La Palmera Sur
What to order: the red porgy ceviche, the squid sandwich on charcoal bread and the black-pig cheek taco; for dessert, the brioche torrija
geocalia
Day itinerary · 27.74° N · 15.58° W
Dolphins in the morning, gorge in the afternoon: the south of Gran Canaria behind the dunes.
A two-and-a-half-hour catamaran trip to see dolphins from Puerto Rico, lunch at Playa del Inglés and, in the afternoon, the GC-60 up to Fataga via the Degollada de las Yeguas. 50 minutes from Las Palmas.
Leaving from
Part of Maspalomas Dunes and the South of Gran Canaria
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car45 min each way
From Las Palmas50 min by car
At sea2 h 30
DifficultyEasy
Cost€90–120 pp
Best timeAll year
With childrenYes; €25 for ages 2 to 12 on the boat
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 45 min by car
GC-1 south to Puerto Rico; paid parking at the harbour
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Dolphin and pilot whale watching from Puerto Rico on the Spirit of the Sea
Spirit of the Sea · 10:30 departure · €40 adults, €25 children · book on its website
+34 928 562 229
- 30 min by car19,3 km
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La Palmera Sur
booking; on Sunday serves lunches 13:30 to 15:30
Av. Estados Unidos, 15 (Hotel Gold by Marina), 35100 Maspalomas · +34 928 94 30 00
Restaurant €€€Book - 15 min by car8,3 km
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Degollada de las Yeguas viewpoint, above the Fataga ravine
GC-60 towards Fataga
- 15 min by car9,5 km
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4
Fataga and the Arteara aboriginal necropolis, in the Valley of a Thousand Palms
Arteara is temporarily closed; phone ahead if you want to go in
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Back home
down the GC-60 to the GC-1; in Las Palmas around 19:00
Approximate cost
About €75–100 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Dolphin and pilot whale watching from Puerto Rico on the Spirit of the Sea
This Sunday brings together the two faces of the south of Gran Canaria: the sea, with a catamaran that sets out to find dolphins and pilot whales from Puerto Rico, and the interior, with the GC-60 climbing the Fataga gorge between bare slopes and palm groves. In between, a Canarian market lunch at Playa del Inglés. From Las Palmas it is about 50 minutes on the GC-1 to Puerto Rico.
The day, hour by hour
9:15 · Leave Las Palmas. GC-1 south to Puerto Rico, in Mogán. Park at the harbour, paid, about €3 for two hours, or in the blue zone on nearby streets.
10:15 · Dolphins on the Spirit of the Sea. The boat leaves at 10:30 from Puerto Base, about 70 metres from the harbour entrance barrier; check-in is at the desk in front of the boat. Two and a half hours on a catamaran with underwater galleries. It costs €40 for adults and €25 for children aged 2 to 12. If no cetaceans are seen, you are given a voucher to go again.
13:30 · Lunch at La Palmera Sur. Twenty-five minutes by car to Playa del Inglés. Prawn ceviche, black pig ribs, horchata torrijas. On Sundays it serves lunch from 13:30 to 15:30: book ahead.
15:45 · Degollada de las Yeguas. Head up the GC-60 towards Fataga. In a quarter of an hour you reach the first viewpoint over the gorge.
16:15 · Arteara and Fataga. You pass the Arteara palm grove and its aboriginal necropolis, 809 burial mounds that the Cabildo currently has temporarily closed, and reach Fataga. Park and stroll around the village in the afternoon light.
17:45 · Head home. You drive down the GC-60 to the GC-1 and up to Las Palmas. You arrive around 19:00.
Is it for me?
If you are travelling with children, yes: the boat is what they remember most and the gorge can be seen from the car. If you get seasick, take something before boarding and stay on deck.
Time2 h 30
Change the route
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
La Tapita Los Jose's
What to order: the sautéed mushrooms with prawns and ham, the goat's cheese log salad and, at midday on weekdays, the dish of the day
La Aquarela restaurant
What to order: the Experience menu with the Canarian wine pairing; if you do not eat meat or fish, the Harvest, which is vegetarian
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Maspalomas Dunes and the South of Gran Canaria
All year: the boat sails daily and the GC-60 is always open. In a heavy swell the departure may be cancelled; the company refunds the money or changes the date.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book the boat a day ahead
The morning departure is the most convenient for then having lunch at Playa del Inglés.
- 2A jacket on the boat
At sea there is more wind than in the harbour.
- 3Take it slowly on the GC-60
It is a winding road: best without hurry and with the sun low.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does this Sunday cost?
Between €90 and €120 per person with the boat and lunch, not counting petrol.
What if the boat does not sail?
If the company cancels because of the weather, it refunds the money or changes the date. In that case, do the dune crossing in the morning.
Can you visit the Arteara necropolis?
In November 2026 it is temporarily closed. Call 638 810 591 before going.
Is La Palmera Sur open on Sundays?
Yes, from 13:30 to 15:30. It closes on Mondays.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/canary-islands/maspalomas-dunes/itineraries/dolphins-and-fataga-gorge
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.