Gran Canaria: Fun Catamaran Cruise with Food and Drinks

Sea air, warm sun, and a very cheerful crew. This 4.5-hour Afrikat cruise from Puerto Rico combines a relaxed catamaran ride with swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and unlimited drinks. I especially like the generous onboard package, which includes beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, water, and a crew-served meal. I also like that you get real time in the water, rather than a quick stop for a token swim.

The main consideration is that the popular water sports cost extra, and availability can change on the day. Jet skiing, parasailing, donut rides, and the captain’s speedboat trip are not part of the $88 price. Still, the clean boat, friendly hosts, good food, and relaxed pace make this one of Gran Canaria’s stronger choices for a fun day at sea.

Quick facts about the Afrikat cruise

• A proper half-day outing: The advertised cruise lasts 4.5 hours, with a coastal sail, a long stop near Mogán, and return transport where offered.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Expect chicken wraps and pasta salad, along with unlimited beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water.
• Snorkeling costs nothing extra: Equipment is provided, and the swimming stop gives you time to look for fish in clear water.
• Water sports add to the bill: Jet skis cost €32 per vehicle, parasailing €32 per person, donut rides €10 per person, and the captain’s speedboat €5 per person.
• The mood is social and lighthearted: The crew uses jokes, music, drink service, and personal attention to keep the boat lively without making every minute a party.
• Pickup covers many resort areas: Transport is available from selected points around southern Gran Canaria, but not from Las Palmas, Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.

Setting off from southern Gran Canaria

The day begins with pickup from a designated meeting point, depending on where you stay. There are many collection spots around Bahía Feliz, San Agustín, Maspalomas, Meloneras, Playa del Cura, Taurito, Amadores, and nearby resort areas.

That wide pickup network is useful if you are staying in the main southern holiday zone. It can save you the trouble of arranging a taxi to the marina. Check your exact meeting point carefully, since pickup is not offered from every town. If you are already in Puerto Rico or Mogán, you normally need to make your own way to the departure point.

The coach ride is listed as about an hour. That sounds long for a short cruise, but Gran Canaria’s southern resorts are spread along the coast, and the shuttle may serve several points. I would treat the transfer as part of the day rather than expect a quick ride straight to the harbor.

At Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, you receive a safety briefing of about 10 minutes before boarding. That is a useful touch, especially if someone in your group is nervous around boats or water sports. One family found the crew especially helpful when a member of their party felt seasick, which gives you a sense of the attentive approach onboard.

A comfortable catamaran with room to choose your mood

The Afrikat is set up for both activity and rest. You can sit in the sun, find shade, or move around the boat as the cruise continues. Several people singled out the boat’s cleanliness and spacious feel, while one family noted that it did not feel overcrowded.

That matters on a catamaran. A boat can include all the right features and still feel cramped once everyone wants a drink, a place to dry off, or a clear view of the coast. Here, the mix of seating and sunbathing areas gives you a better chance to settle into your preferred pace.

I would bring a towel, swimwear, sunglasses, a hat, and plenty of sunscreen. The sun can feel stronger on the water than it does beside the pool, and you will have little natural protection while swimming or taking part in the optional rides.

The cruise follows the southwestern coast, with views of beaches, cliffs, and small coves. The scenery is the backdrop rather than the sole purpose of the trip. You are not booking a quiet sightseeing sail with detailed commentary. You are booking a sociable day that uses the coast, the sea, food, and activities as one package.

The coastal sail: views with a lively soundtrack

The outward catamaran ride gives you time to settle in and enjoy the breeze. You can watch the southern coastline pass by, take photographs, and order from the onboard bar.

The crew is a major part of the atmosphere. Names such as Potter and Matt received special praise for making people feel welcome and keeping the humor flowing. One guide was remembered for turning routine announcements into jokes, while another group enjoyed the saxophone player and live music.

Live music is not guaranteed every day. It is scheduled for Friday morning departures, except on February 27. If music is important to you, check the date before booking rather than assuming the saxophone will be onboard.

The tone is playful, but it is not described as an uncontrolled party boat. The crew takes drink orders and brings them to your seat, which feels more relaxed than queuing at a busy bar. Beer and sangria are included, while cocktails, wine, and spirits cost extra or are not included in the package.

A 2.5-hour stop near Mogán

The longest part of the outing is the stop near Mogán, where you can eat, swim, snorkel, or pay for extra activities. This is the section that gives the cruise its value. You are not rushed from one attraction to another, and there is enough time to combine an active water sport with a slower spell on deck.

The bay is described as crystal clear, making it the natural place to use the supplied snorkeling equipment. You might see plenty of fish close to the boat, and one particularly enthusiastic account described feeding large numbers of fish. Snorkeling conditions can vary with the sea, of course, but the stop is designed for getting into the water rather than simply looking at it from the rail.

You do not have to snorkel. If you prefer a quiet afternoon, you can swim, sunbathe, sit in the shade, or stay aboard with a drink. That flexibility makes the trip suitable for mixed groups, where one person wants a jet ski and another would rather read in the sun.

The water sports are optional and paid separately:

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

The captain’s speedboat option is especially good value if you want a short burst of speed without paying much extra. It may also include a look toward the coastal caves, according to one account. The donut ride suits anyone looking for a simple, shared laugh, while the jet ski offers the most direct rush.

Do not build your entire day around one particular activity. Jet skis were unavailable on at least some departures, and equipment can be out of service or affected by conditions. The cruise still works without them, but you should see the add-ons as bonuses rather than guarantees.

