With warm weather year-round and subtropical climate this island is a huge attraction for europeans for having a beach vacation during colder months. In the post below Gran Canaria things to do, our top places. Car was a must to discover the island. Time of our travel – April
Gran Canaria things to do
Fun Facts about Canarian Islands
- The Canary Islands were named after the Latin word for ‘dog’, the bird name “canary” came after the archipelago.
- When the Spanish settlers arrived on the Canary Islands, they encountered seals, called “sea dogs”, it’s possible that the islands derived their name from it.
- The Canary Islands is a popular tourist destination – it had 13,942,965 tourists in 2023 for a 2,2 million local population.
- A series of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago created the Canary Islands.
1. Gran Canaria’s Aboriginal people’s ancient dwellings
Aboriginal people constructed dwellings known as “cuevas” or caves, which were carved into the island’s volcanic rock. In the picture below: restored cave dwelling, shelter and protection for the island’s inhabitants who lived more than 500 years ago:
In the video below: the small grouped caves were silos where grains were stored. Beside the silos there are a few larger caves where those responsible for organizing and looking after them would have lived:
2. Playa de Amadores beach
In the picture below is our favorite beach, Playa de Amadores.
We liked it because plenty of possibilities: swimming, riding floaties, having fun at the Ocean Fun Park and huge sand beach. And it also has… Scandinavian vibes!
3. Playa Anfi del Mar beach
Playa Anfi del Mar is much smaller beach than the one above, but cozy, has a little island on the right, and the same calm waters:
Beach with a white, soft sand:
4. Observation spot Mirador del Balcón
Mirador del Balcón, pictured below, is an impressive glass-like lookout platform overlooking a series of high coastal cliffs nicknamed the “Dragon’s Tail”:
5. The Canary Islands Botanical Garden
The Canary Islands Botanical Garden has a big collection of indigenous and exotic plant species in a stunning landscape. We have met a lot of locals there and just a few tourists:
6. Black sand beach and a nice stroll along the Atlantic ocean
We walked from the El Bufadero to the Playa de la Garita, but the walk can be extended much further. There are plenty of interesting lava rock formations to explore, pools of dried sea salt, geyser (El Bufadero), and a black sand beaches like on the Big Island of Hawaii:
Lava rocks meet the ocean:
Dried sea salt pools, this one was pretty big:
7. Wildlife park Cocodrilo Park Gran Canaria
In addition to crocodiles, the park is home to various other animals, such as exotic birds, monkeys, and turtles. Plus there is a cactus garden, shade, and branches. We liked it a lot.
8. Local treat: churros in Santa Brígida, small mountain town
Traditional Spanish churros, is a beloved fried dough pastry enjoyed for breakfast or as a sweet treat. Located in the heart of Santa Brígida, this churrería serves up freshly fried churros with a rich, thick hot chocolate:
9. Hiking Canary Pine Forest and why we were looking for a … trees
Before Spanish people arrived in Gran Canaria, most of the island was covered by forest, except coastal strip and the highest point of the island.
When the sugar cane industry started, more and more forests were cleared for farmland and chopped down to fuel the island’s sugar cane mills. Most of the island’s forests were chopped down by the 1950s.
Pictured below are famous spots, Mirador de Inagua and Pico de los Pozos:
10. Playa Mogan: two sides beach
Beach with two sides to explore: shallow area (during low tide) and deep, open ocean area for experienced swimmers:
Pictured below: Erika and Andrew at the Playa Mogan after half-day of swimming:
11. Dunes of Maspalomas
The Dunes of Maspalomas reminds us dunes at the Death Valley National Park a lot.
Maspalomas Dunes is special nature reserve, protected by the Canary Islands government. It is present a unique natural space in the Canary Islands for their beauty and the variety of the ecosystem it hosts:
In the video below: having fun at the dunes:
Where did we eat and stay
1. Dining: Sushi&Taco in Puerto Rico
Sushi&Taco offers a dining experience blending Japanese sushi and Mexican tacos (the husband and wife, owners, are from Japan and Mexico). With its inviting atmosphere it was a nice place for a meal with a family:
2. Our rental places
We spend 12 nights in the Gran Canaria and split them between 2 location: in the south and close to the north part of the island.
Our 1st rental was an apartament complex with a pool, in the south. It was close to the beaches and dunes. Great location!
In the pictures below, our 2d rental, a typical local house. Pros: far away from the tourists, we were feeling like a locals:
Garden, all for us, with fruits in season:
3. Shopping for food
We shopped for food at the “good old Lidl” chain stores, prices were pretty much the same as on the mainland, wine even cheaper:
Cats of Gran Canaria
Local cats delighted us in the Gran Canaria, as well as the wild parrots…
The roaming cats of Gran Canaria are a familiar sight across the island. We were lucky to meet local vet volunteers who provided food, water, medical care for cats, and promote their coexistence with humans.
Pictured below: cat on the red clay roof, of my favorite sights on the island:
Our pros and cons about visiting Gran Canaria
- What we liked about being in Grand Canaria with kids: plenty of nice, calm beaches for children to swim, not expensive Airbnb rentals, island is relatively small to drive around with plenty of things to do.
- The only con for us on the Gran Canaria was … lack of trees. For my 37th birthday we rode 2 hours just to be in the forest. In the picture below: typical Gran Canarian landscape: mountains covered in low bushes:
Thanks for reading, friends! Have a great day and come back for a new posts!
Make sure to check hours, fees, and conditions before you go
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