From Puerto Rico: Boat trip along the coast w/ Food & Drinks

The best part of this Puerto Rico boat trip is the long stop in a sheltered bay, where you can swim, ride the banana boat, look for fish through the underwater viewing area, or simply stretch out with a drink. You also cruise past the south coast’s cliffs and beaches, with a chance of dolphins, turtles, or flying fish.

I like the friendly, active crew, with Sergio, Abdera, and Yeray singled out for being especially attentive. I also like the value: the $47 price can cover lunch, drinks, and a banana boat ride when you choose the Full Pack, which is a solid half-day deal in Gran Canaria.

The main caution is the sea. Rough water can make the ride uncomfortable, and wildlife sightings are never promised. Also check which package you have booked, since the Basic Pack and Full Pack include different food and drink options.

Key points before you book

• A two-hour bay stop gives you real time in the water: This is not just a short photo stop. You have time to swim and try activities.
• The Full Pack adds lunch, alcohol, and the banana boat: It includes salad, paella, wrinkled potatoes, beer, mojitos, and the banana ride.
• Dolphins and other wildlife are possible, not guaranteed: You might see dolphins, flying fish, turtles, or other sea life.
• The Princesa Ico leaves from Puerto Base: Look for the boat close to the gas station in Puerto Rico.
• Extra activities cost more: Jet skis and parasailing can be purchased on board, while the cave trip has been offered for an additional €10.
• Pickup is available from several resort areas: San Agustin, Playa del Ingles, Yumbo, and Meloneras are among the listed pickup points.

Setting out from Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

You meet at Puerto Base in Puerto Rico, close to the gas station, and look for the Princesa Ico. The harbor is the key detail here, since Puerto Rico is the main departure point for the cruise and the easiest place to board if you are staying nearby.

Optional hotel-area pickup is listed for several locations. The published times are 9:10 from Clinica Roca in San Agustin, 9:20 from Hotel Tropical in Playa del Ingles, 10:00 from C.C. Yumbo, and 10:10 from Gran Casino Costa Meloneras. Exact arrangements depend on the option you select, so check your booking details rather than assuming the bus will collect you at your hotel door.

The transfer has been described as a comfortable bus ride, which is useful if you are staying outside Puerto Rico. Still, allow extra time around the pickup because the boat’s departure and the bus schedule are not the same thing. If you are already in Puerto Rico, going directly to Puerto Base keeps the morning simpler.

Once aboard, you have a choice of seating and sun decks. Some people use the open areas for sunbathing, while others prefer a more sheltered spot. One important note is that a complaint mentions a €10 charge for middle beds, so ask about seating rules before settling in if a particular place matters to you.

Cruising the south coast toward Mogán

The first stretch is about the coast rather than a single landmark. From the water, you see beaches and cliffs from a different angle, and the boat provides a relaxed way to connect Puerto Rico with the Mogán area.

Music creates a social, holiday atmosphere. This is not a quiet sailing lesson or a small private charter, despite the promotional language about tailored excursions. Expect a shared catamaran with a mix of sunbathing, conversation, food, drinks, and water activities.

The crew’s attitude is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip. Sergio and Abdera have been praised for their kindness and attention, while Yeray has been mentioned as particularly welcoming. The crew also serves drinks and helps organize the activities, so the day feels more like a hosted outing than a simple boat transfer.

Keep your expectations sensible about wildlife. Dolphins have been seen close to Puerto Rico, sometimes within the first half-hour, and some outings have also produced sightings of flying fish and turtles. One particularly lucky outing included a hammerhead shark. Those are memorable bonuses, but the company does not guarantee them, and at least one outing had no dolphins.

The sea can also change the mood quickly. When conditions turned choppy, many people became seasick. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where you feel most stable, watch the horizon, and avoid treating the full bar as a good idea before the boat has settled.

The Mogán bay stop and two hours of water time

The main stop is the heart of the outing. The boat anchors in a bay along the south coast, where you have about two hours for swimming and optional activities.

That timing matters. Many boat outings offer only a quick swim, but two hours lets you choose your own pace. You can get in the water, climb back aboard, sunbathe, or skip the activities without feeling that you have missed the whole point of the trip.

The water activities include the included banana boat ride with the Full Pack. Several people consider the stop one of the best parts of the day, especially because it combines swimming with powered activities and time on board. One caution: a complaint described the banana ride as only about one and a half minutes, so do not book this solely for a long banana-boat session.

The boat also offers underwater viewing, allowing you to see the seabed and fish without needing a full snorkeling excursion. Snorkeling is part of the activity’s general possibilities, but the supplied details do not promise equipment or a formal guided snorkeling session. Ask the crew what is available on your departure if that is important to you.

The optional cave trip is another popular add-on. It has been offered for around €10 and uses a smaller motorboat to reach caves in the rocky coast. The extra ride itself can be more exciting than expected, with the approach through the water adding to the appeal. This is a good choice if you want a short burst of adventure beyond the catamaran’s slower pace.

Jet skis and parasailing are also available for an extra charge. Those activities are not included in the advertised $47 price, so budget separately and confirm the current cost before you commit.

Lunch, drinks, and the two package choices

The price needs a close look because the inclusions depend on the package. The Basic Pack includes water and soft drinks. The Full Pack includes beer, mojitos, salad, paella, wrinkled potatoes, and the banana boat ride.

At $47 per person, the Full Pack offers good value if you want a sociable day at sea rather than paying separately for lunch and several drinks. Paella and salad make it more substantial than a light snack, and the included drinks save you from buying refreshments each time you return to your seat.

