Gran Canaria

Eco-friendly travel guide to Gran Canaria advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.

The bay in Gran Canaria

Air quality: 4.5 / 5

Exploring by foot: 3.5 / 5

Exploring by bicycle: 5 / 5

Public transportation: 4.5 / 5

Parks: 5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 2.5 / 5

Safety: 4.5 / 5

Accommodation: US$20 - $300

Budget per day: US$40 - $400

Responsible Travel

Also famous by the name Grand Canary Island, it is a significant part of Canary Islands of Spain. The Island homes less than a million residents, but it is the third most populous one in Spain and is a prominent tourist place in the world. The Island covers an area of 1,560 square kilometres and sits about 1,350 kilometres away from Spain's coast in the Atlantic Ocean. The Island is not only a vacation destination, but it also serves as a great place to step back to the medieval period and explore history.

While visiting such a beautiful Island, you must ensure that your actions do not affect the local communities and the environment negatively. You can follow the following advice to make your travel eco-friendly;

As a tourist you should prefer using public transports like public buses, electronic vehicles, and other eco-friendly vehicles that don't cause much harm to the environment. Different modes like rental cars and boats operate on fossil fuels and emit a lot of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. On the other hand, public transports and electronic vehicles are friendlier to the environment.

While exploring the places on the Island, you should prefer the use of recyclable and reusable items such as water bottles, handkerchiefs, cloth bags, etc. If you use single-use plastic items, then that will only contribute towards increasing the pollution of the Island.

Instead of opting for transfer flights that may seem the cheaper option for travel, but they waste a lot of time and cause a lot of air pollution. Since Gran Canaria has its international Airport, you should prefer getting direct flights to the Island.

If you want a proper exposure to the local culture and traditions, then you should prefer buying and using the services of local businesses, rather than, international brands which you can find back home as well. The local companies offer fantastic products and services that will enlighten with the local communities' culture and livelihood.

By following even one of these pieces of advice, you can create a memorable and whole-some trip to the second-largest one of the Canary Islands.

Air Quality and Pollution

Gran Canaria has relatively low pollution levels as the government ensures that the locals follow the proper measures of protecting the environment. The air quality is relatively fresh and very little to no smoke, or other harmful gases are in it. Because of such acceptable pollution levels, it is one of the cleanest islands of the Canary Islands. You will find that people prefer not to use transports that operate on fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas, and diesel. It is why the emission of smoke and other greenhouse gases is at bay.

PM10 – 23

PM2.5 – 11

PM10 Pollution Level – Low to Moderate

Pollution Index – 43.64

Pollution Exp Scale – 75.06

Respect the Culture

While visiting Gran Canaria, you must respect the local culture and avoid participating in any activities or actions that will create a wrong impression on the local communities. The best way to appreciate the Spanish cities of the Island is by understanding their deep-rooted culture and traditions. You can understand this by visiting the various museums, attending the various cultural events and festivals, and by befriending a local.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Roque Nublo: It is a cultural landmark that sits in the Tejeda municipality of Las Palmas. The monument is an 80-meters tall volcanic rock which is also marked as a natural monument and protected by UNESCO. It is a famous tourist place not just for tourists but for locals also as it consists of many challenging hiking trails that are ideal for adventure seekers. There are many viewing points on the tracks that will give panoramic views of the Tejeda Mountain.

La Orotava, Tenerife: It is a colonial town that is famous for its banana plantation and is a National Historic-Artistic Site of Gran Canaria. It consists of many old Spanish-styled homes, wooden carved balconies, the Baroque Church, Bell towers, decorative pools, and tropical flowers. It is an excellent place for tourists that want to spend some quality time in nature.

Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo: It is a botanical garden that is in Tafira Alta, which is the northeastern region of Gran Canaria. It is an excellent place for tourists that want to learn and explore the biodiversity of the Island. It homes many endemic plants and some imported plants as well. The garden has a collection of over 500 plant species like cacti and succulent varieties that are native to the Canary Islands and Macaronesian Islands. You can visit this garden from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at any time of the week.

Teide National Park, Tenerife: The Teide National Park homes the third largest volcano in the world that has an altitude of 3.718 meters. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Gran Canaria. It has a crater that is 19 kilometres in diameter and is a barren land. The national park consists of an El Portillo Visitor Center that offers the visitors to learn about the formation of volcanoes. The park also includes a botanic garden and a cable car ride.

Cueva de Los Verdes : It is a seven kilometres long volcanic tube that starts from La Coruna mountain and extends to the sea. The lines formed due to the hardened lava on the surface and a still-flowing lava river beneath it. They are hollow tubes, and many of them are safe for tourists to explore the enchanting site.

Pueblo Canario: It is an interpretation of a traditional village in the Canarian region, and you can find it in the capital city; Las Palmas. The town serves as a great way to learn and discover about the Spanish culture with the help of live performances, festivals, and local handicrafts. The locals performing live performances in the village often wear some unique traditional costumes. The venue also offers a significant gallery of Las Palmas; Museo Néstor, where you can indulge in the history and culture of Gran Canaria.

