Affordable winter sun
With its sandy beaches, volcanic landscape and glorious weather, a holiday to Gran Canaria is the perfect choice all year round
With over 300 days of sunshine annually and temperatures averaging 24°C, there is never a bad time to visit Gran Canaria, the third largest island in the Canaries. With four hours’ flying time from the UK, it’s dubbed a ‘continent in miniature’ thanks to its varied landscape. The 80-plus beaches scattered around its 150-mile coastline give way to deep gorges, subtropical forest and soaring peaks. Whether relaxing on expansive sandy beaches, trekking across jagged landscapes, strolling around picturesque villages or soaking up the culture is your idea of holiday heaven, Gran Canaria has it all.
Get driving
To make the most of your holiday, hire a car and explore the island. Away from the motorway, Gran Canaria’s roads snake their way around deep valleys and over mountains so journeys are slow. For an exhilarating drive with spectacular views of precipitous coastal cliffs, travel the island’s west coast from Puerto de Mogán to the north. Return via the interior. Recommended stops en route include Artenara, the island’s highest village. Stroll its streets and visit the Virgen de la Cuevita, a cave chapel carved from volcanic rock.
Fancy an adventure? Don your walking boots and enjoy a mountain hike. A network of medieval paths crisscrossing the island has been restored into well-signed trails. Try the short walk (around 50 minutes each way) to the emblematic peak of Roque Nublo (Cloud Rock). Stretching high into the Canarian air above the village of Ayacata, this 214-foot monolith affords panoramic views. On a clear day, spot the conical peak of Tenerife’s Mount Teide on the horizon. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear and carry food, water and a map.
Take a sandy stroll
The stunning Maspalomas Sand Dunes could be straight out of the classic movie,
Lawrence of Arabia. Let your feet sink into the soft sand as you cross this protected nature reserve comprising over four miles of dunes and beach between the south coast resorts of Maspalomas and Playa Del Inglés. The most southerly island in the Canaries, Gran Canaria offers its 2.8 million tourists over 30 miles of beaches to choose from. Try palm tree-fringed Anfi del Mar, the sheltered waters at Amadores or remote Guigui on the west coast, accessible only by boat or a three-mile walk.
Floral fantasy
Thanks to the island’s many microclimatic zones, the landscape is carpeted in an abundance of plants, many endemic to the Canaries. Visit Jardin Canario, a botanical garden free to enter, four miles outside the capital, Las Palmas, and founded in the 1950s. Stroll among the Canary date palms, along the dragon tree-lined footpath and stop at the Cactus Garden. Open daily 9-6.
Leave space in your suitcase for souvenirs. Head to Las Palmas for the widest choice. Among the shopping malls on offer is Las Arenas, situated at the end of Las Canteras beach. For genuine Canarian handicrafts, choose FEDAC stores (a programme promoting local craftsmen) in the city and Playa del Ingles.
Sleep in style
The popular resort hotel, Cordial Mogán Playa, is set in extensive and beautifully maintained sub-tropical gardens. It’s situated in the pretty southwestern resort of Puerto de Mogán, nicknamed ‘Little Venice’, thanks to a network of seawater canals crossed by small bridges. The fishing village’s beach and marina, lined with restaurants and cafés, are a short stroll from the hotel. Cordial Mogán Playa’s 487 spacious rooms (singles, doubles, family rooms and suites) are spread over nine buildings and facilities include tennis courts, two main swimming pools and a fantastic kids’ club. The hotel’s architecture is inspired by a typical Canarian village with lush vegetation and small courtyards.