Most excursions from Arguineguín fall into four types: boat trips, mountain and island coach tours, diving or fishing charters and park tickets. Book directly with the operator where you can, and check licences, group size and the cancellation terms.
Guided excursions from Arguineguín come in four main kinds: boat trips from the harbours along the coast, full-day island tours by coach or 4x4 into the mountains, diving and fishing charters, and park tickets that include a transfer or combine two attractions. Prices in this area are published by a handful of operators; many others sell only through resellers. The best way to book is directly with the operator, after you have checked what is included, the group size and what happens if the weather turns.
This page is about choosing and booking. For a self-guided day, see the best day trips from Arguineguín and day trips by bus.
Boat trips from the harbour
Arguineguín, Anfi, Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán are all linked by boat, and the operators sell both regular crossings and short excursions. Líneas Salmón publishes the details of its two-hour dolphin excursion: departures from Puerto de Mogán at 09:45, Arguineguín at 10:15, Anfi del Mar at 10:30 and Puerto Rico at 10:45, with an adult price of €35, child (6 to 12) €25, under-6s free, and an optional hotel bus pick-up for €4 (checked October 2026). The page does not state the season. Bottlenose and common dolphins are mentioned; no operator can promise to find animals.
The same coast has other trips, such as catamaran cruises and boats from Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán. Anfi's activity catalogue lists a catamaran from Puerto de Mogán, Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 to 14:30, at €79 for an adult and €65 for a child, limited to 30 people (the page gives no price year, and the catalogue is aimed at Anfi's own guests). Compare these with what the harbours sell to the public. The regular crossing between harbours is covered in boats from Arguineguín, and the wildlife rules in dolphin and whale watching.
The 60-metre rule for dolphin boats. Under Spain's Real Decreto 1727/2007, boats must keep a 60 m exclusion zone around whales and dolphins, no more than two boats may be near a group, speed is limited, and swimming with the animals is forbidden. A trip that offers a swim with dolphins in open water, or that chases the animals, is breaking the rules. A good skipper explains them.
Full-day island tours and mountain trips
A tour is the easiest way to see the mountains without the driving and, now, the booking. Tour operators are regulated: at Roque Nublo they need an active-tourism licence number and register on the Cabildo's reservation platform, where they get a quota of 30 people every two hours. That makes a registered operator a legitimate way to see the rock; the rules for independent visitors are in Roque Nublo and the mountains.
Anfi's catalogue lists a full-day tour taking in Tejeda, Arucas and Firgas on set weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) at €72 for an adult and €52 for a child, with a stop at the cave houses of Guayadeque; again the price year is not given. The sister site's piece on jeep safaris and island tours describes how 4x4 and coach tours differ.
When you compare tours, ask:
- Is it a coach, a minibus or a 4x4, and how many people are on it?
- How long will you actually spend at the main stops, compared with time on the road?
- Are entrance fees, lunch and drinks included?
- Is there a pick-up in Arguineguín or the nearest bus stop, and what time?
Diving, fishing and watersports
A few activities are by definition guided trips. A local dive centre, Scuba Sur, runs boat dives from the Anfi marina: morning outings for certified divers, leaving at 09:00 and back at 12:30 to 13:00, and a mixed afternoon outing that includes snorkelling, according to its own page. It lists sites such as the Arguineguín reef, the Meteor wreck and Pasito Blanco's natural reef. More in scuba diving near Arguineguín.
Sea fishing needs a Canary Islands licence (Decreto 182/2004). On a commercial charter, a collective licence tied to the boat covers its clients, which is one reason to use a registered operator; see fishing trips and sea fishing. Jet-ski and parasailing outings are sold on the beaches at Anfi and Puerto Rico; see water sports. Do not rely on a reseller's claims about licences or age limits; ask the operator.
Park tickets and combined deals
For parks, the operator is also the seller, and the price on the operator's page is the benchmark. In 2026 the 2 Parks Ticket for Palmitos Park and Aqualand Maspalomas costs €62 for an adult (€45 child, €23 mini) on both parks' sites. See Palmitos Park and water parks near Arguineguín for the details and the bus options.
Booking tips that save money and trouble
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who actually runs it | Resellers list the same boat or tour at different prices and under different names; the operator's own page is the benchmark. |
| Licence and registration | Active-tourism operators need a licence; at Roque Nublo they must register with the Cabildo. |
| Group size | A small group is a very different day from a full coach or a crowded catamaran. Anfi's catamaran, for example, is capped at 30. |
| What is included | Pick-up, food, drinks and entry fees are often extra. |
| Weather policy | Sea and mountain trips can be cancelled or changed; ask about refunds or rebooking. |
| Guarantees | A "sighting guarantee" is a marketing promise and its terms vary. Read them before you rely on it. |
Tour or bus plus ticket. A coach tour is not always the better value. For a park or a town with a good bus link, such as Puerto de Mogán on lines 91 and 33, the bus and the entry ticket may well cost less than a package. Check buses in and from Arguineguín before you pay for a transfer.
Insurance and safety
Whatever you book, tell the operator about health problems, mobility limits and children's ages. Your GHIC or EHIC covers state healthcare only; it does not usually cover mountain or sea rescue, repatriation or private hospitals, so travel insurance is worth having for any active excursion; see travel insurance, GHIC and EHIC. In an emergency call 112. For sun protection on a boat or in the mountains, see sun, heat and UV on Gran Canaria.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a dolphin-watching boat trip from Arguineguín?
Líneas Salmón lists its two-hour dolphin excursion at €35 for an adult and €25 for a child aged 6 to 12, with under-6s free. Departures are from Arguineguín at 10:15, and the operator does not state the season, so check before you plan.
Can I swim with dolphins on a boat trip in Gran Canaria?
No. Spanish law (Real Decreto 1727/2007) forbids bathing or diving within 60 m of whales and dolphins. A trip that offers it is not following the rules.
Do I need a guide to visit Roque Nublo?
No. Independent visitors can book a free slot on the Cabildo's reservation site. A registered tour operator is an alternative with its own quota.
Should I book excursions online or on arrival?
For popular boat and mountain trips, book ahead in busy months, and prefer the operator's own site. Prices for the same trip differ between resellers.
Are there excursions that pick up in Arguineguín?
Some do. Líneas Salmón's dolphin trip sails from Arguineguín and offers a paid hotel bus pick-up. For tours by road, ask the operator for the pick-up point and time before booking.
Is travel insurance needed for excursions?
It is strongly advisable. A GHIC or EHIC covers state healthcare only, not private hospitals, repatriation or most rescue costs.
Sources
- Líneas Salmón – dolphin excursion: times and prices
- Líneas Salmón – regular boat line fares and departures
- Anfi – activities catalogue (catamaran and island tour examples)
- Cabildo de Gran Canaria – Roque Nublo access FAQ (operator rules and quota)
- BOE – Real Decreto 1727/2007, protection of cetaceans
- Scuba Sur – daily diving trips in the south
- Gobierno de Canarias – recreational fishing licences
- Palmitos Park – ticket prices 2026