Vegueta: It is an ancient town that is one of the most significant areas of Las Palmas and dates back to the 15th century. The city showcases traditional Spanish architecture with the help of the many old houses on its cobbled streets. The town also homes some vital art galleries and landmarks that attract tourists and locals. You will find that it is a popular family vacation spot and is very enlightening about the local culture, traditions, arts, and history.

Sioux City: It is a western-style theme park in San Bartolome de Tirajana which is near San Agustin city. The area has a distinct natural environment that has a cactus-filled canyon. You will find that it showcases many art performances and objects that create a replica of Wild-West of America. It also offers some unique and thrilling attractions with western themes where Native American Indians and cowboys duel and chase each other.

Loro Park, Tenerife: It is a wildlife park that is just outside Puerto de la Cruz city of Gran Canaria that is a great entertainment spot for tourists and locals. The park homes the world's most extensive collections of parrots, an aquarium with an underwater tunnel, dolphinarium, gorilla jungle, bat cave, penguin habitat, and other land areas for some exotic animals like crocodiles and tigers.

San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Tenerife: Famous as the former capital of the Canary Islands, it is a stunning colonial city that is marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic town also homes many historical and architectural gems such as the Neoclassical and Renaissance churches, Iglesia de Nuestra La Concepción, Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, and History and Anthropology Museum. It is a must-visit place for those interested in exploring the history and culture of Gran Canaria.

Roque Nublo

Explore

The Island of Gran Canaria offers many exciting places to both the tourists and locals. You can spend some quality time alone or with your loves ones in such areas and create some memorable and satisfactory memories of the Island. The various city parks, national parks, museums, landmarks, and beaches will help you get the most out of your Canarian trip.

City Parks

El Batan Park: Located in Las Palmas, this city park is a must-visit park for everybody. It is quite famous among the locals here, and they can come here anytime to enjoy or to jog and have playful activities. You can also enjoy some typical snacks along with spending your time here wandering around. People are often seen here with their little ones enjoying a good picnic time or youngsters reading books amid the beautiful and peaceful aroma. There are some rental bicycles available if you want to ride alongside the park.

Canodromo Park: Canodromo Park in Gran Canaria is a small city park located on the border between Altavista and Schamann. This park has a bridge attached to its very centre from where you can have a great view of the city and the harbour. There is also a station on the southern side of the park from where you can rent bicycles to explore the city. This park is open 24 hours every day.

Parque Doramas: The Parque Doramas in the Garden City District was created at the end of the nineteenth century by Britishers. This park has many beautiful ponds, exciting statues, numerous flowers and plants, and fountains. The sculpture present at the entrance gives an enchanting vibe when you enter the park. You can have loads of fun activities in this park. There is also a small playground which keeps children busy. It is open 24 hours every day without any entry charge, hence it goes to the park for everybody.

Parque de Santa Catalina: Situated in the heart of Las Palmas, the Santa Catalina Park is filled with people jogging, walking, and having fun activities in the park. It is open 24 hours to the public, so feel free to visit anytime with your spouses and friends. This park has several cafés and food stalls, providing you with the best of its dishes. You can also enjoy the hustle-bustle of the park's nightlife which is a hub of bars, discos, and clubs during the evening hours.

Parque Doramas

National Parks

Reserva Natural Integral del Barranco Oscuro: Located in the municipalities of Moya and Valleseco, it has an area declared for ecological sensitivity and sits within the Rural Park of Doramas. This natural reserve has a rich biodiversity of floras and faunas. In addition to the interest of this reserve for its contribution to maintaining essential ecological processes, the declaration as an integral natural reserve to safeguard the self-sustaining Laurel forest and protect its to be extinct faunas.

Parque Natural de Tamadaba: Being one of Gran Canaria's most pristine areas, Tamadaba Natural Park is spread over 7,500 hectares of land and has a rich biodiversity in its valleys. This natural park also allows you to have picnics or sightseeing from where you can get an overview of the forest from La Bandera Peak. This park houses many species of floras and has a vast protected area protecting the natural beauty of Tamadaba Natural Park.

Parque Natural de Pilancones: Located in the municipality of San Bartolome de Tirajana, this nature reserve has been a protected area since 1987. This park is by definition an area of ecological sensitivity, for preventing environmental impact, it is a part of the site of superior protection for birds. This nature reserve is home to the public mountains of Ayagaures and Pilancones which are adjacent to Nublo Rural Park and the Fataga Protected Landscape. Although this place is a protected area for different species of birds, it also plays a vital role in the protection of soils and the recharge of the aquifer.

