Gran Canaria: Fun Catamaran Cruise with Food and Drinks

The best part of this Afrikat catamaran cruise is the long stop in a clear bay near Mogán. You can swim, snorkel with supplied gear, stretch out in the sun or shade, and add fast water rides when you want more action. It is a social half-day on the sea, not just a ride from one harbor to another.

I like the friendly crew-led atmosphere, with staff such as Potter, Matt, and Nikita helping keep things light and welcoming. I also like the practical value: lunch, unlimited basic drinks, snorkeling equipment, and a reusable cup are included. The main catch is that jet skis, parasailing, donut rides, speedboat trips, cocktails, wine, and spirits cost extra, and some water sports may not be operating on your date.

Key points to know before booking

• A 2.5-hour stop near Mogán gives you real time for swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and optional water sports.
• Unlimited drinks are included, including beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water.
• The meal is simple but filling, with a chicken wrap and pasta salad, plus adjustments possible for special diets if arranged ahead.
• Optional activities are reasonably priced, with jet skis at €32 per vehicle, parasailing at €32 per person, donut rides at €10, and speedboat rides at €5 per person.
• The boat has both sun and shade areas, so you can choose between tanning and escaping the strongest midday heat.
• Hotel-area pickup is widely available, but transport is not provided from Las Palmas, Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.

Setting out from Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

The trip begins with pickup from selected points around Gran Canaria’s main resort areas. The list is long, covering places around Maspalomas, Meloneras, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Amadores, Taurito, Puerto de Mogán, and Bahía Feliz.

Check your exact pickup point carefully. The service is from centralized locations rather than every hotel entrance, and the transfer is not offered from Las Palmas, Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán. If you are staying close to Puerto Rico harbor, making your own way may be simpler.

The coach portion is listed as about one hour each way. That makes the transport useful for many hotel areas, but it also means your total day can feel longer than the 4.5-hour cruise duration. Allow extra time around the stated activity window, especially if you are picked up near the edge of the service area.

At Puerto Rico, the crew gives a safety briefing of about 10 minutes. This is a welcome feature before anyone gets near the water sports. You receive basic guidance for the boat, swimming stop, and activities, while the crew remains available during the day.

Cruising the southwest coast for one hour

Once aboard, the catamaran follows Gran Canaria’s southwest coast for about an hour. From the water, you get changing views of beaches, cliffs, coves, and the dry coastal slopes that make this part of the island so distinctive.

This first sailing period gives you time to settle in. You can sit in the sun, find a shaded spot, order a drink, and watch the shoreline move past. The boat is described as clean and spacious, with room for sunbathing and more sheltered seating.

The atmosphere leans toward fun rather than quiet sailing. The crew uses jokes, announcements, music, and personal attention to keep people involved. Potter, identified as the owner in the activity feedback, is often singled out for helping create the relaxed tone. On Friday morning departures, live music may be provided. A saxophone performance has been part of the entertainment, but music is not guaranteed every day.

If you want a silent sailing trip with a small number of passengers and no organized entertainment, this may not be your ideal choice. If you enjoy a sociable boat with plenty happening, the tone should suit you well.

The Mogán bay stop gives you time to choose

The boat spends about 2.5 hours near Mogán for the main part of the outing. This is where the cruise earns its keep. You are not rushed through a quick photo stop, and you can decide how active or lazy you want the afternoon to be.

The included activities are swimming and snorkeling. Equipment is supplied, though you can choose not to use it. The clear water makes it possible to look for fish near the boat, and one useful detail is that the snorkeling stop allows enough time to enjoy the water rather than simply jump in and climb back out.

Swimming conditions can vary with the sea and weather, so do not treat the water activities as guaranteed in exactly the same form each day. The crew handles the practical side, and the safety briefing helps you understand how to enter and leave the water.

