Gran Canaria: Catamaran Day Trip with Food and Drinks

The best part of this 4.5-hour catamaran trip is its easy rhythm: sail, swim, eat, and sail some more. You leave Puerto Rico, pass rugged coves and beaches, stop twice for water activities, and return without cramming the day with bus rides or rushed sightseeing.

I like the small-group feel and the choice between action and idling. You can snorkel, kayak, or use a SUP board, but you can also stretch out under the shade with a cold drink. The crew has included friendly guides such as Callan, Raul, and Michelle on past departures, with English, Spanish, German, and French available.

The main consideration is that the sea can be cool and occasionally rough. The trip also feels short for such a pleasant outing, and the included drinks are beer, sangria, soft drinks, and water, not cocktails or wine.

Key points at a glance

• Two swim stops: The first focuses on snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The second combines a dip with lunch or afternoon snacks.
• A proper meal on morning sailings: Expect seasonal food such as tuna or chicken, Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce, salad, bread, and butter.
• Plenty of room aboard: The modern catamaran has a sunny upper deck and shaded seating, with space to move around.
• Unlimited included drinks: Beer, sangria, soft drinks, and water are served throughout the trip.
• Good family flexibility: You can use the water gear, swim with a flotation vest, or simply relax while others take part.
• Pickup from southern resorts: Transportation is included south of Gran Canaria, but your exact pickup time depends on your accommodation.

Setting sail from Puerto Rico

Your day begins at Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, one of the island’s main resort ports. Pickup and drop-off are included for locations in the south, and the transfer is generally handled by an air-conditioned minibus. Check the provider’s message carefully after booking, since the exact collection time varies by hotel and location.

Once aboard, you get a useful choice that many boat trips lack. Find a place in the shade, claim a sunny spot on the deck, or settle into a seat where you can watch the coast slide by. The boat is modern, clean, and spacious enough that the outing does not feel like a floating queue.

The first stretch is about enjoying the coast rather than chasing a long list of sights. You pass beaches and coves along the southwest shore, with the dry volcanic slopes of Gran Canaria rising inland. There is no formal sightseeing program built around monuments or towns, so this is best understood as a sea day with scenery, not a coastal history tour.

The crew keeps drinks available as the boat moves along. Beer, sangria, water, and soft drinks are included, which is a real part of the value here. If you want cocktails or other drinks outside that selection, expect to pay extra.

The first stop: snorkeling, SUP, and kayaking

The first swim stop is generally just outside Mogán, where the catamaran pauses in a sheltered-looking bay for water time. This is the most active part of the outing. Snorkeling equipment is provided, along with SUP boards and a kayak.

The water gear is shared, so you may need to take turns, especially if everyone wants a paddleboard at once. That is not a major problem on a relaxed half-day cruise, but it is worth setting expectations. You are not booking a private watersports session with a board for every person.

Snorkeling gives you the clearest reason to bring your swimsuit and towel. Several people have spotted plenty of small fish, and one outing even produced a hammerhead shark sighting. Wildlife is never guaranteed, of course, but the stop offers a chance to look below the surface rather than simply admire the sea from the rail.

The sea may feel chilly, even in warm weather. If you are prone to feeling cold, make your swim shorter and bring a towel for the ride afterward. The boat’s steps make it easy to get in and out of the water, and flotation vests have been available for children.

If you prefer not to swim, this stop still works. Sit in the shade, watch the paddleboards, take photographs, or enjoy another drink. The outing does not pressure you into joining every activity, which helps make it suitable for mixed groups.

The second stop and the meal by the sea

The catamaran makes a second stop farther along the coast. This is partly another chance to swim, but it also allows time for the meal. On morning departures, the food is a full seasonal lunch. On afternoon departures, expect lighter tapas-style snacks instead.

The menu can change, but typical dishes include filet of tuna, breaded chicken, salad, bread, and Canarian potatoes served with mojo sauce. The meal is simple rather than formal, and that suits the setting. You eat with ocean views, often while the catamaran is stopped in a quiet coastal area.

One memorable touch is the way some of the food has been brought out from a beach restaurant by kayak. Warm Canarian potatoes arriving across the water is a small detail, but it gives lunch a local feel that a sealed buffet would not have. Another account describes the food as freshly prepared onboard, so the exact serving arrangement may vary by departure.

You normally choose between fish and chicken, making the meal workable for different tastes. The portions have been described as generous, with enough for the group. Still, if you need a special diet, confirm that directly before booking. The provided information does not list vegetarian, vegan, allergy, or gluten-free arrangements.

The afternoon option is important to understand before you choose a start time. It is not the same full lunch offered on the morning excursion. If a proper meal matters to you, select the morning sailing and check the available departure time.

A relaxed ride back along Gran Canaria’s coast

After the second stop, the boat turns back toward Puerto Rico. This part of the journey is less structured, which is exactly why it works. You can dry off, sit in the sun, stay under the canopy, and watch the coast from the water.

The crew has sometimes adjusted the route for unexpected sights, including dolphins and a whale spotted from the boat. Treat this as a lucky bonus, not a promised part of the itinerary. The main attraction is the open-water ride and the view of the island’s southwest shore.

You may also be offered paid extras such as jet skiing or parasailing. These are not part of the $97 price, so ask about the cost before committing. They can add excitement for one person in a family or group while everyone else remains on the catamaran.

