Fuerteventura: Magic Select Catamaran Trip with Food & Drinks

The best part of this four-hour catamaran trip is the mix of wildlife watching and easygoing time at sea. You leave Morro Jable under a large 150-square-meter sail, search for dolphins and whales, then head toward quiet white-sand coves for a swim and lunch.

I like the spacious boat, which gives you room for sun and shade, and I like that lunch and drinks are included rather than added one by one. The crew, including names such as Aaron, Juani, Luis, and Oliver on different departures, also keeps the mood lively with music and dancing. The main caution is simple: wildlife sightings and the promised cove stop are not guaranteed every day.

Key points to know before booking

• Dolphin and whale watching: The captain searches the waters south of Fuerteventura, with sightings ranging from a few distant dolphins to dolphins swimming alongside the boat and, on lucky days, a whale.
• A swim stop is planned: The catamaran heads toward quiet southern coves for a refreshing dip, though the exact stop can depend on conditions.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect a simple chicken-and-rice or paella-style meal, with drinks available throughout the trip.
• Large, comfortable catamaran: The Magic Select can carry up to 70 people, with space for both sunbathing and shade.
• Pickup is limited but useful: Resort pickup is available from selected points near Costa Calma, Esquinzo, and Jandía.
• Good value for a half-day at sea: At $93.12 per person, the price makes most sense if you value the boat, meal, drinks, entertainment, and swimming stop together.

Leaving Morro Jable under a 150-square-meter sail

Your morning begins at the port of Morro Jable, on the southern tip of Fuerteventura. The advertised start is 10:00 a.m., and if you make your own way there, you need to arrive 30 minutes before departure.

The Magic Select is a modern catamaran rather than a small fishing boat. That matters. A catamaran usually gives you more room to move around, and this boat has areas for sitting in the shade as well as spots where you can stretch out in the sun. One detailed account described the boat as large and spacious, with very little movement during the crossing.

The vessel raises a 150-square-meter sail soon after leaving the harbor. Even if the wind is not strong enough to carry the boat for the whole trip, the sail adds a pleasant sense of occasion. You are not simply being transported from one point to another. The boat itself is a major part of the day.

The maximum group size is 70 people. That is not an intimate private sailing trip, so keep your expectations sensible. Still, the size of the catamaran helps prevent the trip from feeling cramped. The space also lets you choose your setting: shade when the sun gets intense, or open deck when you want the full sea view.

Searching for dolphins and whales off southern Fuerteventura

The first main part of the trip is the search for marine life in the waters around the Canary Islands. The captain changes course and watches for dolphins and whales, rather than following a fixed sightseeing route.

This is the part of the trip with the greatest uncertainty. Some departures have seen dolphins less than 45 minutes after leaving the port. On especially lucky outings, dolphins have stayed beside the catamaran for a long stretch, giving you time to take photographs and watch their movement in the water. A few accounts also describe whale sightings, while another mentions a hammerhead shark.

Other departures have seen only a small number of dolphins from a distance, and some have seen no dolphins or whales at all. The boat cannot control the animals, and you should treat wildlife as a bonus rather than a promise. If your main reason for booking is a guaranteed close encounter, this is the wrong way to think about the tour.

I like that the captain pays attention to the animals and approaches gently. That is better than a fast, noisy chase. Still, you may spend a fair portion of the four hours looking across open water, so bring patience and keep your camera ready.

The crew helps make this waiting time enjoyable. Music, conversation, and a cheerful atmosphere are recurring parts of the trip. Juani is repeatedly singled out in the available comments for keeping people involved, while Aaron is praised for captain duties and for continuing the search until dolphins were found. Crew members vary, but names that appear across departures include Aaron, Juani, Luis, Juan, Luca, Hajid, Oliver, Fron, Judni, Laura, Irziar, Cris, and Jose.

The southern coves and the swimming stop

After the wildlife search, the captain turns toward the southern coast of Fuerteventura. The plan is to visit small, quiet coves with white sand, then stop so you can swim from the boat.

This pause changes the pace nicely. The wildlife search can be exciting but uncertain. A swim gives you something active and refreshing to look forward to, especially on a warm, sunny day. One account describes swimming in a calm area where people could also see fish.

Do not picture a long beach visit with time to walk ashore. This is a boat stop, not a coastal hike. You swim from the catamaran, enjoy the water, and return aboard for lunch. If you prefer to stay dry, you can remain on deck and enjoy the views.

There is one important qualification. At least one account reports that the advertised coves were not visited on that particular outing. Sea conditions, wildlife-search time, and the captain’s decisions can affect the route. The swim stop is part of the planned experience, but the exact cove and timing are not fixed.

Pack swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Sunscreen is especially important because you can spend several hours exposed to reflected light on the water. A hat and sunglasses are also sensible, though you should keep loose items secure on deck.

Lunch, drinks, music, and a relaxed party mood

Food is served after the swim stop, and the meal is designed to be straightforward rather than fancy. The descriptions include chicken with rice, chicken stew, and a chicken paella-style dish. The wording varies, but the consistent picture is a warm, filling meal built around chicken and rice.

That is a good fit for a half-day boat trip. You are likely to appreciate something substantial after swimming, but you should not book this as a food-focused cruise. Most available comments rate the meal as good or tasty, while one sharply negative account found both the food and wine disappointing.

Drinks are included throughout the excursion. Cold white wine is specifically mentioned, and the boat offers a broad selection of drinks, with some accounts describing drinks as available on tap. The exact menu is not specified, so do not assume a particular brand or unlimited choice of every beverage.

