"La Palma Marine Biologist Whale Tours" is not a company: it's the title of a product on a booking platform. Its description ("whale and dolphin watching guided by marine biologists") matches that of OceanExplorer La Palma, in Puerto de Tazacorte. Fancy II, with twenty years in ecotourism, works from the same harbour. This review compares the two.
The fleet is small, about nine boats against more than a hundred on Tenerife, but it sails from the sheltered side of the island.
OceanExplorer La Palma: Flipper and Bussard
OceanExplorer advertises sightings guided by marine biologists and flies the "Barco Azul" flag of a licensed vessel. It has two very different boats:
- Flipper: a large boat with capacity for 100 people which, according to the company, is never more than 70% full. The whale-watching trip lasts 2.5–3 hours and, weather permitting, takes in the Porís de Candelaria, the new Tajogaite lava delta and the Cueva Bonita sea cave. Soft drinks included and free photos by email.
- Bussard: a small boat, maximum 12 passengers. The Premium trip lasts 3.5 hours, with cava, a snack and a swim stop in summer; the Classic lasts 4 hours, with lunch and a swim, and according to the company has been its most popular trip for fifteen years.
The kiosk is inside the marina, 20 m from the boarding point; arrive 15 to 30 minutes early. All ages are welcome, babies included. Website: oceanexplorer.es.
Fancy II: catamaran, glass bottom and sailing yacht
Fancy II has three boats, all flying the "Barco Azul" flag:
- Fancy II: a catamaran with underwater windows to see below the surface.
- Fantasy: a glass-bottom boat that goes into the Cueva Bonita.
- EcoFancy: a Beneteau Cyclades 43.4 sailing yacht.
Prices on its website at the time of writing: the Fantasy adventure from €60 (2–2.5 h), the "North Safari" from €63.36 (2.5 h) and the sailing yacht from €73.93 (3 h). It also runs a trip to see Tajogaite from the sea. Website: fancy2.com.
- 1Puerto de TazacorteportDirections ↗
- 2Volcán TajogaitepeakDirections ↗
- 3Puerto NaosbeachDirections ↗
Which boat to choose
| If you want… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A big boat with a marine biologist | Flipper (OceanExplorer) | 100 seats without filling up; 2.5–3 h with lava and caves included |
| A small group and a swim | Bussard (OceanExplorer) | Maximum 12 people, lunch or a snack and a swim stop in summer |
| To see the seabed without getting wet | Fantasy or Fancy II | Glass bottom or underwater windows |
| To go sailing | EcoFancy | 3-hour sailing yacht |
| The 2021 lava from the sea | Flipper or Fancy II's "Tajogaite" trip | They pass the deltas the eruption added to the coastline |
Whale watching La Palma prices: direct or through a platform
OceanExplorer gives a 10% discount if you book on its website or at its kiosks. On GetYourGuide, trips from Tazacorte cost from about €60 for the whale and dolphin trip with a marine biologist (3 h) and about €61 for the speedboat along the north-west coast and the wildlife trip along the Cumbre Vieja coast. The listings don't always say which company runs them: if the boat matters to you, check before paying, or book on the operator's website.
Booking, cancellation and boarding
OceanExplorer lets you cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before; with Fancy II, ask about the cancellation policy when you book. Bring sun cream, a warm layer and something for seasickness if you usually need it.
What you see and what isn't promised
The island tourist board puts the best area on the west coast, between Tazacorte and Puntagorda, and mentions dolphins, pilot whales and, now and then, "tropical whales". There are no official sighting figures for La Palma and no one can guarantee animals: if a boat quotes a percentage, it's the company's own figure. The bonus of these trips is the scenery they add (sea caves, the Porís de Candelaria, the new lava).
The rules: Barco Azul, and why you don't swim with dolphins
A licensed boat flies the yellow "Barco Azul" (Blue Boat) flag with its authorisation period on display. By law it cannot get closer than 60 m to the animals or spend more than 30 minutes within 100 m of them, and swimming within 500 m of whales and dolphins is forbidden. Swim stops are made well away from them. Swimming with wild cetaceans is illegal throughout Spain, and "Blue Flag" (Bandera Azul) in a boat's advertising is usually a mistranslation of "Barco Azul".
Score
- Boats and variety
- 5/5From a 100-seat boat to a 12-seater, a catamaran with windows, a glass-bottom boat and a sailing yacht.
- Guiding and content
- 4/5OceanExplorer advertises marine biologists; Fancy II, twenty years of ecotourism.
- Price
- 4/5From about €60, with a direct-booking discount at OceanExplorer.
- Terms
- 4/5Free cancellation up to 24 h with OceanExplorer; Fancy II, ask when booking.
- Chance of sightings
- 3/5Small fleet and no official figures; no guarantee.
The good
- They all sail from the same harbour, on the sheltered coast.
- Small boats available (Bussard, maximum 12 people).
- Routes taking in sea caves, the Porís de Candelaria and the 2021 lava.
The not so good
- Few boats: book ahead.
- No official sighting figures.
- Several hours at sea: not for anyone who gets seasick easily.
Who should book
Book if you're staying in the west, if you want whales, dolphins and volcanic scenery on a single trip, or if you're travelling with babies (OceanExplorer takes them). Think twice if you're only coming for whales and could do it on Tenerife or La Gomera, where there are resident pilot whales and more boats.
Alternatives
Tenerife has more than a hundred boats (whale watching in Tenerife) and La Gomera has small boats in Valle Gran Rey (Oceano Whale Watching); all the islands are covered in whale and dolphin watching in the Canary Islands. Combine the boat with the guided Tajogaite hike, or see the La Palma guide and the other reviewed operators.
GetYourGuide3 hours
La Palma: Whale & Dolphin Tour with Marine Biologist
4.5 (1,166 reviews)
from €60Check availability
GetYourGuide2 hours
From Tazacorte: Discover the Northwest Coast by Speedy Yacht
4.7 (262 reviews)
from €61.20Check availability
GetYourGuide2.5 hours
La Palma: Wildlife Viewing and Cumbre Vieja Boat Tour
4.5 (300 reviews)
from €61.20Check availability
See all options on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 2 October 2026
Where does whale watching in La Palma leave from?
From Puerto de Tazacorte, on the west coast: every boat licensed for whale and dolphin watching on the island is based there.
How much does whale watching in La Palma cost?
Fancy II lists trips from €60 on its website; OceanExplorer gives a 10% discount if you book on its website or at its kiosks. On the booking platforms, trips from Tazacorte cost around €60–61.
What is the Bussard on La Palma?
OceanExplorer's small boat, for a maximum of 12 people, with 3.5-hour (Premium, with cava) or 4-hour (Classic, with lunch) trips and a swim stop in summer.
Are you guaranteed to see whales on La Palma?
No. According to the tourist board, dolphins and pilot whales are the usual sightings, with the occasional whale, and there are no official sighting figures.
