If you book a boat from Los Gigantes on GetYourGuide, it's easy to end up with Flipper Uno without realising: the cruise with a swim stop, the "pirate ship" and the speedboat all belong to the same company. The good news: it's an established operator, with an office at the harbour and a place on the Sustainability Charter. The catch is the same as for everything in Los Gigantes: getting there and parking.
Our picks
1
The classic trip
2 hours with whales and dolphins, cliffs and a swim in a cove; one cold drink included.
GetYourGuide2 hours
Los Gigantes: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop
4.7 (5,807 reviews)
from €28Check availability
2
On the pirate ship
The wooden Flipper Uno sailing ship, with a trapeze to jump into the water from; the 3 h option includes paella.
GetYourGuide2 - 3 hours
Los Gigantes: Dolphin & Whale Watching Tour on a Pirate Boat
4.6 (2,399 reviews)
from €33Check availability
3
By speedboat
Masca Express or Los Rápidos: 2 hours at a faster pace. No under-2s.
GetYourGuide2 hours
Los Gigantes: Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise by Speedboat
4.7 (1,441 reviews)
from €28Check availability
Who Flipper Uno are
The company is Agua Azul Tenerife S.L., with an office at Calle Poblado Marinero, unit 25, at the entrance to Los Gigantes marina, on the right (the staff wear yellow T-shirts). It's open daily from 09:00 to 19:00; phone +34 922 86 21 20 and +34 607 169 886; website at flipperuno.com.
The fleet has three types of boat, all on the official whale-watching register and based in Los Gigantes:
- Flipper Uno: a pirate-style wooden sailing ship for a maximum of 91 passengers. It can also be hired privately for groups.
- Masca Express: a speedboat.
- Los Rápidos: two RIBs, El Rápido and El Rápido Dos.
The company is on Tenerife Tourism's Sustainability Charter, the industry's only public label, voluntary and reviewed every year, and makes a point of its TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice award.
Trips and prices: website versus platforms
| Trip | Direct price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Flipper Uno 3 h | €40 / €25 (ages 2–11); infants free | chicken and vegetable paella, wine, beer, soft drinks, water and guide |
| Flipper Uno 2 h | €33 / €23 | drinks |
| Masca Express 2 h | €28 / €18 | — |
| Los Rápidos 2 h | €28 per person, at 10:00 | — |
On GetYourGuide the cruise with a swim stop is from €28, the pirate ship from €33 and the speedboat from €28. The pirate ship costs the same on the website and on the platform. The classic cruise looks cheaper than the 2-hour Flipper Uno trip on the website: check on the listing which boat you'll be on before you compare.
The swim stop is in the cove at Masca, Barranco Seco or Juan López, depending on the sea. From the sailing ship you get in by the ladder or, if you're brave, from the trapeze.
Getting there and the parking problem
The company itself warns you: in Los Gigantes there's heavy traffic and little parking, both inside and outside the harbour. It recommends arriving an hour early; check-in is 30 minutes before departure, and anyone who's late misses the trip with no refund.
By bus, line 473 comes from Los Cristianos via Costa Adeje, line 477 runs direct from Costa Adeje bus station and line 325 comes from Puerto de la Cruz via Icod. Timetables on titsa.com. More on the harbour in whale watching from Los Gigantes and in the guide to the town of Los Gigantes.
Cancellation, bad weather and the sightings "guarantee"
- 100% refund if you cancel 24 hours or more in advance; after that, nothing.
- If the sea forces a cancellation, you're given another date or your money back.
There's a contradiction here. On its website Flipper Uno advertises sightings "100% guaranteed depending on sea conditions"; on its GetYourGuide listings it admits it can't guarantee them. The second is the one that counts: no operator in Tenerife gives a written guarantee, although pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live off this coast all year round.
What the ratings say
The cruise with a swim stop is rated 4.7 out of 5 on GetYourGuide from more than 5,000 reviews and carries the "Top pick" label; the pirate ship 4.6, and the speedboat 4.7. High, consistent scores. What might spoil your day isn't the boat: it's the traffic and parking if you cut it fine, or missing out on the Masca cove because the sea sends you to another one.
Score
- Respect for the animals
- 4/5On the Sustainability Charter; the big sailing ship carries up to 91 people.
- Boat and comfort
- 4/5Wooden sailing ship with a trapeze and a swim; speedboats for those who want to go fast.
- Price
- 4/5€33 for 2 h with drinks; €40 with paella is one of the most complete deals in the harbour.
- Guide and commentary
- 3/5Guide included on the 3 h trip, but its website promises a sightings "guarantee" that its listings contradict.
- Booking and cancellation
- 4/5Full refund up to 24 h; office open daily. Strict about punctuality.
The good
- Cliffs, whales and dolphins and a swim in a cove in just 2 hours.
- Three styles of boat from one company.
- 3 h trip with paella and drinks for €40.
- A real office at the harbour, open every day.
The not so good
- Parking is hard: allow an hour's margin.
- A big sailing ship, carrying up to 91 people.
- "Guaranteed sightings" advertising that doesn't stand up.
- The speedboat doesn't take under-2s.
Who it's for and who it isn't
Book it if you're staying in Los Gigantes, Puerto Santiago or Playa San Juan, if you want to see the cliffs (up to 600 m high) from the water or if you're after a party atmosphere with a swim. With children, the pirate ship works very well.
Look elsewhere if you want a small group: from the same harbour there's Third Element's 10-seat sailing boat and the Marítima Acantilados boats, reviewed in the Los Gigantes fleet. If you're staying in the south, you'll save time with Travelin' Lady in Los Cristianos or Freebird in Puerto Colón. Compare harbours in whale watching in Tenerife.
GetYourGuide2 hours
Los Gigantes: Whale or dolphin-watching tour and swim in Masca
4.7 (3,893 reviews)
from €28Check availability
GetYourGuide3 hours
Tenerife: Los Gigantes Whale Watching Cruise by Sailboat
4.9 (2,275 reviews)
from €75Check availability
See all options on GetYourGuide →
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Flipper Uno office in Los Gigantes?
At the entrance to Los Gigantes marina, on the right, at Calle Poblado Marinero, unit 25. The staff wear yellow T-shirts.
How much does the Flipper Uno pirate ship cost?
On its website, €33 per adult for the 2-hour trip with drinks and €40 for the 3-hour trip with paella. Children aged 2 to 11 pay €23 and €25; infants go free.
Does Flipper Uno guarantee you'll see dolphins and whales?
No. Although its website talks about guaranteed sightings depending on sea conditions, its terms on GetYourGuide say they can't be guaranteed.
Can you hire the Flipper Uno privately?
Yes, the company hires out the sailing ship for private groups of up to 91 people. Ask them directly for a price.
