REVIEW · GRAN CANARIA
Can-am Ryker Adventure Gran Canaria Grand tour
Book on Viator →Operated by Buggy Pirates Gran Canaria · Bookable on Viator
A three-wheel day that feels like a movie set. This Gran Canaria tour lets you drive a Can-Am Ryker (600cc) through scenic viewpoints and classic towns, with a tapas lunch in a cave restaurant that turns a normal ride into a story you’ll remember. The main catch to plan around is the driving rule: you need an original Class B car license, at least 24 years old, and 4 years of driving experience, plus pickup/return is limited to certain resort areas.
I also like how the day is built for people who want action without chaos. You get a safety-first briefing, helmets and hygienic head protection, and a small group feel (up to 10 travelers), with an English-speaking guide who shares local context as you go.
In This Review
- Key highlights you’ll actually care about
- What Your Day Looks Like: 5.5 Hours of Driving, Photos, and Caves
- Start Point at Buggy Pirates (El Tablero): Meeting Where the Adventure Starts
- Stop 1: Buggy Pirates and Your First Lesson on the Ryker
- Who Drives and Who Rides: How the Ryker Pairing Works
- Stop 2: Castillo del Romeral Photos and the Jack Ryan Connection
- Stop 3: Barranco de Guayadeque—Cave Lunch and a 360 Walk
- Stop 4: Agüimes Old Town and the Cathedral Photo Stop
- Stop 5 and 6: El Tablero Loop and the Return Wrap-Up
- Gear and Safety That Actually Helps
- Lunch and Food Reality: Included Tapas, Then You’re on Your Own
- Price and Value at Around $92 per Person
- Who Should Book (and Who Might Not Enjoy It)
- Booking Timing and Weather Notes
- Should You Book the Can-Am Ryker Adventure Tour?
- FAQ
- Do I need a license to drive the Can-Am Ryker?
- How old do children need to be to join?
- What’s included in the price?
- Are drinks included with lunch?
- Where does pickup work, and is return to my exact area guaranteed?
- Where do I meet the tour?
- How long is the excursion?
- What if weather is bad on the day?
Key highlights you’ll actually care about
- You drive the Ryker: automatic gearbox and simple controls make the first lesson quick
- Cave tapas lunch included: a planned meal stop inside a famous cave setting
- Barranco de Guayadeque time on foot: photo opportunities plus a 360 walk along the ravine viewpoint
- Short, timed photo breaks: quick stops in places like Castillo del Romeral and Agüimes
- Small-group pace: limited headcount helps keep the road experience safer and calmer
What Your Day Looks Like: 5.5 Hours of Driving, Photos, and Caves

This is a roughly 5 hours 45 minutes, “ride-and-see” format day. Think of it as half transport, half sightseeing, with driving as the main event and the stops timed so you’re never stuck waiting around for too long.
You’ll start at Buggy Pirates in El Tablero and spend the middle of the day in some of Gran Canaria’s best-known landscapes for photos: a ravine viewpoint and traditional town centers. The included lunch is the other big reason this trip feels like more than a drive—it’s part of the itinerary, not something you have to scramble to find.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Gran Canaria.
Start Point at Buggy Pirates (El Tablero): Meeting Where the Adventure Starts

You’ll meet at Buggy Pirates Outdoor Center, C. Puntarenas, 16, 35109 El Tablero, Las Palmas, Spain, with a start time of 10:00 am. The good news: it’s listed as near public transportation, so even if you’re staying farther out, you’re not totally dependent on private transfers.
The day’s rhythm depends on your pickup area. Pickup is guaranteed in Bahia Feliz, Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Sonnenland, and Maloneras. If you’re in Salobre, Arguineguin, Patalavaca, Puerto Rico, Playa de los Amadores, Playa del Cura, Taurito, or Playa de Mogán, you’ll get pickup—but return to your exact area is not included. In that case, the operator takes you to the closest practical bus or taxi stop. If your schedule is tight or you hate “almost back,” double-check where you’ll end up.
Stop 1: Buggy Pirates and Your First Lesson on the Ryker
Stop 1 is the launch moment: you head to Buggy Pirates for the Can-am Ryker Grand Tour setup and the first practice push. The time at this stage is listed as about 35 minutes, and it’s where you learn the basics and get kitted up.
Here’s what matters for comfort and confidence:
- You’ll ride a 600cc three-wheel Can-am Ryker
- Each participant gets a safety helmet plus hygienic head protection
- You need the right driving credentials: at least 24 years old, at least 4 years of car license experience, and an original Class B license
- There’s an age rule for kids too: children must be at least 12 years old (with the trip offered for accompanied children)
From the way the Ryker controls are described by prior riders, it’s designed for easy learning. Expect an automatic gearbox, a hand throttle, a foot brake, and a park lock—so you’re focused on steering and body positioning rather than shifting gears every few seconds. You’ll still need some real movement in corners, so it’s not the kind of ride where you can sit rigid the whole time.
Who Drives and Who Rides: How the Ryker Pairing Works