Parque Natural de Tamadaba

Beaches

Maspalomas: Being Gran Canaria's most famous beach and popular amongst the citizen of the Island, Maspalomas beach is the safest place to swim where you'll have lifeguards present for your safety purposes. You can find many shops, food stalls, cafés, and restaurants on the beach where you can enjoy varieties of foods varying from snacks to dining options. This beach is famous for its nudist section present in the centre of the beach next to the giant dunes. There is also a lighthouse built in the corner side from where you can view the whole panoramic scene of the sea.

Montana de Arena: Hidden close to Maspalomas resort, Montana de Arena beach is purely a sightseeing beach with no facilities provided. You can come here to walk on the glittering golden sand barefoot while enjoying the beauty of the sand and sea. This beach is hard to find, hard to get to, and hard to forget as it is a thin strip of sand at the base of a colossal dune where you can sit while enjoying the views of high tides.

Amadores Beach: Amadores beach is a half-moon shaped beach filled with white Caribbean sand with a fringe of shops, restaurants, and bars. This beach is an excellent place for tourists and locals as well since it has warm, sheltered water along with lifeguards and lots of loungers making this place popular among adults and children. You will find many restaurants and local food stalls on this beach, giving plenty of dining options for different varieties of cuisines.

Anfi del Mar: Anfi del Mar beach is an artificial beach built by the company behind the enormous Anfi Timeshare complex that overshadows it. Since Spanish law forbids private beaches, Anfi del Mar was initially a private beach, but now it is open for everybody. You can see many fancy shops, bars, and restaurants nearby the locality giving you plenty of options to strive for your hunger and needs.

Las Canteras: Las Canteras Beach comes in the list of the Island's most underrated beaches, 3.5 km long – lying in the middle of the city of Las Palmas, this beach shelters a lava rock reef. People often come here for swimming and snorkelling. As for swimming, this beach is the safest destination made of gorgeous golden sand while snorkelling here is a great experience because the whole beach is a marine reserve. You might also find local bars and restaurants at the southern end of the beach, giving you a complete local citizen feeling.

Maspalomas

Landmarks

Other than beaches, there are some landmarks present on the Island which showcases the diverse heritage of this Island. Some of the famous landmarks are;

Las Palmas Cathedral: This Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Las Palmas, Canary Islands. This church was established by the third bishop of Las Palmas in 1500. It was renovated and refurbished in the 18th century and was the only Cathedral on the entire Island until 1819. Church's architectural style is Gothic. This church has four bays that are 23 feet long and three 5-feet long piers. The navel is 36 feet wide and 25 feet long. The architecture and design reflect the beauty of this church.

Pico De Las Nieves: It is the second-highest peak of Gran Canaria, with a height of 1,949 meters above sea level. It is a rock mountain made of a volcano. The meaning of the name of this mountain is the peak of snow in Spanish. According to two theories, this mountain's name is because of the vast snowfall in the region. The military occupies most of this mountain's area; however, visitors can enter the path lower to this mountain from which half of the Island is visible. You can get here by car. You will experience fresh air or wind on reaching the designated place on this mountain. If the weather allows, you can very well view the beautiful scenery of the entire Island. You can take beautiful photos here as well.

City Hall: The town hall is also famous for various cultural events that take place here regularly. At festivals or cultural events, this hall is decorated with lights, making it look like an eye-candy with enchanting vibes.

Tara Y Centro: These are caves located on the Island and have very sleek glaciers. These glaciers give the caves a distinctive look and attract a lot of tourists and locals.

Las Palmas Cathedral

Museums

If you got bored with beaches and parks and want to explore the Island's history and culture, you can visit the local museums. These museums hold various works of ancient people on that Island. They can give you in-depth knowledge about this Island and its culture.

Painted Caves Archaeological Museum: The name suggests what this museum is; it is a painted cave and an archaeological museum located in the Northwest of Grand Canary. It showcases Spanish culture's historical heritage and homes a museum of the town council. In 1862 this cave was discovered accidentally by the hole in the cave's roof until the official discovery in 1873. Due to some issues regarding ventilation, protection, and increasing temperature, this cave was closed in 1982 for the public. Later, this cave reopened with all appropriate measures in 2006, establishing it for the people without any risk to the paintings. The entry is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for all the visitors. There are guides in four languages available for your visit. If you enjoy seeing art, then you must come and visit this as this is a fantastic representation of art done by the ancient people of Gran Canaria. These caves' walls have a geometrical pattern that is well decorated; some of the archaeologists believe that these might be calendars that are disturbed now. Caves and some excavations prove that the shelter once served as houses because ecologists found various utensils there. The archaeologists identify utensils, including pottery, wheels, coins, swabs, and nails, daily use items. It seems that most of the coins belong to the 15th and 16th centuries. On studying the pots, archaeologists found that they were used for storing and cooking. Many tailoring items such as needles, stamps, and spatulas made of bones of animals were also found, which were used to make leather and pottery tools. Many idols present are constructed using fire, and most of them were of females goddesses that were marked or painted red.

Nester Alama Museum: Nestor Alomo was the most significant figure in Gran Canaria. He is the man who contributed his life to enriching the Island's cultural heritage in the form of music. This museum is based on the experience of Nestor with his art and music.

