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

Gran Canaria’s south coast looks best from the water, and this four-hour catamaran trip gives you more than a simple sail past the beaches. You cruise from Puerto Rico toward Mogán, stop in a sheltered bay for swimming and activities, and return with food, drinks, music, and broad sea views. Dolphins, turtles, and flying fish sometimes appear, but sightings are never guaranteed.

I like the long swimming stop, which can last about two hours, and the friendly crew. I also like the mix of quiet sunbathing, underwater viewing, banana boating, and optional paid activities, so you can make the outing as lazy or active as you wish.

The main caution is the sea. Choppy water has made many people ill on some departures, and the banana boat ride may be very short. Check which food and drink package you are booking, since the basic option and the full option do not include the same things.

Quick points to know before you book

• Two hours in a sheltered bay: You get real time to swim, use the boat’s slide, watch fish through underwater viewing, or join water activities.
• The Princesa Ico leaves from Puerto Base: Find the boat near the gas station in Puerto Rico, rather than heading to a hotel pickup point by mistake.
• Dolphins are possible, not promised: You might also spot flying fish or turtles, but this is not a dedicated wildlife guarantee.
• The full package adds the meal and drinks: It can include salad, paella, wrinkled potatoes, beer, mojitos, and the banana boat ride.
• Extra thrills cost more: Jet skis and parasailing can be bought on board, while the cave trip has been offered for an additional €10.
• Comfort varies by seating: The boat has regular seating, sun decks, and beds, but one booking note says some middle beds required an extra €10.

Leaving Puerto Rico aboard the Princesa Ico

The meeting point is Puerto Base in Puerto Rico, close to the gas station. The boat is called the Princesa Ico. That name matters because the harbor has several boats and activity operators, so allow enough time to find the right vessel and show your booking details to the crew.

Pickup is available from selected points in the south of Gran Canaria. The listed times are Clínica Roca in San Agustín at 9:10, Hotel Tropical in Playa del Inglés at 9:20, C.C. Yumbo at 10:00, and Gran Casino Costa Meloneras at 10:10. Pickup is optional, and the exact departure time depends on the option you select.

The bus service has received praise for being comfortable and punctual, but I would still check the pickup details carefully. If you are staying in Puerto Rico, meeting at the harbor is simpler. If you are in San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, or Meloneras, transport can save you a taxi ride and some guesswork.

Once aboard, you can settle into a regular seat, a sunbathing area, or one of the beds, subject to availability and the seating rules attached to your booking. The boat provides room to relax, but it is still a shared excursion rather than a private charter. The atmosphere leans social, with music and crew-led activities.

Cruising the south coast toward Mogán

The first part of the trip is a coastal cruise toward Mogán. From the sea, you see beaches, cliffs, rocky coves, and the coast’s dry southern scenery from a different angle. The point is not simply to get from Puerto Rico to Mogán. The sailing gives you time to sit back, take photographs, and watch the shoreline change.

The crew may point out landmarks and coastal features, and some outings include entertaining information about the sea. The exact amount of commentary can vary, but the experience is designed to be both social and educational rather than a silent boat transfer.

Keep your eyes on the water during this stretch. Flying fish, turtles, and dolphins can appear, and some departures have produced excellent dolphin sightings. One particularly lucky outing included dolphins, a turtle, flying fish, and even a hammerhead shark. That kind of wildlife encounter is possible, but you should treat it as a bonus, not the reason to book.

If you are prone to seasickness, this is the part to take seriously. The south coast can be calm, but conditions change. One rough departure left most people feeling ill, even though the rest of the day was enjoyable. Sit where you feel most stable, avoid overdoing the drinks early in the trip, and bring any medication you normally use for motion sickness.

The Mogán stop and the two-hour water break

The main stop is near Mogán, where the catamaran anchors in a bay. This is the heart of the excursion. You may have about two hours to swim, sunbathe, use the slide from the back of the boat, or join the paid and included water activities.

The sheltered anchorage matters. You are not being rushed into a quick photo stop and immediate departure. Two hours gives your group room to split up. One person can swim, another can stay dry with a drink, and someone else can try the banana boat or another activity.

The water activities make this a good fit for families and mixed-age groups. The banana boat ride is included with the full package, though one person found the ride lasted only about a minute and a half. That is a useful warning: consider it a quick burst of fun, not a full-length watersports session.

The boat also offers underwater viewing, allowing you to look at fish and the sea below without needing to snorkel. Snorkeling is possible, and the trip is suitable for different skill levels, but you should not expect a guided reef session or specialist marine instruction. This is a relaxed coastal outing with several ways to enjoy the stop.

A cave trip may also be available for an extra fee, reported as €10 on some departures. It involves a smaller motorboat ride to caves in the rocky coast. The cave itself is interesting, but the fast ride there is part of the appeal. Since optional activities and prices can change, ask the crew before paying.

Jet skis and parasailing are not included. You can purchase them on the boat if offered that day. This gives you flexibility, but it also means the advertised starting price does not cover every activity you may see happening around you.

Lunch, drinks, and what the package really covers

The value depends heavily on your selected package. The basic option includes water and soft drinks. The fuller package includes beer, mojitos, salad, paella, wrinkled potatoes, and the banana boat ride.

