Gran Canaria: Shared yacht trip with drinks, lunch, and snorkeling

The best part of this small-group yacht trip is its balance: you get a proper boat outing without being packed onto a floating bus. The yacht leaves Puerto Rico, heads toward Mogán, and gives you roughly two hours for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and simply sitting in the sun with a drink.

I like the maximum of 12 passengers, which keeps the mood friendly and leaves room to move around. I also like the hotel pickup, the clean boat, and the welcome glass of cava. Guides including Ronnie, Jonny, Mikael, and Toni are often singled out for being warm and attentive.

The main thing to keep in mind is the food. It is a tasty tapas-style spread of breads, dips, fruit, and other snacks, but it is better understood as a light lunch than a full midday meal. Snorkeling can also be modest, since there is no reef at the swimming stop and sea conditions vary.

Key points at a glance

• A 12-passenger yacht: Small enough to feel personal, with seating in both sun and shade.
• Two hours in the water: Swim, use the paddleboards, try snorkeling, or pay extra for jet skis and parasailing.
• A scenic route from Puerto Rico to Mogán: Expect views of Perchel Cove, Mogán Bay, Tauro Beach, and the Tiritaña Cliffs.
• Food and drinks included: Cava on arrival, an open bar with beer, sangria, soft drinks, juices, water, and light tapas.
• Southern hotel transfers: Pickup and drop-off are available, but you need to arrange the service in advance and be ready on time.
• A relaxed, social setting: Music, friendly crew, and a small group make this a good choice for couples, families, and friends.

Setting sail from Puerto Rico

Your day starts at Puerto Rico, one of southern Gran Canaria’s main ports for boat trips. If you book transportation, a van can collect you at your hotel or accommodation in the south of the island. The pickup area is broad, covering places from Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés to Puerto de Mogán, Taurito, Patalavaca, and Arguineguín.

The transfer takes about 20 minutes, though the exact timing depends on your pickup point. Give the company your hotel name or address in advance, and be ready at the agreed time. The van waits only five minutes, so this is not the morning to linger over one last coffee.

At Calle Puerto Escala, you board the yacht and receive a short introduction to the trip. The boat cruises offshore at about 8 or 9 knots, a comfortable pace for taking in the coast without turning the ride into a high-speed thrill run.

The first drink is a glass of cava. Music plays during the cruise, and you can settle into the cushions, find a sunny spot, or stay in the shade. The boat has a large sun deck and enough seating for the usual 12-person group, though a private booking for five will naturally feel much roomier.

The cruise toward Mogán and Perchel Cove

The route follows the southern coast toward the Mogán area. This is where the trip earns its keep. You are not only being transported to a swimming spot. You are seeing stretches of coast that are easiest to appreciate from the water, including cliffs, beaches, coves, and sea caves.

One of the main sights is Perchel Cove, accessible from the sea. Its sheltered position makes it a useful place for the water stop, although the sea is not always calm. A Christmas Day trip had choppy water during paddleboarding, while another summer outing found the water rough enough to make swimming back to the yacht tiring.

That is normal for an Atlantic boat trip. The crew may adjust the route or timing if the weather changes, and the exact conditions can affect how much you enjoy the activities. If you get seasick, bring motion-sickness tablets. The advice is especially useful because even a smooth outward cruise can feel different once the boat stops and the swell moves beneath it.

Keep your camera ready on the way out and back. The route can include Mogán Bay, Tauro Beach, the Tiritaña Cliffs, and a cave that becomes a waterfall after rain. You may also spot marine life from the boat. One outing included dolphins, though no wildlife sighting is promised.

Two hours for swimming and water activities

The main stop lasts between about 1 hour 30 minutes and two hours. That gives you enough time to do more than one activity, but not enough time to try everything at a leisurely pace if the group is busy.

The included options are snorkeling and paddleboarding. Two paddleboards are carried on board, so you may need to share them rather than expect every passenger to have one at once. Paddleboarding is suitable for beginners, but choppy water can turn it into a comic balancing exercise. That may be part of the fun, especially if you are happy to get wet and laugh at yourself.

Snorkeling is worth trying, but set your expectations sensibly. Some people see plenty of small fish near the cove, while others find the area lacks a reef and offers limited underwater sights. This is coastal snorkeling, not a specialist marine-life trip. Masks are provided, but fins are not listed among the equipment, and one swimmer found the return to the boat hard work without them.

You can also take a simple swim from the yacht. The water may feel cold compared with a hotel pool, even in warm weather. Bring a towel because towels are not supplied, and take care with sun protection. Much of the yacht is exposed, and the combination of sea breeze and strong sun can catch you out.

For an extra charge, the crew can arrange other water activities:

• Jet ski: €35 for 10 minutes or €70 for 20 minutes
• Sea scooter: €20 per person for 10 minutes
• Parasailing: €35 per person for about 10 minutes

These activities are optional and not part of the $85 price. They make sense if one person in your party wants a burst of speed while others prefer the yacht, paddleboards, or swimming.

Tapas, cava, and the open bar

While you are in the water, the crew prepares food using fresh, seasonal ingredients. The meal is served as assorted snacks, generally in a tapas style. Expect items such as bread, dips, fruit, and other light bites rather than a plated restaurant lunch.