Valleseco Ethnographic Museum: This museum showcases how Gofio is made, its production, processes, and it's historical importance. Gofio is a type of flour made only in Gran Canaria and produced by roasting grains, which typically comprises wheat and maize with different parts of plants like beans, root, stem, etc. It is the main ingredient for making various Canarian dishes. This flour is spread in Caribbean areas like Cuba, Porto Rico, and Venezuela. Gofio's food items are highly consumed are soups, desserts, ice creams, self-made sauces, and more. This flour comprises many grains; therefore, it is rich in fibre, mineral, protein, and vitamins. Locals use this for morning breakfast by mixing it in daily food items. As this flour is spread across Reco and Dominican Republic, they use it as candy by adding sugar and serving it in a paper cone.

Tomas Morales Museum: This museum is located at the birthplace of a famous poet, Tomas Morales. It was built in the mid 19 century. Tomas Morales was a poet, doctor, and politician born and grown up in Gran Canaria. He wrote his first verses in 1898. He has two famous works named Poemas de la Gloria and Del Amor y del mar, published in 1908.

Canarian Museum: This museum was established in 1879, which is 1401 years ago, intending to promote Canarian history. The first time the museum was opened, it was a tiny museum and had a library on the city hall's second floor. At that time, this Island lacked in higher education. Therefore, this library became a great place to learn about history. It gained so much attention that this museum started organizing trips into the Island to find artefacts and the ancient settlement of Guanches. This museum contains mini prehistoric artefacts that were left out by the older people of Gran Canaria. This museum has items of the Island and includes antiques collected from other islands like ceramic vessel idols, tools, etc.

Inside the Nester Alama Museum

Eat

While exploring the various cities and towns of Gran Canaria, it is essential that you discover the food and drink culture as well or you will not be able to get the most out of your Canarian trip. The Spanish food and drinks in Gran Canaria will give you insights into the local culture and make your taste buds have fun with the unique flavours. You can visit the local restaurants, cafes, and street food vendors to explore the local food and drink culture.

Traditional Local Restaurants

You can find some exotic dishes made locally in different Gran Canaria cities and are famous among the locals. It will give you a change in taste and help you try out something new rather than eating the same international cuisines. Depending on your pocket, you can choose which traditional restaurant you want to visit. They are relatively cheap, as all the ingredients are locally sourced.

Minanas

Pizzammare Traditional Neopolitan Restaurant

Terranza la era

Britannia

Asian Dinner

Vegetarian and Vegan

You don't need to worry if you are a vegetarian or a complete vegan. Many restaurants offer dishes made entirely from plant-based ingredients, usually gluten-free, and beneficial for your health.

Zoe Food

Dara Feeling Good

Racimo 16

Healthy be Food

Amelie Green

Street Food

Papas Arrugadas

Lapas

Gofio

Sardinas

Berros

Jaramago

Garbanzos

Pulpo

Queso de flor

Plátano Canario

Drink

Ron Miel

Wine

Tropical Cocktails

Rum

Mejunje

Banana Liqueur

Tap-water

The tap water of Gran Canaria is not safe for drinking, but it is usable for other works like brushing teeth, making tea or coffee. There is no natural source of water, and most of the water of Gran Canaria depends on seawater. There are colossal desalination water plants from which supply tap water to every city and village on the Island. Also, there is only 148mm of rainfall annually. So there is quite a shortage of water in Gran Canaria. Even the pollution of water is at a moderate level. So it is advised that you should not waste a single drop of water because water is scarce in the entire city. You must use bottled water, or instead, you should buy a plastic, fibre, or metal bottle and refill it, as drinking water is available all over the city easily.

Also, there are few reservoirs in the town, which makes it difficult to store water. You don't have to pay a massive amount of money for a water bottle as there are local water dealers from where you can make a deal for the number of days you are staying there. Get a metal or plastic bottle from the nearest supermarket, fill the water in it and use it for the entire day while travelling or visiting other places. You can even buy water bottles made up of glass if you don't want to carry heavy bottles from any stalls but do remember to dispose of them with care because if it breaks, it will harm you or surrounding creatures. If you have rented an apartment or room and you are tired of carrying multiple containers in your house, you can install an osmosis filter for a cost of 300 Euros whose filter can last up to one year.

Organic Cafés

There are many cafés in Gran Canaria that serve organic food. Organic food is the type of food item created from fresh ingredients either brought by their garden or purchased from local farmers. These ingredients are free from any kind of artificial nutrients or look. Therefore they are least attractive but full of nutrients. The food prepared from organic ingredients is very beneficial for health. Gran Canaria has many organic cafés, and the most popular ones are;

Amelia Green

Llevame al Huerto

La hierba Luis

Dara Feeling Gran

Rocino

Breweries

Breweries or brewhouses are places where beers are made and sold either for commercial purposes or to the locals. As Gran Canaria is an island with no land route connected to Spain, fewer breweries make beer for commercial purposes. It requires a considerable cost to export it.

