Top Things to do in Gran Canaria
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Things to do in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas
Welcoming, tolerant Gran Canaria offers a little something for everyone. Families flock to the water parks and beaches of Puerto Rico. Those seeking peaceful escape scamper to Mogan's quiet fishing villages. Gay visitors crowd the bars, restaurants and beaches of Playa del Ingles. Urban attractions are on offer in Las Palmas. Three highways open up the island for those with a rental car or a bus schedule. Prime sites to visit include Iglesia de San Juan Bautista de Arucas and Palmalitos zoo park.
Restaurants in Gran Canaria
1. Barranco de Guayadeque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 626 reviews
Reviewed By 7edg - London, United Kingdom
This baranco is very long. To get the most out of it I'd recommend heading to Montana de las tierras and starting out from there. We drove but saw taxis which you could pick up from aguimes. There was also evidence of a bus service, although I'd want to check the timetable before relying on them, not sure how frequent the service is. Once you've parked up you can follow the track up for as long as you like. It gives some great views of the area you've driven through. The trail also continues on through the baranco. We only had an hour of daylight so didn't go far. But looks like you could quite happily walk carry on for plenty a mile (although obviously check a map for trails). Also on the road from aguimes to the mountain you'll see the interpretation centre for the valley. Sadly it was closed for technical reasons when were there (mid December 2019).
2. Pinar de Tamadaba
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By dalinda_sanchez - Gothenburg, Sweden
This place is magical! If you are a nature lover, you should definitely go to this place. How to get there I could not find the place to start the hike from Puerto de las Nieves to Tamadaban. There was not much information online and there were no signs on the road. So I opted to go by taxi to the Area recreativa at the top of the mountain and then go back to puerto de las nieves by foot. Then I checked the exact location at puerto de las nieves to start the hike for the next time. I also thought of renting a car and go to the area regreativa, but I was happy I didn't do it. First, there are no many signs along the road that can indicate whether you are on the right direction or not. Also, you will not see many people or cars along the way in case you get lost. At times you would not know which direction to take. The taxi ride cost 50 euro from Puerto de las nieves to the Area recreative (top of the mountain where you can start the hike down or take any other hike in the neighborhood). Just in front of the church of Puerto de las Nieves, by the harbour where the restaurant starts, you will find a Taxi sign with the phone number to order a taxi. It took 2 min to get a taxi very early in the morning (around 7am). The taxi ride takes about 1h but you can just relax and enjoy the view and listen to the stories that the taxi driver will share. The driver showed me the Roque Nublo, the symbol of Gran Canaria and told me what happened with the big fired that occurred in August 2019. The taxi ride was worth every penny for enjoying the beautiful scenery and all the information provided by the taxi driver. Where to hike! Once you are in Area recreativa, go to the camping area! The taxi driver recommended this area. Most hikers go directly to the hike and miss this breathtaking spot. The scenery at the camping area is jaw-dropping. You could take some food with you and sit on the rocks amazed by the beauty of the place while enjoying the food. It is about 800m-1km from the Parking Area at the area recreativa. Then, you can go back to the Area recreativa and start the hike down to Puerto de las Nieves. There are some other routes available. I followed the route to Puerto de las Nieves. Although people said that the hike was well-marked, there were some parts with fallen signs or no signs at all. I got a bit lost once. So these are the tips not to get lost. The hiking trial is a very good road, there are some small roads along the main hiking trial but not as good as the main one. So, if you end up hiking in a very narrow, not well defined path, go back to the main road, you might have taken the wrong direction. To go to Puerto de las Nieves, you need to follow the signs for Agaete. There is a shared road that also goes to San Pedro. San Pedro is closer than Puerto de las Nieves, so follow the signs that say San Pedro or Agaete if you do not see the one to Puerto de las Nieves (the first couple of km 1or 2 only mention San Pedro or Agaete), and you will have to turn left if you go further to Puerto de las Nieves later on. There was one pole on the way that has no sign but only written with pencil the distance and direction to go to Puerto de las Nieves and San Pedro (at that stage they where still on the same shared direction), so be vigilant for that sign. I hope the signs get better maintained in the future. Anyway, I also recommend you to ask any hiker you see whether you are on the right direction, just to confirm! But Puerto de las Nieves is to the left! The hike up seems very challenging but extremely worth it! The hike down is also challenging, be careful as the road is slippery at times. The hike down took me about 3 hours because I was going slow, enjoying the view and taking lots of pics. The best is to go to the Area recreativa early so that you can enjoy the hike down during the day, I would not recommend to go there around noon or later as you might get caught in the dark if getting a bit lost on the way down.
3. Cortijo De Calderetas
4. Mirador Caldera de los Marteles
5. Area Recreativa de La Laguna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
6. Reserva Natural Integral de Inagua
7. Barranco de Fataga
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By Davidjellis - Lowestoft, United Kingdom
We drove through the Fataga region as part of a cruise ship excursion in a 16-seat minibus, probably the largest vehicle that can safely navigate the winding mountain roads in this part of Gran Canaria. We stopped for around 45 minutes and our guide took us around the pretty streets, where we found a traditional bakers shop and a few other small businesses such as an art gallery buried amongst the numerous small brick properties. There are several narrow streets that lead to and from the mountains, there's a small church and a couple of restaurant / bars. It's a delightful village so don't be tempted to just drive past...take a few moments to explore this hidden gem of the island.
8. Barranco de la Virgen
9. Reserva Natural Especial de Guigui
10. Reserva Natural El Cabron
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