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0 m · Coast Review · Los Gigantes operators

Los Gigantes boat trips: who's who in the harbour and which to pick

Three companies are worth knowing in Los Gigantes harbour: Marítima Acantilados (Nashira Uno, Gladiator U, Lady Elsie, Inia I), the Flipper Uno group and Third Element's sailing boat. Here's who sells each trip, what it costs and which boat suits which kind of traveller.

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↓ Our picks

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Main companies
Marítima Acantilados, Agua Azul (Flipper Uno), Third Element
Price
from €28 (2 h) to €75 (sailing boat, 3 h)
Duration
1.5–3 h
Departs from
Puerto Deportivo Los Gigantes (Santiago del Teide)
Group size
from 10 places (sailing boat) to 91 (Flipper Uno)
Arrive
1 h early: parking is tight

Updated 2 October 2026Facts checked against official sources

Los Gigantes is the harbour where the cliffs, a swim in a cove and the search for pilot whales and dolphins all fit into two hours; from Puerto Colón, the same thing takes a 4.5-hour trip. Our summary: Marítima Acantilados and Flipper Uno for the standard 2-hour trip at €28–33, and Third Element if you want a small group and don't mind paying more than double.

Our picks

1

The best-selling standard trip

Flipper Uno, 2 h with a drink and a swim at Juan López or Masca if the sea allows.

2

The Marítima Acantilados alternative

2 h with a swim at Masca and a drink; same starting price as the one above.

3

Small group on a sailing boat

Third Element: 10 people at most, 3 h, light lunch, cava and snorkelling gear.

4

Fast and to the point

Flipper Uno's speedboat (Los Rápidos or Masca Express), 2 h; not suitable for under-2s.

Who's who in the harbour

The Canary Islands register of whale-watching boats lists 22 vessels in Los Gigantes, but almost everything sold on booking platforms comes from three companies.

Marítima Acantilados (C.B. Marítima Acantilados, based in Puerto Santiago) has an office at the harbour entrance and four boats:

  • Nashira Uno, a catamaran with underwater viewing (between 47 and 52 places, depending on the source): 11:00 (3 h, with a chicken-and-rice lunch and drinks) and 14:00 (2 h).
  • Gladiator U, a 36-seat rigid inflatable: 2 h with a drink for €28, at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.
  • Lady Elsie, a 50-foot sailing boat: 3 h at 11:00 and 14:00; also available for private hire.
  • Inia I: 1.5 h at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.

It's also one of the three companies that take turns running the boat hikers must catch from the Masca landing stage back to Los Gigantes. Timetables at maritimaacantilados.com.

Agua Azul Tenerife S.L. is the company behind the Flipper Uno, the pirate-style wooden sailing ship that carries up to 91 people, the Masca Express speedboat and Los Rápidos (the inflatables El Rápido and El Rápido Dos). Its office is on the right at the harbour entrance (staff in yellow T-shirts). Website: flipperuno.com. Full analysis in our Flipper Uno review.

Third Element S.L. runs the Mugen, a 14 m sailing yacht moored on pontoon 1 (berth 156), with 10 passengers at most. The company itself warns that there's little wind for sailing in the south: expect plenty of time under motor.

Which GetYourGuide listing belongs to whom

Listing Company Duration From
Wildlife-watching trip with a swim stop Flipper Uno 2 h €28
Wildlife-watching and swim at Masca tour Marítima Acantilados 2 h €28
Pirate ship tour Flipper Uno (the Flipper Uno itself) 2–3 h €33
Speedboat trip Flipper Uno (Los Rápidos / Masca Express) 2 h €28
Sailing boat trip Third Element 3 h €75

The Marítima Acantilados listing doesn't name the boat: if you want to go on the Nashira Uno catamaran, ask before you pay. Other Los Gigantes sailing boats from other operators are on the platforms too; the company name appears on every listing.

