Gran Canaria Travel Guide: Beaches, Dunes & Mountain Hikes

Located in the center of the Canary Islands archipelago off the northwestern coast of Africa, Gran Canaria offers the perfect mix of stunning landscapes, outdoor adventures, and relaxing beaches to appeal to any traveler. Read on for a guide to the island that will help you get the most out of your stay no matter what you are looking for.

Las Palmas

The island’s capital city is located in the northeast and is a great place to stay during your visit. Las Palmas has a little bit of everything: history, food, nightlife, and beach. Vegueta, the city’s historic center, dates to the late 15th century, when the islands were conquered by the Spanish. The city’s port became an important stopover for ships setting out from Spain to the New World; Christopher Columbus spent a month here preparing for his first voyage in search of new lands.

Playa de las Canteras is an excellent urban beach running along the western side of the city, with warm waters year-round and plenty of room to stretch out. There are plenty of great places to eat close by where you can try Canarian cuisine, which is similar to that of mainland Spain but with some unique, standout dishes like papas arrugadas (‘wrinkled’ potatoes with red or green sauce) and quesillo canario (a local variation of flan). I recommend Pícaro Restaurante for a great meal.

Maspalomas

In the island’s south, Maspalomas is famous not only for its tranquil beach but also for the massive sand dunes that serve as its backdrop, which look straight out of the Sahara. Take a hike up the dunes for incredible views before heading down to the sand to relax; be sure to check out the large, 19th-century lighthouse, too.

Maspalomas is located right next to Playa del Inglés, which is one of the island's best areas for nightlife. There are tons of bars and nightclubs around as well as some great restaurants—I recommend lunch or dinner at La Tapita Los Jose’s for delicious seafood and tapas.

Puerto de Mogán

This picturesque fishing village is a dream to stroll around, with its quaint streets lined by traditional white houses with colorful trim and flourishing bougainvilleas hanging over them.

Go for a dip in the calm waters of Playa de Mogán, a protected cove near the town’s harbor, and dry off in time to watch a beautiful sunset from the rocks of the Mirador.

Playa de Güigüí

This secluded beach is the best on the island, precisely because of its difficult-to-reach location, requiring a two-hour hike each way up and down a steep, rocky hill, with the trailhead starting near the town of Tasartico.

It is worth every bit of effort: the views are literally breathtaking, and the beach itself is an absolute gem, too. The feeling of jumping into the water after putting in the work on the hike is impossible to put into words.

The beach is a popular camping spot as well, which is a good way to take full advantage of your time here, as you’ll need to get an early start to make it there and back before sunset with enough time to swim and enjoy the beach. This is a can’t miss spot and is one of the most memorable experiences in all of Spain.

Roque Nublo

Though Gran Canaria doesn’t have any active volcanoes like some of its neighbors, its geography has been indelibly shaped by its volcanic past, with numerous giant stratovolcanoes located in the island’s mountainous center. Nowhere is this more evident than at Roque Nublo, a colossal monolith that stands 262 feet (80 m) tall at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet (1,813 m) above sea level.

The rock is a volcanic plug, a block of hardened magma that solidifies in the central vent of a volcano after an eruption. Beyond its striking shape and dimensions, Roque Nublo (‘rock in the clouds’) serves as a reminder of the immense power of nature. The base of the rock is reachable by a short hike across the barren landscape; the panoramic views are spectacular, and on a clear day, you can even see across to the snow-capped peak of El Teide, the active volcano at the center of the island of Tenerife.

The drive to and from Roque Nublo is also incredible, with tremendous views as you make your way up or down the winding roads that rise high into the sky. Depending on which direction you are coming from, you may pass Pico de las Nieves and Morro de la Agujereada, the two highest points on the island.