Afrikat Morning Cruise

The best part of the Afrikat Morning Cruise is the change of pace. You leave Puerto Base in Puerto Rico, trade roads and resort promenades for open water, and spend the morning looking back at Gran Canaria’s villages, cliffs, bays, and beaches from a roomy catamaran. At anchor, you can swim, snorkel, or pay extra for a jet ski, parasail, donut ride, or short speedboat trip.

I like two things in particular: drinks are included, from beer and Sangria to coffee, juice, soft drinks, and water, and the crew puts real energy into the outing. Music, a saxophone performance on some departures, and friendly help from staff such as Monica, José, and Potter give the trip more personality than a simple boat transfer.

The main point to weigh is the balance between sailing and water activities. You spend part of the four-and-a-half-hour trip anchored in one bay, so anyone expecting a long coastal voyage may find the actual cruising time short. Food is convenient and filling, but some diners may find the chicken wrap and pasta salad fairly basic.

Key points to know before booking

• A four-and-a-half-hour catamaran outing: The Afrikat leaves Puerto Base and returns there after a morning on Gran Canaria’s south coast.
• A calm swimming stop: You can swim and snorkel from the anchored boat, with equipment provided, though bringing your own snorkel gear is recommended.
• Drinks included in the price: Beer, Sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water are available during the trip.
• Extra water sports cost more: Jet skis, parasailing, the donut ride, and the captain’s speedboat trip are optional add-ons.
• A sociable boat rather than a quiet yacht: Music and a lively crew create a friendly group atmosphere, with space for up to 66 people.
• Pickup needs checking: Transport is available from selected central pickup points in southern Gran Canaria, but not from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán.

Leaving Puerto Base for the southern coast

The Afrikat departs from C. Puerto Base, 1, Puerto Rico, a practical starting point for a morning at sea. If you are making your own way there, arrive 20 minutes before departure. The listed departure is 10:00 in winter, while the summer schedule runs from 09:30 to 14:00 and winter from 10:00 to 14:30, so check your booking confirmation for the exact time.

The boat follows Gran Canaria’s southern coastline, giving you a different view of the island’s built-up resort areas. From the water, the coast feels less like a string of roads and hotel districts and more like a sequence of sandy coves, rocky edges, villages, and open Atlantic views.

I like this first stretch because it gives you time to settle in. You are not rushed straight into an activity. Find a place on deck, take in the sea air, and watch the coast shift as the boat moves toward a calmer bay.

The trip is described as a luxury catamaran cruise, but keep your expectations sensible. This is a social day boat, not a private sailing charter. The maximum group size is 66, which allows for a lively atmosphere and a good number of people sharing the boat, especially once the water sports begin.

The anchored bay is the heart of the morning

The Afrikat anchors in a calm, clear bay where the main activity is up to you. You can enter the water for a swim, try snorkeling, or stay on deck with a drink and enjoy the sun. Swimming and snorkeling equipment is provided, although the operator recommends bringing your own snorkeling equipment.

This is the point where the cruise becomes more than a sightseeing ride. The coast is pleasant from the deck, but the chance to get into the Atlantic gives the morning a more active feel. If you are traveling with teenagers, the swimming stop and optional water sports are likely to be the biggest draw.

The stop also works for people who do not want to be active. You can remain aboard, listen to music, chat with other passengers, or simply enjoy the sea air. The crew’s friendly approach is a repeated strength of the outing, and solo passengers can find it easy to meet people in this shared setting.

There is one important limitation. The exact bay and the time spent there are not specified, and conditions may affect the plan. One person looking for more sailing time found the water sports stop less appealing and felt the catamaran spent too little time underway. If your priority is seeing a large stretch of coast from the boat, ask yourself if you are happy to spend a solid part of the trip anchored.

Optional water sports add cost and excitement

The basic cruise includes the boat ride, swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and drinks. The more dramatic activities are extra:

• 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 trip is the least expensive add-on and may suit you if you want a short burst of speed without committing to a larger charge. Potter has been singled out for taking people to see caves by speedboat, which suggests this option can add a little local character to the stop.

Jet skiing and parasailing can change the cost of the morning quickly. At $90.70 per person for the cruise, the base price is not the whole budget if several members of your party want paid activities. A family of four could spend considerably more after adding jet skis or parasailing.

The donut ride is the cheapest paid thrill and may be a good choice for a quick laugh rather than a major activity. If you want a relaxed day, you can skip all the extras without losing the central parts of the cruise.

Lunch is practical, not a culinary event

Lunch is a chicken wrap with pasta salad, served aboard the catamaran. It is the kind of meal that makes sense on a boat: easy to handle, familiar, and substantial enough to keep you going after swimming.

Some diners have found the food average, while others have enjoyed the overall meal service and appreciated vegetarian alternatives arranged in advance. This is a useful distinction. The food can meet the needs of a half-day outing, but you should not book Afrikat mainly for a gourmet lunch.

Tell the operator about special dietary requirements when you book. The crew has shown flexibility with vegetarian meals, but you should communicate your needs ahead of time rather than relying on a last-minute request.

Drinks are a stronger part of the package. Beer, Sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water are included. Cocktails, champagne, wine, and spirits are not included, so the phrase drinks included has limits. Sangria has also been described as light and juice-like, which may suit you if you prefer a mild drink but disappoint you if you want something stronger.

