About this tour
When Tom from our team joined this catamaran cruise, we sailed out from Lanzarote towards La Graciosa's marine reserve on a luxury cat built for comfort. The five-hour trip hits the sweet spot for cruise passengers keen to skip the ship for a day — you get return transfers from resorts, lunch on deck, snorkelling and kayaking gear, and a multilingual guide steering the whole show. The boat's a proper setup with WiFi, an open bar, and enough space that families with little ones don't feel squeezed. Weather permitting, it's a solid half-day escape into clearer waters.
Highlights
- Catamaran's dual hulls mean steady sailing, not much pitch or roll
- Snorkelling kit and kayaks included — no rental fees at the jetty
- Open bar keeps the vibe relaxed; lunch covers most tastes (vegan options on request)
- Picks you up from resort — no hunting for taxis or bus stations
- Multilingual crew handles families with prams and infants smoothly
- Marine reserve feels genuinely quieter than the main Lanzarote beaches
- Schedule works for cruise passengers with tight turnaround times
What to expect
The morning starts with a minibus collecting you from your resort — timing's tight if you book within 24 hours, so confirm your pickup slot early. Once aboard, the catamaran heads out steadily; the water around La Graciosa tends calmer than open ocean, so even wobbly stomachs settle quickly. You'll get a window for snorkelling (water's cold-ish but clear), a chance to paddle a kayak if you fancy it, and lunch arrives mid-cruise — solid fare, nothing fancy, but it fills the gap. Tom noticed the guide keeps things moving without feeling rushed; there's downtime to sit, read, or just watch the coast.
One thing to note: you won't actually step foot on La Graciosa's beach. The catamaran anchors offshore, so all the action — snorkelling, kayaking — happens from the boat. That works fine for most, but if you're picturing toes in the sand, adjust expectations. Weather's the wildcard; if conditions turn, they'll shuffle your date or swap you onto another tour. The crew's patient with families and small kids, though infants must stay on a lap during water activities.
What travellers say
- All-in pricing removes hidden costs; transfers, lunch, bar included
- Marine reserve feels quieter and clearer than main-island beaches
- Catamaran design handles choppy water smoothly for most passengers
- Family-friendly setup: prams welcome, infants on laps, multilingual guides
- Vegan and vegetarian meals catered; just book ahead
- Five-hour window suits cruise passengers with tight port schedules
- No actual beach access — entire experience happens on or from boat
- Water temperature is cold; rashies or wetsuits recommended
- Last-minute bookings forfeit resort pickup; you drive to meeting point
- Weather cancellations common; flexibility needed if winds turn
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works brilliantly if you're docked in Lanzarote with a few hours to kill. Resort pickups mean no logistics headache, and the all-in pricing (lunch, bar, kit, guide) removes nickel-and-diming. Families with infants and toddlers are genuinely catered for — prams are fine, and staff don't fuss about little ones. Vegan and vegetarian meals are available if you flag it at booking. The marine reserve is a genuine draw; water clarity and fish life beat the busier tourist beaches.
Beach access is off-limits, so this is purely a boat experience — no sunbathing on sand, no walking around an island village. The water's chilly (you might want a rash vest under your swimmers). Early starts suit some; others won't love 7 or 8 a.m. departures. If you book within 24 hours, pickup isn't guaranteed — you'll need to get to the meeting point under your own steam. Weather cancellations happen; Canary Islands winds can kick up suddenly, especially winter. The boat's roomy but full capacity means less elbow room for solo travellers seeking peace.
Bring suncream (relentless reflection off water), a light layer (wind on deck), and water shoes for the kayak launches. Snorkel sets and kayaks are supplied; deposits apply. Group sizes vary by season. Lunch and unlimited bar are included. WiFi works but isn't blazingly fast. Peak times are July–August and school holidays.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.