Gran Canaria is perhaps the most interesting of the Canary Islands because you never quite know what you’re going to get.
It has a microclimate that changes, so when out trekking on the island, it might be warm and then cool down and later warm up again. Its landscape is undulating and extreme in places, so it’s ideal for hikers. Other parts are fully developed for tourism with visitors flying in from the UK and elsewhere in Europe throughout the summer, autumn and winter months.
Here are a few things to do on Gran Canaria on a holiday there.
Getting There
Flying to Gran Canaria is easy to do from the UK. There are flights on several airlines, including many from Ryanair and EasyJet. Both of the aforementioned airlines fly out of Bristol airport to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Airport, making it very convenient.
It’s easy to drive to the Bristol airport to catch a flight. Use the Bristol airport parking to safeguard your vehicle and catch the flight. Check information on booking parking at Bristol airport using the convenient Bristol Parking website. It will save you time and money.
Visiting the Archaeological Park, Cueva Pintada
Visiting the Cueva Pintada is like taking a trip back in time. The painted cave there is a hubbub of activity with archaeologists still working away to uncover artefacts that date back to before the Spanish peoples’ time in Gran Canaria.
The location has a rich history involving a Canarii princess, Arminda. She was the daughter of a king, a descendant of the Berbers. Subsequently, with the Castilian control of Gran Canaria, Arminda’s story took a dark turn, but later she was reborn with a new identity. There’s a video to see that explains the history of the land and the people that resided there prior to the 15th century, along with the diligent work that’s ongoing to discover new finds.
Check Out the Sand Dunes at Maspalomas
Maspalomas is an interesting beach. It isn’t the largest one on Gran Canaria, but it sports impressive sand dunes to walk around, which you don’t see every day! Indeed, it’s likely that you’ve seen a photo of these dunes in a travel magazine that features Gran Canaria because they’re often being photographed.
The dunes can erode, so there are several walking routes you can take to move through them without causing erosion. Further information about the dunes is available when stopping off at Playa Del Inglés first (a happening spot for its nightlife).
Authentic Village Life at Pueblo Canario
While the build-up of tourism on the island is sometimes more tailored to Western tastes than traditional Canarian life, a visit to Pueblo Canario will cure that.
It’s situated to the south and is best visited on a Thursday or perhaps Sunday. On these days, there are band performances featuring local folk music. The music is a mixture of instrumental pieces as well as live performances with singers. Dancing is also featured with the dancers decked out in traditional Canarian costumes.
If you enjoy viewing artwork, then local artists have some of their pieces on show at the Museo Néstor, which is located at Pueblo Canario too.
Take to the Skies in a Chopper
To get a better sense of the island, it’s useful to have an aerial vantage point. This is one of the best ways to appreciate the scenery, which is so contrasting and dramatic.
The Helidream Sky Experience is the best option to take to the air. They have different packages available depending on how long you wish to spend seeing different sites and how many get packed into a single flight. High flyers are provided a commentary during the flight to get a better sense of what they’re seeing at each place that they hover over or fly past.
A Bit of Market Shopping
The Mercado del Puerto is a street market that’s become more sophisticated since its early beginnings in the 19th century. There are still market stalls selling different varieties of fruit, vegetables, and other delights. Also, international chains have moved in with Ay Carmela from Mexico providing some authentic alternative bites to the Canarian cuisine. The DO Mercado serves up a mean cocktail if you’re all tuckered out and need to take a load off your feet after all that shopping.
As you can probably tell, a visit to Gran Canaria is a varied experience. It’s up to each visitor to decide on their own schedule, what activities they wish to include, and when they want to do them. No two days will likely be the same unless you want them that way. Certainly, the impressive landscape is a key attraction for visitors who enjoy the Spanish influence on the island but want to see and experience something different, nonetheless. It’s certainly got that in spades, despite the influx of tourists to the island every year.