Gran Canaria is considered a mini continent due to the incredible variety of its landscape, from its golden sandy beaches to its lush green interior. With an ideal, stable climate of about 24C degrees year-round, plus excellent facilities for tourists, it’s the perfect destination for both summer and winter holidays, but where on this varied and beautiful island should you send your clients? Here are some recommendations from Gran Canaria Tourism:
Best for golden beaches
Maspalomas Dunes in the very south of Gran Canaria is considered the best of the island’s many golden beaches, while the southern resorts of Playa del Inglés, Puerto Rico, Amadores, Anfi and Purto de Mogán are also very popular.
On the west coast, secluded Güigüi beach, only accessible by a two-hour walk through mountains or by boat, is definitely worth a visit.
Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is truly unique, with a natural volcanic reef, and Pozo Izquierdo is well-known for wind- and kitesurfing.
For a completely different experience, suggest the northern coast where holidaymakers will find natural volcanic pools.
Best for dramatic volcanic landscapes
Almost half of Gran Canaria is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The centre of the island is dominated by the immense Caldera de Tejeda crater, which allows spectacular far-reaching views of the Roque Bentayga (Sacred Rock) at 1,404 metres high and Gran Canaria’s famous landmark, Roque Nublo, at 1,813m.
Pozo de las Nieves viewpoint, at a lofty 1,949m, is the highest point on the island.
Gran Canaria’s best holiday resorts
Maspalomas is located to the east of the lighthouse that marks the southernmost point of Gran Canaria, within a nature-protected area with a thousand-year-old palm grove, natural lagoon, beautiful six-kilometre-long white sand beach and famous dunes.
The resort still has some of its original hotels, which are well-known for their superb five-star service.
We recommend the five-star GL Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, and the five-star Seaside Palm Beach, a member of Design Hotels.
Head to the west of the lighthouse and you’ll find Meloneras, which is Gran Canaria’s main tourist area with a two-kilometre-long ocean-front promenade boasting lively bars, restaurants, a casino and stylish boutiques.
Visitors have a choice of two beaches located on both edges of the Meloneras promenade, Maspalomas Beach and the smaller Meloneras beach.
We recommend the five-star Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort & Thalasso and the four-star Sup Lopesan Costa Meloneras. Also, Salobre Golf Resort, located only 10-minutes’ drive inland from Meloneras, is the only one in the Canary Islands with two golf courses.
The resorts of Anfi and Arguineguin are known for their great microclimate and Caribbean-style white-sand beaches. There is a promenade with restaurants and shops, and the luxurious Maroa Beach Club on Anfi Island by the marina will make your clients feel deliciously spoilt.
We recommend the five-star Radisson Blu Gran Canaria.
Amadores Beach, to the west of Puerto Rico and joined to the resort by a three-kilometre-long promenade, boasts beautiful turquoise waters. It offers a selection of four-star hotels, including the elevated four-star Sup Gloria Palace Royal, which offers an all-inclusive option. This hotel has direct ocean views and lifts down to the promenades and beaches.
Perfect for diving and deep-sea fishing, Puerto de Mogán also has a golden sand beach, beautiful subtropical plants, a marina, bars and restaurants. Known as ‘Little Venice’ because of the numerous channels that pass under the arches of a two-storey apartment building on the marina, the resort is also renowned for its good fish restaurants and its Friday open air market. The BlueBird water taxi takes holidaymakers to other resorts along the coast.
We recommend the five-star Radisson Blu Gran Canaria Mogán and the four-star Cordial Mogán Playa.
New concept hotels in Playa del Inglés are indicative of Gran Canaria’s development of high-quality, modern boutique properties with high-tech features and a focus on well-being and healthy living. We recommend the five-star Bohemia Suites and Spa, a member of Design Hotels.
San Agustín, the closest resort to the airport and the first to be developed, has been completely modernised. It has a nice beach, promenade, shopping centre and several attractive hotels and apartments set in lush gardens. We recommend the five-star all-inclusive Paradisus Gran Canaria by Melia.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a well-established cruise port and fantastic city break. Its golden sandy beach Las Canteras is protected by the natural volcanic riff, and it has a charming historical quarter with cobbled streets and Columbus House, Sta Ana Square and other buildings that are more than 500 years old. There are nice restaurants and open-air cafés, parks and museums.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has a wide variety of accommodation, not only by the beach but also delightful new boutique hotels in the old quarter. We recommend the ultra-luxury five-star GL Santa Catalina, A Royal Hideaway Hotel.
Cruz de Tejeda, at 1.500 m above the sea level, is almost at the geographical centre of the island. It is strategically located on the crossing of the roads from south, north, west and east, offering absolutely breathtaking far-reaching views of the Gran Canaria Summit. Recommend it to clients for a few days surrounded by nature, before they head to the southern resorts.
We recommend the Spa Parador Cruz de Tejeda.
