There’s one question we’re asked almost every day: Can you actually see dolphins, or is it more a matter of luck?
The answer is quick and simple: in the south of Fuerteventura, cetaceans aren’t just a seasonal sight. They’re our neighbours. Tropical pilot whales, dolphins, pilot whales, fin whales… We spot them more often than people expect, and we’ve known this for years because we’re here every day.
The Magic Dolphin is the tour that was created from that knowledge, so that you can take home an unforgettable experience and memory.
A 2-hour trip out on the open water
The Magic Dolphin is a high-speed boat measuring 11.72 metres in length. It sets sail from the port of Morro Jable, in Fuerteventura, and spends the entire two hours doing just one thing: sailing out to where the cetaceans are, giving them as much time as they need, and returning.
There’s no multi-course meal or long afternoon on the beach. This excursion takes us straight to discover the fascinating wildlife of Fuerteventura.
For those arriving with a free morning or afternoon, with a gap between island excursions, or with young children who can’t yet cope with a four-hour crossing, the Dolphin is the perfect choice.
The sighting protocol we follow on board the boat
Every trip has specialist cetacean staff on board, not just a general guide. And we follow the Canary Islands Government’s Responsible Whale Watching Protocol: we reduce speed as we approach, sail parallel to the animals, avoid cutting across their path, and do not race between boats.
The guide explains all this before we reach the whale-watching area. We do this because we believe that understanding what you’re seeing makes the experience even better, and because the cetaceans appreciate it.
What happens when you come across them?
No one can guarantee a sighting. They are wild animals in their natural habitat, and that is exactly what makes them so breathtaking when they do appear.
But this much we do know: the waters off the coast of Jandía are one of the few areas in Europe where tropical pilot whales are permanent residents. They’re there. And when you’ve been setting out from the same harbour to look for them for years, you learn to read the sea.
When they appear, the boat adjusts its engine and the silence becomes noticeable. Sometimes they swim alongside the hull for minutes on end. Other times they leap out of the water. Sometimes they simply breathe at the surface and dive back down again. Every trip is different, and that’s part of what people take away with them.
Sea conditions permitting, there is also a stop for a swim in the Atlantic before returning to port.
Who is the Magic Dolphin for?
For those who want whale-watching to be the main attraction, with no frills or fluff.
It’s particularly well suited if you’re travelling with young children, aged 2 and over. It’s ideal if you’re short on time and want to make the most of it. And it’s perfect if you already have other plans on the island that day and are looking to add a morning or an afternoon by the sea that’s truly worthwhile.
It is also the ideal choice for anyone who has come to Fuerteventura specifically to see dolphins or whales, wants to do so responsibly, and prefers a trip focused on that above all else.
What’s included
Hotel pick-up is included. Drinks are available on board during the trip. A specialist guide accompanies every trip without exception. You don’t need to bring anything special for the wildlife-spotting trip. The crew on board will take care of everything.
Two hours in the Atlantic off Jandía. The crew who set out from here every day. And the cetaceans off the south coast of Fuerteventura, who have been in these waters far longer than we have.
