Dolphin and Whales watching cruise from Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

The best part of this Puerto Rico dolphin cruise is the chance to see free-ranging dolphins and whales close to Gran Canaria’s southwest coast. This is not a show with trained animals. You head out into open water, search for marine life, and wait for nature to decide what appears.

I like the glass-bottom viewing area, which gives you another way to watch the sea when animals are not beside the boat. I also like the free second cruise if no dolphins are found, a fair safeguard for a wildlife trip. The main concern is rough water: some passengers become seriously seasick, and a poor-weather outing can mean a long ride with no sightings.

Key points before you book

• Departures at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm: You get two sailing times from Puerto Rico, with the cruise lasting about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

• Spirit of the Sea has underwater viewing panels: You can watch from the open deck or look below the surface through the boat’s glass-bottom section.

• Dolphins are common, but sightings are never guaranteed: The crew searches for dolphins, whales, porpoises, orcas, turtles, and seabirds in the waters off Gran Canaria.

• A no-dolphin guarantee helps protect the price: If no dolphins appear, you receive a free pass for another trip, subject to the stated validity period.

• Hotel pickup covers selected resorts only: Transfers are included from Mogan, Taurito, Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, San Agustin, and Bahia Feliz areas.

• Take sea conditions seriously: Choppy water has caused many passengers to feel ill, even some who do not usually suffer from seasickness.

Setting out from Puerto Rico at 10:30 or 1:30

The cruise begins at Spirit of the Sea, just opposite the vehicle barrier at C. Puerto Base in Puerto Rico. If you arrange a transfer, pickup is available from selected areas around Gran Canaria’s southwest and south coast. The exact collection time and meeting point are sent 24 to 48 hours before departure, so check your email rather than assuming the hotel lobby time.

If your accommodation is outside the included pickup zones, you need to make your own way to Puerto Rico. The meeting point is near public transportation, but the details still matter. A missed connection or a late arrival is especially frustrating when the boat leaves at a fixed time.

The vessel can carry up to 97 people. That is not a tiny private boat, but it is also not an enormous sightseeing ship. The space gives you a choice of positions, though busy departures can still feel active once everyone moves to one side for a sighting.

The crew works in several languages, and Captain Lorenzo has received specific praise for locating whales and dolphins and keeping people informed. Crew members have also been described as friendly, attentive, and quick to help passengers who feel ill. That practical care matters more than polished commentary on a boat trip.

Searching the southwest coast for cetaceans

Gran Canaria sits in an area where around 30 species of cetaceans have been recorded. That includes several kinds of dolphins, whales, orcas, and porpoises. The variety gives the crew good reason to search, but it does not turn the outing into a guaranteed animal encounter.

You may spend a fair part of the trip scanning the water. The boat can travel well offshore, with one outing reaching about 12 miles out in search of dolphins. That distance helps explain why the cruise lasts two and a half hours. The crew is not simply making a short circuit around the harbor.

When dolphins appear, the mood changes quickly. Pods have included Atlantic spotted dolphins and striped dolphins, while some outings have seen large groups estimated at around 500 animals. Pilot whales, other whales, turtles, flying fish, Cory’s shearwaters, and other seabirds have also appeared on different trips.

A good sighting may last only a few minutes, but the animals can swim near the boat and give you repeated views. The captain may adjust the course so people on both sides can watch. Bring patience, because the experience is more like wildlife watching than a scheduled performance.

The crew also takes an ecological approach. One account described the staff collecting plastic bottles from the sea during the outing. That small action adds meaning to the trip and reminds you that the ocean is not just a backdrop for photographs.

Two ways to watch from Spirit of the Sea

The open deck is the best place for a broad view. You can scan the horizon, watch for a fin or blow, and see the coastline from offshore. Stand or sit where you can keep your eyes moving, since dolphins can appear ahead of the vessel and disappear just as fast.

The glass-bottom panels offer a different view. They are useful when the boat is over clearer water or when the crew pauses near marine life. Still, they should be treated as an extra feature, not a promise of constant underwater action. The main wildlife sightings happen at the surface.

Some commentary is easier to hear downstairs, where the glass viewing area is located. A practical issue is that safety instructions may be clearer than detailed information about each species, especially if passengers are spread across the boat or the sea is noisy. If learning about marine biology is your main goal, keep your expectations modest.

The sightseeing itself is the focus. You receive unlimited onboard sodas, while alcoholic drinks and snacks cost extra. For a 2.5-hour trip, free soft drinks are useful, particularly in strong sun, though you should not expect a full meal service.

The swimming option and its tradeoff

The standard experience is a sightseeing cruise. An upgrade is available that adds a swim stop and return transfers from selected resorts. Check the exact package during booking, because the included details describe the cruise, pickup, drop-off, and sodas, while swimming belongs to the optional upgrade.

The swimming stop can add a welcome break after time spent watching the horizon. It may also appeal to families and anyone who wants more than wildlife spotting. Yet the length of the stop can vary with the day’s search. One outing reached the swim portion with only about 10 minutes left instead of the expected 30, leaving little time or appetite for getting into the water.

That is a useful warning. If you are choosing this mainly for swimming, confirm the upgrade terms and treat the stop as a bonus. If dolphins are found far offshore, the search will naturally take priority.

The real issue: seasickness

Sea conditions are the biggest factor in your enjoyment. Several outings have been calm and sunny, with passengers watching dolphins at close range. Other days have brought strong wind, large waves, and widespread seasickness.