The included drinks add real value because you do not need to buy every refreshment separately during the morning. Just remember that the minimum drinking age is 18.

Music and crew give the trip its character

The Afrikat is not only about the route. The crew helps shape the mood, and this is one of the strongest reasons to choose this boat over a more basic coastal cruise.

Music is part of the outing, and some departures feature a saxophonist. The live performance may be brief, sometimes appearing near the end of the return journey, but it adds a pleasant finish. If you want a quiet boat ride with long stretches of silence, this may not be your ideal match. If you like a bit of music and conversation, it works well.

The crew is often praised for being warm, attentive, and funny. Monica and José have offered island suggestions, while Potter has been praised for his speedboat trip and lively manner. One solo passenger found it easy to make friends aboard, which tells you something about the social setup.

Small touches also matter. The boat has been described as clean and well cared for, and one couple appreciated edible straws as a sign of attention to ocean waste. These details will not make or break the day, but they contribute to a boat that feels looked after.

The friendly atmosphere can also help if someone in your group is nervous at sea. Staff have assisted passengers feeling seasick. That is reassuring, although the outing remains an Atlantic boat trip, and anyone prone to motion sickness should plan accordingly.

Is $90.70 a fair price?

At $90.70 per person, Afrikat sits above a basic sightseeing boat but includes several things that can make the price reasonable: roughly four and a half hours on the water, lunch, a range of drinks, swimming, snorkeling equipment, and return transport from selected pickup points.

The value is best if you plan to use the included features. A person who swims, eats lunch aboard, enjoys several drinks, and spends the full morning on deck gets more from the fare than someone who only wants a short scenic cruise.

The price is less attractive if you want a quiet, private sailing trip or a long voyage along the coast. You are paying for the boat atmosphere, crew, meal, and activity setup as much as for the distance covered.

Budget carefully for optional sports. One jet ski costs €32 per vehicle, parasailing costs €32 per person, and the speedboat is €5 per person. Decide before boarding which extras matter to you, especially if you are booking for a family.

The cruise is commonly booked about nine days ahead. That is not a rule, but it is a useful sign that you should not assume you can leave it until the last minute during busy periods.

Pickup, timing, and meeting details

Return transport is available from fixed pickup points in parts of southern Gran Canaria. The exact pickup time and place should be confirmed through your transport confirmation 24 hours before departure. The details are sent by email, so check your junk folder as well as your main inbox.

Pickup is not available from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán, despite the boat leaving from Puerto Rico. That distinction matters. If you are staying in one of those places, you may need to arrange your own route to Puerto Base or confirm the correct collection point before booking.

The cruise ends back at the meeting point. It is a half-day plan, leaving the rest of your afternoon free for the beach, a meal, or another island activity.

Children can participate but must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can take part, though the swimming and water sports require ordinary comfort around the sea. The activity depends on good weather, and a cancellation for poor conditions brings the choice of another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy the Afrikat most?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a friendly, active morning rather than a formal sightseeing tour. It suits couples, families with older children, groups of friends, and solo visitors who enjoy meeting people while on holiday.

It is especially good for:

• Swimmers who want time in the sea
• Families interested in optional jet skis or parasailing
• Solo passengers who like a social setting
• Visitors who want lunch and drinks included
• Anyone looking for a half-day break from resort streets
• People who enjoy music and a lively crew

You may want another type of boat trip if your main goal is extended sailing, a quiet deck, or a high-end meal. The Afrikat offers a good mix of scenery, swimming, food, drinks, and optional thrills, but the sailing itself is only one part of the program.

My final call on the Afrikat Morning Cruise

I would book this if I wanted an easy, sociable day on the water with swimming, included refreshments, and friendly service. The crew, clean boat, and range of optional activities give the morning more substance than a simple ride along the coast.

I would not book it expecting four and a half hours of continuous cruising or restaurant-quality food. Confirm your pickup details, check the seasonal departure time, bring snorkeling gear if you have it, and budget separately for paid water sports.

For most visitors staying in southern Gran Canaria, the Afrikat is a solid choice when you want to see the coast from the sea and still have the afternoon free.

FAQ

How long is the Afrikat Morning Cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. It returns to the meeting point at Puerto Base in Puerto Rico.

Where does the cruise depart?

The departure point is C. Puerto Base, 1, 35130 Puerto Rico, Las Palmas, Spain.

What time does the cruise start?

The listed start time is 10:00 am. Summer departures are scheduled from 09:30 to 14:00, and winter departures from 10:00 to 14:30, so confirm the exact time on your booking information.

Is hotel pickup available?

Return transport is available from fixed pickup points in parts of southern Gran Canaria. Collection is not available from Salobre, Puerto Rico, or Mogán, and you must check the transport confirmation 24 hours before departure.

Are swimming and snorkeling included?

Yes. You can swim and snorkel during the anchored stop, and equipment is provided. Bringing your own snorkeling equipment is recommended.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Lunch is a chicken wrap with pasta salad. Beer, Sangria, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water are included. Cocktails, champagne, wine, and spirits cost extra.

How much do the optional water sports cost?

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

Can children join the cruise?

Yes. Children can participate but must be accompanied by an adult.

What happens if the cruise is canceled because of weather?

If poor weather cancels the activity, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The activity may also be canceled if the minimum number of participants is not reached, with the same choice of another date or a refund.