Fuerteventura: Small-Group Magic Deluxe Catamaran Cruise

The best part of this four-hour catamaran cruise is the combination of open-ocean sailing, a proper meal, and time to swim off Fuerteventura’s southern coast. You may also spot dolphins, pilot whales, turtles, flying fish, or stingrays, though wildlife is never guaranteed.

I like the small-group feel, with many departures carrying about 12 people, and I like that the Magic Deluxe is a proper 15-metre Lagoon 450S rather than a crowded excursion boat. The main caution is the food: some passengers find it excellent, while others feel the beef portion and limited accompaniments do not quite match the deluxe label.

Key points to know before booking

• A modern Lagoon 450S catamaran: You have three cabins, three bathrooms, a kitchen, dining space, lounge, and several open decks for views.
• A relaxed Jandía swim stop: The boat pauses near the coast so you can swim, sunbathe, and cool off in the Atlantic.
• Wildlife is possible but not promised: Dolphins and pilot whales are frequent highlights, with turtles, flying fish, and stingrays also seen on some trips.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Expect couscous with roasted vegetables and tzatziki, followed by beef with mushroom sauce and confit potatoes, plus wine, beer, Prosecco, soft drinks, and water.
• Pickup covers the main southern resorts: Transport can be arranged from Costa Calma, Esquinzo, Jandía, and Morro Jable, but only from selected pickup points.
• The value is strongest for a half-day treat: At $117 per person, this suits you if you want sailing, food, drinks, and swimming in one outing rather than a basic boat ride.

Setting sail from Morro Jable

The trip begins at Morro Jable port, where you should arrive 30 minutes before departure if you are making your own way there. Look for the Magic Deluxe, the distinctive catamaran used for this sailing outing.

If you choose transport, pickup is offered around Costa Calma, Esquinzo, Jandía, and Morro Jable. It is not available at every hotel. Instead, you receive a nearby pickup point, usually within a five-minute walk of your accommodation in the covered resort areas. Your exact pickup time is sent after booking, so check your inbox and spam folder.

The port meeting arrangement matters. This is not the sort of excursion where arriving at the last minute is wise. The crew needs time to organize boarding, and a coach may bring several groups to the port before passengers are divided among their boats. One account describes initial concern when a full coach arrived, followed by a smooth split into smaller groups at the marina.

That distinction is useful. The transfer operation may feel larger than the cruise itself, but the sailing portion can still be intimate. Departures often have around 12 people, although the exact number can change.

The Magic Deluxe catamaran

The boat is a newly built Lagoon 450S, about 15 metres long. It has three cabins, three bathrooms, a kitchen and dining area, a lounge, and outdoor deck space. That layout gives you more room to move than a standard sightseeing boat, which is especially welcome during a four-hour trip.

I would choose a seat or lounging spot with your personal comfort in mind. The front nets are a prime place to feel the motion of the boat and watch the water, while the raised deck areas offer wider views of the coast. The boat’s open layout also lets you move around instead of being fixed to one seat.

The crew is a major part of the experience. Names reported across different departures include Alex, Karolina, Eloy, José, Cristina, Andrés, Fred, Laura, Carolina, Vincent, Majdi, Luis, Itziar, Miguel, and Jesus. You will not necessarily have these exact crew members, but the pattern is clear: the hosts handle the practical work while keeping the mood easy and social.

Several departures have been praised for staff who keep drinks topped up, help with dietary needs, mark birthdays, and keep both children and older passengers comfortable. The atmosphere is friendly rather than formal. If you want a silent sailing lesson, this is not that. If you want a polished day on the water with a bit of conversation and humor, it should suit you well.

Sailing along Fuerteventura’s volcanic south coast

Once the boat leaves Morro Jable, the route follows the southern coast of Fuerteventura toward Jandía. You sail close to shore, giving you views of broad beaches, dark volcanic formations, and the dry, rugged character that makes this end of the island different from a manicured resort waterfront.

