6 Best Dolphin Watching Tours in Lanzarote

The Canary Islands are synonymous with the sea. Specifically, there are many things to see and do in Lanzarote, an island in the archipelago that is truly enviable in its beauty. But, although the island is truly beautiful, there is so much more to do directly in the sea... such as watching dolphins. Many of them live around Lanzarote, so you can see them on a tour.

That's why I recommend that when you're on the island, don't miss the opportunity to see dolphins swimming in their natural habitat. The Canary Islands are a leader in whale watching tourism, and when you see the dolphins, you'll understand why. There are many ways to do it, and they vary depending on the type of boat or the excursion you have planned. Read on to find out how and where to see the most beautiful dolphins in Lanzarote.

Let's go see dolphins! But the best thing is to do it in maximum comfort and for a reasonable amount of time so that you can also do other things during the day. Plus, if you want to see dolphins, you'll want to take photos, and for that, it's best to be on a stable boat like a mini-cruise. I guarantee that this is one of the best boat tours you can do in Lanzarote, because it is safe, short and very rewarding.

This mini-cruise can depart from Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, which is one of the best beaches in Lanzarote, or from different locations in the south-east of the island. As it is a fairly small boat, it does not require a large dock and can stop almost anywhere along the coast. During the hour-and-a-half tour, you will have the opportunity to see dolphins as you head out to sea, accompanied by commentary from a specialist whale and dolphin guide who will explain the characteristics of the animals you see.

This is also the best trip for taking photos. On this trip, the captains of the mini-cruises usually stop or slow down when dolphins are sighted, and as it is a boat where you can stand or sit without much movement, you will have the perfect opportunity to get the best shots of the dolphins.

Practical information

• Location: usually departs from Puerto del Carmen or Playa Blanca and does not stray too far from the coast. You will return to the same departure point.
• Price: — from £31
• Timetable and duration: usually takes place in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon and only lasts an hour and a half.

All the Canary Islands offer truly beautiful sunsets, thanks to the way the sea blends with the sun. Imagine watching an impressive sunset while dolphins swim around you and you enjoy a delicious snack. All this is available on this sunset dinner cruise, as you sail around the island of Lanzarote alongside dolphins.

This trip usually starts in the town of Puerto del Carmen, where you board the cruise at around 4pm in winter or 6pm in summer. The idea is to board during the day and enjoy a delicious dinner while sitting and watching the sun go down. The tables are usually set up very close to the edge of the boat so you can see the dolphins swimming around you.

It's a fairly contemplative trip, because everything is designed for you to see the sunset and the dolphins, and you can also identify different points along the coast of Lanzarote, as the boat usually goes around the island. After about three hours, the cruise will dock again in Puerto del Carmen, where you can return to your hotel.

Practical information

• Location: departs from Puerto del Carmen and circles the island of Lanzarote
• Price: — from £45
• Timetable and duration: from 4pm or 6pm depending on the season. It usually lasts around three hours.

Have you ever wondered if it's possible to see dolphins while snorkelling? The island of Lanzarote is here to prove that it is, because there are plenty of snorkelling, diving and kayaking activities to enjoy here. This is a mixed plan where you can hop on a small boat that will take you to a spot for snorkelling and, with a bit of luck, you'll see some dolphins while you're in the water. Afterwards, you can stay on the boat and watch the dolphins jumping in the waters off Lanzarote.

This tour often starts after lunch and continues until dusk. It is important that there is daylight so that you can snorkel and fully enjoy the marine wildlife. If you are patient, you may even see some dolphins swimming in the area. You may also have a guide who can explain the possible movements of the dolphins while you are in the sea or on the boat.

Once you have finished snorkelling, you will dry off on the boat and wait to see the most beautiful dolphins on the island. The tour is not long and in less than two hours you will be back on the coast to continue with your activities. It is important to check the route, as these tours may start and end at different locations, but they are always concentrated on the northeast and southeast coasts of the island.

Practical information

• Location: they often start from southern beaches, such as Playa Blanca, but they can also start and end near Arrecife.
• Price: around €20
• Timetable and duration: no more than two hours. They usually take place in the afternoon, starting at 1 p.m.

Want to see dolphins while travelling at almost the same speed as them? Then this is your chance. There are many boat trips from Puerto del Carmen, but you'll love this one if you want to see how fast dolphins can swim. It's a fast boat with propellers, like a hydrofoil, which will shake you up throughout the trip while you watch the dolphins jump.

If you're wondering why you'll enjoy this trip, I'd say it's because it's the most dynamic of all. On the other excursions, it's more about contemplation and taking photos, whereas here you're on your feet having a great time, and with all the movement you might even see some dolphins. What's more, these boats are very fashionable and are similar in style to the seaplanes that are becoming popular again in the Canary Islands.

Bear in mind that this isn't the best trip for taking photos and that you'll get very, very wet. But I guarantee you'll love it and laugh like never before as you watch the dolphins from a short distance away. As the boat travels at high speed, it leaves a wake that can scare the dolphins away, so you won't get as close to them. In any case, it's a fantastic experience and you can have a great time in a short space of time, as these tours don't usually last more than an hour.

Practical information

• Location: departs from Puerto del Carmen and returns there
• Price: around €30
• Timetable and duration: the tour usually lasts about an hour due to the speed of the boat, although it may take longer if there are no dolphin sightings.

Not everything has to be done at sea and on a boat: you can also get up close to dolphins and other animals such as sea lions and even touch them. For this, Lanzarote has a large water park called Rancho Texas Lanzarote Park, located in the south-east of the island. This is a petting zoo where you can touch the animals and learn about their habitat and different needs.