Coriassa's Cerveceria

100 Montadits

Jaira Cerveza Artesana

Restaurante and Bewry Texada

Galotia Brewing

Activities

Gran Canaria has many beaches and the ocean, which makes it a very adventurous place to go. You can select your type of adventure according to your choice as it has land, sea, and air-related adventure options.

Hiking: Gran Canaria is an island that is full of hiking trails. Hiking is a land sport in which a walk is usually done on trails. Gran Canaria has more than 1000 kilometre of path networks, which states that it can be used for hiking. There different types of hiking depending on the distance. The best months to go on a hike in Gran Canaria is October and May. One should avoid hiking or walking in the summer as it can be scorching. December to May months experiences chilled and windy weather because of the high attitude this Island is present. If you want to go on a short hike, you can go to Roque Noblo, the hiking here is usually completed in 2 hours, and the track is accompanied by several stalls for cheese, nibbles, and water. Another short but challenging hike is at Lighthouse at Puerto De Mogain, this is again a short hike, but the trail here is a bit steep and cliff. This place has a good sunset view, and if you want to enjoy the full beautiful scenery, you can go to the lighthouse. Lod Tilis de Moya is the shortest hike present in Gran Canaria and takes just one hour to finish. This place's feature is that this area is covered with beautiful Eucalyptus trees on which various Alpispass birds are there. So this is the best hiking place for nature lovers as this will give you a basic scenic view of trees and fill you with joy, energy, and freshness.

Learn Windsurfing: Windsurfing is a sporty combination of surfing and sailing. It has many different names, such as sailboarding and boardsailing. This sport was first recognized in the 1984 Olympics. It resulted in spreading the enormous popularity of the sport in the 1970s and 1980s. Gran Canaria offers various schools that teach us how to windsurf. Windsurfing in Gran Canaria can be found on its East Coast spots, South Coast, and North Coast spots. In Windsurfing on East Coast, you must pay attention that you don't go far to the south after the beach area; there is a restricted military zone. Usually, the East Coast experiences North East and North West winds, making it the best place for surfing. Different seasons have different wind directions; in winter, the best wind is from the East, and in summer, you will experience light thermal wind from the south. You can also get various pieces of equipment on rent on reaching these surfaces. There are more than ten windsurfing areas on the Island of Gran Canaria.

Kayak Trip: Kayaking is a water sport in which one has to paddle a watercraft called Kayak. You have to sit on the boat with your legs straight and body facing forward in this. They have to run the watercraft using a double blade paddle. In Gran Canaria, kayaking depends on sea conditions. April to October are the months considered acceptable to perform this water sport. This sport can be performed on the Southern coastline of the Island. It takes around 5 hours with a fun-filled experience, including 2 hours of kayaking. It has a route that includes various sea caves, which can only be seen by boat. Anyone above the age of 8 years can enjoy this sport; however, children under 18 require an adult all time. If you are a single traveller, you will be accompanied by another kayaker because the boat is a two-seater kayak.

Coasteering in Gran Canaria: Coasteering includes a physical activity that comprises movement across rocky coastline either by foot or swimming without any boats or other crafts. It was a term introduced by John Cleare, who combined two words; mountaineering and coast. This activity involves anyone or every activity of swimming, climbing, scrambling, jumping, and diving. Coasteering in Gran Canaria involves hiking, cliff diving, climbing, and abseiling. The experience is a photogenic experience so that it not only memories but also the photographs of the adventures you have done can be taken by you. The whole journey requires around 5 hours, with about 2 to 8 persons accompanied at a time. The best months to go here are May to October and are only available for Thursday and Tuesday in Mogan city of Gran Canaria.

Bungee jumping: Bunjee Jumping is an activity in which a person is connected to an elastic cord and jumps from a great height, usually from a tall building, a crane, a bridge, or a cliff. When the person jumps from a distance with an elastic cord attached to it, the cable pulls back the person making an upward movement, and due to gravitation, the person goes downwards, which creates an up and down motion. There is a different variation used in bungee jumping; those are catapult, trampoline, running ramp for SCAD diving. In Gran Canaria, you will experience bungee jumping from a bridge. The duration of bungee jumping is 15 Minutes. Age restriction has been set to 10 years. This place is open throughout the year.

Stargazing: Stargazing is observing the night sky and discovering various celestial bodies. The clear sky of Gran Canaria provides perfect views for stargazing and finding multiple celestial objects and constellations.

Visit parks: There are various parts of different categories. You can visit according to your choice. If you love water and are tired of beaches and the scorching heat of the sun, then you can see the water theme parks to get rid of the harsh sun and can enjoy the water. Similarly, nature gardens or botanical gardens for nature lovers want to learn about plants and botany. They're also animal parks on this Island where you can see and observe different animals in their natural habitats.

Yoga and Retreats

Yoga is an ancient practice which is running for a very long time. It helps an individual to rejuvenate his mind and body from a tiring tour. It reduces stress and increases strength.