The coast is best appreciated from the sea. From the boat, beaches become long strips of color and the volcanic rock formations show their shape more clearly. You are not simply being transported to a swim stop. The sailing itself is the scenic portion of the day.

The route can vary with conditions and wildlife activity. Some departures spend much of the cruise in the same general area, which one passenger found less impressive than expected. That is worth knowing if you picture a fast-moving coastal tour covering a large part of southern Fuerteventura.

This is a relaxed cruise, not a high-speed sightseeing circuit. The reward is time on deck, an open horizon, and a slower view of the coastline. The tradeoff is that you may not visit several different bays or reach a picture-perfect lagoon.

Watching for dolphins, whales, and turtles

Keep your eyes on the water as the catamaran heads along the coast. Dolphins and pilot whales are regular hopes for this route, and some trips have had memorable sightings, including pods swimming beside the boat and under the front nets.

Other wildlife reported during different outings includes turtles, flying fish, and even a stingray photographed from the boat. One departure saw a pod of roughly 10 to 20 dolphins, while others spotted dolphins quickly after setting out. Whale sightings have included pilot whales and a whale seen alongside a turtle.

Still, this is wildlife watching in the open sea. No crew can promise a sighting, and one otherwise enjoyable cruise had no dolphins at all. You should book this for the boat, coast, swim, food, and drinks first. Treat animals as an excellent bonus.

Bring patience and keep your phone or camera ready, but do not spend the whole cruise staring through a screen. Wildlife often appears for only a few seconds. The crew may also receive word from another boat about animals nearby, as happened on one particularly successful outing.

The Jandía swim stop

Near Jandía and the natural park, the catamaran enters calmer coastal waters for swimming. This is the point where the cruise shifts from sightseeing to holiday mode. You can jump from the side, cool off in the Atlantic, return to the deck, and spend time sunbathing while lunch is prepared.

Some passengers describe the water as surprisingly comfortable, while the exact feel will depend on the day and the season. You should bring swimwear under your clothes and have a towel ready. The provided information does not specify towel rental or changing arrangements, so do not assume those are included.

The swim stop is enjoyable, but the setting may not always look like a lagoon. One passenger hoped for a prettier, more sheltered swimming area and felt the boat remained in one location for too long. That is a fair limitation. The stop is about getting into the Atlantic from the catamaran, not visiting a famous beach by tender.

For many people, that simplicity is enough. You do not lose time walking to a beach, finding a lounger, or carrying a picnic. You step from the boat into the water, then climb back aboard for lunch and drinks.

Lunch prepared on board

The meal is one of the reasons this cruise costs more than a basic sailing trip. The advertised menu begins with Mediterranean couscous, roasted vegetables, and tzatziki. The main course is roast loin of beef with aromatic herbs, mushroom sauce, and confit potatoes.

The kitchen and dining area are part of the catamaran, and the food is prepared by a chef associated with Jandía. Several outings have been praised for tasty, plentiful food, with one passenger calling the steak and sauce especially good for a meal made at sea.

You should keep your expectations measured. The menu is fixed and not a multi-course restaurant meal. One account found the starter good but the beef overcooked, with only a few potatoes and no dessert. Another felt the food needed extras such as salad and bread.

Vegetarian options have been provided, and the crew has also catered for vegetarian and vegan passengers on at least some departures. If you have a serious allergy or a strict dietary requirement, confirm it before booking rather than assuming the standard menu can be changed.

Timing can also vary. One lunch was served around 5:30 p.m., which felt late to that passenger. Ask the crew about the expected meal time if you are sensitive to late lunches or need to plan medication around food.

The open bar and onboard mood

The open bar includes Prosecco, wine, beer, soft drinks, and water. This is a real part of the value, not a token welcome drink. Several departures are praised for a steady supply of beverages, and the crew may also offer local honey rum shots.

