Gran Canaria travel guide

Resorts

Gran Canaria is one of the Canary Islands. The Canaries are a small group of Spanish islands 4 hours flying time south of the UK off the coast of Morocco / north west Africa. The island has a very sunny and warn year round spring like climate. Winter is the peak time for tourism due to north Europeans seaking winter sun. Think of the island as a massive volcanic centre with ridges seperated by steep ravines radiating outwards, and a narrow coastal fringe around the edge linked by an orbital road, with Las Palmas, the capital, added at the top.

Where to Stay

This is a difficult question if you're planning on walking or exploring the island.

If you're travelling by bus, its easy, choose the capital, Las Palmas, near the main bus station, as its the centre of the bus service.

If you're renting a car

Types of Accomodation

Use Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, or flight + hotel package tour to find a hotel or apartments (hotel with living room area and kitchenette). This is what most people do

Try xxxx or airbnb to find a privately rented rooms/flats

Try ownersabroad to find (often rural) houses to rent - this is best for a group

Camping is also possible

Choosing a Hotel

This can drive you mad. There are hundreds of hotels and apart-hotels. And thousands of reviews on TripAdvisor and the hotel booking websites. Here's how to start

Camping

There are a few private campsites, but any other camping needs a free permit booked in advance, and picked up in person with id.

Renting a Car

Look out for 'miradors' - these are lookout points with parking, picnic areas, information boards, and great views

Map Apps for your Phone

You'll need a satnav. Easy and free is Google Maps (iPhone and Android). Download Gran Canaria before you leave home so it works offline. You draw a square around the island, - its about 1GB. Once your there, you just navigate to a point on the map, tap it, and it navigates there with audio and visual directions. Do check on a map that its route akes sense (i.e. its not chosen a route involving a cart track). Test it at home before you leave.

Next is OruxMaps (free, Android). Then go to OpenAndroMaps and download the Canaries map (also free) so it works offline. This has pretty accurate mapping of most of the islands walking trails. Again test it out near home first. This will also give you an accurate map of every town on the island with cafes, hotels, parking, etc. (and their names) !

Guidebooks

General

I'm not sure which to recommend. The Lonely Planet covers all of the Canaries, not just Gran Canaria. The Eyewitness Top 10 is OK. I've not reviewed the other 2.

The map is the best one for the island.

The Rother is an excellent guide for serious walkers - walks are from 300m to 1000m of ascent. Its not so good for explorers, the walks are mostly long. Make sure you use the downloadable GPS files rather than rely on their directions alone. You'll need a satnav (and some research) to find the start of some walks

Cicerone and Sunflower are usually reliable.

For all walking guides, it is really important to make sure you have the most up to date edition. Note that most walks are in the centre. They are very few coastal walks.

Top Walks

The North East Coast - Las Palmas

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, almost every other road sign point here, is the capital, and by far the largest city in the Canary islands.

City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off bus - expensive at 18 euros

The East Coast

Santa Brigida Vega de San Mateo - possible place to stay - nearest proper town to the mountains, and not to far from the motorway Telde - second city Aguimes - small historic centre Barranco de Guayadeque - a steep sided and pretty canyon - small museum at the start - you can drive 4km to end where there are several restaurants inside caves - popular at the weekends - steep walks from the end

The South Coast

Bahia Feliz

Large 'club' style hotels and a small commerical centre (supermarket, UK prices restaurants)

A???

You can walk along the prom to Playa Del Ingles

Playa del Ingles / Maspalomas

Much nicer than you'd expect from its reputation. A mix of hotels, small low rise aparartment blocks and some commericial centres full of bars and restaurants. Not full of English drunks like Magaluf, but not particularly Spanish either.

Officially advertised as Gay Friendly resort with gay commercial centre, hostels, naturist beach, and (unofficially) sand dunes.

There's a fine sandy beach around the entire peninsular. Playa on

The West Coast

The west coast is very undeveloped, just a few towns, the motorway hasn't reach here yet, so the following, from south to north is a slow windy drive along the GC-200 orbital road. Allow 2 hours. To get back you can use the motorway which will be much quicker and easier

The orbital motorway ends at Puerto Mogan in the south. The GC-200 road heads inland to Morgan (nice cafes, farmers co-operatives selling local produce).

The drive from Mogan on to Aldea (San Nicholas) along is windy, slow (about 60 mins), through very picturesque mountains. There are a couple of nice road cafes along the way. A kiosk by some multi-coloured rocks, and a restaurant a little further on.

Aldea (de San Nicholas) is the largest town on the west coast, a little off the main road. Not touristy, quiet, small square, old town.

La Playa (de la Aldea) is a small harbour by the sea with some nice cafes. A nice place to stop. Easy parking. You can walk north over the headland to the next bay

The next section of GC-200 is a dramatic coastal drive (yet more switchbacks) all the way to Agaete in the north (about 60 mins). The only settlement along the way is pretty El Risco

Finally, you get to Agaete (in the north coast section), and the motorway

The North and North West Coast

Teror - pretty historic centre Arucas - pretty historic centre Moya - possibe place to stay Galadar - pretty square , church and archiological museum Agaete / Puerto de las Nieves

The Mountains in the Centre - North West

Allow 30 - 60 min drive from the coast to the centre

The Mountains in the Centre - Middle

Cruz de Tejda Tejda

The Mountains in the Centre - South

San Bartholome de Tirajana -

Shopping Centres and Hypermarkets

Southeast : Centro Commercial Atlantico - 10am - 10pm - Motorway Junction 28 km (Just south of the airport) - large Carrefour hypermarket Northwest : Lidl and Hyperdyno supermarket - near the end of the motorway South :

Beach Guide

It is really important to make sure you have the most up to date edition - check if you're buying a second hand book.