A boat tour in Tenerife costs anywhere from €40 to €2,500. That range exists because it covers three fundamentally different products: a mass-market group tour where you share a worn-out vessel with 20–50 strangers, a premium shared tour where you buy a ticket on a luxury yacht with a small group, and a private charter where the entire vessel is reserved for your group.
Most tourist guides present this as a binary — group or private, cheap or expensive. The reality on Tenerife is more nuanced, and the middle option is where most visitors get the best value without knowing it exists.
At AMAR Yacht, we operate both private charters and Premium Shared Ticket Tours. Our shared tours are tiered by vessel and service: starting at €65 per person on our classic sailing yachts, €75 on the modern Skyline, or €95 for the ultimate shared luxury on the Royal Ocean (which includes premium snacks and a transfer). We also offer full private charters from approximately €440 on Libby's Waterfront up to VIP experiences on the Tigresa. And we're honest about when each option makes sense.
Three Options Side-by-Side Factor Mass-Market AMAR Premium Shared AMAR Private Group (from €65/person) Charter (from €400 (€40–50/person) total)
Passengers 20–50 people Small group on a luxury Your group only (typical) yacht (2–12)
Vessel quality Varies — often old, Luxury yachts Full fleet selection high-mileage (Vulcanocean, Royal Ocean, Sangria)
Route Fixed loop — same Quality routes with Fully flexible — your every trip swimming stops choice
Crew attention Managing a crowd Professional service, Dedicated to your small ratio group Drinks Basic, often warm Premium drinks included Included — scales with vessel
Food Rarely included Snacks included Arranged to preference
Music Operator's playlist, Curated, appropriate Your playlist or often loud volume silence
Swimming Brief, shared, Genuine stops, As long as you want stops rushed uncrowded
Departure Puerto Colón Las Galletas, Puerto Puerto Colón marina points (mostly) Colón, Los Gigantes
Personalisation None Limited but Everything quality-assured
Per-person €40–50 each €65 each €67–130 each (group of 6) (Atlanca to Armani)
The Mass-Market Group Tour — What €40–50 Actually Buys
Mass-market group tours are the most visible product on Tenerife. Ticket booths on every tourist street, booking platforms flooded with €40–50 options, and marina docks packed with large vessels running 2–4 trips daily. For some visitors, this is fine. For many, the experience falls short of what was advertised.
Here's what that price typically delivers:
Overcrowding. Most mass-market boats are licensed for 30–50+ passengers, and operators fill every seat every trip. On a standard-sized catamaran, 40 people means standing room, queuing for the bathroom, and swimming stops where you jump in alongside a crowd. The deck isn't yours. It's a shared corridor.
Vessel condition. High-volume operators run multiple trips daily, 365 days a year, on vessels that haven't had a proper refit in years. Seating is worn. Shade structures are makeshift. Sound systems are blown. The boat functions — barely — and the experience shows the mileage.
Disengaged crews. When a captain runs the same 3-hour loop three times a day, the enthusiasm for finding the best wildlife, choosing the best swimming spot, or adjusting the route disappears. The tour becomes mechanical. Board, depart, loop, return.
Hidden upsells. Photos taken without asking, sold for €20–30 at the end. "Premium" drink upgrades offered mid-trip. Tips are presented as mandatory. These practices are common and create a feeling of being squeezed rather than served. Advertising vs reality. "Luxury group tour" at €45 per person is not luxury. "Exclusive" with 40 strangers is not exclusive. The gap between booking platform photos and experience is the single biggest source of tourist complaints in Tenerife's marine tourism industry.
None of this means every mass-market tour is terrible. Some operators run decent vessels with reasonable service. But the average quality on this island is lower than most tourists expect — and the gap between a €45 mass-market ticket and a €65 premium ticket is far smaller than the gap in experience.
AMAR's Premium Shared Ticket Tours — the Middle Option Most People Don't Know About
This is where the value equation shifts. AMAR's Premium Shared tours start from €65 per person — just €20 more than a mass-market ticket — but operate on a fundamentally different standard. We offer three tiers of shared experiences so you know exactly what you are paying for:
- The Authentic Sailing Experience (€65/person): Join a classic sailing yacht (like the Mizendoha or Sangria). Maximum 10–11 guests plus the captain. Includes simple, refreshing snacks and drinks. A quiet, wind-powered ocean escape.
- The Premium Motor Yacht (€75/person): Board the sleek Skyline. Maximum 10 guests. You get 2 crew members, upgraded tasty snacks, and the speed to reach wildlife areas quickly.
- The VIP Shared Experience (€95/person): The Royal Ocean. Limited to just 8 guests. 2 crew members, premium catering, and your transfer are included in the ticket price. The highest level of shared luxury on the island.
The honest pitch: If you can't justify a private charter but refuse to settle for a €45 mass-market experience with 40 strangers, AMAR's Premium Shared tours put you on a genuine yacht with a strictly limited guest list, professional service, and everything included.
AMAR Private Charters — When the Whole Boat Should Be Yours
A private charter is a different product entirely — the vessel, the crew, and the time belong exclusively to your group.
You're celebrating something. A birthday, anniversary, proposal, reunion — any occasion where the setting matters and strangers don't belong. The Tigresa handles celebrations for up to 12 guests, catering, and a crew that manages the moment. See our Birthday Charter page. You have children. Kids on any shared boat compete for attention with other guests. On a private charter, the crew adjusts the pace and swimming stops around your children. Libby's Waterfront or the Skyline are perfect, fast options for families.
You want total flexibility. Route, timing, music, food, pace — everything is yours to decide. Want to spend an extra 30 minutes at a swimming spot because your group is enjoying it? Done. Want silence instead of music? Done. Want to chase a dolphin sighting the captain spotted? Already turning.