Direct prices versus platforms

Direct fares are in line with GetYourGuide's "from" prices:

  • Flipper Uno: 2 h, €33 adult / €23 child; 3 h with paella and drinks, €40 / €25 (children 2 to 11, babies free).
  • Masca Express: 2 h, €28 / €18. Los Rápidos: 2 h, €28, at 10:00. Gladiator U: 2 h, €28.
  • Third Element: 3 h shared, €75 adult / €60 up to age 12, with a light lunch (vegan and gluten-free too), cava, snorkelling gear, towels and photos.

There's no clear direct fare for the Nashira Uno: ask the price at the office before booking.

Booking, cancellation and what the ratings say

Flipper Uno refunds 100% if you cancel 24 h ahead; after that, nothing. Third Element asks for 24 h notice for changes and cancellations, waits 5 minutes at most and, if it doesn't fill half the boat, moves you to another day or refunds you in full. If Flipper Uno calls off a trip because of the weather, it offers another date or a refund.

All three score highly on GetYourGuide: 4.7 for Flipper Uno (more than 5,800 reviews), 4.7 for Marítima Acantilados (almost 3,900) and 4.9 for Third Element (more than 2,200). The predictable problem is getting there: heavy traffic, little parking, boarding 30 minutes before departure and no refund if you're late.

Our rating

Score

Price
4/52-hour trips at €28–33 with a swim included.
Choice of boats
5/5Speedboat, catamaran, pirate ship and small sailing boat.
Transparency
3/5Listings without the boat's name; no clear direct fare for the Nashira Uno.
Logistics
3/5Scarce parking; allow an hour's margin.
Respect for wildlife
4/5Marítima Acantilados and Flipper Uno have signed Turismo de Tenerife's Sustainability Charter; Third Element hasn't.

The good

  • Cliffs up to 600 m high, a swim and whales or dolphins in just 2 hours.
  • A sailing boat for 10 if you'd rather avoid a big boat.
  • Two operators signed up to the Sustainability Charter.

The not so good

  • Parking at the harbour is difficult in high season.
  • The swimming cove depends on the sea: Masca isn't guaranteed.
  • The sailing boat usually motors for lack of wind.
  • A long way from Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas: add the journey time.

Which boat for whom

  • Families: the 3-hour Flipper Uno, with paella and a trapeze for jumping into the water. Flipper Uno's speedboat doesn't take children under 2.
  • Tight budget: Gladiator U or Masca Express, €28.
  • Couples and small groups: Third Element, or the same sailing boat privately from €650 for 10 (private boat hire).
  • If you get very seasick: the Amarilla Marina (formerly Marina San Miguel) submarine travels beneath the waves, and its operator presents it as suitable for people prone to seasickness.

Without a car: TITSA buses 473 (from Los Cristianos), 477 (direct from Costa Adeje) and 325 (from Puerto de la Cruz). To compare harbours, see Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje; the town guide is at Los Gigantes and every departure is in whale watching in Los Gigantes.

North ↗↙ South 1Los Gigantes2Masca3Playa San Juan4Costa Adeje5Los Cristianos
1 Los Gigantes2 Masca3 Playa San Juan4 Costa Adeje5 Los CristianosOutline: © OpenStreetMap contributors

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Which boat companies operate from Los Gigantes?

The main ones are Marítima Acantilados (Nashira Uno, Gladiator U, Lady Elsie and Inia I), Agua Azul Tenerife (Flipper Uno, Masca Express and Los Rápidos) and Third Element (the Mugen sailing yacht).

How much is a dolphin-watching boat trip in Los Gigantes?

From €28 on a speedboat and €33 on the Flipper Uno for 2 hours; €40 for 3 hours with paella and €75 on Third Element's sailing boat.

Do you get to swim at Masca on these trips?

It depends on the sea. The swim stop is at Masca, Barranco Seco or Juan López depending on the day.

Where do I park for the boat in Los Gigantes?

Space is tight inside and outside the harbour, so the operators ask you to arrive an hour early. You have to check in 30 minutes before departure, and arriving late isn't refunded.

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