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Gran Canaria Excursions

Boat Trips in Gran Canaria

Boat trips in Gran Canaria: catamaran tours with snorkelling, dolphin watching, sailing and a submarine, mostly from Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán.

Activities

3 activities

  • Three dolphins leaping and splashing in open sea off the south coast of Gran Canaria

    Puerto Rico

    Dolphin and whale watching trip from Puerto Rico

    A two-hour catamaran trip along the south-west coast from Puerto Rico, looking for dolphins and whales with a marine guide on board. Soft drinks and water are included.

    2 hoursFrom €40

  • A white sailing catamaran with passengers on deck heads across the open sea under a clear sky

    Puerto Rico

    Afrikat catamaran cruise from Puerto Rico

    A four and a half hour catamaran trip along the south-west coast with a stop to swim and snorkel, a meal made by the crew and unlimited drinks on board.

    4 h 30 minFrom €77

  • Yellow tourist submarine on the surface of a calm blue sea, next to a rocky breakwater outside Puerto de Mogán

    Puerto de Mogán

    Submarine tour in Puerto de Mogán

    Descend to 25 metres aboard the Golden Shark submarine and look out at shipwrecks and fish through the windows, with an audio guide in nine languages during the 40-minute dive.

    40 minFrom €38

Where you can do this

Good to know

Which trip to pick

Most boat trips here fall into a handful of types:

  • Catamaran and half-day coastal trips. These usually last three to four and a half hours, with food, drinks and a stop to swim. Many carry snorkel gear, and some add paddleboards and other water toys.
  • Dolphin and whale watching. Trips run two to four hours. The short ones tend to include only soft drinks, while longer ones add a snorkel stop. Several boats have glass panels below deck.
  • Sailing and small-boat trips from Puerto de Mogán. These head west along the coast to coves you can only reach by sea, such as El Perchel, and some go as far as Güigüí.
  • Private yachts, where you choose the anchor spots and the music.
  • The submarine in Puerto de Mogán, if you want to see what's under the surface without getting wet.

Where they leave from

Nearly everything departs from the south and southwest: Puerto Rico, Puerto de Mogán, Arguineguín and Pasito Blanco. Las Palmas has the odd catamaran tour. Puerto Rico has two separate harbours, Puerto Base and Puerto Escala, used by different companies, so look at which one is printed on your ticket. Many trips include pickup from the southern resorts or sell it as an extra, and some operators need 24 hours' notice to arrange it.

Scheduled glass-bottom boats also link Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán, and Líneas Salmón calls at Arguineguín and Anfi del Mar too. On Fridays some operators pair a boat ride with a coach so you can visit the Mogán market.

Dolphins and the coast

Around 30 species of whales and dolphins live in Canary waters, and research shows Atlantic spotted dolphins mostly stay off the southwest of Gran Canaria. Much of that coast is the Franja Marina de Mogán, a protected marine area. The Canary Islands tourism board recommends companies flying the Blue Boat (Barco Azul) flag. Sightings are never certain. Some operators give you a voucher for another trip if nothing turns up, others make no promise.

Before you book

  • The sea can get rough in some seasons, and some people feel seasick on the longer trips.
  • Captains can change the route to suit sea conditions. On sailing trips, how long you spend under sail depends on the wind.
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before is common on booking sites. Booking direct with an operator can mean a longer notice period.
  • In peak season, book ahead. Some companies only run afternoon trips at busy times of year.