The meal is served during the anchorage, when the boat is stationary and you can eat without missing much of the scenery. Food has generally been a strong part of the experience, with paella and the overall meal receiving warm praise. One practical note: if you like extra sauce or butter, you may find the meal a little plain in that respect.

The drinks help make the $47 price attractive, especially if you choose the fuller package and plan to spend the whole four hours aboard. Included drinks can include water, soft drinks, beer, and mojitos, but do not assume every drink is part of every fare. Read the package description at checkout.

There has been some uncertainty about how staff identify the different packages once people are on board. I would keep your booking confirmation handy and ask at the start what is included. That is easier than trying to sort it out when lunch or drinks are being served.

The boat can feel like good value for a half-day outing because your fare combines transport on the water, a meal, drinks, a swimming stop, and at least one activity. If you only want a quiet sail, you may pay for features you do not use. If you plan to swim, eat aboard, and try the banana boat, the package makes more sense.

The return sail and the mood on board

After the bay stop, the boat sails back toward Puerto Rico. The return leg is listed at about 40 minutes, though total timing can vary with the route, conditions, and activity schedule.

This is usually the time to dry off, take more photographs, and enjoy the music. The crew has been praised for keeping the mood friendly and relaxed. Sergio and Abdera have been singled out for being attentive, while Yeray has also made a strong impression with a welcoming manner.

Some departures have included complimentary shots on the way back. Treat that as an occasional extra rather than a guaranteed part of the package. The regular included drinks are the more dependable feature.

The final views include coastal cliffs and bays that look different from the return angle. You can spend the last part of the trip on the upper deck if the sun is your priority, or find a more sheltered seat if the wind has picked up.

Drop-off points include Gran Casino Costa Meloneras, Av. de Italia, and Hospiten Roca, with additional southern resort locations shown when booking. Confirm your return point before departure, particularly if you are relying on the optional bus.

Comfort, accessibility, and the social atmosphere

The boat offers seating, sun decks, and beds, giving you more choice than a basic open-deck transfer. You can stretch out, sit with your group, or move around to photograph the coast. One booking detail notes an extra charge for some middle beds, so do not assume every lounging spot is covered by the standard fare.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Still, a boat trip with swimming, a moving deck, and water activities can involve practical limits for individual mobility needs. If you use a wheelchair, contact the operator ahead of time to confirm the boarding arrangement and access to the areas you want to use.

The crew speaks Spanish and English. You can expect instructions and general hosting in those languages. This is useful during the swimming stop, meal service, and activities, though the exact level of commentary may vary.

The tone is upbeat. Music, drinks, sunbathing, and group activities create more of a friendly party cruise than a private yacht outing. That suits families with teenagers, couples who want a relaxed afternoon, and groups looking for something easy and sociable.

It is less suitable if you want a silent nature trip, a small private boat, or guaranteed wildlife. The catamaran offers space, but it is still a shared boat with a set schedule.

Who gets the most value from this $47 outing

At $47 per person, this trip is strongest for someone who wants several holiday activities bundled into one half-day. You get coastal views, sailing, a meal with the fuller package, drinks, a swimming stop, and the chance to see marine life.

Families can divide the time easily. Teenagers may prefer the banana boat, optional jet skis, or parasailing, while adults can stay on deck with lunch and drinks. Couples can use the cruise as a simple way to see the coast without arranging separate transport to a beach or water park.

I also see value for people staying outside Puerto Rico. The optional pickup from San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, and Meloneras adds convenience, especially if you do not want to organize a taxi to the harbor.

The value is weaker for serious snorkelers and watersports fans. Snorkeling is an option, but the trip is not built around a long guided session. Jet skis and parasailing cost extra, and the banana boat may be brief.

Weather and sea conditions should shape your decision. On a sunny, calm day, the combination of sea views and a long swim stop can make this one of the better-value outings in the south. On a rough day, the same four-hour schedule may feel much less comfortable.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the reserve-now, pay-later option make it easier to fit the trip into a changing holiday plan. Check availability for the start time, since departure times depend on the selected option.

Should you book the Puerto Rico catamaran trip?

Book it if you want a social, activity-filled half day with food, drinks, swimming, and a chance of dolphins. The two-hour anchorage is the best reason to choose this outing over a quick coastal cruise, and the included meal and drinks can make $47 a fair price when you select the fuller package.

Choose something else if you dislike open-water motion, need guaranteed wildlife, or want a quiet private sailing experience. Before paying, confirm the package, seating arrangement, pickup point, and price of any optional cave or watersports activity.

For most people staying in Gran Canaria’s southern resorts, I would consider this a sensible choice for a sunny day. Go with flexible expectations, keep an eye on the sea conditions, and treat the dolphins as an unexpected reward rather than a promise.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip leave from?

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

How long does the activity last?

The boat trip lasts four hours. The schedule includes sailing between Puerto Rico and the Mogán area, a water stop of about two hours, and a return sail of roughly 40 minutes.

Is hotel pickup available?

Optional pickup is listed from Clínica Roca in San Agustín, Hotel Tropical in Playa del Inglés, C.C. Yumbo, and Gran Casino Costa Meloneras. Pickup times depend on the selected option.

What food and drinks are included?

The basic package includes water and soft drinks. The fuller package includes beer, mojitos, salad, paella, wrinkled potatoes, and the banana boat ride.

Are jet skis and parasailing included?

No. Jet skis and parasailing are not included in the price, but they may be available to purchase on the boat.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.