Awa Yoga

Yoga Gran Canaria

Element Yoga Las Palmas

Ashtanga Yoga Las Palmas

Element Yoga Las Palmas

Accommodation

Accommodation means to stay. As this Island is a tourist spot, it has many stays options available according to your budget. Also, remember to be a good tourist and opt for an eco-friendly alternative to stay.

Green Hotels

Green hotels are the best alternatives to 5-star hotels. These hotels have recently started to gain popularity because they use many sustainable practices like usage of recyclable and reusable items, solar and hydropower, hiring staff from local communities, rainwater harvesting, etc. These hotels offer the same services as 5-star hotels but are eco-friendly. In the modern era, you must prefer such hotels to keep your carbon footprint minimal.

Aparthotel Green Field

Hotel Riu Gran Canaria

Green Sea

Occidental Margaritas

Servatur pueiro Azul Hotel

Hostels and Guest Houses

Hostels are ideal for solo travellers, whereas guest houses are better options for people travelling in a group. These places serve as better options than 5-star hotels which tend to suck up all your money. There are many hostels and guest houses in Gran Canaria that offer different types of facilities at a various price range that you can choose according to your budget and conveyance.

Columbus Apartments

La Ventana Azul Surf Hostel

Canary Sun Hostel

HiTide House

Guest House San Roque

Guesthouse Gran Canaria

Las Caneritos

Casa Rural La Piedra

Lagarito

Azalai Guesthouse

Apartments

Apartments are a great option if you are travelling with a group of people and staying for a long time in Gran Canaria. There are many apartment buildings and complexes in different cities of the Island, which you can choose according to your budget and comfort.

Cathedral Apartments

Boston Apartments

Las Veleros Apartments

Apartmento Condor

Mogan Apartments

Couchsurfing

Couch surfing is not possible on this Island as the locals do not engage with tourists too much. Couch surfing is a new trend where a tourist can opt for staying at a local's house instead of hostels, guest houses, or hotels. Although the chances are low, you can try your luck on the couch surfing website before visiting Gran Canaria.

Camping

The best way of getting proper exposure to the local culture, livelihood, and environment, is by camping. Camping is a recreational activity, but it is also a fantastic accommodation option. Many camping organizations in Gran Canaria offer different sites and tours that will help you create a memorable experience.

Camping Playa de Vargas

Club de Camping

Camping Tasartico

Camping Temisas

Camping EL Pinillo

How to Get There

There are not many means of transport from which you can reach this Island because this Island has no land route connected to its country. It makes only two possible ways to go there, either by water means or by airways.

Air

Gran Canaria Airport is also famous by the name Gando Airport. This Airport is not only a passenger airport but also a freight airport. This AirportAirport has an elevation of 24 meters. In 1919, the French and Spanish governments allowed a French man to establish an airline between Toulouse and Casablanca. This Airport has only one terminal opened in 1973, and it was further extended in 1991 so that the passenger traffic can be increased. This one terminal has four check-in areas. When there is an increase in the customer traffic, area number 1 provides overflow capacity for check-in area numbers 2, 3, and 4. However, check-in area 1 was completely refurbished in 2011. Check-in area number 2 is located on the first part of the AirportAirport accompanied by checking area number 3 on the second part of this AirportAirport, whereas check-in area number 4 is located downstairs and is used by Ryan Air. Though it has access only to the European countries, if you want to travel to this Island, you have first to reach Spain and direct flights to this Island. We can conclude that there is no direct flight from Asian countries.

Gran Canaria Airport

Bus

There is no international bus facility available in Gran Canaria. As Gran Canaria is an Island, travelling to this Island by bus is quite difficult or impossible.

Train

Gran Canaria is an island and is about 1368 kilometres away from Spain, a very long route to be covered by train. Also, Gran Canaria and Spain are separated by water bodies, the Atlantic Ocean, due to which railway tracks cannot be built on the water to cover the distance.

Hitchhiking

If you are hoping to get to Gran Canaria by hitchhiking, then you will be disappointed to know that it is not possible as it is an Island that doesn’t have any train or road network that connects it to other Islands. You can opt for asking the local fishermen for a ride to the Island, but it will be better to reach the Island by taking a ferry or a boat ride.

Others

There are only two ways to reach grand Canaria. These two ways include airways and waterways from which airways are written above—so coming to the second way is the ferry rides from Spain to Grand Canaria. There are only two ferry routes from Spain to Gran Canaria, which gives only four sailings per week. Tradmediterrania is the best ferry service that provides you with the cheapest and the best price to reach Gran Canaria, but the drawback of this ferry ride is that it takes around 6 hours to get from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Las Palmas. Other ferry rides are also available at different prices and different rates. The shortest time to reach Las Palmas is 1 hour 20 minutes, costing 140 dollars.

Moving Around

Gran Canaria is a safe island with a minimal crime rate that too of a low category. There is police present at various checkpoints, which makes it even safer.