For an easier outing, you can stay aboard and use the catamaran as a floating sun deck. There are places to sit in direct sun and areas with shade. Bring a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. A dry change of clothes may also be useful, though it is not specifically listed among the required items.

Optional water sports, with clear extra costs

The cruise includes snorkeling, but the more energetic rides are add-ons. The listed prices are:

• Jet ski: €32 per vehicle
• Parasailing: €32 per person
• Donut ride: €10 per person
• Speedboat ride with the captain: €5 per person

The speedboat option is particularly good value if you want a short burst of speed or a closer look at coastal caves. At €5 per person, it is the least expensive way to add some movement to the day.

A donut ride is a simple group thrill, while the jet ski is aimed at people who want to control their own faster ride. Parasailing gives you a different view of the coast from above. You will need cash or a bank card for these activities, and cocktails or other premium drinks also cost extra.

One practical warning matters here: water sports may not all be available on every departure. Jet skis have been unavailable on some days, so do not book this cruise solely for one particular activity. Think of the rides as optional bonuses, with the boat trip, swimming, snorkeling, food, and standard drinks forming the main package.

Lunch is simple, fresh, and useful after swimming

The crew serves a chicken wrap with optional bacon bits, salad, and sauces, along with pasta salad. It is not a restaurant meal, but it is the right sort of food for a boat day: easy to eat, filling, and practical after time in the water.

Special dietary needs require communication in advance. The meal can be adjusted, and vegetarian food has been provided when requested. Do not rely on a last-minute conversation at the harbor if you have a serious allergy or strict dietary requirement. Contact the provider before the trip.

Some departures have included potatoes and nachos alongside the wraps. The exact presentation may vary, but you should expect a casual crew-served lunch rather than a long sit-down meal.

The unlimited drinks package includes beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water. Staff may take orders and bring drinks to your seat, and the boat has also been described as offering self-service beer. Cocktails, wine, and spirits are not included. Bring water as a backup if you prefer a particular brand, though onboard water is available.

The drinking package adds real value to the $88 price, especially on a warm day. Just remember that sun, swimming, and alcohol can catch up with you quickly. Alternate alcoholic drinks with water and use the shade when you need a break.

The boat is set up for families and mixed groups

This cruise works well for groups that do not all want the same thing. One person can snorkel, another can book a jet ski, and someone else can remain on deck with a coffee and a view. That flexibility is more useful than a tightly scheduled activity where everybody must participate.

Families are likely to appreciate the combination of organized activities and relaxed time. The trip is suitable for all ages, and the crew has been attentive to young children and people who feel nervous around boats. Still, children should be supervised around the deck, boarding points, and water activities.

The experience is also wheelchair accessible. Tell the provider about mobility impairments when booking so the crew can prepare appropriately. Accessibility at the pickup point and coach should be confirmed directly if you need specific transport assistance, since the published information confirms the activity is accessible but does not describe every transfer detail.

The crew’s style is part of the appeal. Announcements are lively, jokes are frequent, and staff make an effort to learn where people are from. That can make a mixed group feel comfortable quickly, but it also means the trip is not designed as a low-interaction retreat.

What the return sail adds

After the bay stop, the catamaran spends about another hour returning along the coast. This is a good time to dry off, finish lunch, order another drink, and take in the shoreline from a different angle.

The return portion is less about new activities and more about enjoying the boat. You can settle into a shaded seat or use the sunbathing areas. If you have booked water sports, this is your chance to slow down after the faster rides.

Some people may find the scheduled sailing time too short. The listed activity lasts 4.5 hours, and the core time on the boat is split between the outbound sail, the bay stop, and the return. If you want a full-day sailing trip, this is not it. If you want a manageable half-day that leaves room for dinner or another island activity, the length is convenient.

The coach then returns you to the selected drop-off point. Drop-off locations broadly match the pickup network, though you should confirm your assigned point rather than assume it will be directly outside your hotel.

Is $88 a fair price?