This is a practical point that can change your whole day. If you’re traveling solo, you’ll have your own Ryker. With two people, one person drives while the other is the co-pilot. With three people, you get a split arrangement so more than one rider gets time behind the handlebars.
So before you book, think about your group:
- If everyone wants to drive, you’ll likely need to plan numbers accordingly.
- If you’re traveling as a couple and one person is more confident, the setup is friendly to that.
- If you’re bringing someone who can’t meet the driving requirements, you’ll want to confirm how the co-pilot role fits into your expectations.
Stop 2: Castillo del Romeral Photos and the Jack Ryan Connection

Next comes a short, scenic stop in the fishing town of Castillo del Romeral. You get about 20 minutes there specifically for photos, plus additional driving time to move onward, for a total stop block of 1 hour 20 minutes.
The town’s claim to fame is a familiar one: Hollywood used the area for the Jack Ryan series. That doesn’t mean you’ll see a giant film set the whole time—this is still a working coastal town—but it does give your photo breaks a fun “I can see why they chose this” feeling.
Practical tip: 20 minutes is quick. If you’re chasing one perfect viewpoint shot, decide where you’ll stand before you park. You’ll get your photos without turning the whole morning into a wandering session.
Stop 3: Barranco de Guayadeque—Cave Lunch and a 360 Walk

This is the heart of the sightseeing portion. Barranco de Guayadeque is presented as a must-see ravine on Gran Canaria, with cave houses and cave restaurants along the way.
You’ll spend between 45 minutes and 1 hour here, and the itinerary includes a special highlight: a 360 walk that lets you see the ravine from the top. That kind of route matters because you get variety in what you’re photographing—wide views and angles that change as you walk, instead of just looking from one spot.
The lunch stop is the other major reason this tour has a strong reputation. You stop at a well-known cave restaurant for Canarian tapas lunch, and lunch is included in the price. This is also one of those moments where the “tour” feels like an experience, because the setting does part of the work for you. You’re not just eating somewhere after the drive—you’re eating in the middle of the story the landscape is built around.
Potential drawback: depending on how busy the cave restaurant area is, you’ll still be on a timed schedule. If you hate structured pacing, you might feel slightly rushed in between photos and the meal, so I’d come in ready to enjoy the moment rather than maximize every second.
Stop 4: Agüimes Old Town and the Cathedral Photo Stop

After Guayadeque, you head toward Agüimes, with about 1 hour 40 minutes tied to the ravine-to-town movement and the old-town stop itself. In Agüimes, you get around 30 minutes to enjoy the cathedral area and the picturesque old town.
This is where the day shifts from viewpoints to “walkable memories.” Agüimes works well for quick photo time because there’s visible architecture to frame your shots and streets that look good even without long exploring. If you like towns that feel lived-in rather than staged, this stop tends to deliver.
The practical tradeoff is time. You’re not doing a long stroll through every street, so prioritize:
- the cathedral viewpoint angle that you like most
- a couple of streets for “wander photos”
- then be back on schedule so you don’t lose your driving time later
Stop 5 and 6: El Tablero Loop and the Return Wrap-Up

