Afrikat Afternoon Cruise

The best part of the Afrikat afternoon cruise is the change of viewpoint. From the catamaran, Gran Canaria’s southern coast becomes a long sweep of cliffs, resorts, and open sea. You cruise from Puerto Base toward a calm bay, then trade the deck for clear water, snorkeling, and optional water sports.

I like the generous 4.5-hour schedule and the simple all-in setup, with lunch, beer, sangria, soft drinks, coffee, juice, and water included. I also like the crew’s clear role in making the outing sociable, with music, a speedboat option, and plenty of space aboard. The main caution is that the advertised buffet and the stated meal do not sound quite the same: the practical details list a chicken wrap with pasta salad, so check the food arrangement if lunch matters to you.

Afrikat cruise essentials

• A 2:30 pm departure leaves room for a relaxed morning before you head to Puerto Base in Puerto Rico.
• The calm-bay stop is the heart of the outing, with time for swimming and snorkeling equipment supplied.
• Optional water sports cost extra, including jet-ski rides at €32 per vehicle, parasailing at €32 per person, and a donut ride at €10 per person.
• Drinks are included, but cocktails, champagne, wine, and spirits are not.
• Hotel transport is useful but limited, with collection from centralized pickup points in southern Gran Canaria and no pickup from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogan.
• The boat carries up to 66 people, so this is a social group cruise rather than a private sailing trip.

Setting out from Puerto Base at 2:30 pm

You meet the Afrikat at Puerto Base, Puerto Rico, at C. Puerto Base, S/N, in the municipality of Mogán. If you make your own way there, arrive 30 minutes before departure. The cruise itself lasts about four hours, while the full experience is advertised at roughly four and a half hours, allowing for boarding and the return to port.

The afternoon timing is handy. You can spend the morning at the beach, visit a market, or simply take it slow before going out on the water. It also gives the trip a pleasant change of pace: instead of filling the hottest part of the day with activity, you reach the water after lunch and return in the evening light.

Hotel transport is offered from selected centralized points in southern Gran Canaria. Do not assume a door-to-door pickup. You must check the transport confirmation 24 hours before departure for the exact place and collection time, which is sent by email and may land in your junk folder.

There is an important wrinkle here. Pickup is not available from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogan, even though the boat departs from Puerto Base in Puerto Rico. If you are staying in one of those areas, plan to reach the marina yourself or confirm the arrangements before paying. This is the sort of small detail that can turn an easy excursion into a rushed one.

Seeing Gran Canaria from the sea

Once underway, the point is not a long list of shore stops. It is the view from the water. You see the southern coast from a low, open position, with the catamaran moving along the shoreline toward a sheltered bay.

That perspective is worth having in Gran Canaria. Resort towns can look quite different from the sea, and the coast’s shape makes more sense when you see the beaches, rocky edges, and built-up sections together. The sea breeze also helps break up the warm, dry feel of the south.

The Afrikat is described as a luxurious catamaran with room for up to 66 people. That capacity tells you what kind of outing this is. You get more room and stability than on a small speedboat, but you should not expect a private yacht or a quiet sailing lesson. The mood is geared toward relaxation, music, drinks, and shared activities.

One especially appealing detail is the occasional live saxophone accompaniment on the return to harbor, noted for Friday departures. It is not presented as a daily feature, so you should not book solely for the music. Still, if your sailing falls on a Friday, it can add a memorable finish to the trip.

The clear-bay stop and time in the water

The boat anchors in a calm bay with clear water. This is where the cruise becomes more than a scenic boat ride. You can swim, use the supplied snorkeling equipment, and look for fish close to the boat.

I would treat the snorkeling as a pleasant extra rather than a full reef expedition. The supplied information promises a chance to snorkel in clear water, but it does not describe a guided marine-life tour or a large protected snorkeling site. You get the freedom to enter the water and look around, which suits confident swimmers who prefer an informal stop.

The bay also gives you a break from the moving boat. You can stay aboard, take in the sun, or join the water activities. That flexibility matters for mixed groups. One person can swim, another can sit with a drink, and someone else can pay for a faster activity without forcing everybody into the same plan.

The sea is not always kind to every stomach. One account describes nausea and vomiting during the outing, despite strong efforts from the crew to help, including attention, music, and a speedboat ride. If you are prone to seasickness, sit near the center of the catamaran, avoid drinking too much early on, and consider bringing medication approved for you before departure. That is practical advice for any open-water trip.

Optional water sports and their real cost

The basic cruise includes the boat ride, swimming, snorkeling equipment, food, and a selection of drinks. The more energetic activities are optional and charged separately.

The choices are:

• Jet-ski: €32 per vehicle
• Parasailing: €32 per person
• Donut ride: €10 per person
• Captain’s speedboat ride: €5 per person

The €5 speedboat ride is the easiest extra to justify if you want a short burst of speed without committing much money. The donut ride is also inexpensive, while parasailing and jet-skiing make a noticeable addition to the total cost.

The sports give the cruise a useful range. You can make it a calm half-day on the water, or build in a little adventure. The crew has received particularly strong praise for organizing these activities and keeping the day moving.

There is a safety point you should take seriously. Water sports are not part of the basic fare, and the participation terms place the risk on the participant. The company says its check-in procedure explains the chance of falling into the water or coming into contact with other participants, and that personal travel insurance is needed for incidents. One account describes an injury during the donut ride and a dispute over medical assistance and compensation. The company states that medical care was offered but refused in that case.

The sensible approach is simple: read the conditions at check-in, listen closely to the instructions, and do not choose an activity just because everyone else is doing it. The free swim and snorkeling option may be the better choice for you.