The best plan is to go in the morning and interact with the sea lions, which are truly beautiful animals that are worth getting to know up close, and then do the same with the dolphins in the afternoon. In both cases, you need to book in advance, as it is a place where only a few people can interact with the animals, so you can be sure that it will not be a mass event.

This is one of the ideal activities to do with children in Lanzarote, as children aged eight and over, accompanied by their parents or guardians, can participate and interact with the animals. Rancho Texas Lanzarote will provide free transport to and from the site and will also provide you with a wetsuit so that you are comfortable in the water while you meet the animals. Always remember to follow the keepers' instructions on how the animals behave and how to treat them.

Practical information

• Location: near Puerto del Carmen, in the south-east of the island. Free transport is available to and from Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca.
• Price: around £45 per swim with the animals, so both lions and dolphins would cost approximately £80.
• Opening hours and duration: about half an hour for each encounter with the animals. This is usually done in two separate sessions. The park is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Traveller Tip
If you are going with children, it is important that they know how to swim. Although children aged 8 and over are accepted when accompanied by their guardian, remember that you are with animals and you need to be fairly confident swimmer to swim with them.

Although there are seven main islands in the Canaries, there are a few islets in the surrounding area that are worth visiting, especially if you want to see dolphins. The islet of Lobos is a protected natural area covering six square kilometres of fairly desert terrain. If you are looking foran excursion from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura, then you might like this one because Lobos Island is right next to Fuerteventura and it is there that you can see dolphins in their natural habitat.

On the route between Lanzarote and the Lobos Island Natural Park, you will see a kind of route where dolphins constantly come up to breathe and you will love taking photos when they do. But it's also a beautiful trip because you'll get to know the Canary Sea, and you'll have a guide who specialises in cetaceans and marine fauna in general, who will be able to answer any questions you may have throughout the trip.

Taking into account the return trip, this is a long excursion that lasts over five hours. With a bit of luck, apart from dolphins, you may see a whale wandering around the area. Once you are on Lobos Island, you can take a half-hour tour and enjoy a snack included in the excursion package. This island is magnificent for identifying the best marine wildlife with your binoculars or camera.

Practical information

• Location: departure from Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote to the islet of Lobos
• Price: around £45 per person
• Timetable and duration: in total, the tour lasts around five hours. You will spend between half an hour and 45 minutes on Lobos Island. It is best to start this tour in the mid-morning or just after lunch, so that you can do it all in one day.

Cetaceans are truly phenomenal, and you can see a wide variety of them off the coast of Lanzarote. Specifically, the dolphins that are most commonly found in these waters are the bottlenose dolphin and the common dolphin. The most notable is the bottlenose dolphin, which is considered a resident species because it stays in the same area throughout its life. It is a large, grey dolphin with a beak that is quite separate from the rest of its body.

The other dolphin is the common dolphin, which is smaller in size but is usually seen closer to the island's coastline. In addition to these, other dolphins such as rough-toothed dolphins and striped dolphins are occasionally seen, depending on the season.

However, there is a great deal of variety in the world of cetaceans, as sperm whales and tropical pilot whales are frequently seen off the coast of Lanzarote. The sperm whale is truly impressive, as it is a protected species that can measure up to 20 metres in length and is an important predator of fish.

The tropical pilot whale is a small whale, also known as the pilot whale, which is threatened by illegal fishing. You are sure to see them on your whale watching excursions due to their black colour.

What do you need to see dolphins in Lanzarote?

What do you need to see dolphins in Lanzarote?

The truth is, the first thing you need is to like dolphins. If you really love these animals, then get ready to enjoy one of the best experiences of your life. But keep in mind that you need to protect yourself from the sun with good sunscreen. You should also know how to swim a little, and it is always advisable to be with a guide who specialises in cetaceans. In all these cases, it is necessary to book an excursion that will take you step by step and which could be one of the best day trips from Lanzarote.

If you are going to swim with dolphins, you must be a good swimmer and follow every instruction given by the dolphin handler. For snorkelling, I always recommend going in a group with an expert, especially if you are not used to breathing underwater. If you want to see dolphins, you also need to be patient, because they are not always the first to arrive. Also bear in mind that most dolphin tours depart from Puerto del Carmen, so you can look there if you want to go on an excursion.

In addition, on some occasions and depending on the season, you will need a wetsuit to protect you from the cold and other animals that could harm you once you are in the sea. Its use may be optional, but I recommend wearing one if the temperatures are low. Finally, don't forget your camera, but make sure it is waterproof or has a protective cover.

Never swum with dolphins before? No problem, there are lots of people like you every day in Lanzarote. No prior preparation is necessary to see dolphins, and you don't need to be an expert to swim with them. To begin with, the first thing you should know is that dolphins are cetaceans that swim and surface constantly, so you can see them while they are doing this, but it will be difficult to see them from another perspective.

In Lanzarote, there is Rancho Texas, where you can swim and interact with dolphins and other marine wildlife. If you want a closer experience on your first time seeing dolphins, I recommend going there. But keep in mind that if you see them in the sea, dolphins swim very fast, so you have to be very attentive, especially if you want to take good photos.

It is also important to know that there is a significant presence of dolphins throughout the area surrounding the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. If this is your first time in this area seeing dolphins, you will notice that several of the excursions take in the entire coastline of the island, skirting around it, so you can identify the best hiking routes in Lanzarote and even go a little further out to sea for more effective sightings.