Walk

Gran Canaria is about 1560 kilometres square, which makes it quite challenging to move around on foot. You will be dissatisfied and disappointed by your decision to walk around the Island with the motive of visiting every popular place. You can choose it as a morning or evening walk if you are so much dedicated to health. The crime rate of this Island is low. The crime which is at a moderate level is corruption and bribery. According to statistics and service, it is found that walking alone at night is 76 per cent safe, and if it's the day, the statistics go up to 90.5, so if we believe these statistics, we can say that walking in Gran Canaria alone is safe. The only thing which is to be kept in mind is the sunburn because the temperature of Gran Canaria is warm, and the sunlight is too harsh for the body, so do take necessary precautions before going out for a long walk.

Bicycle

Gran Canaria is suitable for cycling. It is like heaven for all cyclists because of the smooth road. Also, there are many bike rentals which can provide you with cycles at different prices for different hours. The streets here consist of steep slopes and climbs, which can be challenging. Even the decision allows you to cycle here because of the present forest, mountains, and beach. Cycling has many various effects on the body like it strengthens your bones, increases strength, and boosts power; it reduces body fat and stress, resulting in a decrease in anxiety and depression. It also affects the environment as there is no fuel and emission of harmful gases, polluting, and disturbing the environment. Not only it reduces air pollution, but it also stops noise pollution and congestion. It is also pocket-friendly as it requires less space to be placed, does not use petrol or diesel to operate, and is easy to maintain compared to engine vehicles. So overall, it is better than gasoline or diesel-driven cars.

Electronic Vehicles

Electric cars are present in Gran Canaria. More than 15 charging stations are there, including Tesla charging stations, one of the famous brands in the electric vehicles sector, present all over the Island. If you have fewer days for your visit to this Island, you can choose an electric vehicle tour of this Island as it comes with various complementary facilities available. There are many benefits of electric vehicles over normal as they do not create air and noise pollution by releasing chemicals and low maintenance costs. Every tourist has to be as eco-friendly as possible in the country when they visit.

Public Bus

If you want to visit the whole Island at a pocket-friendly cost, you must use public transport. There are only two companies that provide bus facilities in Gran Canaria. Usually, the buses present are almost furnished, air-conditioned, and luxurious because the temperature of this Island becomes warm sometimes. The prominent bus companies are Global and Guaguas Municipal. The Global bus service is an advanced and high technological bus that carries around 18 million passengers annually and 700 passengers daily—coming to the payment section, you can pay the bus fare in cash or TRANSGC card. If you are spending money, you must keep that in mind that the driver might not have to change most of the time. You can purchase a travel card in advance or pre-ordered it, which will give you different discounts on different top-ups. It has an additional discount of 20% for students and pensioners. The third one is an AB bus pass. This pass's limitation is that it is only valid on the routes indicated on the map, and you will get a discount of 20% off of the regular fair. The TRANSGC card has a credit facility, which states that if you don't have enough money, your bus pass will automatically deduct the amount on the next top-up.

The second company is Guaguas Municipal. This bus is only available in the capital of this Island. This company has approx 240 modern buses and is operational throughout the year—an average of 30 million customers boards on this bus annually as it has an advanced payment technique. The customer can be paid directly from the application with real-time GPS location to arrange their time and organize their schedule well. This public transport bus has its particular colour, which gives it a unique identification—all the buses owned by this company are yellow-coloured, whereas all the Global company-owned buses are painted blue.

Local buses in Gran Canaria

Tram, Train and Subway

The Island of Gran Canaria doesn't own a railway network yet, but it is proposed to get one soon. Its route status is decided; it will start from the Island's capital and will run along the eastern coast of the Island, and end at Maspalomas. The total number of stations is agreed to be 11, and the line length will be around 57 kilometres. Before this, the North-South railway network was to be built between 1972 and 1974. In 2004, Spain's ministry released a tender for construction for a detailed study on 50-kilometre railway lines. In 2009 the Canary Islands' autonomous government accepted the plan, and in the year 2015, the construction process of the stations began. June 2019 was the date on which the total cost of the scheme was estimated to be around 1650 million dollars; however, they have proposed European regional development finds for its 85% funding, and 15% was decided to be raised by the local and regional government including private finance, but due to some reason they are still short of funds.

Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping or eco-shopping is a prevalent trend in the modern era where people are starting to opt for more and more products and services that are friendlier to the environment. The reason for such a change in shopping and fashion trends is because of the increasing pollution levels and depletion of our natural environment. People realize the need to protect our environment and are taking proper sustainable steps. The Spanish communities of Gran Canaria are well-informed and aware of the need for protecting our natural environment. In sustainable shopping, products that are sourced locally with the help of local communities are being promoted. You can find such works at the local food markets, flea markets, second-hand shops, and eco-fashion shops all over Gran Canaria.

