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Yes, it’s a real thing. From the harbour wall it looks like a classic Fiat 500 has been parked, improbably, on the water. Get closer and you realise it’s floating, and then someone climbs in, turns a steering wheel, and drives it out to sea. It’s become one of the most talked-about things to do in south Tenerife, all over social media, and it books up fast.
Here is what it actually is, what an hour on it is like, whether it’s worth the money, and how to get a slot before they go. The short version: it’s a genuine novelty done properly, it’s a lot of fun, especially for families and groups, and because there aren’t many boats it sells out, so booking ahead is the whole game.
Contents
- What is the Fiat 500 boat?
- What an hour on it is like
- Is it worth it?
- Price and booking
- Know before you go
- Practical tips
- Frequently asked questions
What is the Fiat 500 boat?
It’s exactly what it sounds like, and it’s the only official one of its kind in the world. The top half is a genuine Fiat 500 body, with the hood, headlights, wing mirrors, windscreen wiper and a working horn. The bottom half is a fibreglass boat hull, and underneath sits a trimaran shape that makes it stable and, reassuringly, very hard to capsize. A petrol outboard motor pushes it along, and inside there’s room for four, with car seats, a dashboard lifted straight from a Fiat 500, and a steering wheel that actually connects to the rudder.
The clever part is that you drive it yourself. No boating licence is needed, an instructor gives you a briefing first, and then you’re off around the bay under your own steam. It runs from Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje, which is the marina most of the area’s boat trips leave from.
What an hour on it is like
You meet at the marina, get a short safety briefing, and then take the wheel. Once you’re clear of the harbour you can open it up, and reviewers are consistently surprised by two things: how far out you’re allowed to go, and how quick it feels at full throttle. It’s not a gentle potter around the pontoons, you get a proper hour out on the open water with the coast behind you.
It lands as one of those experiences the whole group enjoys rather than just the driver. Families with children as young as four have loved it, couples use it as a novelty date, and groups take turns at the wheel. Several people mention bringing their own music and cruising along to it, and the operators take photos you can keep. The guides come up again and again in reviews as friendly and genuinely good at making it fun, which is a big part of why it rates so highly.
Is it worth it?
For the right group, yes, and the reviews back that up: it holds a 4.8 rating and is one of the highest-praised activities in the area, with a steady stream of people calling it the best thing they did all holiday. It’s genuinely unique, it photographs brilliantly, and an hour goes surprisingly fast.
The honest framing is about how you split the cost. It’s booked per boat rather than per person, for up to four people, so it’s a fun, affordable novelty if you fill the boat with a family or a group, and a pricier treat if there are only two of you. Set your expectations right, too: it’s a one-hour novelty ride around the bay, not a half-day excursion with snorkelling and lunch. Go in wanting exactly that, a genuinely daft, memorable hour driving a car on the sea, and it delivers. If you want wildlife or a longer trip, a whale watching boat or a jet ski tour is a different kind of day.
Price and booking
It costs from around €190 for the boat, which takes up to four people, so for a group of four that works out at roughly €45 each, and less appealing value for a couple. The booking page shows the current live price and the available time slots.
The important thing is to book ahead. There are only a handful of these boats, it’s popular and heavily shared online, and slots sell out, especially in summer and school holidays. Booking online comes with free cancellation up to 24 hours before and a reserve-now-pay-later option, so there’s no real downside to locking in a slot early and keeping your plans flexible.
Know before you go
The activity starts at Pantalán 11 in Puerto Colón, where an instructor meets you and runs through everything before you set off. Puerto Colón is in Costa Adeje, easy to reach from the southern resorts, and our guide to getting around south Tenerife without a car covers the buses if you’re not driving.
Bring a towel and your passport or ID, a copy is accepted. Refuelling is included in the price, so there’s nothing extra to pay for fuel. Alcohol and drugs aren’t allowed, for obvious reasons when you’re the one driving. One thing worth checking for your group: there’s an upper age limit, with the activity listed as not suitable for people over 70, so if an older member of the party was hoping to drive, confirm it before you book. The instructors speak English among other languages, so the briefing won’t be a problem.
Practical tips
- Book ahead. There are few boats and it sells out, so reserve early, especially in summer. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before means there’s no risk in booking sooner rather than later.
- Fill the boat to get the value. The price is per boat for up to four, so it’s best split between a family or group.
- Bring a towel, your passport or ID, and sun cream. You’re out in the open sea for an hour.
- Take your phone or a waterproof camera for photos, it’s one of the more photogenic things you’ll do, and the crew take pictures too.
- Check the upper age limit if an older member of your group wants to drive.
- Arrive in good time for the safety briefing at Pantalán 11 in Puerto Colón.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a licence to drive the Fiat 500 boat?
No. No boating licence is required. An instructor gives you a full safety briefing first, then you drive it yourself around the bay.
How much does it cost?
From around €190 for the whole boat, which seats up to four people, so roughly €45 each for a group of four. It’s booked per boat rather than per person, and the live price shows at the booking link.
How long is the experience?
One hour on the water, plus a short safety briefing beforehand. It’s a novelty ride around the bay rather than a half-day excursion.
Where does it leave from?
Pantalán 11 at Puerto Colón marina in Costa Adeje, easy to reach from the southern resorts.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, it’s popular with families, and children have enjoyed it from around age four. Note there’s an upper age limit, listed as not suitable for those over 70. For more family ideas, see our guide to things to do in south Tenerife with kids.
Does it sell out?
Often, yes. There are only a few boats and it’s very popular, so book ahead, particularly in summer and school holidays.
Is it safe?
The hull is designed to be stable and resist capsizing, you get a safety briefing, and an instructor sets you up before you go. Alcohol and drugs are not permitted for the driver.
Prices, availability, age limits and meeting details change, so always check the current information on the booking page before you go. Weather can affect sailings, and the operator’s safety instructions must be followed at all times.