Lunch on the water

Lunch is served by the crew rather than left as a self-service snack. The standard meal is a chicken wrap with salad, sauces, and optional bacon bits, plus pasta salad.

The food receives unusually strong praise for a boat excursion. Several people found the wraps tasty, and one account described the lunch as better than expected. Dietary needs can be accommodated, but you need to communicate them in advance. A vegetarian passenger who had not mentioned it during booking was given a fajita-style meal, but I would not rely on a last-minute request when advance notice is possible.

The supplied information also refers to special dietary requirements needing advance communication. That includes more than vegetarian meals, so contact the provider before departure if you have allergies or a strict diet.

The meal is simple, sensible boat food. You are not paying for a restaurant lunch with multiple courses. You are getting a filling meal that keeps you going through swimming and water sports, which is exactly what this kind of outing needs.

Unlimited drinks and the real value of the price

At $88 per person, the cruise is not the cheapest boat ride in Gran Canaria. Its value comes from what is bundled into the fare: selected-area transport, the catamaran, snorkeling gear, lunch, unlimited drinks, and a reusable drinking glass souvenir.

Beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water are included. That can make a noticeable difference for a family or group, particularly if you expect to spend several hours in the sun. You also avoid the familiar boat-trip problem of buying every drink separately.

The package is less attractive if you do not drink, do not want lunch, and plan to stay dry. In that case, a simpler sightseeing cruise might suit you better. But if you will swim, eat onboard, and enjoy a few included drinks, the price is easier to justify.

Plan for extra spending if you want the full activity menu. A group could quickly add €42 per person by combining a €32 jet ski with the €10 donut ride, before considering parasailing or the speedboat. Bring cash or a credit card for these activities, photos, souvenirs, or drinks not covered by the basic bar selection.

A reusable glass is included as a small souvenir. It is not a reason to book the trip, but it is a nicer touch than a disposable cup and gives you something practical to take home.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this cruise to families, couples, groups of friends, and solo visitors who like a friendly social setting. It works well for a birthday, honeymoon day, or final afternoon in Gran Canaria because you can be as active or relaxed as you want.

Families get a useful combination of food, swimming, and entertainment. One account specifically praised the crew for being attentive with a toddler. The activity is also listed as suitable for all ages, though young children should be supervised closely around the water and optional rides.

It suits nervous swimmers better than an intense sports-only excursion because you can remain onboard and still enjoy the day. The crew has also been helpful with seasickness, although you should take your usual precautions if you are prone to it.

Couples may like the mix of sunbathing, drinks, snorkeling, and scenery. The trip is not a private romantic sail, so anyone seeking silence and seclusion should choose something smaller and quieter.

The cruise is wheelchair accessible, but tell the provider about mobility needs when booking. That allows the crew to prepare properly and clarify how boarding and the water activities will work for your specific situation.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Arrive ready to swim, even if you are not sure you will get in the water. The bay stop is a central part of the experience, and you will enjoy it more with swimwear under your clothes.

Bring:

• Towel
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Camera
• Cash or a credit card

Use waterproof protection for your phone and camera. The boat includes swimming, snorkeling, and fast rides, so ordinary pockets are not enough for electronics or cash.

If you want a water sport, ask about availability early in the day. Do not wait until the final minutes of the stop, especially if several people want the same activity.

For the best balance, I would combine one paid activity with snorkeling and a relaxed lunch. The speedboat is inexpensive, while the jet ski or parasailing gives you a bigger thrill. You do not need to buy every extra to have a full day.

Keep the transfer time in mind. The advertised activity lasts 4.5 hours, but the schedule includes coach journeys of roughly an hour each way for pickup customers. Your total time away from the hotel can therefore feel considerably longer, especially if the shuttle serves many resorts.

Should you book the Afrikat catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want a well-organized social day at sea with food, drinks, swimming, snorkeling, and optional thrills. The strongest reasons are the clean, comfortable boat, the warm crew, the good lunch, and the fact that you get a meaningful amount of time in the bay.

I would be more cautious if you want guaranteed jet skiing, a quiet sailing experience, or a short day with no coach transfer. Optional activities can be unavailable, and the liveliest parts of the cruise depend on the group and crew on your departure.

For most people staying in southern Gran Canaria, the $88 fare offers fair value because so much is included. Bring sun protection, allow for the transfer, keep some money aside for extras, and treat the water sports as optional rather than promised. That is the best way to enjoy the Afrikat without expecting it to be a different kind of excursion.

FAQ

How long does the Gran Canaria Afrikat cruise last?

The advertised activity duration is 4.5 hours. The schedule also includes coach transport of about one hour each way for pickup customers, so the full time away from your accommodation may be longer.

What food is included on the catamaran?

The standard meal includes a chicken wrap with optional bacon bits, salad, and sauces, plus pasta salad. Special dietary requirements should be communicated in advance.

Which drinks are included?

Unlimited beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water are included. Cocktails, wine, and spirits are not included.

Is snorkeling included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and you can snorkel during the stop near Mogán. You can also swim or relax onboard if you prefer.

How much do the optional water sports cost?

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

Where is pickup available?

Pickup and drop-off are offered from selected centralized points around southern Gran Canaria, including areas such as Maspalomas, Meloneras, San Agustín, Amadores, Taurito, Playa del Cura, and Bahía Feliz. The service is not offered from Las Palmas, Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.