Royal Delfin: Eye to Eye with the Monarchs of the Sea
- Tenerife, Canary Islands
- Sep 19, 2016
- 4 min read
I don’t like being a tourist. I mean, I love to travel and see as much of the world as I possibly can, and since I only make short trips I really have no choice but to be a tourist. But I don’t really like to wave that flag, if you know what I mean. I try to avoid the real tourist attractions, so I can go just a little bit off the beaten path and enjoy the real special traits of the area without those ‘mindless, ignorant creatures’ buzzing around my head. Besides, I’ve always had the idea that tourist attractions are more like tourist traps. You pay a lot for them without getting much worth for it. They’re just a waste of money. Aren’t they? I must admit that today, I learned a valuable lesson. Some tourist attractions actually are tourist attractions because they’re just a downright amazing experience. Something you don’t want to miss out on when you visit a certain place. And all this time, I kept avoiding such things. Apparently, the mindless, ignorant creature was me.
So what did we do that made me change my mind about tourist traps? We booked an excursion with the Royal Delfin from Costa Adeje, Tenerife. Now let me emphasize that everything about this enterprise goes against my nature. Royal Delfin is a boat that offers a tour in which you’ll see dolphins and get to swim around in Masca Bay. Guaranteed. Sure. It can only be booked in those little stores that have “TOURIST TRAP” written on the front door. There are flyers everywhere and there’s always this slimy Spanish guy who’s perpetually pissed - unless he spots another victim. Prices range from your pinky finger to your firstborn child. Everything about such a place makes me want to scream murder and run for it. So what was powerful enough to drag me into such a store and made me keep quiet while those tickets were booked? I’ll tell you what’s powerful enough: my sister’s puppy eyes. She didn’t want to go to Loro Parc, but she really wanted to see dolphins. So she went to book us all a tour with the Royal Delfin. Obviously, I was quite sceptic and tried to tell her to waste her money on something else. But to my great astonishment, I stood corrected, and I’ll have to admit that I’m very glad she did it.
Bonus video: It's so happy!
The only word that comes to mind when thinking back to this excursion is ‘magical’. We were not even 10 minutes underway, when… alright, alright! Royal Delfin guaranteed it, and there they were. The dolphins. Actual, wild Striped Dolphins. And we didn’t just see one or two from afar, oh no. There were many, and they got really close to the boat: next to it, under it, everywhere! Swimming, playing, frolicking: these majestic creatures were everything I was promised they’d be. And the best part is, we got to see them in their natural habitat. This is what dolphins really are like, and how they’re supposed to be. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t had to wipe a tear or two from my cheeks: glancing sideways at my sister, I saw that she was feeling exactly the same. We were so completely overwhelmed by the experience, I even forgot about the other monkeys on the boat.
That bliss disappeared quickly, though. As soon as we left the first group of dolphins behind us, we sailed past the cliffs of Los Gigantes. I must admit: it’s a massive sight. I knew Los Gigantes well, because the last time I stayed on Tenerife, our hotel was right next to them. But I had never seen them like this, and when they tower over you like that, they’re even more impressive than when you stand on a cliff next to them. Anyway, at first sight of the cliffs, all tourists on the boat skidded over to the side. I’m talking 4-star all-inclusive here: sunburns and beer bellies and all. In that moment, I remembered where I was. But who cares? I’d just seen real, wild dolphins!
Bonus video: Watch this amazing family of dolphins frolic!
A short while later we arrived at Masca Bay, where we were allowed to go for a swim. I pussied my way in, expecting the water to be really cold, but I hadn’t need worry. The temperature was perfect! My sister and I had brought our snorkeling gear, so we could enjoy watching a few schools of fish and some sea urchins way below. It was very relaxing and the three of us had a lot of fun. I was beginning to get the hang of swimming in seawater!
When we got back on the boat, it was lunch time. I’m not going to mention the food, okay? We got back outside on the deck quickly and resumed enjoying the beautiful views of the island of Tenerife in the distance. Up until now we had stayed close to the coast, but this time we went further onto sea. We knew the crew was trying to find a group of Pilot Whales, so we kept our eyes peeled. After quite a while, we finally saw some fins in the distance… and… not Pilot Whales, but these newcomers were just as welcome: Atlantic Spotted Dolphins! This family wasn’t as big as the family of Striped Dolphins, but they were just as cute and enthusiastic. Those animals are such great fun to watch! When we finally encountered the Pilot Whales, they turned out to be not as easygoing as the dolphins. They kept their distance from the boat, so it was a little hard to see them, but you could tell they were very beautiful and majestic. It was a great way to end our day on the Royal Delfin.
So, wise lesson learned: things aren’t always what they seem. Some days you begin your adventure with as much excitement as you can muster, and then return disappointed. Other days, well… you just don’t expect much, and at night you look back on one of the most amazing experiences of your life. I just need to get over the fact I had to share it with sunburns and beer bellies.
Kommentare