This can happen even if you do not usually feel ill on boats. The ride may become a roller coaster in rough water, and a sick passenger may be unable to watch for animals at all. Children can find the experience especially unpleasant when the vessel pitches and rolls.

I would take an appropriate travel-sickness tablet before departure if you know you are sensitive, and I would consider doing so even if you usually manage boat rides well. Crew members have provided sickness bags, moved uncomfortable passengers toward the stern, and checked on people throughout the trip. That help is valuable, but it cannot make rough water calm.

Weather also affects the quality of the wildlife search. A trip has gone ahead in poor conditions and produced no dolphins, with passengers feeling that the outing should have been canceled. The operator states that a cruise requiring good weather may be canceled, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund. If the sea looks unsettled, ask about the day’s conditions before leaving your hotel.

What happens if you see nothing?

Dolphin sightings are common, but no responsible operator can order wild animals to appear. You may see whales, dolphins, turtles, or seabirds. You may also spend the whole outing looking at open water.

If no dolphins are seen, you receive a free pass for a return cruise. The stated offer gives you another chance rather than an automatic cash refund. Check how long the pass remains valid before booking, because the information supplied with the experience has referred to different periods, including 12 months in one account and one month in another. This may depend on the ticket or current operating terms.

The guarantee is most useful if you are staying near Puerto Rico for several days. It is less useful if you are leaving Gran Canaria soon or taking the cruise near the end of your holiday. In that case, the chance to return may have little practical value.

Is $50.46 a fair price?

At $50.46 per person, the cruise is reasonably priced for a 2.5-hour boat outing with hotel pickup in selected areas, unlimited sodas, multilingual crew, and the chance to return if no dolphins appear. You are paying for time on the water, not a guaranteed result.

The value improves if you see dolphins, whales, or a large pod and use the included transfer. It also improves if you make use of the second cruise after a blank first outing. The value drops if you must travel independently to Puerto Rico, suffer from seasickness, or mainly want a guaranteed swim.

Compared with a short harbor ride, this trip gives the crew time to search offshore. Compared with a private charter, the price is much lower, but you share the boat with up to 96 other passengers. For most people, that is a sensible tradeoff.

Transport, timing, and what to bring

The cruise runs twice daily, at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. The morning sailing gives you the rest of the day afterward, while the afternoon departure may suit a slower start. Wildlife activity is not promised at one particular time, so choose based on your schedule and sea conditions.

Included pickup areas are Mogan, Taurito, Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, San Agustin, and Bahia Feliz. Exact pickup instructions arrive 24 to 48 hours before the date. If you do not receive them, contact the provider rather than guessing.

I would bring:

• Motion-sickness medication if you need it
• A light layer for wind
• Sun protection
• A phone or camera with a secure grip
• Water, even though sodas are available
• A little extra money for snacks or alcoholic drinks

The boat returns to the original meeting point. Most people can take part, and the departure point is near public transportation. The experience is not described as wheelchair accessible, so anyone with specific mobility needs should ask before booking.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

This outing suits you if you are happy with a genuine wildlife search, enjoy being on the sea, and can accept that the main reward may be a few memorable minutes of sightings. Families can have a wonderful time when dolphins approach the boat, though young children who dislike motion may struggle in rough conditions.

It also works well for first-time dolphin watchers. Several trips have produced a first-ever sighting of dolphins in the wild, which can be a powerful moment. You may also enjoy the cruise if you like seabirds, turtles, flying fish, or views of Gran Canaria from offshore.

I would be more cautious if you get severe seasickness, have only one free day left, or need a fixed schedule with no uncertainty. The crew can search hard and act professionally, but no amount of effort can guarantee whales or dolphins on a particular departure.

Should you book the Puerto Rico dolphin cruise?

Book it if you want a fairly priced, family-friendly search for wild marine life and you can handle open water. The strongest reasons are the chance to see large dolphin pods, the helpful crew, the underwater viewing panels, and the free second trip when no dolphins appear.

Before paying, check three things: the sea forecast, your pickup location, and the exact validity of the no-dolphin pass. If the weather is rough or you are leaving soon, the guarantee may not help much. If conditions are calm and you have time to try again, this can be one of Gran Canaria’s most memorable half-day outings.

FAQ

Where does the dolphin and whale cruise depart from?

It departs from Spirit of the Sea, just opposite the vehicle barrier at C. Puerto Base, 35130 Puerto Rico, Las Palmas, Spain.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the boat leave?

Departures are scheduled for 10:30 am and 1:30 pm.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included from selected areas only: Mogan, Taurito, Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, San Agustin, and Bahia Feliz.

What if my accommodation is outside the pickup areas?

You must travel to the Puerto Rico meeting point on your own if your accommodation is not in one of the included pickup areas.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include dolphins, whales, orcas, porpoises, pilot whales, turtles, flying fish, Cory’s shearwaters, and other seabirds. Sightings are not guaranteed.

What happens if I do not see dolphins?

You receive a free pass to return for another cruise. Check the current validity period when booking, as the stated information gives differing validity details.

Is swimming included?

Swimming is available as part of an upgrade. Confirm the package details before booking, since the standard inclusions focus on the sightseeing cruise, transfers, and drinks.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited onboard sodas are included. Alcoholic drinks and snacks are available to buy.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.