Puerto de Mogan: Boat and Snorkeling Trip

El Perchel is the star of this three-hour boat trip from Puerto de Mogan. The cove is reachable only by boat, and you get about 90 minutes in clear water with fish, supplied masks and fins, and plenty of time to swim at your own pace. Before that, the boat cruises toward Tasarte, giving you a fine look at Gran Canaria’s rugged west coast.

I like two things in particular: Ruben and Marta make the outing feel personal, and the food is far better than the usual packet of crisps at sea. Potatoes with mojo, Spanish omelette, bread, fresh fruit, and drinks turn a short excursion into a proper half-day treat. The main caution is simple: this is not suitable for non-swimmers, and a Friday visit to Puerto de Mogan requires extra planning because of the market.

Key points at a glance

• El Perchel stop: Spend around 1.5 hours snorkeling at a cove accessible only by boat.
• Ruben and Marta: The Spanish and English-speaking hosts give safety guidance and explain local fish and coastal sights.
• Good food included: Expect potatoes with mojo, Spanish omelette, bread, fruit, and drinks, with vegetarian-friendly choices.
• Family appeal: Children as young as 7 have enjoyed the snorkeling, and full-face masks are available alongside standard equipment.
• Useful extras: Snorkeling gear, photos, a guide, and the boat trip are included in the $69 price.
• Small practical catch: Bring your own towel, and plan carefully if you arrive on Friday, when market traffic affects access to the port.

A coastal trip with a real snorkeling payoff

Many boat outings around Gran Canaria spend most of their time cruising and only a short spell in the water. This one gives the swimming stop proper weight. The route includes a scenic run toward Playa de Tasarte, but the heart of the experience is the long pause at El Perchel.

That balance works well for families. You get the excitement of being on a boat, the big cliffs and sea views, and then a clear activity for children and adults. You are not simply sitting in the sun for three hours waiting for the return journey.

The boat leaves from C. Explanada del Castillete, 163, in Puerto de Mogan. Look for the yellow boat marked Yellow Boat Mogan. If the harbor feels confusing, searching that name in Google Maps should take you to the exact meeting point.

The experience costs $69 per person. That is a fair price when you count the boat ride, guide, snorkeling equipment, food, drinks, and photos. It becomes particularly good value for anyone who would otherwise pay separately for a coastal cruise and a snorkeling session. You are also getting a small-group feel rather than a bare-bones transfer to a swimming spot.

Setting off from Puerto de Mogan

The trip begins with a short safety briefing of about five minutes. That may sound routine, but it matters here because the main activity takes place in open water. You receive instructions before the boat heads along the coast, and the crew can explain how to use the masks and fins before you reach El Perchel.

Puerto de Mogan is a pleasant starting point, with its marina, waterfront buildings, and compact port setting. The yellow boat should be easy to identify, but allow enough time to find the meeting point, especially if you are carrying towels and children’s swimming gear.

On Friday, Puerto de Mogan holds its market, and cars cannot access the port in the usual way. This is the one logistics issue worth taking seriously. Contact Yellow Boat Mogan before the trip for current parking and access advice. One family received a WhatsApp message from Marta and Ruben before a market-day departure, which helped them reach the boat without a last-minute scramble.

Once aboard, you can expect a boat with a covered area and a sun deck, according to detailed trip feedback. That gives you a choice between shade and open sun, useful on a warm Canary Islands afternoon. Smoking is not allowed.

The run toward Playa de Tasarte

The first major part of the route heads toward the Tasarte area. The boat passes Playa de Tasarte and spends about an hour sightseeing along the coast before turning back toward El Perchel.

This is the part for photographs. Gran Canaria’s cliffs rise sharply from the water, and seeing them from a boat gives you a different angle from the island’s roads and viewpoints. The coastal rock, open Atlantic, and changing distance from shore make this a good time to keep your phone or camera ready.

Ruben and Marta add context as you travel. Their explanations cover the coast, the island, and the fish you may later see while snorkeling. The tour is not built around a long formal lecture, which suits the relaxed pace. You get useful information as the sights appear, then return your attention to the view.

The boat ride itself is calm and scenic, but it is not the main reason to choose this outing. If you want a full-day coastal cruise with many separate stops, this three-hour trip may feel limited. If you want a compact mix of scenery, swimming, food, and friendly hosting, the timing is more effective.

El Perchel and 90 minutes in the water

After reaching the Tasarte area, the boat turns toward El Perchel, the snorkeling stop. This cove can only be reached by boat, which helps explain why the stop feels special. You are not joining a beach crowd or walking down from a resort. The boat becomes your base beside the cove.

You get roughly 1.5 hours for snorkeling and free time. That is generous for a short excursion. You can swim, look for fish, take breaks aboard the boat, and return to the water rather than feeling rushed after one quick look below the surface.

The crew provides masks and fins, and the equipment includes traditional masks as well as full-face options. First-time snorkelers receive help with the gear and guidance on where to look for fish. Several families found this especially useful for children and beginners. A child who is comfortable in a swimming pool may still need a little time to settle into a mask, so the unhurried stop is a real advantage.

The water is described as clear, with many fish visible around the cove. You might spot a ray, as one group did, but sightings are naturally dependent on conditions and luck. The guides explain what to look for and point out different kinds of sea life, which makes the stop more rewarding than simply swimming around without a sense of purpose.

This is also where you need to be honest about your own ability. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers. It is family-friendly, but that does not mean every child can take part without confidence in open water. Parents should judge their children’s swimming ability carefully and stay alert throughout the water stop.

