There’s nothing like sea breeze with a timetable. The Afrikat Afternoon Cruise is a 4.5-hour catamaran ride along Gran Canaria’s south coast, with stunning views from the water and a Canarian-style onboard meal and drinks. The main thing to plan for is cost creep: swimming and snorkelling are built in, but the fun add-on rides like jet ski and parasailing are extra.

I like that the timing feels right for a late afternoon reset, and the crew-driven vibe keeps the day from feeling like a long wait on a boat. One more consideration: if you’re sensitive to rougher water, you’ll want to take it seriously when choosing the optional high-energy activities.

Key Things I’d Highlight Before You Go

• 4.5 hours on the water with time to swim and snorkel in an anchored bay
• Hotel pickup in the south via centralized pickup points, then you’re dropped back off again
• Meal included (chicken wrap with pasta salad) plus a basic drinks lineup onboard
• Optional water sports are real add-ons with specific euro prices
• Small-ish group on a big catamaran (up to 66 people) for a calmer feel
• You may catch live music on the return on some days, including a saxophone moment

Afternoon Catamaran Vibes on Gran Canaria’s South Coast

This cruise is built for an easy-going afternoon: sail out, enjoy the coastline, stop in a calmer bay, then rinse and repeat with swimming, snorkelling, and onboard downtime. The boat you’ll be on is the catamaran Afrikat out of Puerto Base (Puerto Rico area). You’re not touring churches or racing through viewpoints. You’re doing the more relaxing thing: watching the island from a spot most people never see.

Two things make it especially appealing for day-trippers. First, you get long enough on the water to feel like a real outing, not a quick boat hop. Second, the “anchor and swim” moment is the heart of the experience, not a token gesture.

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants a little motion, you can add the optional adrenaline rides later. If you’re the “just let me float and snack” type, you still get a satisfying day with no pressure to buy extras.

What’s Included for $93.16: Food, Drinks, and the Real Value

At around $93.16 per person, you’re paying for more than a ride. The package includes the boat trip (about 4.5 hours), a meal, a baseline drinks set, and round-trip transport from your south Gran Canaria hotel (from centralized pickup points).

Here’s what’s actually included:

• A meal onboard: chicken wrap with pasta salad
• Drinks: beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water
• Swimming and snorkelling opportunity (equipment provided)
• Return transport from the hotel area (pickup/drop-off depends on your area)

This is a decent value if you’d otherwise spend money on boat time plus food plus drinks. Even if you don’t plan to do extra water sports, the included snorkel setup and time in the water can make it feel like you got a full “activity day,” not just a scenic cruise.

Where value can shift:

• Cocktails, champagne, wine, and spirits are not included.
• The optional rides (jet ski, parasailing, donut ride, and the speedboat captain ride) cost extra.

So my practical advice: decide early which tier you want.

• Base cruise: swim/snorkel + meal + basic drinks.
• Adventure cruise: add one paid water sport and keep the rest calm.

That way you’ll enjoy the day without ending up surprised at the bill.

From Puerto Base to a Clear-Water Bay: How the 4.5 Hours Flow

The cruise starts at 2:30 pm from the Afrikat Catamaran Gran Canaria at C. Puerto Base, S/N, 35130 Mogán, Las Palmas, Spain. The total time is about 4 hours 30 minutes, which fits nicely into late-afternoon plans.

Once you depart Puerto Base, you’ll cruise along the coastline of Gran Canaria. This part matters because it sets the mood. You’re not staring at the same view for hours; the coastline changes, and the light tends to look good in the afternoon.

Then comes the highlight routine: the catamaran heads toward a calm, crystal-clear bay and anchors. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for.

What happens next is fairly “choose your own day”:

• You can head straight to the water for a swim.
• If you want to snorkel, equipment is provided.
• You can also stay onboard, watch the sea life, and snack while the boat is anchored.

After the anchored time, you’ll return back to the same meeting point. One interesting detail I like from the experience is that the return can sometimes include live music such as a saxophone performance, depending on the day. Even if you’re not planning to buy any extras, that kind of atmosphere makes the ride feel like an event rather than a commute.

Swimming and Snorkeling Setup: What You’ll Actually Do

This is a “real water time” cruise. When the boat anchors, you get a chance to swim and snorkel, and the snorkeling gear is included.

If you’re thinking, cool, but is it worth it? In practice, it often is, because you’re going to clear water by design. You’re not snorkeling from a crowded shoreline or wrestling with uneven entries. You’re in the bay, the boat is stationary, and you can take your time getting in and out.

A couple practical notes for your day:

• Bring swimwear you don’t mind being salt-air and sunscreen-bath friendly.
• If you’re even mildly prone to seasickness, consider how you’ll feel during the sailing portion. Staying onboard briefly during the ride can be smarter than jumping in right away.

Also, keep expectations honest. The snorkel part is an included activity, but optional water sports are the “gear-up and go” segment. If snorkelling is your focus, you’ll probably be happiest doing it as your main activity rather than stacking it with multiple paid rides.

Optional Water Sports (and How to Budget for Them)

This is where the cruise can turn from chill to action, fast. The optional rides and add-ons are available in the anchored area time, and they each have specific prices:

• Jet ski: €32 per vehicle
• Parasailing: €32 per person
• Donut ride: €10 per person
• Captain speedboat ride (optional): €5 per person

There are also water sports described like a “donut ride” and an optional parasailing experience. You don’t have to buy any of it. But if you do, I’d treat it like a single “splurge” rather than a shopping list.

