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

Sea days are hard to beat. This four-hour catamaran trip from Puerto Rico gives you a relaxed look at Gran Canaria’s south coast, with cliffs, beaches, music, swimming, lunch, and optional water sports in the mix. I especially like the long swimming stop and the chance to see the coast from the water rather than from another resort road.

The crew also earns strong marks for being friendly and involved. Names such as Sergio, Abdera, and Yeray come up in the experience, and the atmosphere sounds more like a cheerful day out than a formal sightseeing cruise. My main caution is the sea: rough water has made many people ill on some departures, and the included banana-boat ride may be very short.

Key things to know before booking

• Four hours on the south coast: The route leaves Puerto Rico, sails toward Mogán, pauses in a bay, and returns by boat.
• A genuine swim stop: You can spend about two hours near the coast swimming, using the boat slide, taking part in activities, or looking through the underwater viewing area.
• Food depends on your package: The Basic Pack includes water and soft drinks, while the Full Pack adds beer, mojito, salad, paella, wrinkled potatoes, and the banana ride.
• Dolphins are possible, not promised: Flying fish, turtles, and dolphins have been seen, but wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
• Optional paid activities: Jet ski and parasailing rides can be purchased on board. A cave outing has also been offered for an extra €10 on some trips.
• Easy transport from resort areas: Pickup is available from San Agustin, Playa del Ingles, the Yumbo Centre, and Meloneras, with return service to four listed locations.

What this boat trip really is

This is not a quiet sailing lesson or a small private charter. It is a sociable catamaran outing built around a simple holiday formula: sun, music, coastal scenery, food, drinks, and time in the water.

That mix is useful because you do not need to choose between sightseeing and a beach day. You get both. The boat follows the south coast of Gran Canaria, showing you beaches and cliffs that are difficult to appreciate from land, then anchors in a bay where the day becomes more active.

I like the flexibility. You can stretch out on a sun deck, sit in the middle of the boat, swim, try the banana ride, or pay for extra activities. Families can split up without anyone being forced into every activity. The boat also has an underwater viewing feature, useful if you want to see fish without spending the whole stop snorkeling.

The mood is clearly part of the product. Music plays during the ride, drinks are easy to access, and the crew keeps the day moving. This suits you if you want a fun half-day at sea, not if you are looking for silence and detailed marine biology.

Leaving Puerto Rico on Princesa Ico

The meeting point is Puerto Base in Puerto Rico, close to the gas station. Look for the boat named Princesa Ico. That specific name matters, since Puerto Rico’s harbor has several boats and excursion operators.

The trip can include pickup, depending on the option you choose. The listed pickup times are Clinica Roca in San Agustin at 9:10, Hotel Tropical in Playa del Ingles at 9:20, the Yumbo Centre at 10:00, and Casino Meloneras at 10:10. The return locations include Gran Casino Costa Meloneras, Avenida de Italia, Hospiten Roca, and Avenida de Estados Unidos.

I would allow extra time for the transfer and confirm your chosen pickup point carefully. Some people praised the transport as punctual, comfortable, and handled by a pleasant bus. If you are already staying in Puerto Rico, meeting at the harbor is simpler.

Once underway, you get open views along the south coast. The boat passes beaches and rocky cliffs, with the shoreline looking quite different from the hotel strips inland. The trip is scenic, but it is also exposed. On a calm day, that is part of the fun. On a rough day, it can be the toughest part of the outing.

The route toward Mogán and the wildlife watch

The coastal sailing heads in the direction of Mogán. The exact wildlife sightings will depend on conditions, timing, and luck. Flying fish, turtles, and dolphins are possible, but the operator makes no promise.

That honest warning is important. Some departures have seen dolphins swimming alongside the boat, along with flying fish and even a reported sea turtle. Other departures saw no dolphins at all and were still considered enjoyable because of the swimming stop, food, and views.

I would treat wildlife as a bonus, not the reason to pay for the trip. Keep your eyes on the water during the outward route, but do not let a quiet sea spoil the day. A dolphin sighting can turn an ordinary cruise into a memorable one, yet the core experience remains the catamaran ride and bay stop.

The boat includes a glass-bottom or underwater viewing feature. It gives you a chance to see beneath the surface while the boat is moving or stopped, though it should not be confused with a dedicated snorkeling excursion. The main appeal is getting a quick look at fish and the sea below without needing special skill.

The bay stop is the heart of the outing

The boat anchors in a more secluded bay along the coast. The stop is designed to keep you on the water for a good stretch, with about two hours set aside for swimming and activities on some departures.

This is the strongest part of the trip for me. Instead of spending four hours sitting in one seat, you get a proper break to move around. You can swim, use the slide at the back of the boat, try included activities when offered, or simply stay on deck with a drink.

The bay is described as an exclusive or little-known beach area away from the main crowds. That wording should not lead you to expect total solitude. You are still on a group boat, and other vessels may be in the area. The value is having access from the sea, not guaranteed emptiness.

The water activities give the stop energy. The banana boat is included with the Full Pack, and jet skis and parasailing may be purchased separately on board. The optional cave outing has also been available for about €10. It takes you by motorboat toward caves cut into the rocky coast, and the ride there can be as enjoyable as the caves themselves.

One useful warning: the banana ride has been described as lasting only around a minute and a half on one departure. If you are booking mainly for that activity, keep your expectations modest. The swim time and wider choice of activities matter more.

Lunch, drinks, and the package question

The food and drink arrangements are a major part of the value, but you need to check which package you have selected.

