How to Avoid Seasickness on a Lanzarote Dolphin Tour

What causes seasickness?

Seasickness is a form of motion sickness. It happens when your brain receives conflicting information about movement.

Your inner ear senses the boat rising, falling or rolling, while your eyes may be fixed on something that seems still, such as a phone, a book or a cabin wall. That mismatch can trigger nausea and other symptoms.

This is why looking at the horizon often helps: your eyes see the movement your balance system already feels. It is also why staring down at a screen can make a comfortable passenger feel ill.

Almost anyone gets motion sickness if the movement is strong or long enough, but sensitivity varies widely. A traveller who is fine on a ferry may still feel sick on a small wildlife boat in short Atlantic swell.

Early signs of seasickness

Motion sickness usually builds gradually. Spotting the first signs gives you a better chance to act before severe nausea or vomiting starts.

Early symptoms can include:

• Yawning or unusual tiredness
• A vague feeling that something is wrong
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach awareness or mild nausea
• More saliva than usual
• Feeling warm or cold
• Pale skin
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Difficulty concentrating

Do not wait until you are sick. Tell a crew member early, move to the best available spot and stop anything that keeps your eyes pointed down.

1. Choose the right type of dolphin tour

The tour format affects how much the boat moves and how.

Larger catamaran or motorboat

A larger vessel usually gives you more mass, more space and easier access to fresh air than a compact open boat. Catamarans have two hulls and a wide deck, which many travellers find reassuring.

A catamaran is not seasickness-proof. It can still pitch over waves, and a slow roll at anchor can be uncomfortable. A four-hour catamaran also keeps you on the water longer than a 90-minute dolphin cruise.

Our pick: Lanzarote: Dolphin-Watching Sunset Cruise with Transfers, a two-hour catamaran trip along the Puerto del Carmen coast, from $61 with hotel transfers, rated 4.2/5 from more than 3,200 reviews.

Speedboat

A speedboat covers distance quickly and keeps the total trip shorter. On calm water, some passengers prefer its direct, lively movement to a long, slow roll.

In choppy conditions a fast boat can slam into repeated waves and move sharply up and down. Seats near the bow usually move most. Speedboats may also have little shade, no toilet and less freedom to change position.

Our pick, for calm days and steady stomachs: Lanzarote: Dolphin Watching by speedboat, a 2 to 2.5-hour RIB trip from Puerto del Carmen, from $75, rated 4.4/5 from 138 reviews.

Small specialist wildlife boat

Small-group boats give you clear views and easy access to the guide, but their size makes ocean movement easier to feel. Some use quiet hybrid or electric propulsion, which cuts noise but not wave motion.

Our pick: Lanzarote: Sea Safari Experience, a 2 to 3-hour whale and dolphin search from Puerto Calero on an 8.6-metre trimaran licensed for 15, rated 4.2/5 from 325 reviews.

The practical choice

If you have a strong history of seasickness, look for:

• A fairly large, stable vessel
• Outdoor seating with an open view of the horizon
• Space near the centre of the boat
• A shorter wildlife-focused route
• A toilet you can reach
• A clear weather cancellation policy
• A departure early enough in your holiday to rebook

Our catamaran-versus-speedboat guide compares the two main formats in more detail.

2. Check the sea conditions, not just the sunshine

A bright, warm day can still be windy offshore. The marina may also look calmer than the open water the tour searches.

Useful things to check:

• Wind speed and direction
• Wave height
• Wave period
• Swell direction
• How much exposed open-water travel the route involves
• Whether conditions are expected to improve or worsen

Do not make the safety call from a general weather app alone. The operator and skipper know how the forecast affects their boat and route.

If you are sensitive to motion, contact the operator shortly before the trip and explain your concern. Ask whether the expected sea state suits someone prone to seasickness and whether you could move to another departure.

The skipper may change the route, drop a swim stop or cancel the tour. These decisions protect passengers and are not poor service.

3. Consider a morning departure

The water is sometimes calmer in the morning, before local winds pick up. If you get seasick easily, that can make an early tour a sensible choice.

It is not a guarantee. Atlantic swell can arrive at any time, and the best departure depends on that day’s forecast.

A morning trip has practical advantages too: you are less likely to board after a big lunch or a few drinks, and you may still have another day free if weather cancels the sailing.

Do not choose the morning because you believe dolphins always appear earlier. Choose it when the sea forecast and your comfort point that way. Our guide to the best time to see dolphins and whales in Lanzarote separates wildlife expectations from the weather.

4. Choose the best seat on the boat

The middle of a boat usually moves up and down less than the bow or stern. Ask the crew where the motion is lowest on that particular vessel.