You can make the outing as lively or as restful as you like. Sit with a drink and watch the coastline, stretch out in the sun, or chat with the crew and other passengers. Music is part of the atmosphere, and one particularly happy group singled out the playlist along with the food and service.

The open bar is also why you should think carefully about your own pace. Four hours on a moving boat can feel different from four hours at a resort. Water, shade, and sensible drinking will help you enjoy the swim and the ride home.

Is $117 a fair price?

At $117 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get on the water in Fuerteventura. You are paying for a smaller group, a modern catamaran, four hours of sailing, a cooked meal, an open bar, a swim stop, and possible wildlife sightings.

The value is good if you would otherwise pay separately for lunch, drinks, transport, and a boat outing. It is especially attractive for couples, birthday trips, and anyone who wants a polished half-day break from the resort. A previous passenger who has taken many catamaran cruises around Europe considered this one the best of the group.

The value is less convincing if your main goal is a wide-ranging coastal route or a guaranteed dolphin encounter. The boat may remain in one broad area, and the meal can feel modest if you expect a full luxury spread. You are buying a comfortable sailing day, not a private yacht charter.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later make the booking less rigid. Those terms are useful when your weather plans are still shifting, but you should still check the exact conditions at booking.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend the Magic Deluxe to you if you want several holiday pleasures combined in one outing:

• You like being on the water but do not want to organize food and drinks yourself.
• You prefer a group of roughly 12 people to a large party boat.
• You want time to swim and sunbathe rather than race from one stop to another.
• You enjoy the chance of seeing dolphins or whales but understand that nature sets the schedule.
• You are staying in the southern resort area and can use the pickup network.
• You want a comfortable outing for a birthday, couple’s day, or family group.

It may not suit you if you suffer badly from seasickness, although one passenger specifically advised taking travel-sickness medication before the trip. It may also disappoint you if you expect a detailed sightseeing commentary, several swim locations, or a refined restaurant-style lunch.

Practical tips for a smoother four hours

Arrive at Morro Jable port 30 minutes early if you are not using pickup. If you are using transport, watch for the confirmed pickup email and check your junk folder.

Wear swimwear beneath easy clothing and bring sun protection. The boat has open decks, so you will want protection while sailing and during the swim stop. Keep a layer handy too, since conditions at sea can feel different from the resort.

Take seasickness medicine before departure if you know you are prone to motion sickness. Do not wait until you feel ill. Keep your camera ready for dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish, but protect it around the swim area.

Tell the crew about dietary needs as early as possible. Vegetarian food has been available, and some crews have handled vegan requests, but the standard menu centers on beef.

Should you book the Magic Deluxe?

Yes, if you want a sociable, comfortable half-day on the water with a strong chance of good service, a swim, an open bar, and a satisfying coastal view. The crew is the cruise’s most consistent strength, and the small-group setup makes the catamaran feel personal rather than crowded.

Book with realistic expectations about the route and meal. Wildlife is possible, not certain. The boat may stay in one coastal area, and the food may be very good on one departure yet merely adequate on another. At $117, I think it is worthwhile for the all-in-one experience, especially when pickup is convenient and the sea conditions are favorable.

FAQ

How long is the Magic Deluxe catamaran cruise?

The cruise lasts four hours.

Where does the cruise depart from?

The boat departs from Morro Jable port in southern Fuerteventura.

How early should I arrive at Morro Jable port?

If you do not use pickup, you should arrive 30 minutes before the trip and look for the Magic Deluxe catamaran.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is available as an option from selected points in Costa Calma, Esquinzo, Jandía, and Morro Jable. It is not available from every hotel.

What drinks are included?

The open bar includes Prosecco, wine, beer, soft drinks, and water.

What food is served?

The stated menu includes Mediterranean couscous with roasted vegetables and tzatziki, followed by roast loin of beef with aromatic herbs, mushroom sauce, and confit potatoes. Vegetarian options have also been provided.

Can I swim during the cruise?

Yes. The catamaran stops near Jandía so you can swim in the Atlantic and relax on board afterward.