Safety reality check (important):

• Participation in non-obligatory water sports is at the customer’s risk, and your own travel insurance is required in the event of an incident.
• The boat crew can arrange medical care if needed, but you shouldn’t assume it replaces travel insurance.

So here’s my clean decision rule: if you want one adrenaline thing, pick one. If you want to spend the day in swim mode, skip the paid rides and just enjoy the included bay time.

Hotel Pickup and Getting There Without Stress

For me, pickup can make or break an afternoon excursion. This one has pickup offered but only from centralized pickup points in the south of the island.

A few things that matter:

• Pickup is not available from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogan areas (so depending on where you’re staying, you might need to meet at the boat yourself).
• You’ll need to check your exact pickup time and place 24 hours before departure. They communicate it by email, so check your inbox and junk folder.

Start point reminder: if you’re arriving directly at Puerto Base, Puerto Rico, plan to arrive 30 minutes before departure.

Also, the tour is near public transportation, so even if you’re not using pickup, you’re not completely stranded.

The payoff of this setup is simple. You don’t spend your afternoon driving to a port, finding parking, and then doing the walk-of-shame with a wet swimsuit bag. The cruise builds the convenience into the experience.

Crew, Service, and the Small Touches That Matter

The Afrikat crew is one of the big reasons this cruise gets high marks. You’ll see the same themes again and again in the way people describe the day: friendly service, good organization, and people feeling cared for.

That matters more on a boat than on land. When you’re on open water and people are juggling sun, salt, and timing, you want staff who stay calm and organized.

One specific kind of support I appreciated from accounts of the experience: the crew doesn’t just hand you a boarding card and disappear. If someone is dealing with nausea or rougher moments, they tend to work to help people feel better and keep the day moving.

And yes, live music can add a spark too. If a saxophonist shows up on the return, it’s the kind of small theater that makes the whole trip feel like an event.

Food and Drinks: What’s Included, What Costs Extra, and What to Watch

This cruise includes a meal and a drinks baseline, but there’s a clear difference between included basics and paid extras.

Included:

• Chicken wrap with pasta salad
• Beer and sangria
• Soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water

Not included:

• Cocktails, champagne, wine, spirits

Also, some people were happy with the meal and service, while others were less impressed by the food and the drinks quality. That’s not unusual for onboard mass meal setups, and it’s why I suggest you plan your expectations around the included fare.

My practical takeaway:

• If your main goal is food, you might leave a little wanting more.
• If your main goal is water time, views, and a relaxed afternoon on a catamaran, the included meal is usually enough to keep you going.

If you’re the cocktail type, you’ll likely pay extra for the upgraded drinks. Decide whether that’s your vibe before you start ordering.

Who This Cruise Fits Best

This afternoon cruise is ideal for people who want:

• Sea views and open-water time without a full-day schedule
• A chance to swim and snorkel in a calmer bay
• Optional add-on excitement, with real euro pricing so you can budget
• Hotel pickup convenience in the south

It’s also a good match if you’re traveling as a couple or small group. The boat caps the total experience size at 66 travelers, and individual booking maximums are listed as 12 people—a combo that usually helps keep things from feeling chaotic.

A few “know before you go” details:

• English is offered.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• The minimum drinking age is 18.
• You can advise dietary requirements at booking (the meal can be adapted by request, based on what they can offer).

If you hate being stuck in one place, you’ll appreciate that there’s enough going on during the anchored time to keep you busy. If you hate water sports, you can still have a great day with just swimming/snorkelling and relaxation.

Should You Book Afrikat Afternoon Cruise?

Book it if you want a relaxed, scenic half-day with actual water time. The mix of anchored swimming and snorkelling, included basic drinks, and south-side hotel pickup makes it feel like a straightforward value play for Gran Canaria.

Skip it or adjust your expectations if:

• You’re very food-focused. The included meal is serviceable, but it’s not a gourmet restaurant.
• You’re sensitive to optional water sports costs. If you add multiple paid rides, the day can get pricey.
• You’re planning higher-risk activities like parasailing or jet ski. Get travel insurance and treat these as activities you’re responsible for.

My bottom line: if you’re aiming for an afternoon that feels like you left the island for a bit, not just looked at it, this cruise fits the bill. You’ll spend the day on the water, you’ll likely cool off in the bay, and the crew keeps it moving.

FAQ

Where does the Afrikat Afternoon Cruise depart?

It departs from Afrikat Catamaran Gran Canaria at C. Puerto Base, S/N, 35130 Mogán, Las Palmas, Spain.

What time does the cruise start, and how long is it?

It starts at 2:30 pm and lasts about 4 hours 30 minutes.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered from centralized pickup points in the south of the island. You must check your transport confirmation email 24 hours before departure for the exact pickup time and place.

What’s included in the price?

The price includes the boat trip (4.5 hours), an onboard meal (chicken wrap with pasta salad), drinks (beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee and water), return transport from your hotel area (where available), and the chance for swimming and snorkelling with equipment provided.

Are the water sports included?

Swimming and snorkelling are included. Jet ski, parasailing, and donut rides are optional extras with separate euro prices. A captain speedboat ride is also optional with a separate euro price.

What drinks are included versus not included?

Included: beer, sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water. Not included: cocktails, champagne, wine, and spirits.

Can kids join?

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Is there an age limit for drinking?

Yes. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Can I get a full refund if plans change?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience starts, the amount paid is not refunded.