El Tablero is the final anchor for the day. There’s a stop block listed at 40 minutes for El Tablero, and the tour description repeats it as part of the round-trip structure—so expect a final loop that wraps up the driving experience and returns you toward the end logistics.
This part matters because it’s where you’ll reflect on how the driving felt. If you start the day a little tense, by the time you’re closer to the end you’ll usually have your rhythm: throttle control, braking habits, and how you position your body through corners.
Gear and Safety That Actually Helps
Safety is treated as part of the product, not a disclaimer. You get helmets for each participant and hygienic head protection, and the tour is built with a maximum of 10 travelers. That smaller headcount is a real benefit on roads where everyone needs to move at the same pace.
On the driving side, the rules are strict for a reason:
- Drivers must be at least 24
- Must have at least 4 years of driving experience with a car license
- Must show an original Class B license
- Reduced mobility participation is possible upon request (so if this is relevant, you should ask before booking)
What to bring:
- Consider gloves if you don’t like a cold or windy ride on a motorbike
- A bandana can help with face protection; bandanas aren’t included, and are available in the shop for 3 to 10 Euros
- If you’re wearing anything loose around the wrists or neck, secure it before you get rolling
Also note the tour includes insurance, which is reassuring for a vehicle-based activity where you’re sharing roads with other traffic.
Lunch and Food Reality: Included Tapas, Then You’re on Your Own
Lunch is included, and it’s Canarian tapas at a cave restaurant. This is a big value point because you’re not just paying for driving time—you’re paying for a guided meal stop that fits the itinerary.
But plan your extra spending like a grown-up:
- Drinks are not included
- Snacks, additional meals, ice creams, and drinks outside the contracted restaurant aren’t included
If you like water or strong coffee after a ride, bring cash or a card for that. Cave restaurants can also mean you don’t always want to leave mid-meal for an extra purchase, so it’s smart to come prepared.
Price and Value at Around $92 per Person
At about $92.87 per person, this is priced like an activity that bundles the big cost items: a 600cc Ryker experience, helmets, safety equipment, insurance, and lunch. The value gets better if you were already planning to spend money on guided transport and a proper meal.
Where you’ll feel the cost is in what’s included vs. optional:
- Included: helmet + hygienic head protection, insurance, lunch
- Not included: bandanas, and drinks or extra food beyond lunch
If you’re visiting Gran Canaria and want one day that’s active and different from beach hopping, this can be a fair deal—especially with the small group cap and the “you drive” structure.
Who Should Book (and Who Might Not Enjoy It)
This trip is a great fit if you:
- want to drive a vehicle (not just sit in a minivan)
- like photo stops paired with structured timing
- enjoy towns and viewpoints more than long museum hours
- are comfortable moving your body in corners (the ride isn’t purely hands-off)
It may be less ideal if you:
- can’t meet the driving requirements (age 24, 4 years’ experience, original Class B license)
- are counting on pickup/return to your exact resort area
- dislike scheduled pacing (you’re on a timetable across stops, even though each place gets its moment)
Families should note children must be at least 12, and the tour is limited in size, which usually helps keep the experience manageable.
Booking Timing and Weather Notes
The tour notes you’ll commonly see bookings made about 56 days in advance, which suggests it’s popular enough to sell out on certain dates. If you’re traveling during a busy season or you’re set on a specific day, don’t wait until the last minute.
Weather matters. The activity requires good weather, and if it gets canceled due to poor conditions, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. For a riding-based day, that’s about as fair as it gets.
Should You Book the Can-Am Ryker Adventure Tour?
Yes, if you want a Gran Canaria day that mixes driving, views, and a real included meal, without turning it into a slow bus tour. The combination of helmeted vehicle time, small group size, and a planned cave tapas lunch gives you something more memorable than the standard sightseeing loop.
I’d book especially if you’re excited to be behind the handlebars and you can meet the licensing rules. If you’re not the driver in your group, still consider booking—just know the pairing rules and time limits are part of the structure.
If your pickup area is outside the guaranteed return zones, I’d factor in that you may end at the nearest bus or taxi stop rather than back at your exact resort. With that planning done, this is the kind of day that feels like Gran Canaria, not just Gran Canaria from a distance.
FAQ
Do I need a license to drive the Can-Am Ryker?
Yes. Active drivers must be at least 24 years old with an original Class B driving license and a minimum of 4 years of driving experience with a car at the time of starting the excursion.
How old do children need to be to join?
Children must be at least 12 years old to participate when accompanied.
What’s included in the price?
The price includes the Can-am Ryker three-wheel excursion (600ccm), a safety helmet for each participant, hygienic head protection, insurance, and lunch.
Are drinks included with lunch?
No. Drinks and other meals or snacks outside the contracted restaurant are not included.
Where does pickup work, and is return to my exact area guaranteed?
Pickup is guaranteed in Bahia Feliz, Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Sonnenland and Maloneras. Pickup is offered in Salobre, Arguineguin, Patalavaca, Puerto Rico, Playa de los Amadores, Playa del Cura, Taurito, Playa de Mogán, but return to those areas is not included; you’ll be taken to the nearest appropriate bus or taxi stop.
Where do I meet the tour?
The tour starts at Buggy Pirates Outdoor Center, C. Puntarenas, 16, 35109 El Tablero, Las Palmas, Spain, starting at 10:00 am.
How long is the excursion?
The duration is approximately 5 hours 45 minutes.
What if weather is bad on the day?
The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

























