Maspalomas Dunes and Camel Safari
Gran Canaria’s signature landscape: a protected field of golden sand dunes meeting the Atlantic on the south coast, best explored on foot at sunrise or on a short camel safari across the sand.
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Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is a small island with a continent’s worth of scenery, a round volcanic cone off the coast of Africa where golden dunes, a lively capital and a mountain core of ravines and rock pinnacles all sit within an hour or two of each other.
The south is the sunny holiday coast, with the sweep of the Maspalomas Dunes, the beaches of Playa del Inglés and Meloneras, water parks, a bird and dolphin park and boat trips to look for dolphins and whales from Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the biggest city in the Canaries, has the colonial streets of Vegueta, the long city beach of Las Canteras and the Poema del Mar aquarium on the harbour. The high interior is another world: pine forest, the great stone finger of Roque Nublo, and old towns such as Teror and Arucas, where the island’s rum is distilled. Gran Canaria is a year-round destination, but November is high season for winter sun, with warm days and sea that stays swimmable. This guide shows which tickets to book ahead, how to split your time between the south, the capital and the mountains, and where to stay, from a grand resort in Meloneras to a colonial hotel beside the dunes.
Don't miss
Roque Nublo Hike
Hike to the great volcanic pinnacle at the heart of Gran Canaria, a rock tower rising from the mountain ridge at 1,813 metres, with views across the island and, on clear days, to Mount Teide.
Poema del Mar Aquarium
A large aquarium on the Las Palmas harbour front with thirty-five ecosystems from around the world, shark feedings and a close look at the marine life of the Canary Islands.
Vegueta Old Town, Las Palmas
The colonial heart of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a quarter of low whitewashed houses, wooden balconies, a cathedral and the Casa de Colón museum, best explored on a short walking tour.
Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise from Puerto Rico
A catamaran cruise of about two and a half hours from Puerto Rico on the south-west coast, looking for dolphins and whales in the deep water off Gran Canaria, with a swim stop and drinks.
Things to do in Gran Canaria
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Roque Nublo Hike
Hike to the great volcanic pinnacle at the heart of Gran Canaria, a rock tower rising from the mountain ridge at 1,813 metres, with views across the island and, on clear days, to Mount Teide.
Vegueta Old Town, Las Palmas
The colonial heart of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a quarter of low whitewashed houses, wooden balconies, a cathedral and the Casa de Colón museum, best explored on a short walking tour.
Poema del Mar Aquarium
A large aquarium on the Las Palmas harbour front with thirty-five ecosystems from around the world, shark feedings and a close look at the marine life of the Canary Islands.
Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise from Puerto Rico
A catamaran cruise of about two and a half hours from Puerto Rico on the south-west coast, looking for dolphins and whales in the deep water off Gran Canaria, with a swim stop and drinks.
Buggy Safari Tour
A two-hour guided buggy tour on dirt tracks in the hills of Gran Canaria, one of the island’s most popular adventure activities, with an enormous number of very high reviews.
Palmitos Park
A big nature park in a ravine behind Maspalomas, with thousands of tropical birds, dolphins, a large butterfly house and gardens, open every day.
Aqualand Maspalomas
The island’s big water park inland from Maspalomas, with slides, a wave pool and family areas, open daily on a long season in the sunny south.
Arucas and the Arehucas Rum Distillery
A one-hour visit to the Arehucas distillery in the northern town of Arucas, with the ageing cellar, the production rooms and a tasting of rums, for a modest fee and no booking.
FreePuerto de Mogán
The prettiest harbour village on the island, a small marina and sheltered beach in the south-west, with whitewashed houses, flowers and boats, a calmer alternative to the big resorts.
2 to 4 hoursDetails →
Sioux City Park Wild West Town
A Wild West town in the Barranco del Águila where outlaws rob the bank, the sheriff gives chase and children can dress as cowboys, with a small animal farm on the side.
Holidayworld Maspalomas Fun Fair
An evening amusement park and food market in Maspalomas, with fairground rides, shows and a Wooland Fun Park area, open from late afternoon into the night.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort and Spa
Meloneras
A huge colonial-style seafront resort in Meloneras, beside the Maspalomas Dunes, with six pools, a big spa, several restaurants and a walk to the beach.