The amount appears to work well as a meal between breakfast and dinner, especially with drinks, but I would eat something beforehand if you need a substantial lunch. This distinction matters because the word lunch can suggest more than the boat actually provides.

The open bar includes beer, sangria, soft drinks, water, sparkling water, and juices. The crew is attentive about offering drinks, and several outings received particular praise for the cold beer and steady service. Cocktails, wine, extra cava, and mixed drinks cost more.

The food and bar are a major part of the value. A standard coastal cruise may offer scenery and a swim, then charge separately for nearly every drink. Here, you pay $85 and receive transport, the yacht, crew, cava, open bar, snacks, insurance, snorkeling gear, and paddleboards.

There is one practical point about the shared food. It is presented for the group, so basic buffet manners matter. If you have allergies or special dietary needs, tell the company ahead of time. The operator specifically asks passengers to provide dietary information in advance.

The yacht itself and the mood on board

The yacht is one of the strongest reasons to choose this outing over a larger sightseeing boat. It is described as clean, well maintained, comfortable, and spacious, with a large sun deck and seating for the full group. The 12-person limit helps the boat feel calm rather than crowded.

That limit is not the same as having a private yacht. At full capacity, you are sharing the space with people you have not met, and the atmosphere depends partly on the group. Most outings create an easy social setting, helped by music and the small size, but a private booking is available if you want the boat entirely to yourselves.

The crew style is friendly without requiring constant participation. You can chat, ask questions, join the water activities, or sit quietly and watch the coast. Guides such as Ronnie, Jonny, Mikael, and Toni have been praised for explaining the plan, helping with activities, and making families feel comfortable.

Families should note that the crew may offer memorable small touches, such as letting a child sit in the captain’s seat for a photo. Birthday groups have also received personal gestures, including a piece of cake with a candle. These extras are not guaranteed, but they show the kind of attentive service you can expect from a small operator.

How the return journey feels

After the swimming stop and food, the yacht turns back toward Puerto Rico. The return gives you another view of the coast, including beaches, cliffs, and the Mogán area from offshore. This is usually the quietest part of the outing, when you can dry off, take photos, and enjoy another drink.

The complete boat experience takes about four hours, while the advertised total duration is three to four hours. Weather can change the route, timing, or swimming conditions. The crew has to balance safety, sea state, and the needs of the group, so do not treat every stop as fixed.

Back at Puerto Rico, you can take the van to your accommodation if you arranged a transfer. Or stay in town for a walk along the promenade and a meal at one of the local restaurants. That flexibility is useful if you have not booked a tight afternoon schedule.

Is $85 a fair price?

At $85 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get on the water in Gran Canaria. It is a fair price if you value comfort, a small group, hotel transport, and included drinks rather than simply wanting the lowest-cost boat ride.

The value improves if you use the included paddleboards and snorkeling gear, enjoy several drinks, and take advantage of the two-hour water stop. It also saves you the trouble of arranging transport to Puerto Rico from a southern resort. For a couple or family, those details can make the day feel easy from start to finish.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a full meal, serious snorkeling, or a fast-paced water-sports session. You will pay extra for jet skis, sea scooters, and parasailing, and the food is light. You may also find the water too rough for comfortable paddleboarding on some days.

The rating of 4.8 from 630 reviews reflects strong overall satisfaction, but the practical details matter more than the number. This is a polished leisure cruise with optional activities, not a wildlife expedition, diving trip, or full-service lunch cruise.

Who should book this yacht trip?

I would choose this for a couple wanting a relaxed half-day on the Atlantic, a family that likes swimming and simple water activities, or a group celebrating a birthday or special occasion. The small boat, open bar, music, and hotel pickup make it an easy addition to a resort holiday.

It also suits people who want to see the coast without spending a full day at sea. You get scenery, a swim, snacks, and time to relax, all within three to four hours.

I would look elsewhere if you dislike shared food, need a guaranteed full lunch, get badly seasick, or want a dependable reef snorkeling site. The sea can be choppy, fins are not included, and the underwater sights are likely to be modest rather than dramatic.

Book the pickup when you reserve, bring sunscreen, swimwear, sunglasses, and a towel, and pack motion-sickness medicine if needed. A high-factor sunscreen and something to cover your shoulders are sensible because shade is limited in some parts of the boat.

FAQ

Where does the yacht trip leave from?

The boat leaves from Calle Puerto Escala in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are available for accommodation in the south of Gran Canaria. You must request the service in advance and provide your hotel name, resort, or address.

How many people are on the shared yacht?

The yacht takes a maximum of 12 passengers. A private group option is also available.

What food and drinks are included?

You receive a welcome glass of cava, an open bar with beer, sangria, soft drinks, water, sparkling water, and juices, plus assorted tapas-style snacks. Cocktails, wine, extra cava, and mixed drinks are not included.

Are snorkeling equipment and paddleboards provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and two paddleboards are included. Towels and fins are not listed as included, so bring your own towel and do not expect fins on board.

How long do you spend in the water?

The swimming and activity stop lasts between about 1 hour 30 minutes and two hours. The full experience takes approximately three to four hours.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now-and-pay-later option.