Gran Canaria

Traveling to Gran Canaria

is not the largest of the Canaries or probably the most beautiful, but the variety of destinations of Gran Canaria makes it a wonderful destination for a vacation. Between dunes, mountains, canyons, beaches, caves and fishermen countries, there is everything and more for a travel itinerary to adventure but also relax!

The most touristic area of Gran Canaria is the south, and it is exaggeratedly built, but with a rental car (which you can Search and book at this link ) you can admire so many less tourist destinations and indeed really wild.
Despite the name, Gran Canaria is only the third largest island of the Canaries, later Tenerife e Fuerteventura ; Yet, despite the just fifty km of diameter, two different accommodations can be convenient, because the internal roads are quite tortuous. It is in fact convenient to stay in the south for the easy connections and for the proximity to the major tourist destinations, but it is nice to spend at least one night on the west coast (or north west) to enjoy a sunset from the fishing villages and the wildest beaches of Gran Canaria.

For more information on Canary Islands in general, click here .

What to see in Gran Canaria

Let's start with the most touristic area of Gran Canaria, that of the dunes of Maspalomas, a natural marvel surrounded by a tide of hotels. Despite this, the dunes are splendid, because they give up towards the ocean while the district buildings from the sight. In short, a splendid place to walk and take pictures.

The dunes of Maspalomas can be admired conveniently from a panoramic point accessible from the street, but the advice is to walk on the dunes or walk along the beach between the dunes and the ocean, so as to appreciate this strange masterpiece of nature.

From Maspalomas a steep road leads into the interior to the Pico de las Nieves and Roque Nublo, which are the main destinations in the interior of Gran Canaria. At over 2000 meters of altitude, these two peaks are viewed from a few kilometers away. Roque Nublo is a gigantic red rock rising between coniferous woods. It can be reached from the road with a short walk (an hour trip) and usually quite crowded.

The Pico de las Nieves is the highest point of Gran Canaria and also offers a beautiful panorama and, unlike Roque Nublo, it doesn't even require a walk to get there, you get to your car.

returning to the dunes of Maspalomas and skirting the south coast of Gran Canaria, you arrive at Puerto de Mogan, a tourist center with a port and a beautiful beach. The beautiful houses and the charming surrounding landscape make a visit to Puerto Mogan forced!

Playa de Mogan is sandy and repaired and very comfortable, but also advice to take a swim starting from the beach of stones sheltered by a holly: Snorkeling under the cliffs of Puerto Mogan is very pleasant and full of fish!

The west coast of Gran Canaria is wild and beautiful, although uncomfortable to reach. Through a winding road, you can drive towards tasartical. From here also the splendid trekking route for Gui Gui beach.

Take the whole day too, to do so, because it takes four or five hours of walking, between return. The beach of GUI GUI is in fact at the end of a beautiful wild canyon, with steep rocky walls and many cacti. The highest point of the itinerary is about 500 meters of altitude, and then you descend steep towards the very long black beach of Gui Gui.

On the west coast, going to the north, you arrive at Agaete, a beautiful fishing village where Tenerife ferries also arrive. Here are some good fish restaurants and even natural pools in which to swim looking at the ocean.
A little further north is the village of Sardina, with a beautiful beach and a characteristic marina. The northern coast of Gran Canaria is less suitable for swimming but convenient for surfing. Las Palmas, in the north-eastern corner of the island, is instead a big city, busy and lively, to eat tapas and drink dyed wine.

Among the various canyons that descend from the center of the island, one of the most fascinating is the Barranco de Guayadeque, where there are caves that were inhabited and that today they are used to restaurants ... Recommended!
In short, even to great Canaria there is so much to see: the part that the most remains in the heart is for me the wild west coast, but the whole island is worth the journey, especially outside the most tourist areas. Good trip !!

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