GRAN CANARIA ACTIVITY GUIDE: BEST (NATURE) SPOTS

MARCH 2026

Gran Canaria has a bit of a reputation as a dry beach island full with all-inclusive resorts. If you visit the southern part of the island you can definitely find this, but Gran Canaria has so much more to offer. There is quite a temparature and precipitation difference between the north and the south and the middle of the island hosts a mountain range, creating different climates throughout the island. These climates come with different landscapes and make Gran Canaria super diverse. In the south you will find beaches, dunes and desert like landscape, while the north features rugged mountains and green valleys. We stayed in Gran Canaria for a week and tried to explore every nook of the island with our rental car. In this blogpost I will list all my favorite locations and activities.

Our base in Gran Canaria

We decided to stay in Las Palmas for the week, as it has a charming historical center with a great variety of restaurants. You can find my blogpost on Las Palmas and our appartment here. Gran Canaria is not a large island and it is possible to choose one base and explore the island from there. Most activities were a maximum of a 90 minute drive from Las Palmas and you can reach the south coast in 50 minutes. The south features some highways, but we especially loved driving all the winding roads in the center of the island. In february parking was not an issue in most locations, I can imagine some villages getting crowded during the high season. Make sure to always adhere to the parking regulations as they monitor parking strictly and you will be fined!

Best nature spots in Gran Canaria

Mirador de Cruz de Tejeda

We spent a full day driving and exploring all the viewpoints surrounding Roque Nublo and the Pico de las Nieves. This mirador is the first viewpoint we went to and offers breathtaking views. Plenty of free parking and a touristy restaurant. You can see Roque Nublo in the distance.

Mirador Degollada de Becerra

If I would have visited with my husband we would have for sure attempted some hikes in these beautiful surroundings. But as I was with grandma and a toddler, we did not prepare for this. Luckily, the gorgeous views are very accessible due to all the viewpoints.

Mirador del Pico de las Nieves

I honestly can’t really remember in which viewpoint I took which photo as we visited them all in one go. However they all offered stunning views and we loved driving in these beautiful landscapes.

Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo

This is a free botanical garden near Las Palmas. Located in a stunning valley you will find the most gorgeous rock formations, palm trees and giant cactei.

Los Azulejos de Veneguera

I didn’t expect too much of this one as they were describes as not very colorful rocks. The drive alone is worth going here, just stunning everywhere you look. At the Azulejos you have some small parking spots, from which you can walk closer to the rocks.

Mirador del Balcón

I didn’t get to visit this one as the road sometimes seemed closed and it was quite a far drive. However it is one of the most popular viewpoints on the island with views over the ocean, so you might want to try to visit.

Dunas de Maspalomas

You are not supposed to walk on the dunes of Maspalomas, but you can follow a pathway or admire them from the viewpoint. The point of entry is a bit strange and goes through a hotel, but you will be rewarded with gorgeous views over the dunes! We got all the desert feels over here, otherworldly!

Best activities in Gran Canaria

Hacienda La ReKompensa

We loved our banana tour and tasting at La ReKompensa. The guides are very knowledgable, speak good english and can deal with kids. You don’t need to book, just show up on the time of the tour. You can find the opening hours and tour times on their website. They have a nice terrace and playground as well, but they don’t offer lunch (currently).

Bodega Los Berrazales

I love these not having to book activities on Gran Canaria. As we loved the banana tour so much, we did the coffee & wine tour at Los Berrazales. If you decide to do the tasting, it is accompanied by a giant cheese platter and sweets. Very good value for money. Even though the bodega looks very authentic and low-key, this activity is very popular with bus tours and therefore crowded. Despite it being highly commercialized, we did have a lot of fun and gained some new knowledge. It is located in a stunning location, worth visiting for the location alone. Afterwards we drove to Los Azulejos and were rewarded with another great drive.

Cenobio de Valerón

This is a former village located in rocks. Very impressive to see and gorgeous views from the site. It only costs a few euros to visit and the drive over there is very beautiful.

Poema del Mar Aquarium

Amazing and giant aquarium in Las Palmas, no need to say more.

Best villages in Gran Canaria

Teror

We fell in love with Teror during our visit, it is such a beautiful mountain village. There is a beautiful shopping street featuring those typical wooden Canarian balconies. At the end of the shopping street you will find the Basilica, which is located on a gorgeous square with incredibly old trees and other beautiful vegetation. We visited at the end of the day and the light was magical. There is not a lot of restaurants, so you have to be lucky to snag a good spot.

Firgas

Firgas hosts the beautiful monument of Paseo de Gran Canaria and the Paseo de Canarias. These are a fountain stair waterfall surrounded by mosaics representing the Canarian communities. Kind of in the style of Seville, but smaller. There are some lovely terraces as well, so a good stop for lunch.

Las Palmas

Las Palmas is not a village, but the historical city center Vegueta certainly feels like it. I wrote a separate blogpost with my Las Palmas recommendations here.

Puerto de Mogan

Puerto de Mogan is a little harbor/beach town in the south of Gran Canaria. Next to the harbor you will find a very aesthetic neighborhood with white houses overgrown with bougainvillea. The few canals are the reason why it is called Little Venice. We found it incredibly charming, quite crowded, but loads of restaurant to choose from. Next to Little Venice you will find the beach. This beach has a stunning rocky backdrop and perfect to enjoy the sea for a few hours.