On the water, at the wheel
A Cannes jet ski ride lasts 30 minutes or an hour, and you do not need a boating licence to take one. Without a licence, a certified instructor follows you on a second jet ski. One price covers the jet ski and up to two riders. Here is who can drive, what to bring, what the price covers, and how a ride fits next to a half day on a catamaran.
Quick answer
The short answer. The jet ski listing here costs $201 for one jet ski with up to 2 people, and it is rated 4.5 from 44 reviews. Choose 30 or 60 minutes. No licence? A certified instructor rides behind you on their own jet ski. To drive, you must be 16 or older and bring a valid ID.
How the ride works
You drive. With no licence, an instructor follows on a second jet ski.
The listing’s own title says it: a jet ski adventure with an optional instructor. If you hold a licence, you can take the jet ski out without one. If you do not, a certified instructor follows you on their own jet ski for the whole ride. Either way, the person at the handlebars is you.
That is what sets a Cannes jet ski apart from the catamarans on this site. On a catamaran, a crew sails and you swim. Here you set the pace, choose the line through the swell and feel each wave under the seat. With an instructor alongside, you are not left to work out the controls alone.
Two people can share one jet ski, and the price includes two per jet ski. So a couple or two friends ride for one price: one drives, one holds on, and you can swap if both of you meet the age rule. The instructor speaks English or French.
Who can ride
The listing sets these out plainly. Read them before you choose a Cannes jet ski option, so nobody is turned away at the start.
Participants must be at least 16 years old to drive the jet ski.
The listing starts riders at 16 with parental consent: a parent’s ID and written permission.
Bring a valid ID to the meeting point. It is required on the day of the ride.
Participants should be comfortable in water. The listing also invites you to swim in the clear sea.
The price includes 2 people per jet ski. A third person needs a second jet ski.
Speed or time on the water
The jet ski price is for the machine and up to two people; the catamaran prices are per person. Ratings are the live listing figures.
| Trip | Price | Length | What you do | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jet ski, optional instructor | $201 per jet ski, up to 2 | 30 min - 1 h | You drive; an instructor follows if you have no licence | 4.5 · 44 |
| Half-day catamaran | $94 per person | 3 h | Swim and snorkel off the islands, masks provided | 4.4 · 576 |
| Small catamaran, up to 14 | $123 per person | 3 h | Swim, paddle boards, an aperitif at sunset | 4.9 · 375 |
| Full-day catamaran, our top pick | $179 per person | 7 h | Lérins Islands and Estérel coves, buffet lunch and wine | 4.5 · 137 |
What the price covers
Equipment is included; check the total for the option you choose.
The listing shows $201 for one jet ski with up to 2 people. Split between two riders, that is $100.50 each. All the equipment you need is provided and included in the rental or tour price, so there is no kit to hire on top. The listing says the fleet is updated with new jet skis each year.
The listing has four options: two of 30 minutes and two of 60 minutes. The figure above is the one the listing shows first, so confirm the total for the length you pick before you pay. You can reserve now and pay later, and the booking comes with free cancellation.
Set against the catamarans, the sums look different. A Cannes jet ski buys speed and the handlebars for half an hour or an hour. The half-day catamaran buys three hours on the water. The lowest price on this site is $94 per person.
Before you book
A Cannes jet ski is short, so a mix-up at the start eats into it. Sort these first.
Choose between the 30-minute and 60-minute options, and check the price of the one you pick.
No licence means an instructor on a second jet ski. With a licence, the instructor is optional.
A valid ID for the driver; for a 16-year-old, a parent’s ID and written permission too.
The listing says the meeting point may vary with the option booked. Read it on your booking.
The listing recommends booking ahead in peak season to avoid long waits.
Is it worth it
Worth it for the thrill of driving; a catamaran is the longer day on the water.
For the right person, yes. If you want to drive, feel the speed and see the coast from the handlebars, a Cannes jet ski gives you exactly that, and the listing holds a 4.5 rating from 44 reviews. Two friends sharing one jet ski pay $100.50 each.
It is a short burst, though. If what you picture is a long swim in a quiet cove, lunch on deck and the islands at an easy pace, a catamaran fits better. You can do both: a ride in the morning, a sail in the afternoon.
From the coast
The jet ski is fast and short. The catamarans stop where the water is clear and give you time in it.
Turquoise water over sand, with small boats moored further out.
A snorkeller in clear green water by the rocks, the kind of stop a catamaran makes.
A handstand on a paddle board, with a motor yacht and the hills behind.
The Lérins Islands from the deck, a sailing boat crossing in front.
After the ride
Thirty minutes at the handlebars leaves most of the day for the sea at an easier pace. Our top pick is the full-day catamaran at $179 per person: seven hours with swim stops at the Lérins Islands and the Estérel, a cold buffet lunch and a glass of wine. The half-day sail at $94 per person, with 576 reviews, is the shorter option; compare every catamaran on the homepage.
Our verdict
Book the 30-minute option if it is your first time. Without a licence, the instructor follows you, and half an hour is enough to find out whether you love it. Comfortable already? Take 60 minutes and share the Cannes jet ski with a friend to halve the cost. Want a longer day out? Add our top pick, the full-day catamaran at $179 per person.
Book direct
The jet ski price is per jet ski for up to 2 people; the three catamaran prices are per person.
★ 4.5 · 44 reviews
★ 4.5 · 137 reviews
★ 4.4 · 576 reviews
★ 4.9 · 375 reviews
Common questions
No. The listing takes riders with or without a licence. Without one, a certified instructor follows you on their own jet ski for the whole ride. With a licence, the instructor is optional.
At least 16. The listing starts riders at 16 with parental consent, which means a parent’s ID and written permission. It does not say whether younger passengers can ride behind a driver, so ask before you book.
The listing shows $201 for one jet ski with up to 2 people, so $100.50 each when two share. All equipment is included. Confirm the total for the option you choose.
The listing has 30-minute and 60-minute options. The meeting point may vary with the option you book, so check it on your booking.
Yes. Two people can share the same jet ski, and the price includes 2 people per jet ski. Both should be comfortable in water, and whoever drives must be 16 or older with a valid ID.
Go deeper
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Estérel by boatThe boat trip from Cannes to the red rocks and calanques of the Estérel: length, route and price.
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★ 4.5 · 137 reviews · 7 hours