Check rates →Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia
Maspalomas
A small, elegant colonial-style hotel with ninety-four rooms, set in palm gardens in Maspalomas, a five-minute walk from the beach and the dunes.
Check rates →
$$$$Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
Ciudad Jardín, Las Palmas
A grand late nineteenth-century colonial hotel next to Doramas Park in Las Palmas, reopened in 2019 with Michelin-starred dining, a spa and pools.
Check rates →Bull Reina Isabel and Spa
Las Canteras, Las Palmas
A four-star beachfront hotel on Las Canteras in Las Palmas, with sea-view rooms, a spa and pool, free parking and the sand about fifty metres away.
Check rates →
$$Hotel Concorde
Las Canteras, Las Palmas
A four-star hotel one minute’s walk from Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas, with a rooftop terrace, an outdoor pool and a restaurant, aimed at value-minded city and beach travellers.
Check rates →
$$Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa
Playa de Mogán
A big four-star resort in Playa de Mogán with two pools, a full spa, three restaurants and a short walk to both the beach and the harbour.
Check rates →Grupotel Orquidea
Bahía Feliz
A beachfront four-star family hotel in Bahía Feliz with four pools, a waterslide, three restaurants and a spa, a short drive from the Maspalomas Dunes.
Check rates →Sol Barbacan Aparthotel
Maspalomas
A renovated four-star aparthotel in Maspalomas with studios, apartments and bungalows, three pools, three restaurants and a very high guest rating.
Check rates →Hotel LIVVO Puerto de Mogán
Puerto de Mogán
A small four-star hotel of 56 rooms beside Puerto de Mogán harbour, one minute from the port and three from the beach, with free buffet breakfast.
Check rates →
$$AC Hotel Gran Canaria by Marriott
Santa Catalina, Las Palmas
A four-star city hotel of 226 rooms with a rooftop pool, a short walk from Las Canteras beach, Santa Catalina Park and the Poema del Mar aquarium.
Check rates →Occidental Las Canteras
Las Canteras, Las Palmas
A 79-room four-star hotel two minutes from Las Canteras beach, with a rooftop terrace, an ocean-view restaurant and an excellent guest rating.
Check rates →Sercotel Playa Canteras
Las Canteras, Las Palmas
A three-star hotel of 125 rooms two minutes from Las Canteras beach, with sea-view rooms, family rooms and a location close to local restaurants.
Check rates →Hotel LIVVO Lumm
Santa Catalina, Las Palmas
A modern four-star hotel of 88 soundproofed rooms with an outdoor pool, beside Santa Catalina Park and Casino Las Palmas, with a very high guest rating.
Check rates →Hotel Cristina by Tigotan, Adults Only
Las Canteras, Las Palmas
An adults-only (16 and over) beachfront hotel of 306 rooms on Las Canteras, with a rooftop pool, a dinner restaurant and 24-hour room service.
Check rates →Gran Canaria guides
First Time in Gran Canaria: What to Book, How to Get Around & How Many Days
The practical primer for a first visit to Gran Canaria: which tickets to book ahead, how to get around the island, how many days you need and where the headline sights fit.
Where to Stay in Gran Canaria: Meloneras, Maspalomas or Las Palmas
How to choose your base in Gran Canaria, from a grand resort in Meloneras and a small colonial hotel beside the dunes to a historic five-star in Las Palmas and beachfront stays on Las Canteras.
Gran Canaria in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary
A three-day plan for Gran Canaria that links the south coast dunes and boat trips, the mountain interior and the old town of Las Palmas without wasting hours on the road.
Gran Canaria with Kids: Parks, Boats and Beaches for Families
How to plan a family holiday on Gran Canaria, with the best parks, animal encounters, calm beaches and boat trips for young children and teenagers, plus where to stay.
Best Time to Visit Gran Canaria: Seasons, Weather and Crowds
When to go to Gran Canaria: how the seasons differ between the sunny south, the cloudier north and the cool mountains, and which month suits beach days, hiking or a cheaper trip.
Eating and Drinking in Gran Canaria: Canarian Dishes, Markets and Rum
A guide to Canarian food on Gran Canaria, from wrinkled potatoes with mojo sauce and local cheese to gofio, rum and mountain village lunches, and where to find them.
