Things to do in Gran Canaria

Located in the historic centre of Las Palmas, the menu at Deliciosa Marta is inspired by its Canarian surrounds and makes the best of seasonal local produce in each and every plate delivered by Marta and her husband. Meanwhile, the homely atmosphere of Casa Brito sets the scene for authentic local bistro cuisine focussed around traditional barbequing techniques.

The Centro de Cultura Contemporánea San Martín is a one-stop-shop for culture on the island, marrying an eighteenth-century courtyard with contemporary art and a regular series of concerts. Dating back much further is the Cueva Pintada (Painted Cave) archaeological museum in Galdar, which contains the best-preserved relics of the island’s pre-Hispanic population. Meanwhile, Las Palmas is home to Pueblo Canario, a folk centre in the form of a traditional Canarian village. However, head to Vegueta area of the city and you’ll see the real thing – an unspoilt fifteenth-century town of cobbled streets and traditional architecture. Vegueta is also the perfect destination for art aficionados; a historic building on Los Balcones Street contains CAAM, the Centro Atlantico Arte Moderno, a gallery displaying modern art from Europe, Africa, and America.

Situated in Las Palmas, Playa de las Canteras is a year-round, warm water swimming and snorkelling spot thanks to an offshore lava reef that protects the coast from strong currents. The second-longest beach on the island, the dunes of Maspalomas in the island’s south are one of the most popular places to top up your tan, ride a camel, and hike one of three routes. Good walking shoes are a must if considering a visit to Güigüí Beach for its view of Teide Volcano, which is reached via a relatively tough footpath. Meanwhile, you can leave everything back at the hotel at Playa Guayedra, the island’s famed nudist beach. One of the best-equipped beaches can be found on a resort at Puerto de Mogán, with sun loungers, umbrellas, and water sports facilities. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the man-made freshwater lake beaches of Presa de los Pérez are a great choice for returning to nature without having to remove all your clothes.

If heading to one of the island’s beaches isn’t quite enough for you, you can explore the dramatic coastline from the waves with a trip aboard the Aphrodite, a wood-built yacht which plies the waters around Puerto Rico on the southwest of the island. Away from the coast, the forested slopes of Laguna de Valleseco are prime walking and cycling country, as is Los Tilos de Moya nature reserve. An altogether different form of the reserve can be sampled at Bodegas Bentayga, a vineyard boasting flavourful wines and astounding views across to the Caldera de Tejeda. Alternatively, closer to Las Palmas you’ll find the award-winning Bodegas Mondalón winery, while Bodega Los Berrazales not only produces fine wines but is also the site of the world’s northernmost coffee plantation.

Also to the north of the island is the Quesería Cortijo de Caideras cheesery, which produces nine varieties of ultra-local queso de flor (flower cheese), made using the thistle-like flowers of the artichoke to set the curds into cheese. For those with a sweeter tooth, the freshly-prepared cakes and pastries of D’Vainilla are a wonderful introduction to the island’s Spanish dessert traditions. But perhaps the best way to sample all the foods Gran Canaria has to offer is with a visit to Mercado del Puerto, a market that has been in operation since the nineteenth century. In addition to the traditional stalls of produce, the market also includes stands of street food from the Canaries and around the world.