spanish as Acantilados de Los Gigantes. Their sheer pale sides drop toward the ocean, and seeing them from below gives you a better sense of their scale than a roadside viewpoint. This is one of the strongest reasons to select the 4.5-hour route.

The scenery is not the only attraction. On the water, the crew keeps watch for dolphins, pilot whales, and seabirds. Pilot whales have been seen close to the boat, creating the sort of encounter that can make the cruise memorable even if the food or music falls short.

Keep your expectations sensible. Wildlife is frequently sighted in these waters, but no boat trip can promise a whale or dolphin encounter. If animals matter most to you, the longer sailing gives you more time at sea and therefore more opportunity, but it remains a matter of luck and conditions.

Masca Bay and the swim from the catamaran

On the 4.5-hour cruise, the boat heads toward Masca Bay and drops anchor for a swim. The catamaran has a full set of steps that lowers into the water, a practical feature that makes getting in and out easier than jumping from a high side or using a narrow ladder.

The bay offers a welcome break after time in the sun. You can cool off, look below the surface, and see some marine life in the water. You should bring your own swimming gear if you want to explore beneath the surface, since snorkeling equipment is not provided.

This is not a guided snorkeling session. The activity information promises a swim stop and marine life, not instruction, specialist gear, or a protected snorkeling site. If you are not a confident swimmer, take that into account before getting in.

After the swim, you can dry off on the sun-warmed deck. The boat then continues its route while you settle in for lunch. This rhythm works well: scenery first, water time second, food and a slower ride home afterward.

Food, drinks, and the open-bar details

The 4.5-hour sailing includes unlimited drinks from the onboard bar. Beer and soda are specifically available, and the overall package also describes drinks more broadly. This makes the longer cruise easier to budget, especially if you expect to spend several hours in the sun.

Lunch includes chicken, rice, or meatballs, with the menu described as a buffet. The food fills a practical need, but I would not book this experience for a memorable meal. One passenger found the chicken balls unpleasant and the rice nearly gone, while another found the lunch edible but not very enjoyable.

That mixed experience tells you how to think about the meal: it is included fuel, not a restaurant stop. Eat a proper breakfast, and consider carrying any permitted personal snack if you are particular about food. Do not count on every buffet tray staying full throughout the service.

The 3-hour version is different. It includes snacks, a sandwich, drinks, and bubbly rather than the longer cruise’s lunch service. If a full meal matters to you, select the longer option and check the current menu details before booking.

Music is part of the atmosphere. It can help create a social boat-party mood, but loud music may continue while the boat is moving. I would choose this cruise for company, sun, and an upbeat setting rather than for a quiet sailing experience.

Sunbeds, seating, and the day-to-day practicalities

You can sit on the catamaran’s deck, but a double sunbed costs an extra €25. That charge is not a major issue if two people share it and plan to spend most of the cruise stretched out, but it changes the real price of the outing for anyone expecting a premium seat.

Arrive ready for sun. The upper deck is the natural place to watch the coast and scan the water, but several hours outside can become tiring. Bring sun protection and a cover-up, and keep your phone or camera secure around the swim stop.

The catamaran is suited to people who enjoy a social group atmosphere. It is not presented as a small, private sailing trip. The open bar, music, shared buffet, and sunbed charge all point to a casual boat-party style rather than a quiet charter.

That style will suit you if you want an easy activity with little planning. It may not suit you if you dislike group outings, want a silent trip, or expect a polished gourmet lunch.

Who will get the most from this cruise

I would recommend the 4.5-hour sailing to couples, families with older children, and anyone who wants several parts to the day: coastal scenery, wildlife watching, a swim, drinks, and lunch. The pilot whale sightings can be a real highlight, and Los Gigantes gives the route a clear visual payoff.

The 3-hour cruise suits you if your schedule is tight or you want to test the waters without committing to nearly half a day. It gives you the catamaran setting, views, refreshments, and a chance to relax, but it lacks the longer route’s most distinctive stops.

People with limited mobility should ask careful questions before booking. Early boarding and a reserved coach seat may help, but the vertical toilet ladder is a serious consideration. The swimming steps are useful, yet that does not make every part of the boat easy to manage.

You should also think about your food expectations. If you are happy with a basic included meal, the 4.5-hour package is convenient. If you are hoping for fresh, carefully prepared dishes, bring modest expectations.

Is the $55 price good value?

At $55, the cruise is fairly priced when you choose the longer trip and use the included features. You are paying for the boat ride, drinks, wildlife watching, the Masca Bay stop, and lunch. Add hotel transport if your pickup point is included, and the package becomes easier to compare with arranging separate activities.

The value drops if you pay extra for the sunbed, skip the meal, and spend most of the time wanting a quieter setting. The 3-hour version can still work well for a shorter outing, but its inclusion list is lighter, with snacks and a sandwich instead of lunch.

The best way to judge the price is to decide what you actually want. If your priority is seeing the coast from a catamaran and possibly spotting whales, $55 is reasonable. If your priority is snorkeling, peaceful sailing, or excellent food, this is not the strongest match.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later reduce the risk of committing too early. Check the exact departure time and pickup location, since starting times vary and pickup is limited to selected parts of southern Tenerife.

Should you book the Freebird cruise?

Book it if you want a simple, social half-day on the Atlantic with a genuine chance of seeing pilot whales or dolphins. The 4.5-hour option is the better buy for Los Gigantes, Masca Bay, lunch, and unlimited drinks, while the 3-hour trip is a sensible shorter version.

Skip it if you need fully accessible facilities, dislike loud music, or judge a boat trip mainly by its food. For most people, the strongest memories are likely to come from the cliffs, the swim, and wildlife near the boat, not from the buffet.

FAQ

Where does the Tenerife catamaran cruise take place?

The cruise sails along Tenerife’s western coast from a marina in the south of the island.

How long is the catamaran cruise?

You can choose a 3-hour cruise or a longer 4.5-hour cruise, depending on the option available at booking.

Does the cruise include hotel pickup?

Pickup is included from selected hotels in southern Tenerife. The closest pickup point is assigned, and rural areas and some hotels are not covered.

What languages are available?

The host or greeter service is available in English and Spanish.

What food is included?

The 4.5-hour option includes lunch with chicken, rice, or meatballs. The 3-hour option includes snacks, drinks, bubbly, and a sandwich.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Drinks are included on both options. The 4.5-hour cruise includes an unlimited selection of drinks, with beer and soda specifically available. The 3-hour option includes drinks and bubbly.

Does the cruise visit Los Gigantes?

The Cliffs of Los Gigantes are included on the 4.5-hour option. They are not listed as part of the 3-hour cruise.

Can I swim during the cruise?

The 4.5-hour sailing stops at Masca Bay for swimming. The catamaran has steps that lower into the sea. Swimming and snorkeling equipment are not provided.

Is there an extra charge for a sunbed?

Yes. A double sunbed costs an additional €25. The standard cruise price does not include this extra charge.