Paddle boards have also been available on some trips, adding another way to enjoy the cove. Since the core inclusions specifically promise snorkeling equipment rather than a guaranteed paddle-board session, treat that as a possible extra rather than the reason to book.

Lunch on a yellow boat

After the swim, the crew serves a simple Canarian-style meal. The listed food includes potatoes with mojo, Spanish omelette, bread, and fresh fruit. The meal is vegetarian-friendly and fits the setting far better than a generic prepacked lunch.

The potatoes with mojo are the dish to look forward to. Mojo is a traditional Canary Islands sauce, and it gives the meal a local touch. The Spanish omelette, bread, and fruit round things out without making lunch too heavy after swimming.

Drinks are included, and the trip has been praised for keeping refreshments available during the outing. Homemade sangria has also been served on some departures. The exact food and drink selection can vary, but the important point is that you are not expected to bring lunch or buy it at the harbor.

I like this part because it gives the trip a social rhythm. You swim, dry off, sit down, eat, and talk while the boat remains in the cove or prepares for the return. It feels more like being hosted by a local couple than being processed through a schedule.

If you need a special diet beyond vegetarian food, ask the operator before booking. The supplied details confirm vegetarian-friendly food, but they do not promise specific allergy or dietary substitutions.

Why the hosts make a difference

Ruben and Marta are the owners and hosts, and their approach is one of the strongest reasons to choose this particular boat. They handle the safety talk, coastal commentary, snorkeling help, food, drinks, and photographs themselves.

Their attention is practical rather than showy. They check that first-time snorkelers understand the equipment, answer questions about fish, and make an effort to include everyone in group photographs. That last detail matters on a family holiday, when one person often ends up behind the camera.

Photos are included, and the crew sends them after the trip, generally by email. This is a useful extra because you can concentrate on the water instead of worrying about protecting your phone or asking strangers to take a family picture.

The personal hosting also means the mood can feel relaxed. Some groups describe the boat as comfortable and not crowded, especially outside the busiest season. Group size is not specified in the trip details, so I would not book expecting a guaranteed private charter. Still, the available feedback points to a more intimate outing than a large sightseeing vessel.

Family suitability and comfort

This trip is a strong match for families with confident swimmers. Children aged 7, 10, and 14 have taken part, and the full-face masks helped younger swimmers see fish clearly. The crew’s patient explanations also make the activity workable for adults trying snorkeling for the first time.

The experience suits couples and solo adults too. You do not need to arrive as a large family group to enjoy it. The covered area gives you somewhere to get out of the sun, while the sun deck is there when you want the full sea-air experience.

You should bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Towels are not supplied. Sunscreen is especially important because time on the water can make the sun feel less intense than it is, and you may spend part of the cruise sitting on deck after swimming.

This is not the right choice if you dislike getting wet, cannot swim, or want a dry sightseeing tour. The boat ride is scenic, but the snorkeling stop is central, not optional window dressing.

How the $69 price compares

At $69, this is not the cheapest way to get on the water, but the inclusions make the price easy to justify. You receive a three-hour boat trip, a guided coastal route, snorkeling gear, food, drinks, photos, and live guidance in Spanish or English.

The food and drinks are important to the value. A lower-priced boat trip may still leave you paying for lunch, refreshments, equipment hire, or photographs. Here, those small costs are folded into one booking.

The included photos add value for families, and the long water stop prevents the day from feeling like a quick harbor cruise. I would consider it particularly good value if you want one well-organized half-day activity rather than several separate bookings.

The price does not remove the usual sea-trip uncertainties. Water conditions, fish sightings, and the comfort of the ride can vary. You are paying for access to the cove and a well-run experience, not a guarantee of a particular animal or perfect sunshine.

Booking details worth knowing

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. The trip lasts three hours, but you need to check the available start times for your chosen date.

The meeting point is at C. Explanada del Castillete, 163. Search for Yellow Boat Mogan on Google Maps if you are unsure where to go, and contact the supplier ahead of time if your visit falls on Friday.

The tour is conducted in Spanish and English. No smoking is allowed. Since non-swimmers cannot take part, make sure everyone in your group understands that snorkeling is the main event before you reserve.

Should you book Yellow Boat Mogan?

Book it if you want a friendly, family-sized outing with dramatic coastal views, a proper snorkeling session, local food, and useful extras already included. Ruben and Marta’s hands-on hosting, the 90-minute stop at El Perchel, and the free photos give this trip more substance than a simple boat ride.

I would be cautious only if someone in your group cannot swim, if you need guaranteed special-diet catering, or if you want a large luxury vessel with a fixed entertainment program. For confident swimmers and first-time snorkelers who want a relaxed introduction to Gran Canaria’s coast, $69 is a sensible spend.

FAQ

How long does the Puerto de Mogan boat and snorkeling trip last?

The experience lasts three hours, including the coastal cruise, the snorkeling stop, lunch, and the return to Puerto de Mogan.

Where does the boat leave from?

The meeting point is C. Explanada del Castillete, 163, in Puerto de Mogan. Look for the yellow boat marked Yellow Boat Mogan, or search that name on Google Maps.

How much snorkeling time is included?

You get around 1.5 hours for snorkeling and free time at El Perchel, a cove accessible only by boat.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, with masks and fins available. Trip details and feedback also refer to both traditional and full-face masks.

What food and drinks are included?

The food includes potatoes with mojo, Spanish omelette, bread, and fresh fruit. Drinks are included as well, and the food is vegetarian-friendly.

Can non-swimmers join the activity?

No. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers because snorkeling in open water is a central part of the experience.