Lunch, drinks, and what you actually receive

Food is included, but you should set your expectations correctly. The tour summary describes a buffet lunch with Canarian cuisine, while the detailed meal information specifies a chicken wrap with pasta salad. Those descriptions suggest a casual onboard meal rather than a large spread of regional dishes.

That does not make lunch unappealing. A wrap and pasta salad are practical food for a boat outing, easy to serve, and unlikely to require a formal table setting. But if you are expecting a broad Canarian buffet, contact the operator before departure and ask exactly what will be served.

Specific dietary needs should be provided at booking. This is especially important because the stated meal includes chicken and pasta, and the available alternatives are not explained in the supplied details.

The included drinks are a useful part of the price. You can choose from beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water during the trip. Cocktails, champagne, wine, and spirits cost extra or are excluded. One account specifically liked the cocktails and considered them good value despite the added price, but you should budget for them separately.

The drinks help explain why the cruise can work well for a group. You do not need to organize every refreshment yourself, and the boat provides a steady supply of basic options. At the same time, one harsh assessment found the food poor and the included drinks budget-oriented. I would view the meal and standard drinks as convenient provisions, not the main reason to book.

Crew service and the social mood onboard

The crew is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The most positive comments focus on friendly service, organization, and attention during the cruise. That matters on a boat, where a good crew can make boarding, swimming, food service, and optional activities feel orderly rather than chaotic.

The outing has a friendly, social tone. Music may be part of the entertainment, and Friday sailings can include a saxophone performance on the way back to port. You should expect conversation and shared activity, not a silent sunset sail.

The maximum capacity of 66 people is worth keeping in mind. A group of that size can still feel comfortable on a catamaran with open deck space, but the atmosphere depends on how full the departure is. The booking limit is 12 people per individual reservation, while the boat itself can carry up to 66.

Children can participate when accompanied by an adult. The minimum drinking age is 18. Those rules make the cruise workable for families and mixed-age groups, though the optional water sports require extra judgment from parents and participants.

Is $93.16 a fair price?

At $93.16 per person, the cruise is not a bargain boat transfer. You are paying for a half-day package: the catamaran, the coastal cruise, hotel transport where available, lunch, a range of drinks, and access to swimming and snorkeling equipment.

The value improves if you plan to use several inclusions. A visitor who enjoys swimming, has a few drinks, eats onboard, and uses the pickup service may find the price reasonable. Add a low-cost speedboat ride or donut ride, and the outing can feel like a full afternoon rather than a short sail.

The value is weaker if you only want quiet scenery. You may prefer a simpler boat trip without lunch, organized activities, or a group setting. Likewise, if you expect premium food or unlimited high-end drinks, the included package may disappoint.

One practical price tip comes directly from the booking experience described by a customer: compare the direct Afrikat price with third-party booking sites. The customer said booking direct offered a better price and that a third-party price promise and discount were not honored. Prices and offers can change, so check the final terms carefully before booking.

The current score is 4.7 from 195 ratings, with 90 percent recommending the experience. That points to a strong overall record, but it does not erase the two areas that need realistic expectations: basic rather than gourmet catering, and optional water sports that carry extra cost and personal risk.

Who will enjoy the Afrikat most

I would suggest this cruise to you if you want a social afternoon on the water with several ways to spend your time. It suits couples, families with older children, and groups of friends who do not all want the same level of activity.

It is especially useful for:

• People staying in southern Gran Canaria who can use an eligible pickup point
• Swimmers who want a relaxed bay stop
• Friends who want optional jet-ski, parasailing, donut, or speedboat activities
• Visitors who prefer one package with food and drinks included
• Anyone who wants coastline views without planning a boat day independently

I would be more cautious if you dislike group excursions, have a very sensitive stomach at sea, or are booking mainly for a high-end lunch. The meal is described in practical terms, and the boat can carry a sizeable group.

The cruise is also not ideal if you are staying in Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogan and have assumed that hotel transport is automatic. Check the pickup details first. The meeting point and pickup zones are not the same thing.

Booking, cancellation, and useful preparation

Confirmation is provided at booking. For transport, check your email 24 hours before departure and look in the junk folder if necessary. If you go directly to Puerto Base, arrive 30 minutes before the 2:30 pm sailing.

Bring what you need for a swim, and keep your plans flexible enough for the sea conditions and the group schedule. The supplied equipment covers snorkeling, but the information does not specify other personal items, so do not rely on the boat for every beach-day necessity.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The cutoff follows local time in Gran Canaria.

Should you book the Afrikat afternoon cruise?

Book it if you want more than a sightseeing sail. The Afrikat combines coastal views, a swim stop, food, drinks, and optional thrills in one four-hour outing, and the crew service is a genuine strength.

I would book direct after comparing the final price, confirm your pickup point, and ask about the exact lunch menu if you are expecting a Canarian buffet. For the best value, enjoy the included swimming and snorkeling, then choose only the extra water sport that genuinely appeals to you.

Skip it if your priority is a quiet, private boat ride or a refined dining experience. For everyone else, especially families and groups with mixed interests, this is a well-rounded way to spend an afternoon on Gran Canaria’s south coast.

FAQ

Where does the Afrikat cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Afrikat Catamaran Gran Canaria at C. Puerto Base, S/N, 35130 Mogán, Las Palmas, Spain. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 2:30 pm. If you arrive directly at Puerto Base, you should arrive 30 minutes before departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

Return transport from the hotel is included only where available. Collection is from centralized pickup points in the south of Gran Canaria, and exact details must be checked 24 hours before departure. Pickup is not available from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogan.

What food and drinks are included?

The stated meal is a chicken wrap with pasta salad. Included drinks are beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water. You should provide any special dietary requirements when booking.

Are water sports included in the price?

Swimming and snorkeling are available, with equipment provided. Jet-skiing, parasailing, donut rides, and the Captain’s speedboat ride are optional extras with separate charges.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.