Glass-Bottom Catamaran Dolphin Cruise from Puerto Rico Gran Canaria

Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria harbour

Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria is a sunny resort in the municipality of Mogán, built around a sheltered sandy beach and a busy harbour at the mouth of a steep ravine. Its marina is the main base for boat trips in the south of the island, and the calm water inside the breakwater makes boarding easy for children and older travellers. The catamaran leaves from the base harbour, a short walk from the beach promenade.

If you are looking for things to do in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, the harbour is a pleasant place to arrive a little early: watch the fishing boats and yachts, take photos of the white houses climbing the hillsides, and enjoy the views back along the coast. On this option our coach brings you straight to the harbour and collects you again after the cruise, so you do not need to drive or park.

Dolphin watching in Gran Canaria: the species you may see

The Canary Islands are among the richest places in Europe for watching dolphins and whales, because the seabed drops to great depths only a few kilometres from the coast. Off the southwest of Gran Canaria, the dolphins seen most often are Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, which often ride the bow wave of the catamaran. Short-finned pilot whales live in these waters year-round, and on some days larger whales pass through.

The crew explains how to tell each species apart by the shape of the fin, the colour of the skin and the way the animals surface and breathe. Sightings follow responsible rules: the boat keeps its distance, slows down and never chases the animals. Dolphin watching here is possible in every season, but calm mornings usually give the clearest water and the gentlest sea.

Underwater views from the glass-bottom catamaran

What makes this glass bottom boat trip in Gran Canaria special is the large window set into the floor of the catamaran. From the lower deck you look straight down into the clear Atlantic, where shoals of fish, rocky reefs and sandy seabed pass beneath you, and you may even see dolphins swimming under the hull. Children love it, and it is a good choice for anyone who prefers not to snorkel.

The catamaran is a stable, spacious vessel with shaded seating, open deck areas for photos, restrooms and access for people with reduced mobility. Soft drinks and water are served throughout the trip. The open ocean can move the boat even when it slows to watch the animals, so if you are sensitive to motion, choose a seat in the middle and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Hotel pickup from Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and the south coast

The default option includes return coach transfers from hotels in Mogán, Taurito, Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, San Agustín and Bahía Feliz, the resorts where most visitors stay in the south of Gran Canaria. The drive along the coast to Puerto Rico takes about 50 minutes each way, passing the dunes of Maspalomas, the resort towns and the cliffs of the southwest.

Pickup is not available from Las Palmas, Patalavaca, Arguineguín or Puerto Rico itself; if you stay in those areas, the option without transfers lets you meet the boat directly at the harbour. Departures run at 10:30 and 13:30, so this dolphin tour with hotel pickup fits easily into a beach day, leaving the late afternoon free for the promenade at Playa del Inglés or the old port of Puerto de Mogán.