The best spot usually has:

• A position near the centre of the boat
• A forward-facing view
• Fresh air
• A clear view of the horizon
• A secure seat and a handhold
• Distance from strong fuel, food or toilet smells

Do not pick a bow seat because it looks exciting. It rises and falls further as the boat meets waves. On a speedboat, sit where the crew puts you, because weight distribution and safety come first.

Sitting high is not always better. An upper deck has a great view but can swing through a wider arc as the boat rolls. Ask about the calmest practical position instead of relying on a general rule.

5. Keep your eyes on the horizon

Look ahead at a stable point in the distance. The horizon gives your eyes information that matches the movement your inner ear feels.

Keep your gaze steady instead of following every nearby wave. If the glare is strong, wear polarised or ordinary sunglasses and keep looking into the distance.

If you cannot see a horizon, closing your eyes and breathing slowly may help. Staying below deck with your eyes on a fixed cabin wall often makes the mismatch worse.

6. Put your phone away

Reading, editing photos, checking maps and scrolling social media are common triggers. Your eyes focus on a close screen that seems still while your body feels the boat moving.

Use your phone briefly for photos, then look back at the horizon. Save reviewing your pictures for dry land.

The same applies to books, menus and small-print safety cards. Read anything important before you sail where possible, then listen to the crew’s spoken briefing.

Children often feel ill while watching videos or playing games. Conversation, music or looking out for seabirds and distant landmarks usually works better as a distraction.

7. Keep your head and body stable

Quick head movements give your brain even more conflicting signals to process. Face forward, rest your head against a seat if you can and turn your whole body slowly instead of looking from side to side.

Keep both feet supported and use the handholds. Do not stand or walk around when the crew asks passengers to stay seated.

Some people feel better lying on their back with their eyes closed, but only where the crew says it is safe. Never lie in a walkway, near equipment or on an exposed deck while the boat is moving fast.

8. Eat lightly before the trip

An empty stomach is not the answer. Hunger can leave you weak, while a heavy meal makes nausea harder to manage.

Before you leave, eat a small, familiar meal such as toast, crackers, a banana or another food you know agrees with you. Avoid heavy, rich or spicy food shortly before and during the trip.

Drink enough water to start the trip hydrated, but do not down a large amount at once. Take small sips if nausea starts.

Skip alcohol before and during the cruise if you worry about motion sickness. Alcohol can make you more susceptible, dehydrated and drowsy, particularly alongside travel-sickness medicine.

9. Get enough sleep

Lack of sleep can make motion sickness worse. A late night before an early dolphin tour may lower your tolerance and make drowsiness from medicine more of a problem.

Plan a quiet evening, pack your bag in advance and leave enough time to reach the marina without rushing. Anxiety does not cause seasickness by itself, but stress makes the whole trip harder.

If you are crossing the island for the tour, count the pickup or driving time when you choose a departure. A later, calmer start may suit you better than getting up before dawn for a distant marina.

10. Use fresh air and controlled breathing

Stay outside where possible and face into the breeze. Strong smells from fuel, food, smoke, perfume or the toilet can make nausea worse.

Slow, regular breathing may help. Aim for a comfortable resting rhythm, because repeated deep breaths can leave you light-headed.

If you feel unwell, tell the crew and ask where to sit. They deal with seasickness all the time and can help you find fresh air, a safer spot or a sickness bag without any fuss.

Should you take seasickness tablets?

Preventive medicine helps some travellers, but the right option depends on age, medical conditions, pregnancy, other medicines and what is sold locally.

Motion-sickness medicines usually act on the parts of the brain that handle balance and nausea. Effective products can cause side effects such as:

• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness

Some are unsuitable for people with certain types of glaucoma, a risk of urinary retention or other health conditions. Different products also have different minimum ages.

Ask a pharmacist well before the trip, and tell them:

• The traveller’s age
• Whether the traveller is pregnant or breastfeeding
• Any relevant medical conditions
• All prescription and non-prescription medicines
• How long the tour lasts
• Whether the traveller has to drive afterwards

Medicine usually works better when you take it at the recommended time before the motion starts. Once nausea has set in, tablets may be harder to absorb and act too late for a short dolphin tour.

Follow the label and professional advice exactly. Do not combine products, exceed the dose, give adult medicine to a child or cut a medicated patch unless a qualified professional tells you to.

Which seasickness medicine is available in Lanzarote?

Brand names and pharmacy rules differ between the UK, Spain and other countries. A product you know at home may have a different Spanish name, active ingredient or strength.

Ask a pharmacist for something for mareo (travel sickness) or cinetosis (motion sickness) and show them the medicines you already take. Do not choose from an online recommendation or another traveller’s leftover tablets.

