Tenerife’s southwest coast drops into the Atlantic like a wall. Dark volcanic rock, carved by centuries of ocean swell, falls straight down into water so clear you can see the bottom at ten metres. Most visitors see this coastline from a tour bus window or a hotel balcony. From a kayak, sitting a few inches above the waterline, it looks like a different island entirely.
The kayaking scene in Tenerife has grown fast over the past few years, and for good reason. The water is warm enough to paddle year-round (19 to 24 degrees Celsius depending on the season), the wind stays manageable along the sheltered southern coast, and the wildlife is genuinely wild — sea turtles feeding on seagrass beds, dolphins passing through offshore, stingrays gliding beneath your hull. Most tours combine kayaking with snorkeling, which means you’re in the water twice — once on top, once below.
I’ve gone through the kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding tours operating out of Tenerife’s south coast — the kayak-and-snorkel combos, the turtle-focused trips, the budget options and the more adventurous routes — and picked three that cover different budgets and styles. Below is what to expect on the water, which tours are worth booking, and the practical details that make the difference between a good paddle and a great one.
In a Hurry? My Top Picks
- Best overall (from $40): Kayak and Snorkel with Turtles — the most popular kayak tour on the island for a reason. Paddle the coast, then snorkel with green sea turtles. Free video footage included. Book this tour
- Best budget (from $29): Kayak Safari and Sea Turtle Snorkeling — 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the water for under thirty dollars. Longer paddle, same turtles, more time exploring the coastline. Book this tour
- Best for beginners (from $21): Las Teresitas Stand Up Paddle Course — 80 minutes on a calm, sheltered beach with an instructor. Perfect if you’ve never been on a board and want to try SUP without the commitment of a full ocean tour. Book this tour
- In a Hurry? My Top Picks
- What to Expect on a Kayaking Tour
- The 3 Best Kayaking and SUP Tours in Tenerife
- 1. Kayak and Snorkel with Turtles with Free Videos —
- 2. Kayak Safari and Sea Turtle Snorkeling —
- 3. Las Teresitas Stand Up Paddle Course —
- When to Go Kayaking in Tenerife
- Tips for Your Kayaking Trip
- More Tenerife Guides
What to Expect on a Kayaking Tour
Every kayaking tour in Tenerife follows a similar pattern, though the details vary by operator and route. You meet at a beach or small marina along the south coast — Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, Palm-Mar, or Las Galletas are the most common launch points. The guide hands out paddles, adjusts your seat, gives a 10-minute briefing on technique (forward stroke, turning, what to do if you capsize), and then you’re on the water.
Most tours use tandem kayaks, which means you share with a partner. Sit-on-top kayaks are standard — they’re impossible to get trapped in and easy to climb back onto if you flip, which almost never happens in the sheltered southern waters. No experience is necessary. If you can hold a paddle and follow basic instructions, you’re fine. The guides set a pace that works for everyone, and the groups are typically small — 8 to 14 people maximum.
The paddle itself lasts 30 to 60 minutes in each direction, hugging the coastline. You’ll pass volcanic rock formations, sea caves (some tours paddle into them if conditions allow), and patches of clear, shallow water where you can see fish darting below. The guides point out marine life as you go — trumpet fish hovering near the rocks, colourful parrotfish, the occasional octopus clinging to the bottom.
Then comes the snorkeling. The guide picks a sheltered spot, usually over a rocky reef or seagrass bed, and everyone drops into the water with masks and snorkels (provided). This is where the turtles come in. Green sea turtles feed on the seagrass beds along the south coast, and the guides know their favourite spots. Turtle sightings aren’t guaranteed on every trip, but operators who include “turtles” in the tour name report sighting rates well above 80 percent, and on most days it’s closer to 100.
The turtles are wild, not fed or lured. They’re simply used to snorkelers and go about their business — grazing on seagrass, surfacing to breathe, occasionally swimming directly underneath you in a way that makes you hold your breath even though you’re the one with the snorkel. It’s a genuinely memorable encounter, and it works because Tenerife protects these animals well enough that they don’t flee from humans.
The 3 Best Kayaking and SUP Tours in Tenerife
I’ve picked three tours that each serve a different purpose — a well-rounded kayak-and-snorkel experience, a longer adventure at a lower price, and a stand-up paddleboarding lesson for anyone who wants something different. All three operate from the southern coast.
1. Kayak and Snorkel with Turtles with Free Videos — $40
Departs: South Tenerife coast | Price: From $40 per person | Type: Guided kayak tour with snorkeling and turtle encounter
This is the kayaking tour that most people end up booking, and there’s a good reason for that. It combines a coastal paddle with a proper snorkeling stop at one of the known turtle feeding areas, and the guides film everything — you get free video footage of your trip sent to you afterwards, which is a surprisingly nice touch when you’re trying to paddle and can’t exactly handle a camera.
The tour runs along the sheltered southern coastline, past volcanic rock formations and through stretches of open water where you can see straight to the bottom. The kayaking portion takes about 45 minutes in each direction, with the snorkeling stop in between. It’s not physically demanding — the guides keep the pace relaxed and the tandem kayaks do most of the work.
The snorkeling stop is the main draw. The guides take you to a spot where green sea turtles feed on seagrass, and the animals are so accustomed to snorkelers that they carry on eating while you float above them. The water is warm enough that a wetsuit isn’t necessary for most of the year, though the operators provide them in the cooler months.
At $40, it sits at a mid-range price point for a half-day water activity. That gets you the kayak, all snorkeling gear, a guide, and the video package. It’s well-organized, family-friendly, and delivers on its promises.
