We sometimes think that islands such as Gran Canaria are just for relaxing, or for the pleasure of doing absolutely nothing, because their offerings of leisure activities do not amount to much. But we couldn’t be more wrong: Gran Canaria offers so many varied possibilities that the real problem is making a definite choice.
The best way to go about choosing the best activity for you is to start by deciding whether you prefer it to be by the sea or inland. If the ocean is what attracts you, you’re sure to enjoy a boat trip or the chance to go diving. If you prefer to be inland, you won’t be disappointed by a camel ride or a hiking itinerary. We can assure you that there is even something for city lovers — they will enjoy a tour of the historic centre of Las Palmas. Families visiting this lovely island will find excellent ideas for excursions, such as Palmitos Park and Aqualand Maspalomas.
Enjoy these not-to-be-missed activities in Gran Canaria, and round off your trip with an added cultural or gastronomic treat.
- A walk in the centre of Las Palmas
- Cetacean spotting in Gran Canaria
- Palmitos Park
- Aqualand Maspalomas
- Diving off Gran Canaria
- A camel ride in Maspalomas
- A visit to Puerto de Mogán
- A boat trip around Gran Canaria
- Jeep and buggy tours in Gran Canaria
- Exploring the landscapes of Gran Canaria
- Where to stay in Gran Canaria
A walk in the centre of Las Palmas
A visit to the island’s capital is an essential activity to which visitors should devote at least a day, so that they have the opportunity to see both the historic quarter and the city’s parks and quays. If you have to choose what to see in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, we recommend you start with the Vegueta neighbourhood — home to a broad architectural and cultural heritage. Among the visits deserving of a place on your itinerary are the Plaza de Santa Ana (an attractive square on which stands the Cathedral of Santa Ana), the Casas Consistoriales [Town Hall], the Bishop’s Palace, and the Casa Regental. It is also worth making time to see the Hermitage of San Antonio Abad and one or two of the city’s many museums: Casa Colón [Columbus’ House], Museo Canario [Canary Island Museum], Museo de Arte Sacro [Museum of Sacred Art], or the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno [Atlantic Centre for Modern Art].
You will find so much to look at in the city’s streets and buildings, that we can guarantee you’ll be constantly reaching for your camera. And if you have time, make your way into the Triana district to see its squares: Plaza Hurtado de Mendoza and Plaza Cairasco.
Cetacean spotting in Gran Canaria
One activity that never fails to delight young and old alike is a boat trip to see cetaceans. Several companies operate these types of excursions and there are a range of options, but some of the best departure points are Puerto Rico, Puerto de Mogán, Pasito Blanco, Anfi del Mar, or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Almost 30 different species of cetaceans have been identified around Gran Canaria, a very high number when you consider that there are fewer than 80 types in the whole world. The range of marine fauna that you may see during a two-hour boat trip off Gran Canaria includes spotted dolphins, pilot whales and other types of whale, as well as a few other marine species, such as flying fish. A highly recommended excursion; don’t miss the chance to have fun on the high seas.
Palmitos Park
If you are on a family holiday to Gran Canaria, Palmitos Park should definitely be included in your itinerary. This incredible zoo-cum-botanical garden covers an area of 240,000 m2 and is located about 10 kilometres from the Maspalomas lighthouse. What will you find at Palmitos Park? The park provides an enormously varied and entertaining visit. There is an aviary where you can see birds in flight, including eye-catching species such as the pelican and the stork. The park also has an aquarium, where the brightly-coloured fish will leave you open-mouthed with wonder; the clown fish is sure to make you smile. Then there is the reptile enclosure, home to strange creatures such as the Gran Canaria giant lizard, a species endemic to the island, and the spectacled caiman. Nor must we forget the mammals, and children will be overjoyed to see the meerkats. An activity worth a place in your diary? Swimming with dolphins.
Palmitos Park has the archipelago’s largest collection of orchids, mostly originating from tropical regions and from Australia — in addition to thousands of butterflies flying freely. A truly spectacular sight.
Aqualand Maspalomas
A visit to a water park in Gran Canaria offers the prospect of great fun with family or friends. Slithering down the giant slides of Snake Falls, tumbling in the Tornado, flinging yourself onto the Mamut with your friends, floating down the Anaconda for 200 metres, or competing in the eight lanes of the Water Labyrinth — just a few of the activities on offer at Aqualand Maspalomas.
If you are travelling with children, there is also a ‘less adrenaline-fuelled’ area which is nonetheless great fun for them. In this mini park, you will all have a wonderful time. You will even find a place to relax after so much frenzied activity: the bubble swimming pool and the Pirate River, where you can just let yourself be carried along by the current.
