Water sports in Gran Canaria

Why the south-west is good for water sports

Water sports are only fun when the sea cooperates, and on Gran Canaria the sea is not the same everywhere. The north-east trade winds keep the north of the island breezier and choppier, while the south and south-west are sheltered by the mountains in the middle. That is why so much of the island’s sea activity happens on this side, and why it is where we operate.

It also helps that the scenery is worth looking at. From the air on a parasail, or from the surface with your face in the water, the south-west offers volcanic cliffs, dark-sand coves and clear water, rather than a row of hotels. That backdrop is a big part of why people choose to do their water sports here rather than closer to the big resorts.

Sheltered does not mean flat every day. Swell, stronger winds and calima episodes still happen, and when they do we postpone rather than push on. But more often than not, the conditions here make it easy to enjoy a morning or afternoon on the water, even if you are not particularly sporty.

What we offer

We would rather do a few things properly than list every activity under the sun. These are the water sports you can do with us, and nothing more.

Each has its own page with the details that are actually on sale — what is included, the options and how to book — so use the cards below rather than relying on what other websites say about this coast.

• Parasailing — bookable online. You are harnessed to a parachute and towed behind a speedboat, rising gently above the bay for a bird’s-eye view of the coast.
• Snorkelling — part of our shared Güigüí beach trip, with snorkel gear on board, and possible on any private charter when your skipper anchors in a clear, sheltered spot.
• Jet ski — guided outings on request only. Ask for availability and we will tell you what is possible on your dates.

What we do not offer

You may see other websites promising kayak tours, sailing lessons, flyboards and banana boats from the same marina. We do not run those, and we would rather say so than let you book with us expecting something that is not there. If one of those is what you are after, it is worth looking for a specialist operator.

Keeping the list short is deliberate. Every activity we run is one our own crew knows inside out, on a stretch of coast they sail every week. We would rather offer three things we do well than a dozen we would have to hand over to someone else.

We also do not rent out self-drive boats. Every boat trip we run has one of our skippers at the helm, which is why no licence is needed for any of them.

Combining activities

Plenty of people pair a short activity with a longer one — parasailing one day and the Güigüí trip another, for instance, or a private charter with plenty of time for swimming and snorkelling. If you are a group with mixed tastes, a private charter is often the easiest way to keep everyone happy: some swim, some snorkel, some stay on deck in the sun.

Whatever you book, bring swimwear, a towel and plenty of sun cream, and wear shoes you do not mind getting wet. Our guide on what to bring covers the rest, and our guide on the best time for a boat trip explains how the wind and the time of day affect the sea.

One practical tip for groups: book the activity with the least flexibility first. Parasailing slots and shared trips can fill up in busy periods, while a request for a jet ski outing needs a reply from us before it is confirmed. Once those are settled, it is easy to fit everything else around them.

Frequently asked questions