If you know a professionally approved medicine works for you, sort it out before the excursion instead of relying on a marina shop. Check the storage instructions for Lanzarote’s heat.

Are patches better than tablets?

Patches and tablets use different active ingredients and have different onset times, durations and restrictions. A patch is not automatically stronger, safer or better for a short trip.

Some patches have to go on well in advance and keep releasing medicine long after the cruise ends. They can cause side effects and do not suit everyone. Never cut a medicated patch to change the dose.

A pharmacist or doctor can tell you whether a patch, a tablet or a drug-free approach fits your circumstances.

Do ginger and acupressure bands work?

The NHS lists ginger as something travellers can try, but the research is mixed. Treat it as an optional extra; it is no reliable substitute for the measures above.

Acupressure bands do not work for everyone, and studies have not consistently shown an effect beyond placebo. They appeal because they are drug-free, but if you have a history of severe vomiting, do not rely on a wristband alone.

Check whether ginger or supplements suit you if you take medication, are pregnant or have a medical condition. “Natural” does not mean risk-free.

What to do when seasickness starts

Act at the first warning sign:

1. Stop reading or using your phone.
2. Tell a crew member.
3. Move to fresh air if the crew allows it.
4. Sit near the centre of the boat and face forward.
5. Watch the distant horizon.
6. Keep your head still and breathe slowly.
7. Loosen tight clothing.
8. Take small sips of water if you can.
9. Use a sickness bag instead of rushing unsteadily to the toilet.

Do not walk around the deck without holding on. Sudden nausea, dizziness and the boat’s movement all raise the risk of a fall.

If you need to be sick, stay in the safe place the crew shows you. Never lean far over a rail or move into a part of the boat that is off limits.

Should you go below deck?

Usually not. An enclosed cabin is a poor place for motion sickness because you lose the horizon and may meet warm air or strong smells.

There are exceptions. The crew may send you below for safety, and lying down in a well-ventilated space with your eyes closed helps some passengers. Follow the instructions for that boat and those conditions.

Do not make the toilet your refuge. It is enclosed, can move a lot and may make nausea worse. Use it when you need to, then go back to fresh air if it is safe.

What if you vomit repeatedly?

Repeated vomiting can dehydrate you. Tell the crew, take small sips of fluid if you can keep them down and follow their advice.

Symptoms that are severe, unusual or last well beyond the boat trip may have another cause. Get medical help if you are worried, especially if vomiting continues or comes with chest pain, a severe headache, weakness, confusion, fainting, difficulty breathing or signs of serious dehydration.

A rocking sensation after you are back on land is common and usually fades. If it lasts, talk to a healthcare professional.

Seasickness advice for children

Children are often more prone to motion sickness. They may not recognise nausea early, so watch for yawning, paleness, sweating, going quiet, irritability or losing interest.

Things that help:

• Choose a shorter trip and a suitable boat
• Seat your child where the crew recommends
• Encourage them to watch the horizon
• Avoid video games, reading and films
• Use conversation, songs or wildlife spotting as a distraction
• Offer a light meal and water
• Keep spare clothes and wipes within reach
• Ask a pharmacist about medicine suitable for their age

Never sedate a child for convenience or guess a dose. Some antihistamines can cause dangerous oversedation or unexpected agitation, and some adult motion-sickness products are unsuitable for children.

Check the operator’s minimum age, children’s lifejackets, shade and toilet before booking.

Pregnancy and seasickness

Pregnancy can make motion sickness more likely, and some fast-boat operators turn away pregnant passengers because of the repeated impacts, not only the risk of nausea.

Before booking:

• Ask the operator whether pregnancy is allowed at your stage
• Describe the boat and trip to your midwife, pharmacist or doctor
• Check that any medicine is suitable during pregnancy
• Choose a calm forecast and a suitable larger boat if you are cleared to go
• Check the boarding steps, toilet access and shade

Do not assume a catamaran removes the risk. The skipper may refuse to take you if the conditions or the boat’s design make the trip unsuitable.

Migraine, vertigo and balance conditions

People with migraine, vertigo or inner-ear balance disorders may be more prone to motion sickness. A boat trip can also bring on symptoms that overlap with an existing condition.

Talk the trip through with a healthcare professional if your symptoms are severe, unpredictable or linked with fainting or neurological signs. Carry your usual prescribed medicine and medical information, but do not take extra medication without advice.

If the dizziness on board feels different from your normal travel sickness, tell the crew straight away.

What to pack in a seasickness kit

Keep these in a small waterproof bag you can reach easily:

• Any medicine a pharmacist or doctor has recommended
• Water
• A plain snack or crackers
• Sickness bags
• Tissues or wipes
• A spare top for a child or a very susceptible passenger
• Sunglasses
• A light windproof layer
• A sun hat that will stay on
• Reef-friendly sunscreen
• A small sealable bag for soiled items

Do not bury the kit under towels and snorkels. Medicine you have to take before departure belongs in your day bag, so do not leave it at the hotel.