You want fishing. Fishing requires dedicated equipment, specific routes, and a captain focused on finding productive water. Premium Shared tours don't offer fishing.
You actually want to see wildlife properly. On a private charter, the captain actively searches for pilot whales and dolphins — adjusting course based on experience and real-time conditions. Shared tours follow routes. Private charters follow the animals.
Your group is 4+ people, and the maths work. At 6 guests, a 3-hour private charter on Libby's Waterfront costs approximately €73 per person. That's comparable to an AMAR Premium Shared ticket — but with a completely private vessel. The per-person premium shrinks as the group grows.
The Real Price Comparison — All Three Options Group Mass-Market AMAR Libby's Skyline Tigresa Size Group Premium Private (3hr) Private (3hr) Private (4hr) (€45/person) Shared (€65/person)
1 €45 €65 €400+ total €500+ total — perso n
2 €90 €130 €200+/perso €250+/perso — peopl n n e
4 €180 €260 €100+/perso €125+/perso €250+/person peopl n n e
6 €270 €390 €67+/person €83+/person €167+/person peopl e
10 €450 €650 — — €100+/perso peopl n e 12 €540 €780 — — €83+/person peopl e
The numbers tell the story:
Solo travellers and couples: The AMAR Premium Shared tour at €65 per person is the clear value winner — a luxury yacht experience without private charter cost. A mass-market ticket saves €20 but delivers a fundamentally worse experience.
Groups of 4–6: Private charter territory. The Libby's Waterfront at €67–100 per person for 6 guests costs roughly the same as Premium Shared tickets, but you get the entire vessel privately. The decision is close, and either AMAR option is excellent.
Groups of 8–12: A private charter on the Oh la la delivers €83–100 per person for the flagship experience. No shared option competes at this level.
For exact current pricing, contact AMAR at +34 659 987 284 or see our Charter Prices page.
How to Choose — Matching the Format to Your Situation If you're a solo traveller or a couple on a budget →
AMAR Premium Shared tour (€65–€95). Don't settle for a €45 mass-market boat when a slight upgrade buys a completely different standard with a maximum of 8–11 guests.
If your group is 4–6 people →
Run the numbers on a private charter. Libby's Waterfront at ~€73/person (for 6 guests) gives you total privacy and flexibility for the price of a shared ticket.
If you're celebrating anything →
Private charter. A birthday, proposal, or anniversary needs a private vessel. The Tigresa for groups up to 12, the Libby's Waterfront for intimate occasions. No shared tour, however, premium — replaces a dedicated celebration vessel.
If you have children under 8 →
Private charter. Libby's Waterfront or Skyline at 3 hours, with a crew that adjusts for family pace
If seasickness is a concern →
Either AMAR option works — both operate on quality vessels in South Tenerife's sheltered waters. For maximum stability, request a catamaran-based Premium Shared tour or book a private catamaran charter (Makani, Monte Cristo, Coco Loco). See our Yacht vs Catamaran guide.
If you've had a bad group tour experience on Tenerife →
Give an AMAR Premium Shared tour a chance. We offer three transparent tiers to erase that memory: a classic sailing yacht for €65 (max 11 guests + captain, simple snacks and drinks), or the Skyline motor yacht for €75 (max 10 guests, 2 crew members, upgraded snacks). It is a completely different world from mass-market boats.
Frequently Asked Questions — Private vs Group Boat Tours Does AMAR offer group/shared tours?
Yes. AMAR runs Premium Shared Ticket Tours starting at €65 per person on sailing yachts, €75 on the Skyline, and €95 on the Royal Ocean. Small groups, drinks and snacks included, professional crew.
Is a private boat tour worth the extra money over Premium Shared?
For groups of 4+, the per-person cost of a private charter approaches Premium Shared pricing. At 6 guests on Libby's Waterfront, you pay roughly €73 per person — comparable to a shared ticket but with a fully private vessel.
How many people are on an AMAR Premium Shared tour?
We strictly limit capacities to guarantee comfort: 11 guests on our sailing yachts, 10 on the Sangria and Skyline, and just 8 guests on the Royal Ocean. This is significantly fewer than the 20-50+ passengers on typical mass-market boats.
How many people are on a typical mass-market group tour?
Most mass-market boats carry 20–40+ passengers. Large catamarans may take 50+. The more passengers, the less attention, swimming time, and comfort you receive.
Which is better for whale watching — private, Premium Shared, or mass-market?
Private is best — the captain searches actively for wildlife. AMAR Premium Shared tours also route through cetacean habitats with an experienced crew. Mass-market boats follow fixed loops regardless of where the animals are.
What is the cheapest quality option?
AMAR's Premium Shared tour at €65 per person. For €15–25 more than a mass-market ticket, you get a luxury yacht, professional crew, drinks and snacks included, and a small-group experience.
Can I try a Premium Shared tour before booking a private charter?
Absolutely. Many clients book a Premium Shared tour first and return for a private charter for a special occasion. The quality standard is consistent across both — the difference is exclusivity and customisation.
Book with AMAR Yacht — Every Option, One Standard The Art of Loving the Ocean applies whether you're on a Premium Shared tour at €65 or a VIP private charter on the Royal Ocean. The vessels are maintained. The crew is professional. The drinks are cold. The experience is prepared for you — not assembled around you as an afterthought.
Premium Shared Tours: €65 to €95/person. Sailing yachts, Skyline, Royal Ocean.
Private Charters: From €400 total. Libby's Waterfront, Skyline, Tigresa, Royal Ocean, Oh la la, — plus catamarans Makani, Coco Loco, Montecristo.
WhatsApp / Phone: +34 659 987 284 Email: amartravel@gmail.com
Tell us your group size and what matters to you. We'll recommend honestly — shared or private, motor yacht or catamaran — based on what fits.