Kayak and snorkel tour from Los Cristianos

The tour starts at Xplore Tenerife's office on the ground floor of the Cristianmar building, on the seafront at Los Cristianos, where there are changing rooms and lockers. On 6 October 2026 the operator's own booking calendar showed nine departures a day for the rest of the month, from 09:30 to 14:30, and the whole outing takes about three hours. The kayaks are sit-on-top singles and doubles with backrests, in the operator's description, and the guide gives a briefing on handling them, on safety and on watching wildlife before you leave the shore at Playa de Los Cristianos.

The route follows the foot of Montaña de Guaza, a volcanic cone over 400 metres high protected as a natural monument, to the sea cave the itinerary calls the Cueva de los Enamorados. It then stops in a bay the listing does not name, for a swim and a snorkel over volcanic reef, and paddles back to the beach. The operator says dolphins often swim close to the kayaks and that turtles are often spotted at the snorkel stop. The kayak, paddle, life jacket, mask and snorkel, wetsuit, a dry bucket for your things, accident insurance and the guide are included, and so are photos and videos, which the operator emails the same day. Water, swimwear and towels are not.

This sea is part of the Franja marina Teno-Rasca, a Special Area of Conservation since 2011 along the island's west and south-west coast. The Spanish environment ministry lists loggerhead and green turtles as habitually present in it, and bottlenose dolphins as resident all year. The loggerhead is listed as vulnerable in Spain's catalogue of threatened species, and the green turtle is on the national list of specially protected wildlife. In these waters the state's conservation order prohibits feeding animals to attract them and any behaviour that could disturb or harm turtles or cetaceans. The national cetacean decree counts touching dolphins, or swimming within 60 metres of them, as disturbance, though a boat that dolphins approach may keep its course and speed.

You must be able to swim. The minimum age is 14, for insurance reasons, the operator says, and anyone under 18 needs a parent with them. There is a weight limit of 100 kg per person, for the kayak's stability, and the tour is not for pregnancy, back problems, motor disabilities or anyone prone to seasickness; the operator suggests a non-drowsy travel sickness tablet 30 minutes before. Xplore Tenerife is on the Canary Islands tourism register for both kayak and snorkel activities.

Several companies run kayak and snorkel tours from the beach at Los Cristianos, and on GetYourGuide on 6 October 2026 this was by far the most reviewed of those we found: rated 4.7 from about 12,400 reviews, from 38 euros for three hours with photos, videos, a wetsuit and a locker included. Adventoure's Kayak Safari and Snorkel in a Marine Reserve, which meets on Calle Juan Reverón Sierra, was rated 4.5 from about 3,500 reviews, from 42 euros, with a private option. Shaka Surf's Kayak & Snorkeling Adventure with Photos Included, from the seafront, was rated 4.6 from about 2,400, from 45 euros, with showers. A shorter tour sold as Kayaking and Snorkeling with Marine Life, also from the seafront, was rated 4.8 from about 730, from 34 euros for two and a half hours, with water and fruit included. Book this one for a score built on far more reviews, nine departures a day and the lowest price of the three most-reviewed tours. Booked direct, the operator's own price is also 38 euros, paid in cash on the day; GetYourGuide suits anyone who would rather pay by card, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

The age and swimming rules decide it for many families. With children under 14, Travelin' Lady, from 29.90 euros, runs along the same coast from Los Cristianos harbour, with a stop at the sea cave known as the Cave of Love and a swim if the sea allows. Non-swimmers from 8 can walk the seabed in a Sea Trek helmet, from 85 euros. If being in the water with turtles is the point, our scuba and snorkel page, from 75 euros, pairs a first scuba dive with a snorkel in a turtle habitat.