Gran Canaria is a great destination with almost 60 km of beaches to enjoy.
In December we were invited to Gran Canaria and were happy to visit the beautiful resort of Seaside Palm Beach on Maspalomas Gran Canaria.
Say ‘hello!’ to Gran Canaria, one of Spain’s Canary Islands sat just off northwestern Africa.
Hop on a 5-hour flight from the Netherlands to hunt down some dose of Vitamin D in December.
I had no idea the weather was so wonderful year-round in this gorgeous volcanic paradise! Notably so in the south of Gran Canaria where they receive close to no rain throughout the year. If you’re looking to escape the North European winter and find some winter sun, a week in Gran Canaria is a great shout.
As soon as you arrive, you will be amazed by one of the most beautiful landscapes of Gran Canaria… the Dunes of Maspalomas. Don’t be surprised to see huge resorts on the coast, as Maspalomas is one of the most popular resorts on the island. Incidentally, this is the black spot of Gran Canaria. As in many places in Spain, the coastal landscape is very concrete at times but mostly spoiled by very large hotel complexes. Let’s go back to the dunes which are classified as a natural areas. 400 hectares of the desert are in front of us, with the ocean in the background to complete the whole. The Dunes of Maspalomas are very exotic, you feel as if you are transported walking barefoot on the warm sand. Depending on the light, the landscape is completely transformed, that’s why I advise you to spend the afternoon there and wait for the sunset.
One week to visit Gran Canaria is the ideal amount of time! There is so much to see and do on the island of Gran Canaria. All profiles will be satisfied: whether it is for relaxation or adventure, everything is possible.
Seaside Palm Beach on Gran Canaria is the first Design Hotel in the Canary Islands.
The 5-star hotel is quiet but centrally located. Seaside Palm Beach is surrounded by a beautiful palm tree oasis on the edge of a nature reserve. In the immediate vicinity, you will find a five km long golden beach and the famous dunes of Maspalomas all within walking distance.
Luxury is standard in the hotel and can be experienced in every aspect. The interior of Seaside Palm Beach, which is part of the prestigious worldwide Design Hotels organization, exudes retro charm and lovely vintage colors you will notice everywhere. A fair hotel to enjoy the sun and escape the cold weather from the Netherlands we really loved the design and all the colors around and inside the hotel.
We stayed half board, the breakfast and dinner are excellent with lots of choices.
During the day you can enjoy the pool or just relax in the spa or take a walk on the boulevard and the sand dunes here you will not boring. Maspalomas is not as built up as its noisy neighbor Playa del Inglés, so hotels are closer to the beach. The dunes and the five-km stretch of shoreline that make up this coastal nature reserve are within comfortable walking distance. The drive from the island’s airport can be done in under half an hour.
The volcanic island of Gran Canaria is one of the most important tourist destinations in Europe with around three million tourists a year. This archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean more than two hundred kilometers from mainland Africa. Politically Gran Canaria belongs to Spain, where it should be noted that the Canary Islands including Gran Canaria have a separate status within the Kingdom of Spain. For example, the autonomous region has its own tax rules that differ from those of Spain, making some products cheaper in Gran Canaria than in mainland Spain
The dunes of Maspalomas
A new landscape every day. This surprising mix of desert and oasis in the south of the island is a unique nature reserve. The dunes, continuously shifted by the wind, make the landscape interesting every day, and are one of the most important tourist attractions of the region.
The nature reserve Dunas de Maspalomas consists of a beautiful collection of sand dunes and south of these dunes are the sea & beaches. To the west of the dunes, the area turns into Meloneras beach in the luxury tourist district of Costa Meloneras. In the east, the area almost seamlessly changes into the beach Playa del Inglés, and north of Dunas de Maspalomas, you will find a large golf course and several bungalow parks.