The food is served during the bay stop or the related part of the cruise, and it has generally been described as good and plentiful. One small criticism concerned a lack of extra sauce or butter, which gives you a fair idea of the meal: practical group lunch, not a restaurant experience.

The drink selection is broad enough for a holiday boat trip. Water and soft drinks are available, while the Full Pack adds beer and mojitos. One outing ended with free shots on the return to port, but treat that as a possible extra touch rather than a promised inclusion.

Read the package wording carefully when booking. The activity details use slightly different labels, including Basic Pack and Full Pack, and the food and alcohol are not part of the basic option. If lunch is important to you, do not assume every $47 booking includes the same menu.

The return past the coast

After the bay stop, the boat heads back toward Puerto Rico. The listed route includes a return sailing period of about 40 minutes, though the total timing can vary with the selected option and conditions.

This is a good time to enjoy the views without trying to fit in another activity. You may see more of the cliffs and bays from the water, and the crew keeps the atmosphere lively with music. Some outings have included views of three historic bays on the return, although the supplied details do not name them.

The final stretch works best if you see the trip as a balanced day rather than a wildlife safari. The dolphins may appear, but the reliable elements are the coastal scenery, the bay stop, lunch and drinks if you choose the Full Pack, and the chance to swim.

Drop-off is available at four listed locations, including Gran Casino Costa Meloneras, Av. de Italia, 1, and Hospiten Roca, Av. Estados Unidos, 39. The complete list shown in the booking information should be checked before you reserve, since the pickup and return points depend on the option selected.

What the $47 price really buys you

The value is strongest for families, couples, and groups who want several holiday ingredients in one booking. A four-hour boat outing, a swim stop, food, drinks, and an included banana ride can add up quickly if purchased separately.

The trip also works well for mixed groups. One person can sunbathe, another can swim, and someone else can pay for a jet ski or parasailing. Teenagers have plenty to watch and do, while less active family members can stay on the boat.

The value is less clear if you want a quiet sailing trip. Music, shared seating, group meal service, and optional rides give this outing a lively feel. It is not designed around solitude or a highly personal guide service.

The duration needs a little flexibility. The advertised length is four hours, but one booking described a 10:45 departure and arrival around 4:00, which is longer. That may reflect a particular departure, transfer arrangement, or package. Do not schedule a tight afternoon appointment after the boat.

Who should choose this boat trip

I would recommend it to you if you want a budget-friendly coastal day with several choices built in. It suits families with older children, groups of friends, couples who like a social atmosphere, and anyone who wants to see Gran Canaria from the ocean without arranging separate activities.

It is especially useful for a family with different energy levels. The boat gives you a base, the bay provides swimming time, and the optional activities let you decide how active the day becomes.

You may want another kind of outing if you get seasick easily, dislike music and group settings, or want guaranteed wildlife. The sea can be rough, and no operator can promise dolphins, turtles, or flying fish.

The boat is listed as wheelchair accessible, which makes it worth considering if access is a concern. Since the details do not explain boarding assistance or water-activity access, contact the provider before booking if you need specific support.

Spanish and English are spoken by the host or greeter. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking make it easier to fit into a changing holiday schedule.

My practical advice for a better day

Choose the Full Pack if you want lunch, beer or mojitos, and the banana boat. Pick the Basic Pack only if you prefer to arrange your own food and avoid alcohol, or if the package price difference makes that worthwhile.

Bring swimwear and plan around wet activities. You will also want sun protection, since the boat has sunbathing areas and the bay stop can keep you outdoors for a long time.

If you are hoping for dolphins, keep your eyes on the water during the outward run and do not spend the entire time looking at your phone. The sightings are possible, not guaranteed, so judge the day by the coast and the water stop too.

Ask early about the cave trip, jet ski, parasailing, and seating charges. The crew can explain what is running that day, and confirming the costs prevents a surprise when you are already on board.

Should you book the Princesa Ico?

Book this trip if you want a sociable, good-value outing that combines south-coast scenery, lunch, swimming, and optional thrills. The long bay stop and warm crew make it more than a simple cruise, while the $47 Full Pack price is attractive for a four-hour day.

Skip it if calm, private sailing is your priority or if rough water is a serious concern. For most families and groups staying around Puerto Rico, Playa del Ingles, San Agustin, or Meloneras, this is an easy way to put several Gran Canaria activities into one half-day plan.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip depart from?

The meeting point is Puerto Rico, at Puerto Base, close to the gas station. The boat is named Princesa Ico.

How long is the activity?

The advertised duration is four hours. Actual timing can depend on the selected option and departure arrangements.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $47 per person. Check the selected package because the inclusions differ between the Basic Pack and Full Pack.

What does the Basic Pack include?

The Basic Pack includes water and soft drinks.

What does the Full Pack include?

The Full Pack includes beer, mojitos, salad, paella, wrinkled potatoes, and a banana boat ride.

Are jet skis and parasailing included?

No. Jet ski and parasailing activities are not included in the listed package price, but they can be purchased on the boat.

Is hotel pickup available?

Optional pickup is listed from Clinica Roca in San Agustin, Hotel Tropical in Playa del Ingles, C.C. Yumbo, and Gran Casino Meloneras. Pickup times and locations depend on the selected option.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. The supplied details do not specify the exact boarding assistance or access arrangements for individual water activities.

Are dolphins guaranteed?

No. Dolphins, turtles, and flying fish may be seen, but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.