Diving off Gran Canaria
On Gran Canaria, diving is an essential activity for all lovers of sea life. The island is suitable for diving all year round, as the temperature of the water varies between 18° C and 22° C. Around the island’s 236 kilometres of coastline, there are lots of points where you can dive directly from the shore, although you can also book specialised diving excursions. Nor do you need to bring all your equipment, as there are plenty of businesses that offer this for hire. If we could only choose one spot to dive, it would be the Reserva Marina de Arinaga (or del Cabrón) – for its enormous variety of marine fauna (barracudas, rays, white sea bream, palometa, parrot fish, and more). Other interesting spots include Pasito Blanco, Playa del Inglés, Agaete, and Galdar.
A camel ride in Maspalomas
The Maspalomas sand dunes are the setting for this fun activity: riding camels (they are actually dromedaries, as they have only one hump), just like the Tuareg desert people. Riding across this nature reserve on the back of a dromedary offers a different perspective, as well as the opportunity to take original photos. This is a very easy activity, suitable for everyone, as all you have to do is sit on a little chair. You can go camel riding at different times of the day, but we recommend that you avoid the hottest hours of the day, and that you arrive early, as this activity is in great demand.
A visit to Puerto de Mogán
This is indisputably one of Gran Canaria’s prettiest spots. From the picturesque port area there spreads a network of white houses decorated in colourful bougainvillea, with bars, restaurants and terraces where you can peacefully while away the time. And close by, there are several canals. This explains why the place is often referred to as the Venice of Gran Canaria. Puerto de Mogán, however, is far from being a mere tourist attraction: it is a bustling place, as boats set off every day and return to tie up at its quay, loaded with fish.
A boat trip around Gran Canaria
One of the best ideas for things to do on Gran Canaria is to go on a boat trip to view the island from the sea. And there are plenty of opportunities to do that from its main ports: Las Palmas, Mogán, Agaete and the ports in the south of the island, between Maspalomas and Puerto Rico. One highly recommended option is to book the Gran Canaria tour on the Afrikat 69, a catamaran 21 metres in length, which can carry 67 people, and is adapted for those with disabilities. Once on board, in addition to visiting the highlights of the coast around Gran Canaria, you can take part in activities such as snorkelling, boat trips, banana boat rides, jet skiing, and parasailing. Lunch and drinks on board are included in the price.
Jeep and buggy tours in Gran Canaria
An all-terrain vehicle can be the best way to reach the island’s wilder and more remote spots. In fact, jeep and buggy tours, as well as being a different and fun way of getting around, can be one of the very best ways to get to explore Gran Canaria in depth. There are countless options, and you can find companies that specialise in these types of tours in any of the main tourist resorts. We can recommend the Gran Canaria by jeep excursion, with pick-ups in the south of the island, and which also includes a camel ride. The tour takes you around the coast to Arguineguín, and takes in tropical plantations, the Presa de las Niñas reservoir, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and the Fataga gorge, before returning to Playa del Inglés.
Exploring the landscapes of Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is such a highly diverse island, with so many different kinds of habitats as well as geological and biological formations, that it can be difficult to know where to start. But in fact, you can see Gran Canaria’s varied scenery (or at least a good part of it), quite easily, on one-day guided tours. The north of the island has the wildest and most diverse scenery. And the route we recommend takes you through this very area, beginning with Ingenio, a town steeped in tradition, and continuing through Arucas and its historic centre, where the highlight is the great church of San Juan Bautista [St. John the Baptist]. We stop off for a visit to the Arehucas rum factory. The road travels through plantations until we arrive at Teror, where we can see the typical, Canary Island-style wooden balconies, and then on to Firgas, home to what is known as the Balcony of the Atlantic with its impressive sea views. The tours ends in the Puerto de Las Nieves, Agaete, where we can see what remains of the so-called Dedo de Dios [Finger of God].
Where to stay in Gran Canaria
In Gran Canaria, you will find excellent hotels from which you can tour the island and enjoy all its attractions. Your exact choice will be influenced by your own individual needs. If you want a romantic holiday, or you’d like to treat yourself to somewhere special, you should book into the Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel. This historic establishment is a dream come true, as the architecture, the service and the facilities fully justify its five-star category. The hotel is in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, but it is an oasis in the centre of the city.
Also in the capital of Gran Canaria, you will find the Occidental Las Palmas, a four-star, city hotel offering every comfort you could possibly need. It has 70 rooms, and is only a five-minute walk from the beach.
Finally, if you prefer a hotel close to the beach, the Occidental Margaritas, in Playa del Inglés, is a fantastic choice. It has 489 guest rooms and apartments, swimming pool, entertainment…. And it offers an All Inclusive option, so you won’t have to worry about extra bills at the end of your holiday.
