10 places in Gran Canaria that you cannot miss

Dunes-of-Maspalomas
Gran Canaria is like a kind of miniature continent, since on this Canary island you can enjoy all kinds of experiences: sailing to see whales, walking through Canarian pine forests, having fun in a water park, visiting museums, relaxing in a quiet Beach…

With almost 60 kilometers of beaches along 235 kilometers of coastline and an area declared a Biosphere Reserve due to the volcanic relief, the presence of Macaronesian flora and its large extensions of pine, Gran Canaria has a lot to offer the traveler. If you plan to visit the island, we recommend that you pay attention, since we are going to talk about 10 places that you cannot miss.

Roque Nublo

Roque-Nublo
First of all, we want to talk about the Roque Nublo Natural Monument, one of the most emblematic natural spaces in Gran Canaria. Located in the town of Tejeda, in ancient times it was used as an aboriginal place of worship. Along with Roque Nublo there are other unique rock formations.

Cueva Pintada Archaeological Park and Museum

Cave-Painted
If you have the opportunity to visit Gran Canaria, you will not be able to miss the Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park, which is located in the city of Gáldar. It houses one of the most representative archaeological sites in the Canary Islands. In fact, the Painted Cave is considered the "Sistine Chapel" of the ancient aborigines of the island.

Puerto de Mogán

Puerto-de-Mogan
Another interesting place is Puerto de Mogán, a cozy fishing port in the south of the island that maintains the atmosphere of a typical fishing district. Its unique architecture stands out, which contrasts with the flowers in the gardens and bridges. Here you will enjoy a fantastic sunset.

Las Canteras beach

Playa-de-Las-Canteras
We also have to talk about Playa de las Canteras, the main urban beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The name of the sandbank has to do with La Barra, a sedimentary rock of sandstone and calcareous deposits that runs parallel to the shore.

Maspalomas dunes

Dunas-de-Maspalomas1
The Dunes of Maspalomas, a natural space protected by the Government of the Canary Islands as a special nature reserve, could not be missing from this list. Its 400 hectares include a spectacular beach, a field of living dunes, a palm tree forest and a brackish lagoon.

Puerto de las Nieves

Puerto-de-las-Nieves
We continue our tour of Gran Canaria in Puerto de las Nieves, a picturesque and charming fishing village on the north coast of the island that has a typical Canarian atmosphere and character. During the last few years it has been remodeled, becoming an attractive complex.

Teror helmet

Teror
Another place worth visiting is the old town of Teror, a town located in the northern region of the island. It is one of the oldest inhabited nuclei in the Canary Islands. This place stands out for its vast religious heritage, which includes a basilica and convents.

Vegueta

Vegueta
We also want to talk about Vegueta, the founding neighborhood of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Declared a National Artistic Historic Site, it preserves samples of traditional architecture, patios full of plants, pedestrian squares, wooden balconies, cobbled streets …

Guayadeque ravine

Barranco-de-Guayadeque
How could it be otherwise, we are also going to talk about the Barranco de Guayadeque Natural Monument, an extensive 15-kilometer-long ravine located in the southeast of the island. You will be fascinated by its rugged landscape of steep slopes covered with native vegetation.

Bandama boiler

Bandama
Finally, we want to talk about the Caldera de Bandama, a volcanic caldera of great dimensions and steep walls, which is located in the northeast of Gran Canaria. It was originated by a volcanic process that could have started between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago.