Gran Canaria

A "miniature continent": the golden dunes of Maspalomas, volcanic highlands in the interior and city beaches in Las Palmas – many landscapes on one island.

Gran Canaria is the third-largest of Spain's Canary Islands, lying in the Atlantic off the northwest coast of Africa; its capital, Las Palmas, is the archipelago's largest city. The island is almost round, about 50 km across, with deep ravines radiating out from its volcanic central highlands. The north is green and humid, the south dry and sandy, and the sheer variety of climates and landscapes has earned it the nickname "miniature continent". Nearly half the island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the Risco Caído and Sacred Mountains cultural landscape in the interior was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2019. It is mild all year: winter days reach about 20–24°C, making it a favourite winter escape for Europeans, while summers are hot in the south and often cloudy in the north. The mountains are more than 10°C cooler than the coast, and almond trees blossom there in Jan–Feb. The island divides into three areas: the southern beach resorts (Maspalomas Dunes, Playa del Inglés, Puerto de Mogán), ideal for a holiday; the capital Las Palmas (Vegueta old town, Las Canteras beach); and the central and northern mountains (Roque Nublo, Tejeda, Pico de las Nieves, Teror, Arucas, Agaete). Getting around: the airport is on the east coast, about 25 minutes from the capital and 30 minutes from the south, and Global buses connect the whole island. Buses in the mountains are infrequent, so renting a car is recommended – drive carefully on the winding roads. Allow 4–7 days; the mountains can be done as a day trip.

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Itineraries