Catamaran Sailing in Lanzarote

Sail toward golden coves. This four-hour Catlanza cruise pairs a smooth catamaran ride with swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and lunch at Papagayo. I especially like the included food and drinks, which make the $90.70 price easier to justify, and the choice between a family sailing and an adults-only option for ages 15 and up. The main catch is that the boat can feel busy when the group is near its stated maximum of 55 people.

The route is simple, but that is part of its appeal. You leave Puerto Calero, follow Lanzarote’s southeast coast, and anchor near the Papagayo beaches for water activities and a meal. The crew gets strong praise for friendly service, practical sailing tips, and personal touches, including yoga on the front nets and help with tying a Palstek, a sailing knot.

Key points to know before you book

• Papagayo is the main event: The boat sails from Puerto Calero to the island’s famous southeastern beaches, then pauses for swimming and water sports.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Expect pasta, fruit, snacks, Spanish cheese, vegetarian options, and a good supply of drinks.
• You get more than a boat ride: Snorkeling, kayaks, paddleboards, and occasional yoga give the four hours some variety.
• Pick the right atmosphere: Family cruises welcome children, while the Platinum adults-only sailing is for ages 15 and older.
• The crew shapes the day: Service is a major strength, with staff helping guests, explaining sailing, and keeping activities moving.
• Plan for sun and wind: Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a towel, and a sweater. The water may feel cold, even on a bright day.

Leaving Puerto Calero for Papagayo

Your meeting point is Catlanza SL Catamaran Sailing at the Nautica area of Puerto Calero, on Lanzarote’s southeast coast. You need to arrive 30 minutes before departure. That early arrival matters because the activity begins at a marina, not from a beach where you can simply wander up at the last minute.

Hotel pickup is offered, and the meeting area is near public transportation. If you arrange your own way there, the port setting is fairly straightforward, with parking reported as plentiful. Confirm the exact pickup details when you book, since transport arrangements can vary by departure.

Once aboard, the trip settles into an easy rhythm. This is not a sailing lesson or a hard-charging water-sports session. You can sit back and watch the coast, or take part when the boat reaches the anchorage. The crew offers sailing insight along the way, and the tone is friendly rather than formal.

The boat can carry up to 55 people. That gives the trip a social feel, but it also means personal space depends on the day’s numbers. Some departures feel comfortable, while a fuller boat may make access to kayaks, paddleboards, or the best rail-side seats more competitive.

Why Papagayo makes a good half-day destination

Papagayo is the natural focal point of the cruise. The beaches sit along Lanzarote’s southeastern coast, where the boat can pause away from the marina and give you time in the water. From the deck, you get a different view of the coast than you would from a road or walking path.

The stop is flexible. You can remain on deck and enjoy the sun, swim from the boat, snorkel, or use one of the kayaks and paddleboards. This mix works well for groups with different energy levels. One person can read or sip a drink while another heads into the water.

Snorkeling is a particular strength when conditions cooperate. The crew gives tips before you enter, and fish may be visible close to the boat. Sightings are never guaranteed, but several departures have included impressive fish viewing and even dolphins swimming near the catamaran.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a short recreational stop, not a dedicated wildlife trip or a full-day snorkeling expedition. Water conditions, visibility, wind, and the number of people aboard all affect how much time you get with each activity.

The water can also be cold. One delighted swimmer still made a point of mentioning the temperature, so bring a towel and a sweater for the ride afterward. You may be perfectly happy in the water, but you will appreciate a dry layer when the wind picks up.

Food, drinks, and the real value of $90.70

At $90.70 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning or afternoon in Lanzarote. But the price includes a four-hour catamaran trip, lunch, snacks, drinks, and access to several water activities. That makes the cost easier to assess than a simple fare for transport or sightseeing.

The food is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Pasta is the recurring main meal, with vegetarian food available. You may also receive fruit, Spanish cheese, and snacks before lunch. It is not a restaurant meal with a long menu, but it is more substantial than a small boxed snack.

Drinks are included throughout the sailing. The selection is described as broad, and several departures had drinks available from the start. That is useful in Lanzarote’s strong sun, where buying refreshments separately can quickly add to the day’s cost.

I like the way the meal supports the pace of the outing. You are not rushed off the boat to find food near the beach. Lunch happens as part of the cruise, leaving the anchorage free for swimming, paddling, and sitting in the sun.

If your group includes children, picky eaters, or people with different diets, note that the food is described as suitable for a range of tastes, with vegetarian lunch available. Still, the supplied information does not give a full list of dietary accommodations, so contact Catlanza in advance if you have an allergy or strict dietary need.

A crew that keeps the day moving

The crew gets unusually strong praise, and I can see why. A boat trip depends on more than scenery. You need clear instructions, timely food service, help with equipment, and enough attention that first-time sailors do not feel lost.

The staff speak English, Spanish, and German. One crew member named Sandra receives special praise for her friendly help and small sailing tips. A guest even remembered learning how to tie a Palstek, a useful knot often associated with sailing.

That detail captures the tone of the cruise. The crew does not simply point toward Papagayo and disappear behind the bar. They help with snorkeling, support people using the kayaks and paddleboards, take photos for groups, and interact with both children and adults.

The atmosphere can include light entertainment and informal activities. Yoga on the front nets has been offered, which is a pleasant extra if you want a quiet stretch while the boat is at anchor. It is not the central promise of the trip, so treat it as a bonus rather than a scheduled class you can count on every time.

