The Canary Islands are well known as one of the best winter sun options in Europe being that they fall on the same line of latitude as Southern Morocco, hovering around the Tropic of Cancer – which is exceptionally temperate year-round. But believe it or not, I (a Brit) had never ventured to the Canaries before – not even to escape the torrid British winter. This in itself seemed curious as I spend at least 25% of my waking winter hours complaining vehemently about how much I bloody hate winter and being cold.
You could be forgiven for mistakenly bunching the Canary Islands together and assuming they all have relatively the same things to offer – but you’d be wrong. With no less than six major islands plus a host of smaller “islets” – the Canaries have plenty to offer beyond cliche package holidays and out of season sunburn. I headed to Gran Canaria, one of the Canaries larger islands, this winter with my mum in tow to see if we could a) get along for a whole week just the two of us without killing each other and b) to see precisely why Gran Canaria might just be the best winter sun destination in Europe.
First things first – yes, it was sunny and warm. Gran Canaria – and particularly the south of the island – remains temperate and sunny all year round meaning vacationing “off-season” is totally doable and you won’t be missing out on anything by opting to travel over the winter months. As the Canary Islands are so favoured for their winter sun options the wintertime is actually their peak period – as obviously in the summer months, there are a lot more options within Europe to travel to. Although part of Spain, the Canary Islands lie off the West coast of Africa – although the vibe is entirely Spanish it has made the Canaries a hot spot for history-in-the-making as a stopping point on many a pivotal voyage.
With that said, Gran Canaria is by no means a convenient substitute for your summer holiday – but in winter. As a volcanic island with rugged mountains, dreamy coastline, teeny porcelain-white villages plus the cosmopolitan capital of Las Palmas – Gran Canaria holds its own among the many facets of Europe – and can be tailored to suit a range of tastes.
Some of the best things to try on the island include wine tasting, scenic walks, shovelling tapas into your face with reckless abandon, super-scenic drives, deserted beaches, buzzing beaches, star gazing, dune-clambering and plenty of good old fashioned sangria-guzzling. Time to dust off your two-piece and grab some of the last few rays of the season!
Where to Stay:
– Maspalomas:
Known for its great weather, massive rolling dunes made from displaced Sahara sand, a multitude of tourist resorts and a seemingly never-ending coastline – it’s a firm favourite amongst visitors to the island. While it can experience its fair share of windy days, the sun almost always shines! With an active gay community, chic rooftop bars, excellent dining options and just a short 30-minute ride from Gran Canaria’s International Airport, it’s easy to see why Maspalomas continues to draw in a crowd.
So staying at one of the area’s hippest hotels seemed like a no brainer.
We stayed in a modern yet stylish junior suite which featured a king-size bed, rain shower, large balcony with day bed, walk-in wardrobe and all kinds of cute extras like gnome stools, Molton Brown cosmetics, Illy coffee machine and an idyllic view of Maspalomas beach. Opting for the half board option we were able to enjoy a gourmet buffet breakfast every day plus several chic dinners – all served in the hotel’s impressive
One major draw for me as a millennial – and less so for my mum (who grew up when TV was still in black and white!) was the many techy wonders that Bohemia offers its guests. The lobby has tablets for guests to use, the pool area has “ring for service” devices, all guests are given a fully data-enabled tablet for the duration of their stay that allows them to message reception, room service, look through menus and excursions. Neat, huh?
– Puerto de Mogán
Thankfully, when the wind is howelling in Maspalomas, there’s another place you can escape to where the weather is typically always sunny and calm. Puerto de Mogán is a super cute port town that boasts a range of delightful colourful accommodations, housed around the main marina. Canarian flowers adorn the street tops while the dreamy alleyways below are a flurry of activity: maids scurry across courtyards while tourists strut calmly along the marina’s edge. Puerto de Mogán for sure is a tourist town – there’s no doubt about that. But it’s an adorable one oozing with charm and perhaps an ideal location if you really want everything you need in a walkable area. I think especially for those with older relatives or young children. The marina front is host to an array of charming eateries, boutiques and the inevitable tourist tat. On Fridays from 9 am until 2 pm, a
Also, very conveniently, Mogán is host to a pleasant sandy man-made beach, which although is perhaps not the most beautiful is hugely functional. Find sunbeds for hire, plentiful ice creams and drinks for the little ones and sheltered by a large rock face and protective sand bar meaning the water is super calm and safe for swimmers of all ages. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can take a short hike to the highest part of Mogán and enjoy the idyllic view of the beach and marina. Mogán is also home to salt-water canals with cute bridges perfect for that quintessential Insta-shot.
– Las Palmas
Of course, many visitors to the island opt to stay in Las Palmas, the island’s buzzing capital. If you are coming to Gran Canaria in the winter with the hopes of catching some rays, it’s advisable to stay in the south of the island which is home to warmer and less changeable weather. However, we found Las Palmas to be temperate – but I guess it depends on the day! Being that the island is relatively compact, it’s perfectly doable to stay in the south and visit Las Palmas for a day trip.