Music is a real part of the atmosphere. The crew may encourage dancing and keep the trip feeling more like a small party than a quiet sailing lesson. That works well for couples and families who enjoy a sociable outing. It may be less appealing if you want four hours of silence and gentle reading.

The crew’s friendliness receives especially strong praise. They help passengers, keep an eye on people who feel seasick, and maintain the mood when the wildlife search takes time. The entertainment is informal, not a formal show, so the experience depends partly on the crew working that day.

What the $93.12 price really includes

At $93.12 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get on the water. The value comes from the package: roughly four hours aboard a large catamaran, a wildlife search, a swimming stop, lunch, drinks, crew entertainment, and the possibility of resort pickup.

If you paid separately for a boat outing, a meal, drinks, and transport to Morro Jable, the combined cost could easily become similar. The catamaran also gives you more space than a small excursion boat, which helps justify the price for a longer trip.

The price is harder to defend if your priorities are narrowly focused. You may feel disappointed if you want guaranteed dolphins, a quiet luxury cruise, a specific beach stop, or a high-end lunch. One negative account considered the trip poor value after seeing only distant dolphins, missing the coves, and disliking the food and wine.

I would judge the cost this way: you are paying for a complete social day at sea, not for a guaranteed wildlife encounter. If dolphins appear close to the boat, the outing can feel like excellent value. If the sea is quiet and the route changes, the boat, swimming, food, and drinks need to carry the experience.

Pickup from Costa Calma, Esquinzo, and Jandía

Pickup is available from resorts in Costa Calma, Esquinzo, and Jandía, but not from every hotel. Instead, you receive a selected pickup point within about a five-minute walk of each hotel in the covered areas.

Your pickup time is sent within approximately 12 hours of booking. Check your spam or junk folder if the message does not arrive. One available account reports that pickup and drop-off ran late, so allow a little flexibility around the schedule.

If you do not need transport, go directly to the Magic & Sailing meeting point in Morro Jable. You should be at the port 30 minutes before the boat trip begins. The activity returns to the same meeting point, which makes onward planning easier.

The tour is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, the port is near public transportation, and most people can take part. No detailed mobility information is provided, so if you have specific access needs, confirm them before booking.

Who will enjoy the Magic Select most

I would recommend this trip to couples who want an easy half-day outing, families looking for a mix of wildlife and swimming, and anyone who likes a friendly boat atmosphere. The included food and drinks remove much of the usual planning, while the spacious catamaran gives you options if you want sun or shade.

It also suits people who enjoy a little music and dancing. The crew puts real energy into the day, and that can make the difference when wildlife sightings are slow.

You may want another kind of boat trip if you prefer a small group, a quiet sailing experience, or a carefully planned coastal tour with guaranteed beach access. A maximum of 70 people is manageable on a large catamaran, but it is still a shared excursion.

The experience may also be less suitable if you are very sensitive to uncertain schedules. Pickup can run late, wildlife may not appear, and the cove visit may change. None of these issues make the trip automatically poor, but they are part of booking a sea outing rather than a land-based attraction.

Practical tips for a better four hours

Arrive early if you are meeting at the port. The required arrival time is 30 minutes before departure, and that gives you a less hurried start.

Bring sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, and a secure place for your phone. You will want your camera for dolphins, coastal views, and the swimming stop, but keep it protected around spray and wet passengers.

If you are prone to seasickness, plan ahead. The boat is described as stable, and the crew has helped a seasick passenger, but no catamaran can promise perfectly calm water. Sit where you feel most comfortable and avoid treating the included drinks as a reason to overdo alcohol before the crossing.

Keep your wildlife expectations flexible. A distant sighting can still be worthwhile, but it will not resemble a close encounter beside the boat. The strongest outings combine dolphins with good weather, a swim, lunch, and a lively crew.

If you can choose between morning and afternoon departures, the supplied information specifically includes a preference for the afternoon because it may be less hot. The standard details give a 10:00 a.m. start, so confirm the available departure when booking rather than assuming you can select any time.

Should you book this Fuerteventura catamaran trip?

I would book the Magic Select if you want a full, sociable day at sea with lunch, drinks, music, a possible wildlife sighting, and time to swim. The 4.6 rating from 495 reviews and 91 percent recommendation rate fit the overall picture: the crew, boat, atmosphere, and all-in-one format are the strongest parts.

I would not book it solely for whales or dolphins, and I would not expect a gourmet meal or a private cove visit every time. The best decision is to see the animals as an exciting extra, while judging the $93.12 price against the complete four-hour package.

With free cancellation available until 24 hours before the start time, you have some room to change plans. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number is not reached, the operator offers another date or experience, or a full refund.

FAQ

Where does the Magic Select catamaran trip start?

The trip starts at the Magic & Sailing meeting point in the port of Morro Jable, Fuerteventura.

What time does the boat trip start?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 a.m. If you are meeting the boat at the port, arrive 30 minutes before departure.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is available from selected points serving the resorts of Costa Calma, Esquinzo, and Jandía. Pickup is not available from every hotel, and the selected points are within about a five-minute walk of hotels in the covered areas.

When will I receive my pickup time?

You should receive your pickup time approximately 12 hours after booking. Check your spam or junk folder if the message is missing.

How long is the catamaran excursion?

The experience lasts approximately four hours and returns to the meeting point in Morro Jable.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Food and drinks are included. The meal is described as chicken with rice, chicken stew, or a chicken paella-style dish, and drinks are available throughout the excursion.

Will I definitely see dolphins or whales?

No. The crew searches for dolphins and whales, but sightings are not guaranteed. Some departures see dolphins and whales, while others see no dolphins or whales.

How many people can join the boat trip?

The maximum group size is 70 people.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.