Which Tenerife Turtle Tour Is Right for You?
| Tour | Type | Group size | Best for | Rating | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayak & snorkel with turtles & dolphins | Kayak | Group | Best value, most booked | 4.7★ | $28 | Check → |
| Snorkeling boat trip in turtle habitat | Boat | Group | No kayaking, relaxed | 4.1★ | $51 | Check → |
| 2-in-1 scuba & snorkel with turtles | Scuba | Small | Turtles underwater | 4.7★ | $86 | Check → |
| Abades turtles & rays snorkeling | Boat | Small | Quieter east-coast bay | 4.5★ | $63 | Check → |
| Kayak & snorkel turtle safari | Kayak | Group | Kayak with free photos | 4.6★ | $31 | Check → |
Sea Turtle Species & Best Months in Tenerife, Canary Islands
| Species | January–March | April–June | July–September | October–December | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Sea Turtle | Resident | Resident | Resident | Resident | Near-guaranteed |
| Loggerhead Turtle | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Sometimes |
The turtles off south Tenerife are mostly green turtles, a resident group that feeds in the sheltered bays year-round, with the occasional loggerhead passing through. These are wild turtles in the open Atlantic, not fed or enclosed, so keep a few metres of distance, stay off the seagrass and never touch or chase them. Rays share the seagrass at Abades and should be given the same space.
Sea Turtle Behaviors to Watch For
Feeding in the Bays
Green turtles graze the seagrass and algae in the calm bays off Los Cristianos, where kayakers and snorkelers find them close to the surface.
Year-round
Surfacing to Breathe
A feeding turtle rises for air every few minutes. Give it a clear path to the surface and never crowd the space above one.
Every few minutes
Cruising the Coast
Turtles move along the coast between feeding spots, often crossing paths with the resident dolphins that trips look for too.
Throughout the day
Resting on the Seabed
Turtles rest on the sandy seabed between feeds. A resting turtle should be watched quietly from the surface, not disturbed.
Regular
What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)
✓ Bring
- Reef-safe (oxybenzone-free) sunscreen
- Swimsuit worn under your clothes
- A rash guard for sun and paddling
- Towel and a change of clothes
- Waterproof phone case or GoPro
- A hat, sunglasses and water
- Your booking voucher (printed or phone)
✗ Leave at home
- Regular sunscreen (harmful to the seagrass)
- Any urge to touch, chase or feed turtles or rays
- Single-use plastics
- Loud groups that crowd the turtles
Seasickness tip: Kayak and short boat trips in the sheltered south-coast bays rarely cause seasickness. On a longer boat crossing or a windy day, take a tablet the night before if you are prone.
Where Tours Depart From
| Port / Area | Details | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Los Cristianos | The main south-coast harbour, base for the kayak-and-snorkel turtle trips. | Kayak & snorkel with turtles |
| Costa Adeje | The resort strip north of Los Cristianos, with boat snorkel and scuba trips to the turtle bays. | Boat snorkel and scuba |
| Abades | A quiet village on the east coast with a sheltered bay of turtles and rays. | Crowd-free snorkeling |
Tenerife's south airport is a short drive from Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje, where most turtle trips leave. The resident turtles are on the sheltered south coast, so base yourself around Los Cristianos or Costa Adeje for the easiest access.
How to Choose an Ethical Tour
What ethical operators do
- Brief a strict no-touch, no-chase policy
- Keep a respectful distance from turtles
- Never block a turtle’s path to the surface
- Require reef-safe sunscreen from all guests
- Cap group sizes for calmer encounters
- Support reef and sea-turtle conservation
Red flags to avoid
- Let guests touch, ride, or chase turtles
- Feed turtles to lure them in
- Crowd or corner a turtle in the water
- Stand on coral or trample seagrass
- Oversized groups with no guide in the water
- Any “hold a turtle” photo op