That flexibility is one reason this trip works for different ages. A confident swimmer can spend a long time in the water, while someone who prefers a quiet afternoon can remain aboard. Children have enjoyed the swimming and parasailing options, though parents should keep in mind that sea conditions can change.

What the $97 price really includes

At $97 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get on the water in Gran Canaria. It is also more than a basic harbor cruise. The price covers the catamaran, transport from the south, a full morning lunch or afternoon tapas, snorkeling gear, SUP boards, a kayak, and unlimited beer, sangria, soft drinks, and water.

For someone who plans to drink beer or sangria, the value improves quickly. You also avoid paying separately for every swim activity, and the included food is more substantial than the snack trays found on many short cruises.

For non-drinkers, the calculation is less automatic. Soft drinks and water are included, but the price is built partly around the open drinks service. If you do not drink alcohol and mainly want a boat ride, you may find a simpler sailing cheaper.

The boat itself adds value. Several hours on a clean, spacious catamaran with shaded seating and a sun deck feels different from a crowded excursion boat. The small-group atmosphere has been especially important to people who wanted something calm rather than noisy or tightly packed.

A useful comparison is to price a boat trip, lunch, watersports rental, drinks, and transfer separately. Once those costs are added, $97 becomes reasonable, particularly for a morning departure. The strongest value goes to couples, families, and small groups who will use both the food and the water activities.

Comfort, crew, and the small details

The crew is central to this experience. Staff members have been described as attentive without constantly interrupting the day. Drinks are offered regularly, instructions are given for the water equipment, and the crew helps keep the stops organized.

The multilingual setup is useful for international groups. English, Spanish, German, and French are listed, and individual crew members have provided instructions in more than one language. That matters when you are handling snorkeling gear, entering the water, or listening to safety guidance.

The catamaran has enough deck space for sunbathing, but shade is available when the sun becomes too strong. Bring a towel, as required, and consider a layer for the return ride if you have been swimming. Sunscreen, a hat, and secure swimwear are sensible choices, although only a towel is specifically listed among the required items.

Sea sickness is possible. One account specifically recommends tablets for anyone who thinks they may be susceptible. The catamaran is stable, but stability does not remove every effect of wind and waves. If you are unsure, sit near the center of the boat, watch the horizon, and avoid overdoing alcohol before the first stop.

The boat is not designed as a sightseeing lecture. You may get some comments about the coast, but the focus is service, swimming, food, and relaxation. If you want a detailed account of Gran Canaria’s geology or coastal villages, choose a dedicated island tour instead.

Morning or afternoon: which departure fits you?

The morning option is the better all-round choice if you want the full lunch. You get the main meal, two water stops, and the full half-day sailing experience. It also leaves the rest of the day free for Puerto Rico, Mogán, or your hotel pool.

The afternoon option suits you if you prefer a later start or a lighter meal. You still get the catamaran, drinks, swimming, snorkeling, SUP boards, and kayaking, but the food is tapas-style rather than the larger seasonal lunch.

Both options last about 4.5 hours. That duration feels manageable for families and people who do not want a full-day commitment. At the same time, many people wish it lasted longer, since the boat time passes quickly once you add boarding, sailing, swimming, and lunch.

The trip is subject to sea and weather conditions. A rough day can change the comfort of the ride or the exact swimming arrangements. Keep your schedule flexible enough that a weather-related change will not ruin an important onward plan.

Who should book this catamaran trip?

I would choose this for a couple wanting an easy sea day, a family with different energy levels, or a group that wants food and drinks included rather than paying onboard at every turn. It is also a good fit if you are staying in southern Gran Canaria and appreciate hotel pickup.

You should book it if you want to combine several simple pleasures in one outing: coastal views, a swim, basic watersports, a warm meal, and a comfortable ride. You do not need to be an experienced kayaker or snorkeler, and you can skip any activity that does not appeal.

I would look elsewhere if your priority is serious snorkeling, a long sailing route, an intimate private charter, or a detailed guided tour of the island. The equipment is shared, the route depends on sea conditions, and the coastal commentary is secondary.

Should you book it?

For most visitors staying in southern Gran Canaria, I think this is a strong half-day choice. The clean, roomy catamaran, friendly crew, generous food, and included drinks make the $97 price fair, especially if you will enjoy the beer or sangria and use the water equipment.

Choose the morning departure for the best food value. Bring a towel, prepare for cool water, and do not assume that jet skiing, parasailing, cocktails, or other extras are included. If you want a relaxed day with enough activity to keep things interesting, this trip earns its high rating without needing to be overproduced.

FAQ

How long is the Gran Canaria catamaran trip?

The excursion lasts 4.5 hours, including sailing, swimming stops, water activities, food, and the return to Puerto Rico.

Where does the catamaran leave from?

The trip departs from Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria and sails along the island’s southwest coast.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included for locations south of Gran Canaria. The provider confirms the exact pickup time after booking, and it can vary according to your accommodation.

What food is included?

Morning departures include a seasonal lunch. Typical dishes can include tuna or chicken, Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce, salad, bread, and butter. Afternoon departures include tapas-style snacks instead.

Are drinks included in the price?

Beer, sangria, soft drinks, and water are included. Additional drinks, such as cocktails, are not included.

Can I snorkel and use paddleboards?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, SUP boards, and a kayak are provided. The equipment is shared, so you may need to take turns during the swim stop.

Are jet skiing and parasailing included?

No. Jet skiing and parasailing may be available for an additional charge.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel. You may also find sunscreen, a hat, and a light layer useful, but the stated required item is a towel.