How Long To Stay In Gran Canaria?
Gran Canaria is the third biggest Canary Island in the Spanish archipelago located off the northwest coast of Africa. The island is only 48km long but is packed with places to see and things to do. Gran Canaria can easily take around 2-3 weeks to explore if you are interested in seeing the coastline in its entirety along with the many mountain villages located in the middle of the island. However. If you are planning a seven day stay, I would recommend visiting the South of Gran Canaria, especially during the winter months when temperatures drop.
Gran Canaria is known for its microclimates, with the weather being a few degrees colder and cloudier in the North compared to the South of the island. The itinerary focuses on South eastern and western regions but also includes Las Palmas located in the North-East. We visited the island both in January and October, thus the decision to focus the itinerary on the South of the Island.
When to Visit Gran Canaria?
Gran Canaria has a subtropical oceanic climate, meaning the weather is mild and sunny most of the year. The island can be visited all year round and is a perfect winter destination for individuals wanting to escape the winter blues.
Summer: The temperatures average around 27 degrees during July and August which makes this period of the year perfect for individuals seeking to spend their stay on beaches. The peak season would be more suitable for individuals interested in hiking as the temperatures in the mountainous regions of the island are significantly lower than regions at lower altitude. The weather in Northern and Western regions is also more favourable during this time.
Shoulder Seasons: The temperature during the shoulder seasons remains high in many regions. The island begins to be less crowded and the accommodation prices begin to drop. This period is best suitable for individuals interested in a mix of sightseeing and hiking as well as spending time on beaches.
Low Season: The temperatures during the shoulder seasons drop with January being the coldest month in Gran Canaria averaging at 21 degrees in the South. The temperature of the water in the South of the island drops to 18-20 degrees in January which may be too cold in terms of swimming for some. However, Gran Canaria is one of few destinations in Europe where temperatures remain favourable during the winter months.
How to Get Around Gran Canaria
The best way to get around Gran Canaria is by car as some destinations such as the mountains can be hard to reach using public transport. We rented a car during our first stay in Gran Canaria and found using this method of transport to be a lot more reliable and saved us a lot of time. If you opt to rent a car for your stay in Gran Canaria I would recommend using . It is important to remember that a credit card is required by rental companies on the island.
The second time we visited Gran Canaria, we opted for public transport instead. The main public bus company on the island is Guagua Global which has connections all around the island. We used the bus to get to Las Palmas and all the Southern regions in the itinerary. The buses were frequent, however slightly unreliable and late at times. The timetables have many stops on them so you can expect a longer journey time compared to using a car for transport around the island. However, a direct bus is available between Maspalomas, the airport and Las Palmas.
Useful Bus Lines Related to the Itinerary:
-Number 1: The number one bus will take you from Las Palmas to Puerto de Mogan and has many stops along the way including Faro de Maspalomas, Arguineguin, Anfi del Mar and Puerto Rico.
-Number 50 – Direct bus from Las Palmas to Maspalomas.
-Number 60 – Direct bus from Las Palmas to the airport.
-Number 18 – This line will take you from Maspalomas to the mountainous regions of Gran Canaria with the final stop being Ayacata. There are many picturesque villages along the way including San Bartolomé de Tirajana. However, there are very few departures on this line, so a lot of planning has to go into using it.
Vacilando
sobremesa
Day 1: Las Palmas
Where to Stay in Las Palmas:
I highly recommend staying at the Boutique Hotel Cordial Malteses located in a quiet street in the heart of Las Palmas. The adults only hotel is situated in a historical building and showcases a modernist manor house design. The hotel boasts a total of 27 rooms that have been restored to match the original architecture with some being more modern in design than others.
Start your holiday with an overnight stay in Las Palmas which is the capital of Gran Canaria located in the Northeastern side of the island. The city is one of Spain’s largest and is filled with beautiful architecture as well as things to do.
I would highly recommend visiting the old town of Vegeuta, home to Casa de Colon, Catedral de Santa Anna and Museo Canario. In terms of beaches Las Canteras stretching over 3.5km is regarded as one of the best city beaches in Europe.
Day 2:
On the second day, travel to Maspalomas where you can stop for the remainder of your stay. Maspalomas is the oldest tourist resort in Gran Canaria and is located in the South of the island. It is the perfect base for visiting the surrounding towns and villages along the coast due to its frequent bus times if a car rental is not possible.
The dunes of Maspalomas are one of the best things to see in the area. The sand dunes are a protected nature reserve and occupy around 1000 acres of land. Near to the sand dunes is the Maspalomas promenade lined with shops, restaurants, and bars as well as a lighthouse.
Where to Stay
Sonnenland is a district situated on a hillside above Maspalomas. The district is a lot quieter than Maspalomas itself and only a 15-minute walk or 2-minute bus ride away from the centre. The bus times are frequent and there are several bus stops and routes in the area.
I would recommend staying in ‘Bungalow en Sonneland’ which is a fully renovated Airbnb with a modern design suitable for up to 3 people. The rental has two floors and is situated in a complex with two swimming pools.
Day 3: Puerto de Mogan
On the third day of your stay, visit Puerto de Mogan, a former fishing village. The picturesque village is also known as ‘Little Venice’ thanks to its array of charming canals and bridges. The village is popular with older tourists making it much quieter than Maspalomas.
What to do
Wander around the streets lined with white historic houses complemented with brightly coloured flowers. Dine in one of the Mogan’s restaurants and cafes. Also worth exploring is the Mogan Beach, Marina as well as the Mogan Market which are all in close proximity to each other.
Day 4: Roque Nublo
Roque Nublo is one of the highest points in Gran Canaria. The volcanic rock was formed over 4 million years ago through volcanic eruptions and stands at 1,813 metres above sea level. It is one of the best places to visit on the island for it’s panoramic view of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The viewpoint is difficult to get to on a bus as the timetable is limited and the bus stops are not located near the trails. If visiting by car, the closest car park to Roque Nublo is the ‘Roque Nublo or ‘Degollada de La Goleta’ carpark. The trial starts at the carpark and takes 1.5km one way. While in the area, Tejeda which is a small mountain village is also worth a visit.
Day 5: Puerto Rico Catamaran Cruise
Puerto Rico is Gran Canaria’s most popular family resort located in the south-west of the island. It is home to a large marina and is the starting point for many boat tours in the region. Transfers are usually included in the price of the cruises and passengers are collected from and returned to their accommodation.
I would highly recommend booking a Catamaran Cruise with Exclusive Boat. The company limits their maximum capacity to 18 passengers which allows for more space increasing the comfort. The catamaran sails twice a day with morning and sunset cruises available that last around 4,5 hours. The boat sails towards Mogan and stops at Perchel for lunch and snorkelling, kayaking as well as jet-skiing and parasailing.
Day 6: Anfi Del Mar
On your second last day, visit Anfi del Mar also known as Playa de la Verga. The resort was
inspired by the Caribbean and the beach itself is made up of white sand imported over from the Bahamas. The water in the lagoon is shallow and calm thanks to the breakwater that was built there. Besides it’s picturesque beach, the resort also boasts several restaurants, cafes and shops.
Day 7: La Lajilla, Arguineguin
Arguineguin is one of the largest towns in the South of Gran Canaria and is a lot quieter than the neighbouring Maspalomas and Puerto Rico. One of the best things to do in Arguineguin is lounging at La Lajilla which is a natural pool, providing protection from the waves. The pool is usually not busy as not many tourists know about it. It is quite popular amongst Scandinavians, particularly in the Winter months. Showers, sun loungers and three terrace restaurants are available in the area.