Stars, mountains, culture and a lot of flavor: this is the Gran Canaria that will conquer you
Sunlight on the face; skin stretched by salt. The swing of the waves and that Atlantic breeze that envelops and does not let go. They are details that are lived and felt while, hand in hand, it accompanies a landscape that mutates, giving shape to an entire universe in a small way: the one that the island of Gran Canaria has to offer to each and every one of its visitors.
Because she — the island — is versatile. Like few others, he knows how to play that wonderful procession in which he seduces the same for his wild mountains as for his calm beaches. For its deep marine treasures than for its star-studded nights. For its delicious aroma of coffee, than for the intense flavor of its cheeses. It is the island where you will never feel like a stranger but you will feel like an explorer. The one with immense sand dunes in which to welcome the day. That of an open and hospitable people, as magnetic and irresistible as its volcanoes.
And it turns out that therein lies the key: to speak of Gran Canaria is to speak of many islands in one . That is why it is the ideal destination for everyone: for you, for him, for us. And from now on, we are going to discover why.
Landscapes in Agaete
GRAND CANARIA COZY
Gran Canaria welcomes its visitors with open arms and a set table: few towns accept the traveler in such a natural and hospitable way, that they immediately feel at home. And perhaps the reason is precisely because of its island character: living facing the sea and having seen sailors, adventurers and characters pass through their lands, for centuries and centuries of history of all kinds, has given it that cosmopolitan atmosphere.
A trait of his personality that is discovered, above all, when walking through his capital. Las Palmas brings together the most varied enclaves that exude culture, life and colour. For example, in its most authentic neighborhood: Vegeta saw the birth of the city on June 24, 1478 and since then claims its roots among colonial buildings and historical monuments.
Here, where those Castilian troops arrived who planted three palm trees to highlight the place of their camp, without knowing that with that gesture they had just given the island its name, today places such as the avant-garde CAAM —Atlantic Center for Contemporary Art— that calls for ties between Europe, Africa and America.
Vegeta
The Columbus Museum or the majestic Cathedral of Santa Ana , with a neoclassical exterior and a baroque interior, complete an offer that expands if you continue to investigate further, where the city meets, once again, the sea.
And if we have to talk about the sea and the palms , there is a key place: the Las Canteras beach , which many declare as one of the most beautiful in the archipelago, conquers for its environment, its calm waters and its several kilometers of paradise. There is no more special corner.
GRAN CANARIA ADVENTURER
The desire to live calms down on this island of contrasts where the most exploring spirits also find their place. And it doesn't matter if they do—oxygen cylinder and wetsuit through— entering the depths of its seabed, or if, on the contrary, it is the mountain boots that give the impetus to jump inside.
Canteras Beach
Because leaving aside the attractive coasts and arid dunes in the south of the island, the heart of Gran Canaria is populated by dense forests and cliffs that also demand your attention. And they do it by right: with a monolith 80 meters high that is the Roque Nublo , great protagonist of that natural heritage that here exploits in a big way.
However, in 2019 all eyes were turned to the exultant Sacred Mountain Areas of Gran Canaria and the Risco Caído, a pre-Hispanic archaeological site of a troglodyte settlement whose great value earned them the designation of World Heritage by UNESCO. This is a cultural landscape with clear astronomical connotations that invite to dream, to travel in time and to imagine remote scenes in which the phases of the moon and the movements of the sun were already analyzed . A key corner of the Canarian aboriginal culture that sinks into the roots and is located in a mountainous area of 18 thousand hectares. No one doubts that this is another of the great prides of the island.
GRAN CANARIA FOR DREAMS
Gran Canaria is sea, it is land... and it is air . The one that dazzles when looking up, at its clear and clear skies, governed by a sun that shines brightly almost every day of the year. And if the aborigines already used night markers to contemplate the stars, it is because in this corner of the world there is something special.
Roque Nublo
The point is that there are certain circumstances here that favor observation, including the fact that the island is close to the equator or, what is the same, closer to the sun. The absence of tropical storms and the little atmospheric contamination, as well as light pollution, have made even UNESCO pay attention to it due to its characteristics. It is normal that the skies are perceived more starry here than anywhere else: the universe is shown in all its fullness.
And so much so, that Gran Canaria has been chosen as a Starlight Tourist Destination , a title boasted by destinations as exotic as Hawaii, Chile or New Zealand. a vein, the astrotourism , available to all those who have always dreamed of touching the sky with their hands. Here you have, you know, an open window to start with.
GRAN CANARIA FOODIE
Gran Canaria tastes of sea salt and sweet rum , the one that is made from the rich sugar cane. To the acidity of its wines, those that boast their own DO.
But the island also tastes like that intense aftertaste that remains on the palate, trapped, after trying any of its cheeses, which are produced in more than 80 dairies spread throughout its territory . A delicatessen touched with the wand of artisan hands without whose tasting it would be a crime to leave this land.
He also came, he always came, in Gran Canaria
Details such as the grateful microclimate that Gran Canaria enjoys influence this success, already reaped at levels that cross our borders: enjoying 24 degrees on average throughout the year can only bring good things. An aspect that also converts other island treasures, such as its coffee, into a unique and exquisite product: more than 5 thousand kilos of delicate grains are produced each year in Agaete, the only place in Europe where specialty coffee is made.
To this Eden of nuances that pairs perfectly with the spectacular nature of the island are added great delicacies with their own name: tomato and gofio, avocados, papayas and guavas... And even recipes rooted in this powerful gastronomic culture such as wrinkled potatoes or their mojo picón . A world of stimuli that awakens the palate: an absolute revolution for the senses.
Wrinkled potatoes, do not miss