Gran Canaria Dolphin Watching: The 12 Best Cruises

1.From Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria: Dolphin Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,520 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $47Our pick

Cruise from Puerto Rico along Gran Canaria’s southwest coast aboard Spirit of the Sea, a catamaran with room for up to 97 people and a large glass-bottom viewing area. The multilingual crew helps you identify dolphins and other cetaceans. Sightings are not certain, but if none appear, you can return on another trip for free.

“The guide was amazing, very kind and funny, he speaks 4 languages fluently, big plus to the whole experience. We saw dolphins and 2 turtles. Also a big plus, that the team collects garbage from the ocean during the trip. Loved it!”

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2.Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,855 reviews · from $40Best value

Join Líneas Salmón for a 2.5-hour cruise from Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, in search of dolphins and whales. Guides speak Spanish, English, and German; Mario is a familiar face on board. Bring a camera, expect open-sea conditions, and remember that sightings are never certain.

“We loved this excursion! We saw loads of dolphins 🐬. The guides were really friendly and the boat was comfortable. Would highly recommend”

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3.Maspalomas: Palmitos Park Ticket with Dolphin and Bird Shows

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,507 reviews · 1 day · from $44Top rated

Spend a day at Palmitos Park, about 10 kilometers from the Maspalomas Lighthouse. Your ticket includes the dolphin, parrot, birds of prey and exotic bird shows, plus access to the aquarium, butterfly house, gardens and animal areas. The park sits in a mountain valley, so plan for steep paths, sun protection and plenty of time between exhibits.

“Was great shows with the birds and dolphins. The place is situated way up in the mountains with spectacular views. There is a lot of walking involved and much of it is up and down steep hills. The park does provide walkers and mobility scooters at a cost if needed.”

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4.Dolphin and Whales watching cruise from Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 508 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $50

Sail from Puerto Rico aboard Spirit of the Sea for a 2.5-hour search for dolphins and whales. Look through the boat’s glass panels or watch from deck as the multilingual crew shares information about marine life. Hotel pickup is available in selected resorts, sodas are included, and a free return cruise is offered if no marine mammals appear.

“Beautiful boat trip out into the bay even if you don't see any sea animals. I'm a birder, so I was happy to see Cory's Shearwaters and other birds.”

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5.Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 498 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

From Puerto Rico, a 52-foot, two-deck catamaran heads offshore along Gran Canaria’s southwest coast to look for dolphins, whales and other marine life. An English- and Spanish-speaking guide shares information about what you may see. Soft drinks and water are included, and pickup is available from many locations in the south.

“After a great three hour trip but no sightings, which we understand is quite rare, we were given an option for a free trip two days later. We were in luck second time round!! A pod of beautiful bottlenose dolphins 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻. Really recommend this trip - great crew, and great boat trip - well worth it”

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6.Dolphin and Whale Cruise in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 477 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $50

From Puerto Rico, sail the southwest coast aboard Spirit of the Sea for about two and a half hours. A multilingual crew helps identify cetaceans, and the boat’s glass bottom offers views below the surface. Dolphins are often seen, but wildlife is not guaranteed. Free soft drinks are included, and a return pass may be offered if no dolphins or whales appear.

“We had a lovely time- we enjoyed seeing the dolphins, especially in their own habitat. The crew were helpful, friendly and approachable. All in all a very lovely trip.”

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7.2-Hour Dolphin and Whale Watching in Gran Canaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 166 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $42

Set out from Puerto Rico on Lineas Salmón, a boat with room for nearly 150, and search the Atlantic for dolphins and whales with a professional guide. You may also spot turtles or flying fish. Drinks are sold at the onboard bar, but sightings are not guaranteed, and choppy seas can make the ride rough.

“The trip was amaizing, the dolphins stayed with us for more than one hour, the guide was very nice, everything was perfect”

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8.Spirit of the Sea: Cetacean sighting in Gran Canaria

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 152 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

Set out from Puerto Rico on a purpose-built catamaran for a 2.5-hour search for wild dolphins and whales. You’ll get a small illustrated cetacean guide and complimentary water and soft drinks. The boat has glass-bottom viewing windows, and if no dolphins or whales appear, you’ll receive a bonus trip to return for free.

“Went above and beyond to find dolphins, even stayed out 30 minutes over time to find them. Really helpful with customer service.”

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9.Puerto Rico : 2 hour Dolphin Catamaran Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 129 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Set sail from Puerto Rico Base for two hours off Gran Canaria’s south coast, watching for dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish. A soft drink is included, with hotel-area pickup available between Bahía Feliz and Mogán. Spanish- and English-speaking crew lead the trip; Captain Miguel has been praised for his warm welcome.

“The first time we didn’t see any dolphins so we’ve got the ticket for one more try, it’s really nice of you! I do really appreciate! The second time we saw a family of dolphins at the end. It would be perfect to get some more information which species was it, a little more commentary. I would do it one more time!”

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10.Half-Day Cruise Tour-Dolphin and Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 124 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $44

Leave Puerto Rico Marina aboard a catamaran for roughly 2.5 to 3 hours of cetacean watching, followed by a sea swim and snorkel stop. The crew shares wildlife and coastline information, and masks and snorkels are provided. You can reach the marina yourself or arrange a shuttle from selected resorts. Sightings are not guaranteed.

“We had a great trip out. The crew were wonderful and really focused on finding the dolphins which they did. They were also very knowledgeable about the dolphins and took great care not to disturb them. We didn't chase them about which I've experienced on other trips.”

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11.Mogan: Dolphin Watching Boat Trip with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 112 reviews · from $96

Sail from Puerto de Mogán aboard the Keeper Uno for a four-hour search for dolphins along Gran Canaria’s southwest coast. A captain and crew guide a group of no more than 10, with food, drinks, snorkeling gear and a paddleboard included. The trip also plans a stop at a natural beach, though the activity details conflict about whether swimming is allowed.

“Lovely trip and being on a small boat made all the difference as you were able to see the siphons much more easily than other bigger boats. There were only 7 of us. Made for a very relaxing trip. Hosts were friendly too. Would recommend spending a little more for a more personalised experience”

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12.Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria: Premium Dolphin Catamaran Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 40 reviews · 4 hours · from $75

From Puerto Rico Base, cruise the south coast of Gran Canaria for a chance to spot dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish. The four-hour outing includes lunch, an open bar, a swim stop, goggles, and a banana boat activity. Crew member Domingo is known for bringing a lively touch to the trip, though the crew can vary.

“Alles war toll, super Guide(sehr lustig), mehrere Aktivitäten(zubuchbar), schwimmen im Atlantik, freie Getränke, Raucher Bereich, Mittagessen(nicht das Highlight aber o.k.); Leider keine Delphine gesichtet, was auch nicht unser alleiniger Anspruch war. Alles in allem Top.”

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