Afrikat Afternoon Cruise

The best part of the Afrikat afternoon cruise is the change of viewpoint. From the deck, Gran Canaria’s southern coast becomes a long sweep of cliffs, bays, and sunlit water, while the catamaran gives you room to stretch out rather than trapping you in a narrow boat seat. I especially like the calm-bay stop for swimming and the chance to snorkel with equipment supplied.

I also like the easy half-day timing. The 2:30 p.m. departure leaves your morning free, and the included drinks, lunch, and return transport can make this a simple choice for a beach holiday. The main caution is value: the $93.16 price is fair if you use the boat, food, and service, but jet skiing, parasailing, cocktails, and other extras cost more.

Key points to know before you book

• A 4.5-hour catamaran outing: You cruise from Puerto Base, Puerto Rico, along Gran Canaria’s southern coast and return to the same meeting point.
• A swimming stop in a clear bay: Snorkeling equipment is provided, and you can enter the water when the boat anchors.
• Lunch and drinks are included: The meal is listed as a chicken wrap with pasta salad, with beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water available.
• Optional water sports cost extra: Jet skiing is €32 per vehicle, parasailing is €32 per person, the donut ride is €10 per person, and the captain’s speedboat ride is €5 per person.
• Pickup has strict limits: Hotel collection is available only from central pickup points in southern Gran Canaria, not from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.
• The crew is a major part of the experience: Service, organization, water activities, and occasional live saxophone music receive particularly strong praise.

A relaxed afternoon from Puerto Base

The Afrikat leaves at 2:30 p.m. from Puerto Base in Puerto Rico. If you make your own way there, arrive 30 minutes early at C. Puerto Base, S/N, 35130 Mogán. The cruise lasts about four and a half hours and ends back at the port.

That schedule works well for you if you want a sea outing without giving up a full morning. You can have breakfast, spend time at the pool, or visit a beach before heading to the marina. The return is timed for early evening, giving you time for dinner afterward.

The catamaran is described as spacious and well laid out, which matters on a trip of this length. You can move around, find a place in the sun, or seek shade when the afternoon heat becomes strong. A boat with room to spread out makes a real difference when some people in your group want swimming and activity while others prefer a drink and a quiet view.

The maximum group size is 66 people. That is not a private sailing trip, but it is also not an enormous excursion vessel. Expect a shared cruise with a social feel, crew-led activities, and enough space to avoid feeling packed in.

Seeing Gran Canaria from the water

The cruise follows the coast from Puerto Rico toward a calmer bay. The view is the main reason to choose this trip. From the water, you see the island’s southern edge without roads, resort buildings, or traffic blocking the view.

This is also a good way to break up a stay focused on hotel pools and beaches. You get the sea breeze, open water, and changing coastal scenery in one outing. The weather in southern Gran Canaria is often a strong part of the appeal, though conditions can still affect how comfortable the ride feels.

The boat’s route is not described as a full island circumnavigation. You should think of it as a southern-coast cruise with a swimming stop, not a sightseeing voyage around Gran Canaria. If you want detailed commentary about villages, geology, or local history, this experience may feel light on explanation. Its focus is relaxation, food, music, swimming, and optional thrills.

One pleasant touch is the return to the harbor with music. A saxophone appearance is offered on special Fridays, according to the tour information, so that performance should not be treated as a daily feature. When available, it adds a memorable finish to the ride home.

The calm-bay stop for swimming and snorkeling

After cruising the coast, the Afrikat anchors in a calm, clear bay. This is where the afternoon shifts from sightseeing to water time.

You can swim from the boat and use the supplied snorkeling equipment. The water stop has been praised for its clarity and peaceful setting, and it gives you a chance to see fish close to the catamaran. You do not need to bring your own mask and snorkel, though you may still want your usual swimwear, towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes.

The stop is optional in practice because not everyone wants to get into open water. You can remain aboard, enjoy a drink, and watch the activity from the deck. That makes the cruise suitable for mixed groups, including people who want a boat ride but are not keen swimmers.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is not presented as a guided marine-life tour or a serious snorkeling expedition. The equipment is provided for a casual swim and a look beneath the surface. If you want a quiet hour at anchor, this is one of the strongest parts of the outing. If you prefer a packed schedule of sights, the water stop may feel long.

Choosing the extra water sports

The optional activities are what give the Afrikat cruise its energetic side. You can add them after the boat reaches the bay, but they are not included in the base price.

Current listed prices are:

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

The parasailing option is the clearest choice if you want a view from above. The boat remains your base while you rise over the water, giving you a different angle on the bay and coast. At €32 per person, it is a moderate add-on, though your final cost rises quickly if several people in your party participate.

The donut ride is cheaper and more playful. It is also the activity that deserves the most caution. The operator’s terms explain that participants can fall into the water or come into contact with other passengers, and participation is at your own risk. Read the conditions carefully, and make sure your travel insurance covers optional water sports.

The jet ski is priced per vehicle, so two people may be able to share the cost if the operating rules allow it. The supplied information does not specify the rider arrangement, so confirm that detail with the crew before paying.

