Gran Canaria: Fun Catamaran Cruise with Food and Drinks

The best part of this Afrikat catamaran cruise is the mix of easygoing sailing and proper time in the water. You are not simply sitting on a boat for four hours. After cruising from Puerto Rico, you stop near Mogán for swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and optional water sports.

I like the clean, spacious boat and the crew’s lively style. I also like that the price includes lunch, snorkeling equipment, and unlimited beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water. The main thing to consider is that jet skis, parasailing, donut rides, and the speedboat cost extra, and some activities may not operate on every outing.

Key points

• A 2.5-hour stop near Mogán gives you time for lunch, swimming, snorkeling, and paid water activities.
• Unlimited drinks are included, with beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water available from the bar.
• The crew is a major part of the experience, with hosts such as Potter, Nikita, and Matt praised for their humor and attention.
• The boat has both sun and shade, so you can join the action or simply stretch out and watch the coast.
• Hotel-area pickup and return are available, but not from Las Palmas, Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.
• Optional activities have clear extra prices, including €32 per jet ski, €32 for parasailing, €10 for a donut ride, and €5 for the captain’s speedboat.

What the Afrikat cruise is really like

This is a social half-day on the sea, not a quiet sightseeing boat. The Afrikat carries you along Gran Canaria’s southwestern coast, where beaches, cliffs, and small coves pass by while the crew keeps the mood light.

The boat is set up for several kinds of holiday. You can sit in the sun, find a shaded place, order a drink, take part in water activities, or swim and snorkel when the boat anchors. That flexibility is useful for families and mixed groups, since not everyone needs to spend the day doing the same thing.

The atmosphere can be especially lively when the crew is in full comic form. Potter, who is associated with the boat, received repeated praise for making people laugh, while Matt and Nikita were also singled out for friendly service. On Friday morning departures, live music may be provided. A saxophone performance was a memorable touch on some trips, but music is not offered every day.

The overall rating is 4.6 from more than 1,000 bookings, and the strongest pattern is clear: people value the staff, the clean boat, the food, and the amount of time available for swimming and activities.

Getting to Puerto Rico and settling aboard

The tour lasts about 4.5 hours, but transport can add roughly two hours if you use the included coach service. Pickup and drop-off are offered from many centralized points around the southern resort areas, including places near Maspalomas, Meloneras, San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Amadores, Taurito, and Patalavaca.

The long pickup list is useful, but check your exact meeting point carefully. The service does not collect from Las Palmas, Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán, despite the boat departing from Puerto Rico. If you are staying close to the harbor, making your own way there may be simpler.

A coach ride of about one hour brings you to Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria. This is not wasted time if you are staying farther south, but it does make the half-day outing feel longer. Build in extra patience for hotel pickups, since a central collection service rarely moves as quickly as a direct taxi.

At the harbor, expect a safety briefing of about ten minutes. This is a useful pause before the fun starts, particularly if you plan to use the speedboat or other water activities. The activity is wheelchair accessible, but tell the provider about any mobility needs when booking so the crew can prepare properly.

Cruising the southwest coast for one hour

Once aboard, the first catamaran cruise lasts about an hour. The main pleasure here is the simple one: sit back, feel the sea breeze, and watch Gran Canaria’s coast change from beaches to cliffs and coves.

The catamaran has areas for sunbathing and places with shade. That matters more than it sounds. A boat with only exposed seating can become tiring quickly, especially on a bright day. Here, you can move around, cool off with a drink, or find a quieter place between activities.

The boat has been described as clean and spacious, with enough room to avoid feeling packed on some departures. Capacity can vary, of course, so do not assume every sailing will feel half full. Still, the setup gives you more freedom than a small rigid boat, and the catamaran platform makes getting in and out of the water easier for many people.

The coastline views are pleasant rather than a formal sightseeing lecture. If you want detailed geology or local history, this is not that kind of excursion. The reward is the open-air setting, the breeze, and the chance to combine coastal views with a swim.

The Mogán stop: lunch, snorkeling, and water sports

The main stop lasts around 2.5 hours, which is the part that makes this cruise good value. You have enough time to eat, swim, snorkel, and consider the paid activities without needing to rush from one thing to the next.

The boat provides snorkeling equipment at no extra charge. The water has been described as clear, with plenty of fish visible around the stop. Bring your own mask if you prefer a particular fit, but the supplied equipment gives you an easy way to try snorkeling without renting gear separately.

This is a good choice for nervous swimmers too. You can stay close to the boat, take a short swim, or skip the water entirely and remain on deck. One useful detail from the outing is that the crew has helped passengers who felt seasick, so speak up early if you need assistance.

Lunch is prepared and served by the crew. The standard meal is a chicken wrap with optional bacon bits, salad, and sauces, along with pasta salad. Some accounts also mention potatoes and nachos, though the exact serving may vary. The food is casual and practical rather than restaurant dining, but it gives you a proper break from the sun and activities.

Vegetarian and other dietary needs require communication ahead of time. A vegetarian fajita meal has been prepared when requested, but do not rely on a last-minute change. The provider specifically asks for special requirements to be shared in advance.

