General Info

Country: Canary Islands autonomous community of Spain | Language: Spanish | Currency: EURO (EUR) | Flag: 🇮🇨 | When visited: November 2024

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đźš— How to commute

There are 3 ways to move around the island as well as to reach various cities from the international airport: to rent a car, to get a taxi or to go by public transport, i.e. by bus. We tried both options: public transport and a rental car. From the airport to the La Garita and La Estrella area we came with a bus (L75) – it was quick and cheap. And to move around the island in order to visit various remote and interesting places we rented a car – it was also pretty cheap, and as it was hybrid one, we paid less than 20 EUR for the gasoline after 5 days!

🏨 Where to stay

There are mostly apartments available for the rent in this area unlike the south or the north parts of the island, where are a lot of hotels (incl. all-inclusive hotels) and resorts. We've been staying at 2 various apartments not far from each other: 1st day we stayed at an apartment in the Bahia Mar Canarias complex (in La Estrella – a neighbor district of La Garita) and the rest of the time we spent at the apartment just on the beachfront of La Garita (Playa de la Garita). The apartment in the Bahia Mar Canarias complex was really comfortable, spacious and had all needed amenities (incl. AC) as well as a nice terrace. We also could use a pool of the complex, which looked like this: c c c c

From the apartment at the La Garita beach I unfortunately have no photos, but it was spacious, modern and comfortable. And just like directly near the ocean! The only problem we noticed was that there was no AC there, but in November it was fine even without it. I believe during the summer it might be an issue though. c

🍽️ What and where to eat

We've been mostly buying grocery at Alcampo and cooking at the apartment this time. Occasionally we also bought something for the breakfast/dinner in the nearest café La Panera (we just loved coffee and sweets there!) and the restaurant Puerto Madera (yummy seafood Paella!) just downstairs, as well as had lunch at the Alcampo food court (everything we bought there was super tasty: fried fish, Asian style noodles, salads, pies etc.), or ate at a restaurant at that place, which we were visiting during the day. Of course, there are many options, where to eat: from ready food and a food court at the big supermarkets like Alcampo, to various cafés and restaurants including the well-known fast food chains like Mc Donald's etc. I would highlight only 2 things here this time: one that I liked a lot and another one – the opposite one.

  • Liked a lot – Apple-coffee Marmalade which we ate while visiting one of the local coffee and fruits farm “Bodega Los Berrazales”. It was such a new and interesting taste! Just recommend trying this once. c c

  • Didn't like – Chinese Buffet restaurant “Casa Chen” where we decided to eat while having a quick visit to the capital of the island – Las Palma de Gran Canaria. This place is located pretty nice at the beachfront, but the selection of the dishes in the buffet and their freshness were not that good for the price we paid.

đź‘€ What to do and what to see

As usually I will list some things we did and enjoyed a lot, which you may want to do as well:

  • Swim at sand beaches or natural swimming pools – there are many of them around the whole island. Black sand, golden sand, rocks – you can try various options and see which you like the most :) La Garita beach, where we've been staying and swimming the most was a black sand beach, and we liked it a lot! We have also been to an amazing natural pool Agaete Piscina Natural and Piscina del Perchel (didn't like it, and decided not to swim there at all) as well as golden-sand beach at Puerto de Mogan. c c c

  • Visit Dunas de Maspalomas – unique place where sand from the Sahara desert formed beautiful sand dunes at the Canary island. You can also go swimming at Playa Maspalomas right after running or walking through the dunes. c c

  • Walk through Barranco de las Vacas canyon trail – it's pretty short but not that easy trail, providing an experience similar to one you can get in USA, but in Europe. c c c c

  • Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views at Pico de las Nieves – it's one of the highest mountain peaks at the island, and you need to get ready to the 2 times lower temperature, if you'll decide to come here. The road is just stunning: you can see old volcano craters (like Caldera de Los Marteles), Rocks (like Roque Nublo), unique pine trees of Canary island and a lot other nature beauties. Get ready for serpentine roads, extreme high and hikes with warm cloth! c c c c c c

  • Visit Coffee and Fruits farm – we've been to the Bodega Los Berrazales coffee and fruits plantation, where we took an informative tour around the place, learned about the coffee trees and process of coffee growth and production as well as had a wine and coffee tasting with yummy local cheese, fruits, apple & coffee marmalade and pie. I would totally recommend this experience. c c c c c c c

  • Go hiking at various panoramic viewpoints – like for example Mirador de Venequera or Mirador El Guriete. c c

  • Go hiking/walking along the ocean at one of the long promenade – we've been walking the whole amazing Promenade from La Garita to the Taliarte Lighthouse and enjoyed it a lot: rocky shore changed with wide black-sand beaches, and multiple viewpoints provided constantly fascinating views over the ocean and the costal line. c c

The other things to do in Gran Canaria include: – having fun at the Aqualand Maspalomas, – going to Palmitos Park if you like Zoos, – visiting various cities like Las Remudas, Agüimes, Puerto de Mogán, Maspalomas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria etc. c c c c c c c

đź’ˇ Some highlights

  • The island is so different and provides huge variety of landscapes and natural beauties: from deserted areas and dunes to green and cold mountains! You should definitely take few days to explore all the directions.
  • Almost no locals speak English. Although, if you'll talk to them in English, they will understand you, but answer in Spanish, so it looked a bit like some kind of protest or unfriendly behavior.
  • The weather forecast while we've been at home was wrong about the temperature for around 10 degrees Celsius! So at the end of November it was from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius and pretty hot at Gran Canaria.
  • Sand storms coming from Sahara Desert happen pretty often and make the air quality terrible even when you are at the ocean front.
  • If you like all-inclusive hotel and touristic areas, you need to go either to the northern part of the island (ex. Las Palmas etc.) or to the southern part (ex. Maspalomas, Puerto de Mogan etc.). If you want to enjoy a calm, cozy place – I would totally recommend La Garita or some other small towns near there.