Gran Canaria from top to bottom

A morning of culture

Upon arrival in Gran Canaria, we left our bags at the Boutique Hotel Cordial Malteses, a beautiful hotel building located in the historic centre of the island's capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Surrounded by a wide and diverse gastronomic and leisure offer, the Hotel Cordial Malteses is very well connected with the rest of the city. From here we head towards the historic district of Vegueta, the heart of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The founding nucleus of the city, declared a National Historic-Artistic Site in 1973, its narrow streets treasure more than five centuries of history, such as cathedrals, museums, colonial houses and other special corners. Emblematic buildings such as the Casa de Colón, the Cathedral of Santa Ana, or the Gabinete Literario (Literary Cabinet) are found here. With so many things to see and visit, the district of Vegueta is, par excellence, a neighbourhood to enjoy in Gran Canaria.

We walk to the city's main square, the Plaza Mayor de Santa Ana, around which the Episcopal Palace, the Provincial Historical Archive and the Casas Consistoriales are located, as well as our first stop, the Cathedral of Santa Ana. Considered one of the most important religious buildings in the Canary Islands, from its tower you can enjoy some of the best panoramic views of the city.

After our visit to the cathedral, we walked just three minutes to reach our second stop, the Casa de Colón. Located in the same place where the city of Las Palmas was founded in 1478, the Casa de Colón Museum focuses on studying and disseminating the history of the Canary Islands, especially its relations with the American continent. It also includes a section on Christopher Columbus' various expeditions.

When we leave the museum, it is already 13:00 so we go in search of somewhere to eat. As well as for its history, Vegueta is also famous for its pinchos bars, so we sit down at a table in the Tasca 7 Viejas before continuing our tour.

And in the afternoon, the beach!

After lunch, we go to the Teatro stop to take bus number 17, in the direction of Auditorio. We get off at the stop Fernando Guanarteme, 118, and then walk for about 15 minutes to our last stop of the day, Playa de Las Canteras. With more than two kilometres of golden sand, this beach is ideal for those who like to walk by the sea. However, the beach's recognition as one of the most famous urban beaches in Europe is due not only to the beauty of the site, but also to the quality of its services. It has a magnificent barrier reef that acts as a natural breakwater and is ideal for snorkelling due to the diverse marine life that surrounds it.

The village of Tejeda

After a first day of culture and beach in the bustling capital, nothing better than to get some fresh air and enjoy the natural scenery of the island. Heading inland towards the central area of the island, we first stop at our accommodation for the night, the Hotel Rural Las Calas, an old 17th century mansion located in a protected natural area in the mountains of Gran Canaria.

Now, we head towards the village of Tejeda, one of the most beautiful villages in Gran Canaria, and one of the prettiest villages in all of Spain. When we arrive in this beautiful village, let's stop for a while to contemplate how beautiful it is with all its white houses of traditional architecture, in a setting full of Canary Island pines and almond trees in bloom. A stroll through the streets of the old town is something not to be missed. There you can visit the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Socorro, the Tres Cruces Typical Canarian Museum and the Medicinal Plants Centre.

Also worth a look is La Cesta, one of the most "instagrammable" spots in the village from where you can enjoy incredible views of the Roque Bentayga.

Hungry after our little excursion, we go for lunch at Casa del Caminero, a Spanish-Mediterranean restaurant serving tasty and healthy dishes, before starting the second part of our adventure.

Fallen Crag and the Sacred Mountains

After lunch, on our way to Risco Caído, we approach the rural side of the island. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, the Cultural Landscape of Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria is one of those unique places on the island. Situated in a vast mountainous area, the Risco Caído comprises cliffs, ravines and volcanic formations in a landscape of great biodiversity, as well as many troglodyte settlements, cult caves and two almogarenes: the Risco Caído and the Roque Bentayga.

From here, we turn around and head towards the south of Tejeda, in the direction of another must-see in this area, the Roque Nublo. Once a sacred place for the aboriginal Canary Islanders to worship the gods and celebrate rituals, this rock is today an iconic place in Gran Canaria from where you can almost always see the island of Tenerife and Mount Teide. From the car park at Degollada de La Goleta, a route starts up to Roque Nublo. This route is very popular with tourists as it is not very difficult and quite short (about 3 kilometres round trip). Once at the top, you can also see the two "companions" of Roque Nublo, El Fraile and La Rana.

Making the most of the weather at the seaside

The sun is rising over the island of Gran Canaria and we are already looking forward to the third day of this itinerary. We greet the owners of the hotel and drive down to Maspalomas, the southernmost point of the island. To end our tour of Gran Canaria on a high note, tonight we have a reservation at the Hotel Riu Palace Maspalomas, a 5-star hotel on the beachfront of Maspalomas. Luxurious, isn't it?

Best known for its long beaches of El Inglés and Maspalomas, as well as its huge golden sand dunes, Maspalomas is definitely a place you will fall in love with. We head first to the Maspalomas Dunes and then to the beaches to find a place to eat. This site, classified as a Special Nature Reserve in 1994, covers almost 404 hectares of sand dunes distributed in irregular shapes among which three main ecosystems can be distinguished: the mobile dunes, the Pond and the Palm Grove.

The beaches of Maspalomas and El Inglés are surrounded by a wide gastronomic offer, so there are many places to eat. We really like El Churrasco Meloneras, a restaurant that specialises in grilled Argentinian meat but also offers vegetarian options.

A promenade to and from the Lighthouse

After lunch, we followed the promenade that connects the beach of Meloneras with the lighthouse of Maspalomas. It is a very pleasant walk where you can enjoy the beautiful sea views of this coastal area. Turning around, we return to the boulevard of the lighthouse where you will find an endless number of shops, cafes and restaurants where you can do your last shopping or have a refreshing drink.

Waiting for the sun to set, the lighthouse itself is worth a visit, as it is one of the most historically and monumentally important civil buildings on the island of Gran Canaria. Its tower is still in operation and the annexe to this monument has been converted into an ethnographic museum that traces the history of Gran Canaria over the last five centuries.

Night is falling and we still have until tomorrow to enjoy the tourist centre of Gran Canaria. Located in a very busy area both during the day and at night, the commercial area around the lighthouse has numerous restaurants, bars and nightclubs, so you have everything you need to enjoy the nightlife of Gran Canaria.