Puerto de la Cruz: Submarine Trip and Beach Stop in Tenerife

Going underwater in a yellow submarine changes your whole Tenerife day. I like the Sub Fun Cinco setup because you’re not just looking at fish from the top, you’re close to them through big panoramic windows. I also love that the submarine sits on the sea bed while fish are drawn nearer, which makes it feel purposeful instead of rushed. The main thing to consider is that it’s a 7-hour day with a lot of bus time, and the beach stop is only about 2 hours.

The practical bonus is that you get help staying oriented: there’s a live guide on board plus a free audio guide in 15 languages (headphones provided). And if you’re the type who gets nervous around water, the format is built for people who want the underwater experience without swimming or snorkeling.

Key takeaways before you go

• 30 meters down on the sea bed, so you’re watching marine life from a stable, low viewpoint
• Sting rays and other sea stars show up closer because divers help bring fish near the windows
• 44 seats and 22 large screens, built for seeing well, even if you’re not right at the window
• Audio guide in 15 languages with free headphones, for real context on what you’re seeing
• Two hours on Playa de las Américas, enough to reset, shop a bit, and grab a meal

A yellow submarine day in southern Tenerife, without the crowds feeling

This trip is built around a simple idea: go far enough into the Atlantic to see wildlife properly, then give you real time on a beach. From Puerto de la Cruz, you’ll head toward the south for your submarine experience and then finish with a stretch of free time at Playa de las Américas.

What makes it interesting is the low, sea-bed perspective. You’re not just passively floating and hoping fish swim by. The submarine descends to roughly 30 meters (about 100 feet), and it actually settles on the ocean bottom. That matters, because it turns your time into something more like a guided wildlife session.

You’ll also appreciate the viewing design. The Sub Fun Cinco is spacious with 44 comfortable seats and 22 large windows, so visibility is the focus, not an afterthought.

One more thing I’d clock early: this is a long day. The bus portions add up, so plan it like an outing you’re committing to, not a quick add-on.

Getting from Puerto de la Cruz to Amarilla, and why the waiting time feels worth it

The day starts with pickup from hotel areas in Puerto de la Cruz and Las Caletillas. You can choose from multiple pickup points, and the driver has a list of your group. The guide is clear about timing: be at your pickup point at least 5 minutes early, and the driver will wait no longer than 10 minutes after the scheduled time.

After pickup, you’ll ride by coach for about 105 minutes toward the southern area. That’s your first chunk of the day, and it’s the reason this trip works best for people who like a full itinerary.

Along the way, there’s a stop that includes a guided component plus marine-life viewing, for about 1 hour. The schedule labels it as a guided tour with a boat cruise and marine-life viewing. In practice, that break helps break up the long transfer and gives you something to look at before you settle into the submarine portion.

Then you’ll transfer again by coach for about 25 minutes before heading to the beach.

The Sub Fun Cinco at 30 meters: windows, sea-bed viewing, and sting rays

Now for the main act. You board the yellow submarine Sub Fun Cinco, operating out of Amarilla harbor at the southern tip of Tenerife. This is the moment when the whole day clicks, because the underwater viewpoint is the payoff.

The submarine heads down to around 30 meters. Once there, it doesn’t just float through the water column. It sits on the ocean bed, which changes what you can see. From that position, you get a calmer “field of view” of the seafloor and animals that actually live there or swim close to it.

What you can expect to see includes:

• flute fish
• octopus
• barracuda
• parrot fish
• and a family of sting rays

The sting rays are the highlight that keeps showing up. Even if you’ve seen rays before, the sea-bed setup helps because you’re not guessing where they are. You’re watching them from below, through large windows, at a level that feels close.

There’s also an active element. Experienced divers join during the sea-bed segment and help bring fish nearer to the windows. That’s why the photos can look noticeably better than you’d expect from a standard sightseeing ride. The goal is to get fish in front of the glass long enough for you to really take them in.

How the audio guide helps you actually understand what you’re seeing

I like that the trip doesn’t rely only on a live guide. You also get a free audio-guide system with headphones, and it’s available in a long list of languages: Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Russian, and Chinese.

That’s a big deal for two reasons:

1. You can pace yourself. If you’re busy watching fish at the window, you don’t lose the story when you look away.
2. It adds meaning. The audio guide is built around secrets of the Atlantic Ocean, sea creatures, and delicate ecosystems, plus why conservation matters.

