Gran Canaria is the island with the highest population density of the Canary Islands that receives millions of tourists every year from all corners of Europe and Spain in search of sun, sea, nature and an excellent climate throughout the year. It is not surprising that the ancient Greeks placed in this Spanish archipelago the myth of the so-called Fortunate Islands, the equivalent of the paradise of other cultures.
Las Palmas
The island's capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is a cosmopolitan city open to the sea that is located in the northeast of Gran Canaria. It is a very pleasant and interesting place to get lost and enjoy. The historic Vegueta neighborhood, with narrow cobbled streets and Indian airs, has some of the most emblematic buildings in the town: the Santa Ana Cathedral, the Casa de Colón or the Canarian Museum are essential visits that no visitor should miss.
As for nature, one of the main attractions of Las Palmas is Las Canteras beach, which stands as one of the best urban beaches in Spain due to its good weather all year round, its suitability for practicing sports any day of the year. week and for being a great reserve of marine life.
Located at the end of Las Canteras beach is the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium that was designed by the architect Óscar Tusquets as a lighthouse to mark and protect the city. In this place all kinds of events are held, both cultural and social, and in its surroundings a wide range of accommodation, leisure and catering is concentrated.
For shopping fans, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has multiple shopping centers as well as traditional shops in its streets that allow you to walk around and enjoy the good weather by viewing shop windows.
Maspalomas Dunes
One of the great treasures of the island are the Dunas de Maspalomas, a mixture of oasis and desert in the south of Gran Canaria that will transport you to the Sahara without leaving Europe. It is a unique natural reserve for its beauty in which different endemic species such as giant lizards or flamingos live. The dunes, which are continuously shaped by the wind, make the landscape different every day and therefore are one of the main tourist attractions in the area. You can even take a camel ride through the Dunes of Maspalomas!
From there you can also visit the Maspalomas lighthouse, with a height of 60 meters that dates back to 1890. It is located in the extreme south of the island and continues to function today, being one of the oldest in use of all the Canary Islands. In its annex building it houses a cultural center.
Spas and wellness
150 years ago, the first tourists who came to Gran Canaria attracted by its good weather also sought to revitalize themselves. Today that custom has evolved and the island is one of the most important European destinations in terms of well-being and health with a wide range of spas and wellness centers distributed in luxury hotels and specialized stores.
In these places you can benefit from saltwater pool treatments, ice chambers, tropical showers, Turkish baths or chromotherapy among endless other possibilities.
Beaches and water sports
The long and sunny days of the Canary Islands and its excellent climate with temperatures between 19º C and 25º C all year round invite you to put on your swimsuit and go straight to a beach to sunbathe and have fun in the sea.
Gran Canaria has a multitude of beaches of all kinds: from family beaches with all kinds of services to virgin coves surrounded by wild nature. Some of the most popular are Playa del Inglés, Playa de las Canteras, Maspalomas or San Agustín.
To go with children, the beaches of Puerto Rico, Mogán, Anfi del Mar or Las Burras are highly recommended, while if you are looking for more tranquility in a wild environment, you cannot miss the beaches of Faneroque, Güi-Güi or Guayedra. You just have to choose which one best suits our plan and forget about everything else.
By the way, if you like surfing, in Gran Canaria you can learn about this and other water sports throughout the year. The north of the island is better for surfing, ranging from Confital to Gáldar. Windsurfers and kite lovers have beaches almost all over the island to have a blast, highlighting Playa del Águila, San Agustín and Puerto Rico.
Hiking in Gran Canaria
When you have tired of sunbathing on the beach, put on your trekking shoes and hike along some of the trails that run through Gran Canaria, an island whose center is a green orchard. Some of the coolest natural areas to visit are the Inagua and the Dark Ravine natural reserves, the Nublo Rural Park, the Tamadaba and Pilancones natural parks or the Maspalomas dunes. You will breathe fresh air!
El Balcón viewpoint
It is one of the best viewpoints to see in Gran Canaria near the western end of the island. It is located on the road that goes from Agaete to the Aldea de San Nicolás, on a cliff that falls vertically to the Atlantic Ocean.
From there you can see the so-called 'dragon's tail', a wall of cliffs with zigzag peaks reminiscent of the back of the mythological animal.