The captain’s speedboat ride costs only €5 per person and offers a small taste of speed without the price of the larger activities. It can be a sensible choice if you want an extra thrill but do not want to commit to parasailing or a jet ski.

You should also know that the crew’s response to a past injury related to the donut ride emphasized the need for personal travel insurance and acceptance of the activity terms. The crew offered medical help at the time, but the participant declined it. That detail is useful: optional sports are not simply harmless add-ons, and you should choose them carefully.

Lunch, drinks, and the question of value

Food is included, along with a selection of drinks. The detailed meal description lists a chicken wrap with pasta salad. The general tour description refers to a buffet lunch of Canarian cuisine, so if the style of meal matters to you, confirm the exact menu before departure. Special dietary requirements should be provided when you book.

The meal is convenient rather than a central culinary reason to choose the tour. You do not have to leave the boat or buy lunch at the port, and a simple meal suits an afternoon built around swimming. Still, food quality is the most mixed part of the experience. Some passengers have found it delicious, while another strongly criticized the meal and expected more Spanish food.

That range of opinion suggests a practical approach: enjoy lunch as part of the package, but do not book this as a food tour. If you have dietary needs, contact the operator in advance rather than relying on the standard meal.

Included drinks are beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water. This is generous for a four-and-a-half-hour boat trip, especially if you plan to swim. Cocktails, champagne, wine, and spirits are not included. Cocktails are available for an extra charge, and one detailed account found them good value, but they will add to the final bill.

The $93.16 price makes the most sense if you use several included features: hotel transport, lunch, drinks, the coastal cruise, and the swimming stop. It becomes less attractive if you only want a short boat ride and do not care about food or water activities. Since optional sports are priced separately, set a budget before boarding.

Pickup, port arrival, and the details that matter

Pickup is offered from centralized points in southern Gran Canaria, but the coverage is narrower than the phrase hotel pickup may suggest. Collection is not available from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán, even though the boat departs from Puerto Base in Puerto Rico.

Check the transport confirmation 24 hours before departure. The exact pickup time and meeting place are sent by email, including a possibility that the message lands in your junk folder. This is not a detail to leave until the last minute.

If your hotel is outside the pickup area, you will need to reach Puerto Base yourself. The meeting point is near public transportation, but the supplied information does not give a specific bus route or fare. Plan to arrive half an hour before the 2:30 p.m. sailing.

Confirmation is issued at booking. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the minimum drinking age is 18. Most people can take part, though anyone considering the optional sports should think about their own fitness, comfort in open water, and insurance.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy the Afrikat most

I would choose this cruise for you if you want a social, easygoing sea day with a bit of adventure. It works particularly well for couples, families with older children, and groups of friends who do not all want the same level of activity.

You can spend the afternoon swimming, snorkeling, and trying water sports, or remain on deck with a drink and the view. That flexibility is valuable when a group includes both active and less active people.

The cruise also suits you if transport is a concern. Pickup and drop-off can remove the need to arrange a taxi or navigate the port, provided your accommodation is within the stated southern pickup zone.

I would hesitate if your priority is a quiet, small-group sailing with personal attention. Up to 66 people may be aboard, and the optional activities create a livelier atmosphere. I would also hesitate if a genuinely Canarian lunch is essential, since the detailed meal description is a chicken wrap and pasta salad rather than a clearly defined local buffet.

Finally, be cautious with the water sports. The boat trip itself is one thing. The donut ride, jet ski, and parasailing are separate paid activities with their own risks and conditions.

Should you book the Afrikat afternoon cruise?

Book it if you want coastal views, a swimming stop, included drinks, and a well-organized half-day at sea. The crew receives the strongest praise, and service appears to be a real strength. The spacious boat, optional activities, and occasional saxophone music give the outing more character than a basic harbor cruise.

At $93.16, I see it as a reasonable package rather than a bargain. You are paying for the boat, meal, drinks, possible transport, and several hours on the water. You will get better value if you swim, snorkel, enjoy the drinks, and perhaps add one activity. Confirm the pickup zone and exact lunch menu first, then book with realistic expectations.

FAQ

Where does the Afrikat cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from Afrikat Catamaran Gran Canaria at C. Puerto Base, S/N, 35130 Mogán, Las Palmas, Spain, in Puerto Base, Puerto Rico.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled departure time is 2:30 p.m. If you go directly to Puerto Base, arrive 30 minutes before departure.

How long is the Afrikat cruise?

The activity lasts approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. It returns to the original meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

Return transport from your hotel is included depending on the area. Collection is available only from centralized pickup points in the south of Gran Canaria and is not available from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.

What food is included?

The detailed meal description lists a chicken wrap with pasta salad. The general description refers to a Canarian buffet, so contact the operator if you need to confirm the exact menu or request a special diet.

Which drinks are included?

Beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water are included. Cocktails, champagne, wine, and spirits are not included.

Can I swim and snorkel from the boat?

Yes. The catamaran anchors in a calm bay, and you can swim and snorkel there. Snorkeling equipment is provided.

How much do the optional water sports cost?

A jet ski costs €32 per vehicle, parasailing costs €32 per person, the donut ride costs €10 per person, and the captain’s speedboat ride costs €5 per person.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.