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Go to SiteCruises to Gran Canaria immerse you in a landscape shaped by ancient volcanoes, filled with rippling golden dunes, craggy mountains, and lush valleys. This astonishingly diverse island, the third-largest in the Canaries’ archipelago, packs in a seemingly endless mix of terrains and variations in climate, from hot, desert sunshine to cool mists that shroud the highest peaks.
Natural beauty aside, Gran Canaria is dotted with beautiful, historic towns where you’ll see the typical island architecture of whitewashed houses with ornate wooden balconies. Las Palmas, the capital, is a thriving, modern city with an exquisite old heart and one of the world’s finest urban beaches. You’ll quickly understand why this fascinating island has been dubbed “the continent in miniature.”
Immerse yourself in history with a stroll around gorgeous Vegueta, the old center of Las Palmas, where narrow cobblestone lanes lined with whitewashed houses are clustered around the 15th-century Santa Ana Cathedral. Learn about the Guanche, the island’s original inhabitants, at the Museo Canario, which features skulls and mummies. For even more history, visit Casa de Colón, a colonial mansion where Columbus is said to have stayed before setting sail across the Atlantic.
Explore a swath of dreamy, Sahara-like scenery in the island’s far south, where shape-shifting golden dunes drift across a 998-acre coastal nature reserve. You can join a camel safari or hike across designated trails, the undulating sands stretching as far as the eye can see. Or stroll the pristine beach, which, apart from a couple of snack bars, is blissfully undeveloped. At the western end, La Charca lagoon is perfect for birding, as migratory birds, including herons and egrets, feed here.
Gran Canaria is dotted with exquisite little towns where classic Canarian homes line the cobblestone streets. Tiny Puerto de las Nieves is one; in Calle Concepción, the whitewashed houses are trimmed in bright blue, some sporting elaborately carved wooden balconies, while the 16th-century church is delightful. Visit Teror, where traditional homes are painted in shades of white, terracotta, and aquamarine. Teror is also famed for its Basílica a la Virgen del Pino, a centuries-old pilgrimage site.
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On an island packed with dramatic scenery, the Caldera de Bandama is one of the highlights. It’s the largest extinct volcanic crater on the island, 656 feet deep and 3,280 feet wide; the rim of the volcano, now cloaked in greenery, is clearly visible. Gaze out across the crater from the viewpoint or hike down a steep trail to the floor, passing through groves of wild olives, palms, and dragon trees. Ancient vineyards inside the caldera are the legacy of the island’s 16th-century inhabitants.
Las Palmas has what’s considered one of the finest urban beaches in the world. Las Canteras, a sweep of golden sand dotted with colorful fishing boats, stretches for nearly two miles along an isthmus close to the center. It’s protected by a natural reef, La Barra, where you can snorkel at low tide. Locals cycle, stroll, and jog along the waterfront, while there’s beach soccer, and at the more exposed end, surfing.
A tour through the island’s green northwest reveals the astonishing diversity of the agriculture here. You’ll see plantations of mango and papaya, orange and lemon groves, palm trees, and strelitzias, the striking orange “bird of paradise” flowers that the island is famous for. The verdant scenery—mountains, ravines, and terraced fields—is a complete contrast to the built-up coastal areas. Stop for refreshments in pretty Puerto de las Nieves, a tiny fishing village with a black pebble beach.
Seafood is abundant in Gran Canaria, as it is across the Canary Islands, so look out for tuna, parrot fish, swordfish, and sea bass, often served in hearty stews. Try conejo al salmorejo, a stew of marinated rabbit cooked in white wine and seasoned with herbs and spices. Pollo al salmorejo is the same, but with chicken.
Your ship will dock right across from the Mercado del Puerto, a great spot to head for tapas featuring local cheeses and papas arrugadas, a Canarian specialty of tiny potatoes boiled in their skins in salty water and served with a spicy mojo sauce. Try truchas de batata, sweet potato turnovers flavored with rum, cinnamon, aniseed, and lemon rind. In the village of Teror, don’t miss chorizo de Teror, a spreadable paste of spicy chorizo. You may also be surprised to know that the island is famed for its rum; the Arehucas Distillery is one of the oldest in Europe and offers regular tours and tastings.
The island’s original inhabitants were the Guanches, a Berber tribe from North Africa, who settled here in the first millennium BC. They lived in caves, practiced agriculture, and were largely isolated from mainland Europe. The arrival of the Spanish in the 15th century meant that many Guanches died from imported diseases, to which they had no immunity, but some were assimilated into the new population from the mainland. It’s estimated that a significant percentage of Canarian inhabitants today share DNA with these ancient tribes.
As trade developed with the Americas, Gran Canaria grew into an important stopover for merchants and explorers on the Atlantic shipping routes. Immigration from Latin America and Africa, as well as continental Europe, has shaped the cuisine and culture of the islands today. Tourism is the biggest economic contributor in Gran Canaria, aided by the island’s balmy, year-round climate and natural beauty. This is a community that embraces life, with festivals celebrating anything from the almond blossom season to Carnival, and on June 23, San Juan, when locals light bonfires on the beach, set off fireworks, and party through the night.
You’ll dock at the modern Santa Catalina Pier, close to the famous Playa de las Canteras beach and adjacent to El Muelle shopping mall. There are shops, ATMs, and tourist information at the port. Vegueta, the old center, is a 20-minute taxi or bus ride to the south.
The island is compact with an efficient bus network, so it is easy to explore. You could rent a car and drive to the south and back in a day, but do make sure the tank is full, as there are few gas stations in the mountainous interior. Taxis wait outside the port, and there’s a hop-on, hop-off bus service if you want to limit your exploration to Las Palmas.
There’s plenty of island produce that makes for a great souvenir. You could stock up on local cheeses, jars of spicy mojo sauce, boxed strelitzia flowers, and island-produced rum. Coffee, honey, and Canary Islands wines also make good gifts—and aloe vera creams and gels are invaluable as natural beauty products. Pottery, ceramics, and local jewelry are more lasting buys, as are handmade Canarian knives, but be sure to pack these in your checked luggage and not your carry-on.
The currency in Gran Canaria, which is part of Spain, is the euro. ATMs are available in Las Palmas and the major beach towns. Most establishments will accept cards, but having a few euros in cash is ideal for small purchases. In terms of tipping, it’s standard to round up a taxi bill and leave around 10 percent in a restaurant for good service, provided the bill doesn’t already say “servicio incluido.”
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