On the southwest shores of Gran Canaria there is a beach with a manmade ocean water lagoon, whose sandy shores stretch half a mile protected from the strong waves of the Atlantic. Playa de Amadores is a well loved beach, popular due to its readily available amenities. There is ample […]
Gran Canaria
16 posts
When kitschy kitchen supplies surround a windmill, stop and wander around like you’re Alice in Wonderland on Gran Canaria. Driving down from the mountains to the coast on GC-200 through the town of Mogán you can’t miss Molino de Viento. In the Canary Islands you are likely to see windmills, […]
Fourteen and half million years ago, Gran Canaria was formed in a mayhem of volcanic eruption. All over the island and archipelago, there are signs of the lava flow – but none as breathtaking as from its northwest reaches within Tamadaba Natural Park: the Dragon’s Tail. It’s a bold claim, […]
The Canary Island archipelago has a desert climate, especially noticeable on its western islands Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. When you get to the continent in miniature Gran Canaria, a bit more green can be found, and even a waterfall if you know where to look. El Charco Azul is a lesser […]
The Canary Islands are situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where the waves are strong and relentless. Many beaches are located along coasts that are dangerous for swimming, so seeking natural pools is a way to stay safe and enjoy the salt water. You’ll find over a dozen […]
Figras is not a bustling tourist mainstay in Gran Canaria, but a quaint local village in the north of the island. You won’t find many attractions pulling you this way, but taking a detour is a welcomed change of pace. Experiencing the Paseo de Gran Canaria may only take a […]
The popular tourist hub in the south of Gran Canaria is marked by the seaside dunes of Maspalomas. The area is just a fraction of its former self, 1.5 square miles, and flanked by resorts. To the west of the beach there are two icons to explore. Faro de Maspalomas […]
On a cloudy morning at sea level in Gran Canaria, I wondered if it would be the wrong day to drive up into the highlands, would there be any views? Hoping that the progressive warmth of the day would break the clouds, I never realized that the sheer elevation of […]
The serpentine and scenic winding road laden with hairpin turns ascends up towards the highest point in Gran Canaria, viewed from the mirador Pico de las Nieves. It isn’t physically demanding to summit the Peak of the Snows which showcases Morro de la Agujereada standing 6,417 feet tall. All you […]
A volcanic eruption 4.5 million years ago created one of the biggest crags in the world, a sacred place of ancient worship. The Rock in the Clouds stands 220 feet tall, a monolith atop a plateau surrounded by staggering beauty. With an altitude of 5,948 ft Roque Nublo is the […]
At the center of Tejeda volcanic caldera a standalone pinnacle jutting 4,639 feet high, a guardian over the Big Ravine. Roque Bentayga is the third tallest point in Gran Canaria located within a biosphere that covers 46% of the island. In the ravine you will find many Canary pines and […]
In 1478 the Spanish began their conquest of Gran Canaria under Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. One of the first developments on the archipelago was Plaza Santa Ana and inside the square the first church of the Canary Islands was built. Located in the neighborhood of Vegueta within the capital […]
Perhaps the best island in the Canary archipelago to play archeologist, Gran Canaria boasts some incredibly preserved aboriginal sites. Cuatro Puertas, or Four Doors, is a complex of caves dug into the old volcanic cone Mount Bermeja by hand five hundred years ago. The hill standing 1,500 feet outside Telde […]
A massive underground explosion only 2,000 years ago produced a maar in Gran Canaria, the magnificent volcanic crater Monumento Natural de Bandama reaching 700 feet deep and spanning 3,300 feet wide was born. The name of the caldera stems from a Dutch merchant of the 1500s, Daniel van Damme. He […]
Spain’s largest botanical garden resides on the island of Gran Canaria within in the lush Guiniguada Ravine. El Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo, simply known as the Canary Gardens, was established in 1952 and spans 67 acres. The garden is located in the capital of the island, Las Palmas de […]