The Places In Gran Canaria That You Cannot Miss
With a pleasant climate 365 days a year, beaches that seem like a painting and activities for all tastes, Gran Canaria has so much to offer that you won’t have enough vacation days to see it all. For this reason, in this article we have made a list of the sites that you cannot miss.
Gran Canaria , the island of the gods
Gran Canaria could well be the abode of the gods. It is one of the Spanish places with more hours of sunshine a year and if we add the landscapes to that, it would not be strange to think that the divinities have chosen it for their eternal life. In Gran Canaria you can do everything, some of it we will tell you below:
1. Puerto de Mogán
It is a very picturesque area full of colorful houses and a network of salt water canals, hence its nickname “Little Venice”. On Friday mornings there is a market to buy all kinds of products. It also has beaches with calm waters and golden sand.
2. Roque Nublo
In the municipality of Tejada we find this strange rock formation, 80 meters high and 1810 meters above sea level. From there you will also have fairytale panoramic views (it is worth the effort to climb to the top).
3. Maspalomas Lighthouse
It is a benchmark on the island and has a very beautiful beach. It is a very touristy area (in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana) and is full of hotels, shops and restaurants. Very close to there, in turn, you can see a beautiful ecosystem formed by the Oasis of Palmeras, the Campo de Dunas and the Charca.
4. Archaeological Park of Maipés de Agaete
Before the arrival of the Castilians, Aboriginal people lived in Gran Canaria. In this park we can learn a lot about their customs and culture. It was a sacred place for this civilization and was formed by lava from a volcano. You will find a kind of cemetery with 700 tombs of 1,300 years old.
In the center of Gáldar we also recommend that you visit the Cueva Pintada and a museum that shows what life was like for the original settlers. It was discovered in the 19th century and has pre-Hispanic paintings related to the lunar and solar calendars.
5. Arucas
This municipality begins on the slope of the homonymous volcano and is perfect for taking a walk through the historic center, between streets and houses. The church of San Juan Bautista is an essential place to visit. It was built in stone from the area.
You can also visit the coastal towns of San Andrés and Bañaderos-El Puertillo. In this area, a promenade with semi-natural pools was created.
6. Teror
It is a small town but with a leading role in the history of the island. According to legend, while some shepherds were working, the Virgin Mary appeared to them on top of a pine tree. The basilica and the main square are two places to visit here. Walking through its streets you will see the traditional Canarian architecture. On Sundays a market is held in the Plaza del Pino, very interesting to walk around and buy some things.
7. Parks and reserves
If hiking is your thing, Gran Canaria will be your perfect destination. With good trekking shoes, choose the route that you like the most in the virgin and green part of the island. The best areas for walking are the Pilancones and Tamadaba natural parks, the Nublo rural park, the Barranco Oscuro and Inagua natural reserves and the Maspalomas dunes.
But in Gran Canaria there is much more that you should not miss, for example, the Carnival. It has been celebrated since 1521 thanks to some Genoese immigrants and is one of the most important in the world. Canarian mask dances have nothing to envy the Venetians. Even the Great Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was the first to choose a “drag queen” to accompany the queen.
Gran Canaria also has a delicious and varied gastronomy. Between walks you can eat wrinkled potatoes accompanied by mojo picón or verde, watercress stew, gofio, boiled old woman and different preparations with fish.