Las Palmas offers some of the best restaurants, top-rated boutique hotels and undoubtedly chicest stores in the Canaries. Divided into two distinct areas – the historic old town of Vegueta and the newer side of town which is set around Las Canteras beach – one of the most popular on the island. In the old town, you can find Spanish colonial charm by the bucketload, traditional food markets, cobbled streets, Plaza de Santa Ana which is home to Las Palmas’s only cathedral and – perhaps the most intreating for any weary traveller –
One of the most impressive seasonal attractions is the annual
What to do?
– Maspalomas Dunes
The magical dunes of this southern beach town are not to be missed if only to see the impressive view where the dunes meet the ocean. This only requires a short trip to get your fill of wind-whipped and sand-blasted adventure. Afterwards, take a stroll along the seemingly never-ending coastline that stretches right the way around the dunes. If you have yet to visit the Sahara, then you’re a step closer as the dunes are made from displaced Saharan sand.
– Las Palmas Old Town
If you’re staying in the south you’ve gotta take at least one day to venture north and check out Las Palmas – or more specifically Vegueta – the old city. Put your walking shoes on and spend the day idling around the many lanes, popping in and out of cute little dusty old shops and enjoying the small array of museums the area is host to with everything from the history of the Canaries to Columbus, to modern art.
– Shopping in Las Palmas
As seasoned professionals (as far as shopping is concerned) we were rightly impressed by Las Palma’s long pedestrianised street of chic stores known as
– Hire a car and tour the island
Undoubtedly the best way to see the island is from its incredibly smooth roadways (well, in some areas!) Gran Canaria is like a handful of countries squished into one! In less than a 3-hour drive, you can see magnificent dunes, twisting mountain paths, colossal colourful rock formations and the lush western coastline which lays host to the Dragon’s Back – a formation of rocks that look like… yep, a dragon’s back.
– Wine and dine
You may, or may not know, that the Canary Islands actually produce their own wine – and a lot of it! Personally, I had never tried any before – and as it turns out, there’s probably a good reason why. The cost to export it is so high that it is not sold outside of the islands themselves (and I guess maybe mainland Spain.) So trying some of Gran Canaria’s vines has to be top of any gal’s to-do list. We visited one of the highest vineyards BLANK for a scenic sunset wine tasting at
– Relax with cocktails
There’s just something about sipping on a cocktail that encapsulates the holiday vibe for me – extra points if it’s in a luxurious setting where home feels a world away. Bohemia’s rooftop cocktail lounge
– Check out cute mountain towns
Gran Canaria is home to several exceedingly lovely little hill-topped towns that are a photographer’s dream. Perhaps one of the most quaint being the village of
– Enjoy the fruits of nature at a hidden finca
Tucked away along the west coast, just past Los Berezzales village – lies
– Health & wellness
Sometimes there’s nothing better than just kicking back and taking it easy. This was particularly simple for us as
– Volcanic adventures
You just can’t help but notice the eccentric rock formations in Gran Canaria. And while you can simply stare from your car window, it’s certainly worth delving a bit deeper into the history of Gran Canaria’s geological make up. For starters check out
– Get gastronomical
Bohemia is also home to one of the islands chicest new dining experiences –
– Gaze at the heavens
We had hoped to schedule some of this in but our days were so active we were pooped by nightfall! But for those committed enough, there are several tour agencies on the island that take tourists up to the mountains to
– Get fat
My ever-favourite past time – I like to schedule time in all of my trips for such endeavours! And Gran Canaria was no exception. Luxury breakfasts at the hotel, yummy tapas lunches in cute, casual eateries around the island. Notable yums include this like honey/almond jammy-type mixture called Bienmasabe which is particularly good with ice cream. Cactus jam, filled croquettes, a really yummy fish called “Cherne” (also known as wreckfish) which is doused in a delightful orange sauce that seems to come with everything savoury on this island – “Mojo” – a garlicky, peppery, creamy and slightly spicy sauce that you will no doubt come into contact with just about anywhere in Gran Canaria. One of our favourite meals was the six-course
Getting Around:
Depending on your holiday goals, you might not want to venture much further than your sun lounger; but for those that do a whole host of activities and microclimates await them.
– Hiring a car is probably the best way to tour the island at your own pace for a reasonable price point. Take your time, stop as much as you want and enjoy the islands great roadways.
– But fear not – for those on a budget or who aren’t wanting to drive there are still options on this bubbly little island. A reliable
– Tours / private tours are also available through most hotels or tourist information hubs. Private tours can be perfect for small groups with limited time and those with small children. A host of reputable private tour guides are available for hire via Gran Canaria Tourism board. Alternatively, a more economical option for singles or couples is to take an organised tour.
Gran Canaria Highlights:
– Unexpected yummy wines.
– Impressive scenic drives – great for motorbikes.
– A more relaxed vibe to mainland Spain.
– Multiple options for all budgets in terms of accommodation, tours and transport.
– Very affordable local cuisine. Canarian food is very modest, so no need to worry about dropping a ton of money on expensive food. Small tapas plates are super affordable wherever you go.
– An amalgamation of holiday types. Desert – check, beach – check, windsurfing school – check, chic shopping and dining and rock climbing – also check.
– Rich in history and culture.
– Year-round beautiful sunny weather!
– Just a 3 – 4-hour flight from most of Europe and generally cheap to fly.
– Water sports – surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing – it’s all here!
**Please note: I was sponsored on this trip by Visit Gran Canaria and Bohemia Suites and Spa, however, all opinions stated are, of course, my own.**