Party Like a Canarian

Party Like a Canarian

Gran Canaria

Provided byGran Canaria Tourist Board

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Party Like a Canarian

Fiesta fiesta, no time for siesta! Teror's Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Pino (Our Lady of the Pine), dates back to the 17th century, when the statue of Gran Canaria's patron saint was taken to the capital to pray for rain. Even older is Agaete's Fiesta de la Rama in August which sees partygoers thrashing the Atlantic with palm branches, just like the canarii before them did, again for rain.

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Aqualand Maspalomas

Aqualand Maspalomas

Gran Canaria's largest water park boasts over 40 slides and attractions. It's fun for all the family, from infants up to grandparents. A visit to Aqualand is not just an activity — it's a full day of aquatic adventure and excitement.

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Palmitos Park

Palmitos Park

Bird species from every continent, a 20-hectare botanical garden, exotic flora and spectacular shows await you at this Gran Canaria icon. To save money, you can buy a combined park ticket, which also gives you access to Aqualand Maspalomas.

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Jardín Botánico Viera & Clavijo

Jardín Botánico Viera & Clavijo

Also known as the Jardín Canario, this botanic garden is a great place for a stroll. Start from the bottom and work your way up or the other way around. Whichever way you choose to explore, you'll easily spend a couple of hours here. You'll find a rich collection of plants endemic to the Canary Islands and Macaronesia, a section dedicated to cacti and succulents, as well as a greenhouse the “Hidden Garden” (El Jardín Escondido).

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Guayadeque Ravine

Guayadeque Ravine

Get up close and personal with nature at the paradise that is Guayadeque ravine. Here, you will find almost 2,000 different plant species and many historical remains of cave houses, including a hermitage. Some of these caves now host restaurants. Start your exploration at the visitors centre.

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Maspalomas Lighthouse

Maspalomas Lighthouse

A visit to the iconic Maspalomas lighthouse, followed by a leisurely stroll along the beach and through the charming local shops, makes for a delightful evening. Try to catch the sunset and enjoy the view with a leisurely drink or bite to eat.

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Caves of Valerón

Caves of Valerón

Over 800 years ago, the ancient Canarians crafted the Caves of Valerón, a remarkable granary within Montaña del Gallego's volcanic landscape. Utilising natural geological formations, they skilfully created more than 350 storage cavities across several levels. Today, the cave "monastery" of Valerón is one of Gran Canaria's most visited sights, easily reached off the GC-2 superhighway.

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Dunes of Maspalomas

Dunes of Maspalomas

The dunes of Maspalomas have been protected as a nature reserve since 1987. The protected area encompasses a stunning beach, a field of natural sand dunes, a palm grove and a brackish lagoon. This unique oasis is encircled by the famous hotels of the major tourist hub of Maspalomas. Lose yourself in their sheer immensity of the sand.

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Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has everything you'd expect in a capital city. Bright and light, there's a very definite buzz. Visit Mesa y López for high-street shopping. For boutiques, try Triana. History buffs will prefer a stroll around Vegueta, the original Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Beach bums flock to Las Canteras, truly one of the world's great urban beaches.

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El Museo Canario

El Museo Canario

The Museo Canario (Canarian museum) in Vegueta allows you to find out more about the Canarii — the people who occupied Gran Canaria before the arrival of the Spanish colonisers in the 15th century.

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Los Tilos de Moya Nature Reserve

Los Tilos de Moya Nature Reserve

Los Tilos de Moya Nature Reserve shelters one of the island's last laurel forests, where great Canarii warriors like Doramas used to roam. Home to over 50 plant species of special scientific interest and countless invertebrates, this reserve is a sanctuary for endemic and endangered species, sustaining the majority of their populations.

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Taste Gran Canaria

Taste Gran Canaria

If it's international cuisine you're looking for, you're well-catered for by cosmopolitan Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Visit Teror's market to pick up the municipality's traditional chorizo, a sausage that's as sweet as it is savoury. Further inland, Tejeda makes good use of its almond trees in desserts. Traditional gastronomy is all around.

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Theme Parks

Theme Parks

Scream if you want to go faster on the slides at Aqualand Water Park or check out all the pretty birds at Palmitos Park. Visit Sioux City Park if you're a fan of cowboys and the Wild West. Alternatively, head to Puerto Rico for the Angry Birds Activity Park with zip-lines and a laser maze.

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Nautical Activities

Nautical Activities

Gran Canaria's 236 km of Atlantic coastline makes the island a fantastic water-sports venue. Learn how to SUP on Canteras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or kayak at Playa de Alcaravaneras nearby. There are surf schools in the north and south of the island, as well as dive academies if you want to go deep, deep down.

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Activities on Land

Activities on Land

Gran Canaria offers things to do on its turf as well as its surf. There are a number of caminos reales, royal pathways, which you can hike along. These include a three-day version of the famous Camino de Santiago. The island is a great cycling destination too, with professional teams using it as a training base.

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Golf

Golf

Gran Canaria offers some testing courses to challenge even the most experienced golfer. These include the oldest course in the whole of Spain, Bandama's Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, and one of the newest, the Salobre Norte, at the Sheraton Salobre in the south of the island.

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Spas

Spas

Gran Canaria's a well-established wellness destination. Many tourists visit the island as the climate's been recommended them by their doctor. Gran Canaria Wellness helps you find the best spa and thalassotherapy hotels on the island. As well as the finest medical centres.

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Traditional Sports

Traditional Sports

Gran Canaria locals love their basketball and football, but they are also keen on some sports that predate the arrival of the Spanish. The likes of lucha canaria, Canarian wrestling, whose bouts draw a loyal following to the rings in municipalities up and down the island.

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Valle de Agaete — Where the Coffee Grows

Valle de Agaete — Where the Coffee Grows

Valle de Agaete, in northwest Gran Canaria, holds the unique distinction of being one of Europe's few coffee-growing regions. With a tradition dating back to the 18th century, this serene village nurtures Arabic coffee plants in the shade of the fragrant jasmine and mango trees. The coffee from Agaete has evolved into a gourmet product, cherished for its exceptional flavour.

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Fiesta del Charco

Fiesta del Charco

The 11th of September sees locals, many dressed in traditional Canarian clothing, enter the lagoon above La Aldea de San Nicolás' main beach and try to catch fish with their bare hands. This celebration pays homage to the Canarian ancestral practice of embarbascada — a fishing technique that involves pouring sap from plants such as cardon or tabaiba to sedate the fish before catching it.

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Bufadero La Garita

Bufadero La Garita

Bufadero La Garita, on Gran Canaria's eastern coast, is a natural spectacle where waves dramatically shoot through rock formations. This volcanic blowhole, adjacent to the dark sandy Playa de la Garita, creates a stunning display, with water spraying high into the air. Accompanied by the rhythmic 'heartbeat of the ocean', it's a mesmerising spot, especially at sunrise.

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Cueva de Cuatro Puertas

Cueva de Cuatro Puertas

Cueva de Cuatro Puertas, a grand cave carved into volcanic tuff, is known for its four large entrances leading to a horizontal platform. Linked to the religious practices of the ancient Canarians, this archaeological site offers insights into their sacred and cultural world, as well as panoramic views.

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Mirador del Balcón

Mirador del Balcón

Mirador del Balcón in La Aldea de San Nicolás is a serene stargazing spot, perched on 'Dragon's Tail' cliffs. Its stark beauty offers a gateway to celestial wonders, where constellations like Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia shine against the Atlantic.

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