2. Kayak Safari and Sea Turtle Snorkeling — $29
Departs: South Tenerife coast | Duration: 2.5 – 3.5 hours | Price: From $29 per person | Type: Extended kayak safari with snorkeling
The “safari” label isn’t just marketing. This tour covers more coastline than the standard kayak-and-snorkel trips, spending 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the water instead of the usual two. The longer route means you paddle further along the volcanic coast, passing more sea caves and rock formations, and the snorkeling stop still takes place at a prime turtle habitat.
At $29, it’s the cheapest guided kayak tour worth taking in Tenerife. You get the same equipment — tandem sit-on-top kayaks, snorkeling gear, wetsuits when needed — and the guides are experienced. The lower price mostly reflects the fact that there’s no video package included (some operators charge extra for that) and the marketing is less polished than the big-name tours. The actual on-water experience is comparable or better, because you simply spend more time paddling.
The longer duration suits people who enjoy being on the water rather than treating kayaking as a quick activity between beach lounging and dinner. The extra hour gives the guides room to explore more of the coastline, linger at interesting spots, and not rush the snorkeling stop. If you’re reasonably fit and don’t mind paddling for a couple of hours, this is the best value kayak tour on the island.
One thing to note: the extended duration means this isn’t ideal for very young children or anyone who struggles in the heat. Bring extra water and sunscreen. The guides carry supplies, but three hours on the ocean with the Tenerife sun overhead is real exposure.
3. Las Teresitas Stand Up Paddle Course — $21
Departs: Las Teresitas Beach, Santa Cruz de Tenerife | Duration: 80 minutes | Price: From $21 per person | Type: Beginner SUP lesson on a sheltered beach
This is the odd one out on the list, and deliberately so. If kayaking combined with snorkeling isn’t your thing — maybe you’ve done it before, or you’d rather try something new — stand-up paddleboarding offers a completely different way to be on the water.
Las Teresitas is the perfect spot for a first SUP lesson. It’s a long, crescent-shaped beach on the northeast coast near Santa Cruz, sheltered by a breakwater that keeps the waves out. The water inside is calm, shallow, and warm. You start on your knees, learn the balance, stand up, and within 20 minutes most people are paddling confidently. The instructor stays close, corrects your stance, and keeps the group together.
Eighty minutes is the right amount of time for a beginner. Long enough to get comfortable and paddle around properly, short enough that your legs don’t give out. (SUP works your core and legs more than you’d expect — your first time will be a workout.)
At $21, this is an affordable way to try the sport without committing to a full rental. The lesson includes the board, paddle, and instruction. You won’t see turtles or paddle along dramatic cliffs — this is a lesson on a beach, not an expedition. But if you’ve never tried SUP and want to, this is the least intimidating entry point in Tenerife.
Note that Las Teresitas is a 25-minute drive from the main tourist areas in the south. If you’re staying in Costa Adeje or Playa de las Americas, factor in the travel time. Most visitors combine it with a morning in Santa Cruz, which is worth exploring anyway.
When to Go Kayaking in Tenerife
You can kayak in Tenerife any month of the year. The south coast is sheltered from the prevailing trade winds, and the water temperature never drops below about 19 degrees Celsius even in January. That said, some months are better than others.
April to October is the prime window. Water temperatures range from 20 to 24 degrees, the wind is light in the mornings, and cancellations due to weather are rare. The ocean is at its calmest in June and July, which is ideal if you’re a first-time paddler or bringing children.
November to March still works, but the ocean can be rougher. The water drops to 19 degrees — still comfortable for most people, especially in a wetsuit — but swells from Atlantic weather systems occasionally force tour cancellations. If your trip falls in winter, book for the first available morning and keep a backup plan. The turtles are present year-round regardless of conditions.
Time of day matters. Morning departures are better than afternoon ones. The wind picks up after midday on most days, and the water is noticeably choppier by 2pm. The first departure slot (usually 9 or 10am) offers the flattest water, the best light for underwater visibility, and the coolest air temperature before the midday sun kicks in. Afternoon tours work fine, but mornings are the better experience.
Tips for Your Kayaking Trip
Waterproof phone case. This is the single most useful thing you can bring. A decent waterproof phone pouch costs a few euros at any tourist shop in Playa de las Americas, and it lets you take photos while kayaking and filming underwater while snorkeling. Without one, your phone stays in a dry bag on the kayak and you miss everything. Some tours provide free video footage, but having your own shots is worth the small investment.
Reef-safe sunscreen, applied before you arrive. Most tour operators ask that you apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before getting in the water, because chemical sunscreens that haven’t absorbed yet wash off immediately and damage the reef. Better yet, use a mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that’s reef-safe by default. Apply it to your face, ears, neck, and the backs of your hands — those are the spots that burn worst while paddling.
Shoes that can get wet. Water shoes or old trainers are ideal. Flip-flops fall off, and bare feet on volcanic rock hurt. You’ll walk across a rocky beach to launch and potentially step on rough ground during the snorkeling stop.
Bring water. Some tours provide it, some don’t. Two to three hours paddling and snorkeling in the Tenerife sun will dehydrate you faster than you’d think. A small water bottle stowed in the kayak’s storage area is enough.
Don’t skip the snorkeling. I’ve seen people on tours who kayak enthusiastically but then sit on the kayak during the snorkeling stop because they’re not confident swimmers. The operators provide life vests and the water is shallow — you don’t need to be a strong swimmer. The turtle encounter is the best part of the trip, and you’ll regret not getting in the water.
Fitness level. You don’t need to be athletic to kayak in Tenerife. The tandem kayaks share the work between two people, the guides keep a moderate pace, and the sheltered coast means you’re not fighting waves or current. That said, 2 to 3 hours of paddling will tire your arms and shoulders if you’re not used to it. If you’re concerned about the physical demands, pick the shorter tour (the turtle snorkel trip at around 2 hours) rather than the safari option (up to 3.5 hours).