Playa del Inglés
The beach of the English. That is the literal translation of Playa del Inglés, the largest resort in Gran Canaria and symbol of mass tourism. In this bustling city with more than one hundred thousand hotel beds, everything revolves around tourism. For many holidaymakers, Playa del Inglés is an excellent destination if your package of requirements is rather limited. Playa del Inglés is a collection of accommodations in the form of hotels, apartment complexes, and bungalows. Between all these concrete there are a number of shopping centers such as Yumbo, Gran Chaparral, and Kasbah. These so-called CCs (Centro Comercial) are the places where catering and shops come together. Here is where it takes place in Playa del Inglés. This means that an authentic center with cozy streets is missing. Playa del Inglés is a designed city that was suddenly put away during the seventies of the last century. This is the heart of Costa Canaria, the region with which the piece in Gran Canaria indicates where concrete and mass tourism prevail.
Teror
According to the travel guides, Teror is the most beautiful village in Gran Canaria. From experience, we know that places that are described as authentic, beautiful, and atmospheric are unfortunately also often ruined by popularity. The village knows how to store its own identity. Tourism has barely affected its authenticity.
Mogan is a charming village by the sea
This quiet seaside village with a marina, and a small beach, gives charm and is a private retreat to recharge the batteries. Its unique architecture contrasts with the gardens full of flowers and bridges that allow passage between water channels to the sea. Of the resorts on Gran Canaria, Puerto de Mogán is without a doubt the most beautiful of them all. Despite the fact that the once lovely fishing village is now super tourist, it has retained its original charm. That is thanks to the fact that the larger hotels and apartment complexes are not in the village center. The pleasant atmosphere has therefore remained intact in Puerto de Mogán. The marina is still the central point of the village. All buildings here are set up in a uniform style: white with green window frames and door styles. Around the doors, windows, and corners of the buildings, ocher yellow, red-brown, and blue lines have been placed. One color is added per house to the white with green.
Puerto de las Nieves
You can eat fish in Puerto de las Nieves, the fishing village in the northwest of Gran Canaria where mainly locals go swimming, sunbathe and eat at the weekend. Puerto de las Nieves is a white and blue village that has become extremely popular in recent years as a day out for local people. Puerto de las Nieves is located near the picturesque Agaete. Despite the fact that the village only has a small five hundred inhabitants, it is looking for a place at the fish restaurants on the weekend. Both for lunch and for dinner the tables are well occupied. If you know that you can eat delicious fresh fish meals for about ten to fifteen euros, you can imagine it. It is recommended to just order the Pescado fresco. That is fresh fish or the catch of the day.
Las Palmas the capital
Most tourists coming to Gran Canaria travel straight south after arrival at the airport towards the tourist colonies on the south coast. Most of the holidaymakers no longer leave the southern part of Gran Canaria unless a car is rented or participating in organized excursions. The chance of visiting the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, located on the northeastern tip of the island, is therefore small. Las Palmas is worth a visit at least once. Impressive is the Plaza de Santa Ana, where the Cathedral de Santa Ana is located. The Casa Consistorial is located right in front of the cathedral. A striking detail is the eight bronze dogs that seem to guard the church. Roque Nublo; highlight on Gran Canaria
Roque Nublo is one of the most important sights in Gran Canaria. After a ride on winding roads through the mountains, you arrive at the parking lot of Roque Nublo. This eighty meters high rock is the symbol of Gran Canaria, so also a much-visited attraction. From the parking lot, you can walk to the top of the mountain in about half an hour via a mountain path. On the way, you have a fantastic view of various places. In clear weather, you can often see the Pico del Teide in Tenerife. As you progress further on the footpath, the climb slowly gets heavier.
How to get to Gran Canaria?
Being an island, the most convenient way to get there is by plane: Many budget companies fly direct to the Islands like Transavia, Ryan Air, etc
The ferry: if you want to visit several islands in the Canaries, there is no need to fly. Ferries run between each island.
How to rent a car for your trip to Gran Canaria?
Essential for a road trip, I went through Discover cars to book my car to visit Gran Canaria. This allows you to compare offers and book your rental online!
Make your reservation right after you buy your plane tickets, prices on car rentals go through the roof at the last minute.
When to go to Gran Canaria?
All the time! Temperatures are good all year round in Gran Canaria. Thanks to their geographical location right across from southern Morocco, it’s between 20 and 28 degrees, 12 months of the year. If you want to go swimming and you’re a bit chilly, you should avoid winter when the water is colder. It was around 20°C during our stay in December. But otherwise, I think the Canaries are an ideal destination during the winter months here.