After lunch, you can return to the water or choose from several paid extras. 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 €5 speedboat option is particularly good value if you want a short burst of speed without committing to a larger expense. It has also been used to see coastal caves. The donut ride is a simple group thrill, while the jet ski suits anyone who wants a more active session.

Keep in mind that water conditions and equipment availability can change. Jet skis were unavailable on some outings, so treat the extras as options, not guarantees. Bring a bank card or cash if you want to participate, buy photos, or purchase souvenirs.

Unlimited drinks and the onboard service

Drinks are one of the stronger inclusions. You can have unlimited beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water from the onboard bar. Cocktails, wine, and spirits are not included, so budget separately if those are important to you.

The crew may take orders and bring drinks to your seat, which makes the day feel more relaxed. Some passengers especially liked being able to pour their own beer. The unlimited setup works well for a long stop in the sun, although remember to drink water as well as alcohol.

The drinks are best understood as part of the value rather than the main reason to book. If you do not drink alcohol, you still have juice, soft drinks, coffee, and water. If you do drink, the inclusion can make the €88 price easier to justify, especially when combined with lunch and the cruise.

You should still bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, and a small amount of cash or a card. The sun can feel stronger on open water, and shade is not a substitute for sunscreen.

How much value do you get for $88?

At about $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get onto the sea. The value comes from how much is bundled into the fare: a 4.5-hour experience, coach transfers from designated areas, the catamaran, lunch, unlimited drinks, snorkeling equipment, and a reusable drinking glass souvenir.

You might spend less on a basic boat ride, but then pay separately for drinks, food, equipment, or transport. This cruise makes more sense if you expect to eat and drink aboard and want several activities available in one place.

The optional charges are also fairly clear. A group could spend more than planned if everyone chooses jet skis, parasailing, and a donut ride, so decide your activity budget before boarding. On the other hand, the extras are not required. You can swim, snorkel, eat, and relax without paying beyond the main fare.

For families, couples, and groups with different energy levels, the package is practical. One person can snorkel while another sits in the shade with a drink. For a quiet romantic sailing, the lively hosting style and group activities may feel too busy.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a friendly, active boat day rather than a formal coastal tour. It suits families, couples, birthday groups, and friends who like having several choices in one outing.

It also works for first-time snorkelers. The equipment is supplied, the crew gives safety instructions, and you can keep the session short. The water activities offer extra excitement for older children and adults, though suitability depends on the individual activity and current conditions.

The cruise is less suitable if you want a small, silent boat with personal space and no group entertainment. It is also not ideal if your priority is a full day at sea. The scheduled outing lasts 4.5 hours, and one past passenger wished for more time.

The crew’s humor is a major part of the appeal. Most people will find the jokes and announcements fun, but anyone seeking a hushed, upscale sailing should choose a different style of trip.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Arrive prepared to get wet. Wear swimwear under your clothes, bring a towel, and pack sun protection. A waterproof phone pouch is sensible if you want photos near the water, although cameras and phones should be handled carefully around the boat.

If you want a particular water activity, ask about availability soon after boarding. The paid extras may be popular, and equipment can sometimes be unavailable. Keep your card or cash handy, since the listed activities are not included.

Tell the provider about dietary needs before the day. The regular food is a chicken wrap and pasta salad, but alternatives can be arranged when communicated early.

If you are prone to seasickness, take sensible precautions and tell the crew as soon as you feel unwell. The staff have helped passengers in this situation, but it is easier to manage discomfort before it becomes severe.

For pickup, confirm the exact designated point and allow time for the coach. If you are based in Puerto Rico or Mogán, you will need to make your own way to the harbor rather than depend on the listed hotel transfer.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That helps if your weather plans are uncertain, though you should still check the departure time and pickup instructions before committing.

Should you book the Afrikat catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want food, drinks, swimming, snorkeling, and optional thrills in one well-organized half-day. The clean boat, useful mix of sun and shade, friendly crew, and generous drink package make the $88 price reasonable for many visitors.

I would be more cautious if you want guaranteed jet skiing, a quiet sailing, or a full-day coastal expedition. The water sports are extra and may not always be available, and the entertainment-led atmosphere will not suit everyone.

For most people staying in Gran Canaria’s southern resort areas, this is a convenient and good-value sea outing. Go with a realistic plan: enjoy the included snorkeling and lunch, treat the paid activities as bonuses, and let the crew handle the fun.

FAQ

How long does the Afrikat catamaran cruise last?

The full activity lasts about 4.5 hours. The schedule includes roughly one hour by coach each way for pickup areas, a 10-minute safety briefing, one hour of cruising to the stop, 2.5 hours near Mogán, and about one hour cruising back before the return transfer.

What food is included?

Lunch includes a chicken wrap with optional bacon bits, salad, and sauces, plus pasta salad. Special dietary requirements must be communicated in advance. Vegetarian food can be arranged when requested.

Which drinks are included?

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

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included and optional. You can use it during the stop near Mogán, where you can also swim.

How much do the water sports cost?

Jet skiing costs €32 per vehicle, parasailing costs €32 per person, a donut ride costs €10 per person, and the speedboat ride with the captain costs €5 per person. Availability can vary.

Where is pickup available?

Pickup and drop-off are offered from designated centralized points around several southern Gran Canaria resort areas. The service does not operate from Las Palmas, Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.