Driving the Fiat 500 Boats in Tenerife: What It’s Really Like

I have driven the Fiat 500 boats in Costa Adeje before and loved them, so when my sister and her partner Dean came over to Tenerife, I knew exactly what I wanted to get them on. Neither of them had done it, so for once I got to watch someone else have that first go. Here is what a trip out on these little self-drive boats is actually like, from someone who has now done it more than once.

What the Fiat 500 boats actually are

They are little self-drive motorboats styled like a Fiat 500, and you get one to yourselves. Up to four of you hop in, and you do not need any kind of licence to drive one. You set off from Puerto Colon down in Costa Adeje, where there is no transport laid on, so you just drive down and park up in the port.

A crew member takes you out to the zone you are allowed to play in, then hands it over and lets you loose. From there it is your boat, your music and your pace for however long you have booked. There are only a handful of these boats in Tenerife, which is a big part of why they get booked up so fast.

What it is really like to drive one

Easier than you would think. There is a screen with a map that shows you exactly where you are and keeps you inside your zone, and honestly it is dead easy to follow. The zone itself is massive, so you never feel boxed in. You just potter about, open it up when you want to, and head back to the big cross marked on the map when your time is up.

My sister took a turn at the wheel and had it sorted in seconds. Her verdict was that it drives easy and is easy to follow, which sums it up. You can swap drivers as you go, so everyone who wants a go gets one.

The team down at the boats are so friendly too, which makes the whole thing feel welcoming from the moment you wobble down the pontoon to get on. That matters more than you would think when you are about to take a boat out for the first time.

The bit that surprised us

Dean was convinced he was going to get soaked. He was expecting something like ocean karts, bracing himself for a drenching. He stayed nice and dry the whole way round and ended up completely relaxed in the back, the most chilled I had seen him all week.

The other thing everyone loved was the music. You connect your own phone over Bluetooth and play whatever you want. There was a proper debate about who got to be DJ, and that is the charm of it. It is just you and your people, your tunes, doing what you want when you want. Every other boat trip out here is brilliant, but you are sharing it with other families. This one is yours.

How long should you go for?

You can do 40 minutes, an hour or two hours. We did 40 minutes this time and it flew by. It is a great taster, but if I am honest it is a little bit short once you are out there and enjoying it.

The guys who run the boats told me the same thing. First-timers usually go for 40 minutes to try it, but people coming back for a second or third go nearly always take an hour or two. If you can, I would go longer, take some drinks with you and make an afternoon of it. You can check the current times and prices on the booking page.

Can you see whales and dolphins?

Not right up close, no. The whale and dolphin sanctuary is protected and you cannot take the boat into it. We went right out to the edge of our zone hoping to spot some and did not get lucky that day, but you never know your luck, and people do see turtles out there. Go for the drive and the freedom, and treat any wildlife as a lovely bonus rather than the main event.

Can you stop for a swim?

Yes, you can stop and have a dip, which is lovely on a warm day. I had a swim off one the day before this trip and the water was a gorgeous 20 degrees. If a swim is part of your plan, wear your swimming gear under your clothes and bring a towel, and that is another good reason to book the hour or two rather than the 40 minutes.

Would I do it again?

Already have, and I would happily go again. My sister loved that it was just us, doing it our way. Dean went from nervous to totally chilled. My dad, who has done it with me before, was straight back to enjoying it. It is a proper little family boat trip with a bit of a thrill, and it is different from anything else on the water down here.

The one thing I will keep banging on about is booking ahead. When we came in, they were fully booked until three in the afternoon, with a constant queue of people waiting. In summer they are absolutely rammed. Sort it in advance and you will not be disappointed. If you are building out a bigger holiday plan, they slot in nicely alongside the other water sports in Tenerife on a different day.

Fiat 500 boats: your questions