If you want practical advice for enjoying it more: keep the audio guide running but pause it mentally whenever you see the biggest targets. When sting rays or larger fish appear near the window area, your attention will naturally shift. The best experiences here are the ones where you let the sighting lead, then use the guide to connect the dots afterward.

The beach stop at Playa de las Américas: what 2 hours is really for

After the submarine and the transfers, you’ll get free time at Playa de las Américas for about 2 hours. This is not a “quick dip and run” stop. It’s long enough to reset, find food, and wander.

In that window, you can do the practical stuff:

• relax on the sand
• shop a bit
• eat somewhere nearby

Since food and drinks aren’t included in the trip, you’ll want to plan for lunch or a snack out. I’d also treat this as your buffer for any scheduling differences during the day, because the submarine and transfers control the rhythm.

One consideration: 2 hours can feel short if you’re hoping for a full beach afternoon. On the other hand, it works well when your priority is the underwater experience and you still want a satisfying end to the day.

Price and value: is $87 fair for a 7-hour day?

At $87 per person, this trip lands in a category where you’re paying for a specific, controlled experience: a sea-bed submarine ride plus transportation from Puerto de la Cruz and Las Caletillas.

Here’s what’s included that affects the value:

• round-trip coach transport from your pickup areas
• a live guide
• an onboard audio guide (headphones included)
• marine-life viewing during the day’s planned segments
• a certificate for your underwater experience
• dive site depth experience at around 30 meters

What’s not included:

• food and drinks

So you’re not paying extra for meals, but you are expected to handle lunch or snacks on your own once you reach the beach area. When I look at value like this, I think the price makes sense if you want a “once-per-trip” attraction that isn’t dependent on perfect snorkeling conditions or strong swells.

The best value case is when you want the submarine viewpoint and your group would otherwise spend money on separate attractions. This bundles transport, guided components, and the sea-bed wildlife viewing into one pass.

Who this suits best (and who should rethink it)

This works especially well for:

• families looking for a non-swimming underwater experience
• people who want a clear marine-life viewing setup
• anyone who prefers structured activities over open-ended sightseeing

It’s also a good fit if you’re a bit nervous about being in the water. The format is designed for sitting and watching, not getting in and swimming.

A couple of limitations from the tour info you should respect:

• Participants must be at least 2 years old
• it’s not suitable for children under 2
• free bus transfer applies only from Puerto de la Cruz and Las Caletillas

If you’re the kind of traveler who hates long coach days, you might feel the schedule. Between two coach rides and the hour-long guided marine viewing segment, the day is busy. In that case, I’d compare it to a shorter activity option in the south before committing.

Booking smart: make the day easier for yourself

A few practical moves can make this smoother:

• Choose the pickup point closest to your hotel so you aren’t padding the morning with extra travel time on the same side of town.
• Arrive early at pickup. The driver waits no longer than 10 minutes after the scheduled time, and you should aim to be there at least 5 minutes before.
• Bring or plan for sunscreen and water for the beach window. Food and drinks aren’t included, and the stop is in a popular sun-and-shopping area.
• If you’re bringing a camera or phone, remember you’ll want your hands free and steady. You’ll be behind windows, so focus and framing matter more than speed.

Finally, treat the underwater portion as the reason you came. The beach is a bonus that helps close the loop, not a replacement for the main event.

FAQ

How deep does the submarine go?

The submarine descends to approximately 100 feet (30 meters).

Where does the submarine experience start?

The excursion starts from Amarilla harbor in southern Tenerife.

Is round-trip transportation included?

Yes. Round-trip bus/coach transport is included from Puerto de la Cruz and Las Caletillas.

How much free time do I get at Playa de las Américas?

You get approximately 2 hours of free time at Playa de las Américas.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

The audio guide is available in 15 languages, including Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Russian, and Chinese. Headphones are provided free of charge.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

What is the minimum age for participants?

Participants must be at least 2 years old. It is not suitable for children under 2.

Final verdict: should you book this submarine and beach day?

If you want a guided, sea-bed wildlife experience at real depth, this is a strong pick. The sea-bed viewing setup, the big windows, and the sting rays factor make it feel like more than a sightseeing ride. If you’re okay with a long day and you like the idea of finishing with about 2 hours on a beach, booking makes sense.

Skip it if you strongly prefer short, flexible schedules, or if the 7-hour structure feels like too much coach time for your style.