Service also matters for families. The crew works to keep children involved without forcing adults into a family-program mood. That makes the standard cruise a good fit for mixed-age groups and for families traveling with more than one generation.

Family sailing or Platinum adults-only cruise

Catlanza offers a family option and a Platinum adults-only excursion for people aged 15 and above. This choice is valuable because the same route can feel very different depending on the group around you.

Choose the family sailing if you want children to have room to swim, paddle, and interact with the crew. The activities are casual and accessible, and the food gives families one less problem to solve during the day.

Choose Platinum if your group wants a quieter setting and everyone is at least 15. The provided information does not spell out every difference between the two products, so check the specific departure details before paying. The key point is the age rule: the adults-only cruise is not for younger children.

Neither option should be treated as a silent luxury yacht outing. Even the adults-only departure is still a shared catamaran experience with water sports and group dining. If you want privacy, a private charter would be a different kind of trip.

What the four hours feel like

The schedule has one main destination, which keeps the day easy to follow. You arrive at Puerto Calero, board the catamaran, sail toward Papagayo, pause for water activities and lunch, then return to the same meeting point.

That simplicity is helpful if you have only a few days on Lanzarote. You do not spend the morning changing vehicles or moving between several short stops. The coast, the sea, and the boat remain the focus.

You can expect stretches of open sailing between activities. This is when you get the best chance to relax, take photographs, watch the coast, or talk with the crew. The boat ride itself is a large part of the experience, so people who dislike sitting on the water may find the pace slow.

The day can also include wildlife surprises. Dolphins have been seen swimming in front of the catamaran on some outings. That is a lucky extra, not something promised by the route. The same applies to unusual moments such as a close fish sighting or a particularly calm swimming stop.

The boat returns to Puerto Calero, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride from Papagayo. That makes the outing simple to fit around other plans, though you should avoid scheduling another fixed activity too tightly afterward.

Practical preparation for sun, water, and wind

Dress in smart casual clothing for the marina, then make sure your swimwear is easy to reach. Bring sunscreen, a towel, and a sweater. The sweater is not overpacking: even a warm day can feel cool once you are wet and moving through the wind.

Secure your phone before swimming or using the paddleboards. The crew may help with photos, but you should not assume every personal item will stay dry near the water.

You should also arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. This gives you time to find the marina, deal with pickup arrangements, and board without turning the first part of the experience into a sprint.

Most people can take part, and the activity is near public transportation. The information does not provide detailed access notes for mobility equipment or specific medical conditions. If you need special assistance, contact the operator before booking rather than assuming the boat setup will suit you.

The cruise is offered in English. Other languages may be spoken by staff, including Spanish and German, but English is the listed tour language.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a relaxed coastal outing with real choices once the boat anchors. It works especially well for couples, families, mixed-age groups, and anyone who likes the idea of swimming without giving up a comfortable place to sit and eat.

It is also a good match for first-time boat passengers. You do not need sailing experience, and the crew helps with equipment and basic sailing details. The outing offers enough activity to avoid feeling passive, but not so much structure that you must join every part.

You may want a different experience if you dislike shared boats, sun exposure, or group meal service. A maximum of 55 people can create crowding, and equipment access may take some patience on a busy sailing.

I would also avoid booking it as your only Lanzarote activity if you want a full view of the island. This cruise shows you the southeast coast from the water, but it does not replace exploring inland villages, volcanic sites, or other parts of the island.

Booking, cancellation, and timing

The cruise is often booked about 19 days ahead, so reserve early if you need a particular date or the adults-only option. Its rating is 4.9 from 793 ratings, with 97 percent of people recommending it, which suggests steady demand.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not refunded. The operator can also cancel for poor weather or if the minimum number is not reached, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

Because sailing depends on conditions, keep some flexibility in your holiday schedule if possible. A weather-related change is less stressful when you have another open morning or afternoon.

Should you book Catlanza to Papagayo?

Yes, if you want an easy half-day on the water with lunch, drinks, and several optional activities included. The strongest reasons to book are the attentive crew, the attractive Papagayo stop, and the fact that you can make the outing as active or restful as you like.

The $90.70 fare is fair when you use the lunch, drinks, snorkeling, kayak, and paddleboard options. It is less compelling if you plan to stay seated for the entire trip and do not care much about the water stop.

For the best fit, choose the family cruise for a mixed-age group or Platinum for ages 15 and up when you prefer a more adult setting. Bring sun protection, a towel, and a warm layer, arrive early, and accept that dolphins and perfect snorkeling conditions are lucky extras. With those expectations, this is a polished and good-value way to see Lanzarote from the sea.

FAQ

Where does the Catlanza cruise depart from?

The cruise begins at Catlanza SL Catamaran Sailing in the Nautica area of Puerto Calero, 35571 Puerto Calero, Las Palmas, Spain. It returns to the same meeting point.

How long is the sailing?

The experience lasts approximately four hours, including the sailing to Papagayo, the stop for water activities, lunch, and the return to Puerto Calero.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, with pasta and vegetarian food available. Fruit, Spanish cheese, and snacks may also be served.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Drinks are included in the price of the cruise.

Can children join the cruise?

Children can join the family sailing. The Platinum adults-only excursion is for people aged 15 and older.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a towel, and possibly a sweater. You should also arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.