Food Markets

Food markets are perhaps the best places to get fresh and organic produce of seafood, meat, vegetables, fruits, spices, baked goods, etc. These markets are places where local farmers, fishers, and producers sell organic and self-produced products that are void of any chemicals or artificial processes.

Viveres Camoruco

Mercado del Puerto

Ecological market Valleseco – Ecovalles

Mercado De Vegueta

Mercalaspalmas, Mercados Centrales De Abastecimiento

Mercadillo de Dan Lorenzo

Mercado Agricola

Flea Markets

Flea markets are some of the oldest and still prevalent in the world where you can find fantastic second-hand goods that are ideal for tourists that don't want to purchase brand new items. These markets operate on particular days, and local Spanish people of Gran Canaria sell second-hand goods that hold the potential to be used again.

Mercadillo de Mogán

Rastro de Maspalomas

Rastro Solidario Rescate

Mercadillo de Santa Brígida

Second Hand Stores

Second-hand stores in Gran Canaria are no different from the second-hand stores in other countries. You will find that these stores are the best places to find cheap and quality items, and sometimes even antiques. These stores are usually preferred by locals that belong to low-income groups and can’t afford brand new items. You will find such stores all over Gran Canaria and offer some unique decorative items, souvenirs, clothing items, etc.

Secondmark

Compra & Venta de Segunda Mano 3B

Cash Converters Las Palmas

Oliver, Leisure

La Brujita Tu Tienda de Compra y Venta

Entre Perchas

Eco-Fashion

Eco-fashion or sustainable fashion is also quite prevalent in Gran Canaria. You will find that the Spanish people of the Island prefer eco-fashion clothes instead of international branded clothes as they always buy things that don’t cause much harm to their environment. Eco-fashion is a new trend where clothes and accessories that are made using organic and locally sourced items. These stores promote the use of eco-friendly practices while creating a fashion statement.

The Mint Company

Tom Tailor

Etam

Calzedonia

Stradivarius

Recycling

The government, with the help of locals and some private organizations, has implemented specific rules and measures to ensure that the locals and the tourists maintain proper waste disposal practices and use recyclable items. Many organizations offer recycling services free of cost to their customers to promote the use of recycled and reusable items. You will find that the majority of the locals of Gran Canaria are focusing on using such recycled and reusable items as not only are they cheap, but they are great alternatives to branded items.

Punto Limpio El Sebadal

Punto Limpio Maspalomas

Recycle & Company Las Palmas

Waste

Gran Canaria might be the third most extensive Island of the Canary Islands, but to maintain its beauty and standards, the people and the government follow particular waste management techniques. These techniques and measures help them in keeping their homeland safe and clean. You will find that there are various industries, plants, and agencies set up to help the people eradicate the pollution without it getting out of hand. Every household, building, and complex is equipped with individual garbage containers allotted by the various municipalities. The waste collected in these containers and bins is sorted. Then it is disposed of according to the nature and type of waste.

Work and Study Abroad

If you are wondering about the educational and job opportunities in Gran Canaria, you will find that the Island has some significant educational facilities. These educational institutes are some of the best in all of the Canary Islands and provide various courses that will help you learn about the local culture and livelihood. There are many international organizations on the Island as well that also hire foreigners as their staff. You can visit such organizations and inquire about the admission or hiring process. Unlike other cities or places in USA or Europe where people don't get to enjoy life, working or studying in Gran Canaria will provide you with an opportunity to explore and learn about the land as you study or work.

Exchange Student

There are some educational institutes in Gran Canaria that are part of the Student Exchange program and welcome a significant amount of international students annually. You can either opt for directly applying to these institutes or registering for the program online. The online process may take a longer time than the natural methods but will offer better scholarship opportunities. The program is aimed at creating awareness amongst modern youth about the different cultures, religions, traditions, and communities in the world.

Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Universidad Internacional de Canarias

University of Las Palmas: School of Engineering

Aura Business Training Center

Au Pair

Au pairing can be done either individually or with your partner. It is not a prevalent practice in Gran Canaria, but you will find a few families that are supported by foreign couples. These families' needs, such as education, finance, household management, etc., are provided by an Au pair until they can maintain by themselves. It is a great concept which is aimed at providing equal opportunities to the poor and eradicating their poverty by helping them create a better life.

Volunteering

Volunteering activities are quite famous in Gran Canaria because the locals are peace-loving and straightforward. The locals love to help each other out, and when it comes to participating in social activities, they don't hesitate. There are many volunteering organizations in Gran Canaria that aim at solving various societal issues like poverty, environmental protection, human rights violation, animal protection, recycling, proper waste management, etc.

Cáritas Diocesana de Canarias

Proteccion Civil de Telde

Proyecto LIFE+PINZON

UNICEF Comité de Canarias

Cruz Roja Española

These volunteering organizations often hold various activities to eradicate societal issues. You can lend them your hand and become a part of their group or become a temporary member. By participating in these activities, you will be able to understand the various deep-rooted problem and issues in Gran Canaria that most tourists don't know.