Is a short dolphin tour better than a long cruise?

A short tour means less time in motion and can be a sensible compromise if you are mildly susceptible. A focused fast boat also reaches the search area quickly.

The drawback is that a small fast boat can move sharply in choppy water. A longer catamaran may feel steadier but keeps you at sea for several hours and can roll during a swim stop.

Compare the whole trip:

Specialist wildlife trips run from about 2 to 4 hours, with the electric catamaran at 4 hours. Duration alone is a poor guide, so look at the actual boat and the forecast. See the best dolphin-watching tours in Lanzarote for a broader comparison.

Can the tour be cancelled because of rough seas?

Yes. Operators may cancel, postpone or reroute a trip when the skipper considers conditions unsafe. Some activities, including swimming, may be dropped even if the cruise goes ahead.

Read the terms before booking. Check whether a departure the operator cancels gets you a refund, a new date or a choice of both. That is different from deciding not to go yourself because you dislike the forecast.

A flexible booking made early in your holiday gives you the best chance of moving to another day.

When should you skip the tour?

Think about staying ashore when:

• You are already vomiting or unwell before departure
• The operator says conditions will be hard for a sensitive passenger
• A health professional has advised against boat travel
• Pregnancy or a back, neck or balance condition conflicts with the tour rules
• Past seasickness has been severe despite sensible prevention
• You have to drive or look after children and your medicine makes you very drowsy

A coastal viewpoint, the submarine dive from Puerto Calero or a larger scheduled vessel may suit you better. Missing one excursion beats spending it severely ill or taking a medicine that does not suit you.

Frequently asked questions

Is the sea around Lanzarote rough?

It varies with the day, the route, the wind and the swell. The marina can look calm while the open water is choppy. Ask the operator about the forecast for your boat and route.

Are Lanzarote catamarans good for seasickness?

Many travellers find a wide catamaran comfortable, and twin hulls are steadier in Atlantic swell than a monohull or an inflatable. No catamaran is motion-free, though: it can still pitch and roll, particularly in swell or at anchor.

Where should I sit on a dolphin boat?

Ask for a seat near the centre of the boat, facing forward, with fresh air and a view of the horizon. Avoid the bow when the motion is strong unless the crew advises otherwise.

Should I eat before a dolphin tour?

Have a small, light, familiar meal instead of boarding very hungry or straight after rich, spicy food. Drink water and avoid alcohol if you are prone to sickness.

When should I take seasickness tablets?

Many products work best when taken before the motion starts, but the timing differs. Follow the label and ask a pharmacist instead of relying on a general schedule.

Can I buy seasickness medicine in Lanzarote?

Yes. Spanish pharmacies can advise on the products sold locally. Tell the pharmacist the traveller’s age, health conditions, pregnancy status, other medicines and how long the tour lasts.

Can children take motion-sickness medicine?

Some products come in children’s versions or carry age limits, and others are unsafe for children. Ask a pharmacist or doctor and never adapt an adult dose yourself.

Do seasickness wristbands work?

The evidence is inconsistent and they do not work for everyone. You can try them as a drug-free aid, but do not make them your only plan if you have had severe symptoms before.

Does ginger stop seasickness?

Some travellers find ginger helps, but the evidence is mixed. Check it suits you and combine it with practical steps such as watching the horizon and keeping your phone away.

What should I do if I feel sick onboard?

Tell the crew early, stop looking at your phone, face the horizon, keep your head still, breathe slowly and move to fresh air if the crew allows it.

Final checklist before you board

• Check the sea forecast with the operator
• Choose the right boat and trip length
• Sleep well
• Eat a light meal
• Avoid alcohol
• Take approved medicine at the instructed time
• Pack water, a layer and sickness bags
• Ask for a central, forward-facing seat
• Watch the horizon
• Keep phone use brief
• Tell the crew at the first symptom

Seasickness cannot always be prevented, but preparation makes a real difference. Plan the excursion around the most motion-sensitive person in your group instead of the boldest, and everyone gets a better chance to enjoy Lanzarote’s dolphins and the open Atlantic.

More planning guides

• Best dolphin-watching tours in Lanzarote
• Catamaran vs speedboat for dolphin watching
• Best time to see dolphins and whales in Lanzarote
• How likely you are to see dolphins in Lanzarote
• Whale and dolphin watching in Lanzarote
• Boat trips from Puerto del Carmen
• Boat trips from Puerto Calero
• Lanzarote catamaran tours