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Gran Canaria is a sunny, warm, year-round paradise for holidaymakers. It offers sandy beaches, mountainous landscapes, an abundance of flora and fauna, great places to eat and drink and much more. A holiday on Gran Canaria gives you the chance to try a variety of different activities, with relaxing on the beach or beside the pool always an option to fall back on. If you are looking for a bit of inspiration on how to make the most of your time on the island, then read on for our 5 favourite experiences in Gran Canaria.
The Canary Islands are one of the best locations in Europe to see whales and dolphins in the wild with many different species making the ocean around the islands their home or stop off point on their migrations. One of our favourite tour companies on Gran Canaria is Dolphin & Whales. They provide brilliant tours of up to 2 hours long with an extra option of a swim in the bay 3 times a week. With their expertise, you may get to see up to 29 different species of cetaceans and find out about their lives in these gorgeous islands with the expertise of your guides. It is important to bear in mind that the company cannot guarantee that you will see any whales or dolphins, they are wild animals afterall! However, even if you don’t spot any, you will still be able to enjoy some fabulous views of Gran Canaria and its neighbouring islands from the boat!
Gran Canaria offers a rocky paradise for climbing and canyoning enthusiasts with over 600 climbing routes at 14 different sites across the island. Its volcanic past has made Gran Canaria a landscape full of soaring rock needles, cliffs, gullies, chimneys, overhangs and towering massifs, all demanding to be explored. Some of the best sites can be found at Tamadaba, an age old lava massif covered in forests and the ideal conditions for beginners and experts alike. It is a mecca for climbers on the island and offers amazing views over the rest of the island. It is always best to climb with an experienced local guide and you will not find much better than those at Climbo. They will provide you with all the equipment, insurance and permissions you need and can help you improve your skills whether you are a complete beginner or more advanced. Climbo's friendly guides are fluent in English and will enthuse you with their passion for the island's spectacular nature and exploring it sustainably.
Gran Canaria, just like the rest of the Canary Islands, was formed by volcanic activity in the region. Still today you can see evidence of the island’s dramatic formation with its many dormant volcanoes, craters and sometimes barren, almost alien landscapes. During your stay it is great fun to explore this environment up close with a hike to one or more of the craters. There are plenty of walking routes to choose from and with the island’s almost perpetual springtime weather, you are almost guaranteed a dry sunny experience. One of the most striking craters is the Caldera de Bandama. At 1000 metres wide and over 200 metres deep, it is one of the biggest on the island. You can hike down into the crater in about 30 minutes, but it takes longer to return. All around the crater you will also see vineyards, that produce the island’s well-loved Rioja.
One of the best ways to see Gran Canaria’s rich marine wildlife is to dive into the warm, clear waters of the Atlantic and see it up close. The sea around the island has great visibility, making it perfect for snorkelling and diving. You can see some of the island’s many indigenous species, such as tiger moray eels, mysterious angel sharks, pufferfish, electric rays, cuttlefish, seahorses, sea turtles and many colourful species of fish. Swim through the strange rock formations created by the island’s volcanic past and even get the chance to see some ship wrecks if you are diving further from the coast. This is a unique experience that you do not want to miss!
Gran Canaria, like most of the Canary Islands has a unique landscape thanks to its active volcanic past. With its ravines, valleys, volcanoes, sandy beaches, quaint villages and unique flora and fauna, exploring by Jeep is one of the best ways to get up close and personal with what the island has to offer. The open topped jeep tour is a fantastic day out and gives you the chance to visit multiple sites with stops in the different villages, banana plantations, vineyards and some of the best photo stops on Gran Canaria. Travelling by 4x4 means you can go off road and explore areas that you would not normally be able to access yourself. This is one of the most fun excursions on the island!