The Basic Pack includes water and soft drinks. The Full Pack includes beer, mojito, salad, paella, wrinkled potatoes, and the banana ride. The trip description also presents lunch and drinks as included, so the package distinction is important when comparing the advertised $47 price with the final booking option.

The meal is practical boat food rather than a restaurant lunch. Paella, salad, and wrinkled potatoes make a filling spread, and several people found the food good or delicious. Drinks include water, soft drinks, beer, and mojitos in the fuller option. On the return journey, free shots have sometimes been served, adding to the party mood.

I would not book this as a food-focused tour. I would book it because lunch is handled while you enjoy the coast and bay. That saves you the trouble of carrying a meal and makes the four-hour price easier to justify.

There is one small limitation. If you want extra sauces, butter, or a more elaborate meal, this is not the place. The food is there to support the day, not to compete with Gran Canaria’s best restaurants.

How comfortable is the catamaran?

The boat has seating, sun decks, and beds or padded areas where you can relax. Some people particularly liked the comfortable chairs, room for sunbathing, and the ability to choose between sitting in the sun or finding a more sheltered place.

There is one reported extra charge of €10 for middle beds. This point is not fully explained in the activity details, so check the seating terms before you settle in if a particular bed matters to you.

The boat has enough space for different kinds of passengers, but comfort depends heavily on the sea. One rough-water departure left about 90 percent of the passengers feeling sick. That is not a small issue. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where you feel most stable, keep your eyes on the horizon, and consider taking your usual precautions before sailing.

The trip is wheelchair accessible according to the activity information. Since the outing includes swimming, a banana ride, and movement around a boat, you should still confirm which parts are practical for your needs before booking.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this trip to families, couples, groups of friends, and solo visitors who like a social day with choices. Teens should enjoy the swimming, boat slide, banana ride, and paid water sports. Parents can join the activities or stay on deck with lunch and drinks.

It also works well for someone staying in the southern resort zone who wants an easy change from pool time. The pickup service makes it more convenient if you are in San Agustin, Playa del Ingles, or Meloneras.

A resident of Gran Canaria has used the trip repeatedly with visiting friends and family because it offers an affordable way to see the island from the sea. That is a useful endorsement of the format: it is not only aimed at first-time visitors, and the $47 starting price can be good value when transport, sailing, food, drinks, and activities are bundled together.

I would be more cautious if you want a small, peaceful, highly educational cruise. The information is entertaining and the crew is friendly, but the music, water sports, and group atmosphere are central to the day. It is a lively excursion with sightseeing, not a quiet nature study.

Price and value at $47

At $47 per person, the trip is priced like a budget-friendly half-day excursion rather than a luxury charter. The value is strongest if you select the fuller package and use several parts of it: the sailing, lunch, drinks, swim stop, and included banana ride.

The calculation changes if you only want a quiet boat ride and a few soft drinks. In that case, a private beach day may suit you better. But if you would otherwise pay separately for a meal, transport, a boat cruise, and a water activity, this outing combines those costs in one booking.

Remember that jet skis and parasailing are not included. The cave trip may also cost extra, with one person paying €10. Those add-ons can push the final spend above the headline rate, so decide your activity budget before boarding.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later add useful flexibility. Starting times depend on availability, so check the date and package rather than assuming every departure offers exactly the same setup.

The good and the less good

The strongest points are clear:

• Friendly, attentive crew
• Good atmosphere with music
• Plenty of time to swim
• Food and drinks included in the fuller package
• Comfortable seating and sunbathing space
• A fair chance of dolphins, flying fish, or turtles
• Optional activities for different ages and energy levels

The main cautions are just as clear:

• Rough seas can cause serious motion sickness
• Wildlife is never guaranteed
• The banana ride may be extremely short
• Jet skis and parasailing cost extra
• Certain seating may carry a €10 supplement
• The atmosphere may feel too lively if you want a quiet cruise

The overall rating of 4.3 from 283 ratings fits that picture. Most of the praise centers on crew friendliness, food, drinks, organization, scenery, and the fun of seeing dolphins. The weaker points are not usually about poor service. They relate more to sea conditions, short activity times, or package details.

Should you book the Puerto Rico boat trip?

Book it if you want a social, good-value day at sea with a real swimming stop, food, drinks, and the chance to add water sports. I would especially suggest it for families and groups who want several options without planning each one separately.

I would skip it if you get very seasick or if your main goal is guaranteed dolphin watching. If you do book, choose your package carefully, confirm your pickup or harbor meeting point, and treat the wildlife as an extra gift. On a calm, sunny day, the combination of coastal views, friendly crew, lunch, and two hours in a bay can make this one of the easiest fun days in southern Gran Canaria.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

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

How long does the excursion last?

The advertised duration is four hours. The route includes sailing from Puerto Rico toward Mogán, a bay stop, and the return to Puerto Rico.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is optional from Clinica Roca in San Agustin, Hotel Tropical in Playa del Ingles, the Yumbo Centre, and Casino Meloneras. Listed pickup times range from 9:10 to 10:10.

What food is included?

The Full Pack includes salad, paella, and wrinkled potatoes. The Basic Pack includes water and soft drinks only.

What drinks are included?

The Basic Pack includes water and soft drinks. The Full Pack adds beer and mojito.

Are dolphins guaranteed?

No. Dolphins, turtles, and flying fish may be seen, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Are jet skis and parasailing included?

No. Jet ski and parasailing activities can be purchased separately on the boat.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity information lists the experience as wheelchair accessible. Because the trip includes optional swimming and water activities, confirm the practical arrangements for your specific needs before booking.