a travel blog by renata green
When going to the Canaries, you don’t have to limit yourself since island hopping between the various Canary Islands is really fun and so easy.
While most visitors pick just one destination for their beach vacation, you can have it all: Hop on a ferry or go on a plane and travel crisscross between Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and La Gomera as much as you please.
This Way to the Whole Story ->It was last June, Europe’s borders were slowly opening and the Canary Islands lost their high-risk status. I finally had the chance to book a flight, look for accommodation, plan a trip. Life was like it used to be in the olden days.
It was on a Wednesday that I landed at Gran Canaria’s international airport south of the capital Las Palmas. This city would be my base, however, it had to wait another night for me. The first day was dedicated to Agüimes, a small town about 30 minutes inland at the foot of the island’s famous mountains.
Agüimes is very picturesque, however, there is not that much to do. I spent the afternoon walking around, awing and taking pictures of alleys and well-maintained houses and many statues telling stories about the town’s history and culture. Then, the next morning, I wanted to walk to the famous Barranco de las Vacas, a gorge with rock formations as beautiful as in Utah.
And then it happened. I broke a leg.
This Way to the Whole Story ->Spending your entire trip to one of the largest of the Canary Islands just on one of the – admittedly fantastic – beaches would be such a waste of time – hence, here are the best things to do in Gran Canaria even if you have only one week.
After a bumpy start on my first trip to the island, I came back a couple of months later and can now happily show you around, lead you away from the tourist ghettos on the southern shores to some fantastic gems in the mountainous hinterland as well as the very pleasant capital Las Palmas. By the way, she’s not only the largest city of all of the islands, but she’s also surrounded by some of Gran Canaria’s best beaches.
This Way to the Whole Story ->There are a couple of colorful farmers’ markets in Gran Canaria, yet, none of them can beat the Sunday market in Teror which you can easily combine with a visit to the posh city of Arucas.
Then, to top things off, take a short bus ride to Los Charcones De Bañaderos where you can cool off in lava pools before enjoying an afternoon party at the bar and restaurant Los Charcones.
Some of the very best Gran Canaria has to offer in one single day!
This Way to the Whole Story ->The villages Agüimes and Santa Brigida are both worth a day trip – albeit for different reasons. What those two villages in the central mountains of Gran Canaria have in common, though, is their enchanting beauty.
From Gran Canaria’s capital Las Palmas, they are some of the easiest day trips you can go on by public bus.
This Way to the Whole Story ->Our second day trip from our base in Gran Canaria’s capital Las Palmas took us to Galdar and eventually to Puerto de las Nieves.
After awing at the historic and natural wonders of Galdar, we spent the rest of the day frolicking at the calm saltwater pools that rocks’n’lava have created on the outskirts of Puerto de las Nieves.
This Way to the Whole Story ->It really doesn’t matter what else you are planning to do on the island of Gran Canaria – the day trip to Artenara, the island’s highest village, and Tejeda, one of the most beautiful hamlets in all of Spain will be the absolute highlight of your trip – literally.
Even if you follow my lead and do not spend your entire trip to Gran Canaria at the tourist hotspots Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, or Puerto de Mogan, you definitely should visit the south coast on a day trip.
Las Palmas is probably the most underrated place on the island – yet, it’s the perfect base if you want to explore Gran Canaria beyond the notorious tourist areas in the south.
Apart from having a charming historic center with cool venues and some of the island’s best beaches, it is a great hub for visiting the entire island even by public transport.
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