Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is a Spanish island located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Morocco. The island was first colonized by the ancient Canarians, who were believed to have originated from North Africa (named Guanches). The Canarians were a tribal people who lived in caves (e.g. la Cueva Pintada in Gáldar) and constructed stone structures for their settlements. In the 15th century, the island was conquered by the Spanish during their conquest of the Canary Islands. The Spanish established a colony on the island and began to build towns and cities, bringing their culture and language to the island. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Gran Canaria became a center of trade for the Spanish empire, with goods such as sugar, wine, and tobacco being exported from the island to other parts of the world. Moreover, the island's is strategic location makes it an ideal stopover for ships traveling between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. In the 19th century, Gran Canaria experienced a period of economic growth, with the development of tourism. The island's warm climate, beautiful beaches, and stunning landscapes made it a popular destination for travelers from around the world, and that is still the case today.

Things to do in Gran Canaria

Here are some interesting activities and places to visit in Gran Canaria:

Sightseeing and nature walks:

• Take a stroll along Las Canteras, a beautiful beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

• Go shopping in Triana and grab a coffee or something to eat on one of the side streets.

• Walk around Vegueta, a picturesque neighborhood with colonial-style houses.

• Visit the Jardín Botánico, a botanical garden with endemic species.

• Watch the sunset at the Sardina lighthouse.

• Walk through the dunes of Maspalomas and reach the beach. Beautiful and long beach to spend the day sunbathing and promenading (a bit touristy). 

• Go to the Mirador del Pico de las Nieves, an impressive viewpoint located at 1,949 meters above sea level. On a clear day, you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the entire island and the neighboring Tenerife. It's close to Roque Nublo, so you can visit both on the same day.

• Spend a day visiting Presa de Soria, Presa de las Niñas, Presa de Sorrueda, and Fataga. The most impressive one is Presa de Sorrueda, which is located in a valley full of palm trees and with large volcanic peaks in the background. Fataga is a small town with traditional architecture.

Museums

• Casa Colón, which tells the story of Christopher Columbus's voyage to America. Columbus stopped in Gran Canaria before departing for the "Indians."

• Museo Canario, a museum of artifacts and mummies of the Guanches, the aboriginal people of the Canary Islands.

• La Cueva Pintada, an ancient Guanche town where you can see some of the best-preserved Guanche paintings in their caves.

Cities/towns worth a visit

CENTRE

• Tejeda, where you can stop at the dulcería Nublo (run by the Sarmiento family).

• Artenara, a town with troglodyte houses and a sculpture by Miguel de Unamuno with beautiful views of the valley.

• Teror, where you can enjoy the best examples of typical Canary architecture with its wooden balconies and the beautiful basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pino. Every year on the night of September 7th-8th, pilgrimages are made from different parts of the island to Teror to visit the Virgen del Pino. Only on that day is the image of the Virgen del Pino transferred to the atrium of the Teror basilica so that each person who goes to Teror can approach the Marian image without having to enter the basilica. Try the chorizo!

• Arucas, the birthplace of the famous Canarian rum brand (Arehucas), but also with a beautiful historic center. It's worth taking a stroll through the main streets and also entering the gardens of the municipal park.

NORTH

• Agaete, a small town with white houses in perfect harmony with a volcanic landscape full of cliffs and dark beaches.

• Gáldar, where you can find La Cueva Pintada.

EAST

• Stroll through the historic neighborhood of San Francisco in Telde.

• Tufia - a beautiful seaside small town with dreamy houses and vibe.

SOUTH

• Mogán - picturesque town that was once a fishing village and is now mainly touristy.

• Agüimes - charming town located in the southeastern part of Gran Canaria, known for its well-preserved historic center 

WEST

• La Aldea de San Nicolás, a beautiful small coastal town with a very friendly local atmosphere. It's the most isolated town on the island. You can get there either from Las Palmas (1.5h) or from Mogan. The road from Mogan is longer and curvy, with constant climbs and descents, steep cliffs, and very special canyon-like views. 

Hiking

• Bandama Caldera - a hike around the crater of an ancient volcano

• Roque Nublo - located in the center of the island with characteristic stone formations. A must-visit and easy hike (approx. 30/40 min)

•  Any route in Tamadaba, a beautiful recreational area with Canarian pine trees

• Finca de Osorio - the farm has agricultural and livestock uses, but its importance lies in the forest richness it houses, preserving, on the one hand, the remains of the laurel forest of the ancient Doramas forest that extended through the middle lands of the north face of the island, and on the other hand, a large extension of trees introduced since the 19th century.

• Barranco de los Cernícalos - very pretty with a waterfall at the end. An easy hike.

•  More ideas in this website

Beaches

NORTH

• Las Canteras - a long beach surrounded by the city. Mix of locals and tourists

• Puertillo - a pebble beach.

• Agaete's artificial pools

EAST

• Playa de Melenara / La Garita / Salinetas - perfect beaches to spend the day, with some restaurants around and a pleasant promenade that connects them. 

•  Playa de Tufia - a local recommendation. It's not very well known, a beach with a very small part of sand and the majority of rocks. Houses around (very few) are white and very beautiful. Maybe not for spending the whole day, but it's nice to take a look at this region, which I personally love. There used to be a fisherman who cooked the best fish on the island, but they closed it down (SNIFF)

SOUTH

• Playa del Inglés - a very long beach that is very nice for walking to the Maspalomas lighthouse. A very touristy area, but gentle waves (on good days) and very pleasant.

• Playa de Tiritaña - a small beach with crystal-clear waters, usually frequented by campers. It is accessed on foot after descending a small ravine in about 15-20 minutes.

• Playa de Amadores and Playa Anfi del Mar - both have white (artificial) sand and super crystal-clear and turquoise waters. The downside is that these beaches are surrounded by hideous tourist developments. The setting takes away some charm. Of course, it is undeniable that the beaches are very cool. To enjoy a moment of tranquility, I would stay at Amadores because of its large size.

•  Playa de Güigüi - for me, one of the best beaches in Gran Canaria. A completely untouched sandbank with crystal-clear waters, not very crowded and with difficult land access. At least 2.5 hours of uphill and downhill walking (one-way) with a pretty steep climb. It's important to go either early or at night, when the sun is less prominent, as there is no shade along the way. Don't underestimate this recommendation, unfortunately, people have died of dehydration going towards Güigüi. An easier and more recommended way to reach the beach is by an organized boat trip, check this here.

Restaurant

I have plenty of restaurants to recommend in Gran Canaria! Pop me an email if you would like that I send you the list!