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get on the water in Gran Canaria. It is also more than a basic sightseeing boat ticket. The value comes from the bundle: hotel-area transport in designated zones, a catamaran cruise, lunch, snorkeling gear, unlimited standard drinks, entertainment, and access to a swimming stop.

If you plan to drink beer or sangria, eat onboard, and snorkel, the package becomes easier to justify. The reusable drinking glass is a small souvenir rather than a major reason to book, but it is a pleasant touch.

Your final cost depends on how many extras you choose. A person who adds only the €5 speedboat ride stays close to the advertised price. Someone booking a jet ski, parasailing, donut ride, and several other activities will spend more, though the individual prices are moderate.

I would compare this with the cost of arranging separate transport, lunch, drinks, and water activities yourself. The convenience is valuable, particularly if you are staying in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Meloneras, San Agustín, or another resort area covered by pickup.

Small practical details that improve the day

Bring a card or cash for paid activities, photos, souvenirs, and premium drinks. Wear sunscreen before boarding, then reapply after swimming. The sea breeze can make the sun feel less intense than it is.

Use the shade when you need it. The catamaran’s open deck is pleasant, but four and a half hours around bright water can be tiring. Sunglasses with a secure fit are helpful, and a hat should be fastened well in the wind.

Snorkeling gear is optional and supplied. You may still prefer to bring your own mask if you have one that fits well. Pack a towel and swimwear, and keep personal items protected from spray.

The cruise is hosted in English and Spanish. Live music is only scheduled for Friday morning, and it is specifically not offered on February 27. If music is important to you, treat it as a bonus rather than a promise.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are helpful if your plans are still shifting, but you should still check the available start time and pickup details before booking.

Who should book the Afrikat cruise?

I would choose this for a family, couple, birthday group, or mixed-age party that wants one organized day with several choices. It suits you if you like warm weather, casual food, friendly staff, swimming, and the option to add a little speed.

It is especially useful for people staying outside Puerto Rico who would rather not arrange a taxi or rental car to the harbor. The broad pickup network covers many southern resort areas.

I would hesitate if you dislike group entertainment, want a quiet sailing boat, need a gourmet meal, or expect every advertised water sport to run. I would also avoid making the decision based only on jet skis, since those may be unavailable on the day.

Should you book this Gran Canaria catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want an easy, good-value half-day with food, drinks, swimming, snorkeling, and optional thrills all in one package. The crew’s humor and attention are central to the experience, and the clean boat, shaded seating, filling lunch, and long bay stop make the day practical as well as fun.

Skip it if you want a private charter or a calm, quiet sail. For most visitors based along Gran Canaria’s southern coast, though, the $88 price is reasonable once lunch, drinks, transport, and snorkeling are counted. Bring extra money for the rides, keep your plans flexible, and treat the water sports as an added bonus.

FAQ

How long does the Afrikat catamaran cruise last?

The activity duration is 4.5 hours. The plan includes a safety briefing, about one hour sailing out, 2.5 hours near Mogán, and about one hour sailing back. Coach transfers add travel time for pickup and drop-off.

What food is served onboard?

The meal includes a chicken wrap with optional bacon bits, salad, and sauces, plus pasta salad. Special dietary requirements should be communicated in advance.

Are drinks included in the price?

Yes. Unlimited beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water are included. Cocktails, wine, and spirits cost extra.

Is snorkeling included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and you can use it during the swimming stop near Mogán.

How much do the optional water activities cost?

Jet skis cost €32 per vehicle, parasailing costs €32 per person, donut rides cost €10 per person, and a speedboat ride with the captain costs €5 per person.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup and drop-off are available from selected centralized points in many resort areas. The service does not operate from Las Palmas, Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.

Is the cruise suitable for children and wheelchair users?

The activity is suitable for all ages and is wheelchair accessible. Tell the provider about any mobility impairments when booking.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat, a camera, and cash or a credit card for optional activities, photos, souvenirs, and extra drinks.