Spirit of the Sea is the dolphin-watching boat of Puerto Rico, in the south of Gran Canaria. It is run by Dolphin and Whales, S.L., which presents itself as the pioneer of whale and dolphin watching on the island and has been at it for more than 25 years. Its old website, dolphin-whale.com, now redirects to spiritoftheseatours.com. Verdict: a boat built for the job, limited numbers and clear refund terms; the weak point is that the price is not published.
Who is behind Spirit of the Sea
The company is based at Puerto Base, in Puerto Rico, opposite the entrance barrier; the office is open from 09:00 to 21:00 (+34 928 562 229). It also collects drifting nets and plastic for Precious Plastic Gran Canaria and helps the Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre (wildlife rescue centre) with injured turtles and birds. Its website lists the species seen in the area: bottlenose, common, Atlantic spotted and rough-toothed dolphins, false killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, Risso's dolphins and humpback whales.
The boat and what the trip is like
The Spirit of the Sea is a catamaran built for this: both hulls are glass-walled galleries for looking under the water. It is licensed for 120 people, but the company says it never carries more than 100 including the crew. There is only one toilet on board.
It sails every day at 10:30 and 13:30 and the trip lasts 2 h 30 min. Hotel pick-up is free if you book 24 hours ahead, from Mogán and Playa del Cura and from the Bahía Feliz–Meloneras strip. Some resellers advertise a swim stop in a cove on the 13:30 departure if the sea allows; it is a swim with no whales or dolphins around.
Spirit of the Sea prices and where to book
The official website takes bookings through an external module and does not publish the price. Resellers list it at €40 per adult, €25 per child aged 2 to 12 and free for under-2s; others at €38 and €20.
On GetYourGuide there is a 2.5-hour dolphin-watching trip from Puerto Rico from €40, rated 4.3 out of 5 with more than 2,700 reviews, and on Tiqets a 2 h 30 min trip from €42. Check the provider on the listing to know which boat you will be on.
The useful comparison is with Líneas Salmón, which runs a dolphin trip of about 2 hours from Puerto Rico for €35 per adult and €25 per child aged 6 to 12, plus €4 if you want its bus. It is half an hour shorter.
Cancellation and refunds
If the company cancels or the sea is too rough to sail, it refunds you or offers another date; if you cancel, you get your money back with 24 hours' notice or a medical certificate. On a booking platform, the platform's terms apply.
Can you swim with dolphins in Gran Canaria?
Not with wild dolphins: it is illegal in Spain. Royal Decree 1727/2007 (Real Decreto 1727/2007) bans swimming, diving, touching or feeding them within the 60 m exclusion zone, and the Canary Islands Decree 178/2000 treats swimming within 500 m of them as harmful. That is why, when a cruise advertises a "swim stop", the swim is in a cove with no whales or dolphins nearby. More in whale and dolphin watching in the Canary Islands.
How to get to Puerto Base
Puerto Base is the harbour on the left as you face the sea, and the boat is about 70 m from the barrier. The nearest bus stop is Agua de la Perra (line 91 from San Telmo, in Las Palmas), and the harbour car park costs about €3 for two hours. More options in Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán.
- 1Puerto RicoportDirections ↗
- 2AmadoresbeachDirections ↗
- 3Puerto de MogánportDirections ↗
- 4ArguineguínportDirections ↗
- 5Playa del InglésbeachDirections ↗
- 6MelonerastownDirections ↗
Score
- Boat
- 5/5Catamaran with underwater galleries and numbers capped at 100
- Price
- 3/5About €40, more than Líneas Salmón, for half an hour longer
- Transparency
- 2/5Neither the price nor the sighting guarantee is on its website
- Cancellation
- 4/5Refund with 24 hours' notice or a medical certificate
- Logistics
- 4/5Free pick-up from Mogán to Bahía Feliz
The good
- Galleries in both hulls for looking under the water
- Never more than 100 people on board
- Free hotel pick-up
- Environmental work with nets, plastic and injured wildlife
The not so good
- Price not published on the official website
- Sighting guarantee only explained by resellers
- A single toilet for the whole boat
- The Líneas Salmón alternative is cheaper
Who it suits and the alternatives
It suits families and anyone who wants to watch dolphins at a relaxed pace and look under the water. If you want the cheapest option, Líneas Salmón costs about €5 less per adult. If what you want is to go down to the seabed, the Puerto de Mogán submarine spends 40–45 minutes at 20–25 m. For pilot whales that live there all year and the biggest fleet, Tenerife is the benchmark: see whale watching in Tenerife. More companies in operators.
GetYourGuide2.5 hours
From Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria: Dolphin-Watching Cruise
4.3 (2,717 reviews)
from €40Check availability
GetYourGuide40 minutes
Puerto de Mogán: Submarine Tour
4.4 (4,446 reviews)
from €38Check availability
See all options on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 2 October 2026
How much does Spirit of the Sea cost in Gran Canaria?
The official website does not publish it; resellers sell it at about €40 per adult and €25 per child aged 2 to 12, and under-2s go free.
What time does Spirit of the Sea sail and how long does it last?
Every day at 10:30 and 13:30, from Puerto Base in Puerto Rico. The trip lasts 2 h 30 min.
What happens if you don't see dolphins with Spirit of the Sea?
Resellers mention a voucher to go again for free, valid for one year. Confirm it with the company when you book.
Can you swim with dolphins in Gran Canaria?
No. Swimming near wild whales and dolphins is banned in Spain; swim stops take place in coves with no dolphins.
Where is Spirit of the Sea in Puerto Rico?
At Puerto Base, the harbour on the left as you face the sea, about 70 m from the barrier; take the bus to the Agua de la Perra stop.
