Monday, 04 May 2015 07:06

5 Things We'd Do In Gran Canaria This Week

Gran Canaria essentials: Visit a new beach Gran Canaria essentials: Visit a new beach

You don't know Gran Canaria until you've ventured beyond the gates of the resorts. Here's the five things we think you have to do if you're in Gran Canaria this week.

Visit a new beach

Always go to the same bit of Maspalomas beach, or have you got a favourite restaurant at Amadores? There's such a range of beaches along the island's coast that it seems a shame to stick to the same one all the time. So, this week we challenge you to try a new patch of sand somewhere, anywhere, in Gran Canaria. How about Scandie favourite Patalavaca between Arguineguín and Anfi, or nudist Guayedra in the far north-west? 

Need beach inspiration: See our guide to all of Gran Canaria's beaches here

 Go north or up

South Gran Canaria basks in a bubble of sunshine and the warm sand, cool water and sheer convenience of the resorts make it tough to get out and explore. But you never meet anyone who regrets doing a day trip around the island.  

So, rent a car and head up into the highlands, or jump on a bus up to Las Palmas for old town culture and new town shopping. There's an island out there that deserves a visit.

Eat at a location restaurant

When good food and great views combine you get an unforgettable dining experience that's worth travelling to. Gran Canaria's volcanic highlands and rugged valleys mean that there's plenty of spectacular places to choose from. From cave restaurants serving papas con mojo to tree-top Asian fusion, Gran Canaria's got some fantastic places to eat. 

Visit a museum

It may not be why you chose Gran Canaria as a destination, but the island's best museums and galleries, clustered in old town Vegueta, are a bonus. Learn about Columbus' visit to Las Palmas and his journeys to America at the Casa de Colón, see the mummy room at the Museo Canario, or take in the modern art at the CAAM gallery.

For something completely different, visit the La Fortaleza castle museum in Santa Lucia de Tirajana. It's got everything from prehistoric artifacts to vintage farm tools and cannon.  

Take a boat trip

See Gran Canaria as Columbus did as he sailed away on the journey to the Americas by taking a boat trip from Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogán harbour. Energetic options include party boat and big game fishing while more relaxing options include dolphin watching and doing nothing on a catamaran as it sails from bay to bay along the southwest coast. See our selection of the best boat trips in Gran Canaria.

 

Published in Guide

Join the Gran Canaria Info newsletter list

endanlfifrdeisitnoplptruessv

 

 

Follow us on Facebook

Tip of the day

  • The Parafarmacia In Gran Canaria Is Not A Chemist!
    The Parafarmacia In Gran Canaria Is Not A Chemist!

    If there is one thing we hate it is visitors being tricked in Gran Canaria. In the past we've warned about overcharging at Gran Canaria chemists, and rip off electronics shops in resorts. 

    In this Tip Of The Day we return to the island's chemists or rather, to the island's fake chemists.

    A chemist in Gran Canaria is called a Farmacia and always has a green cross sign. Farmacias are the only place tobuy medicine in Spain, even basics like paracetamol.

    However, there is another kind of shop in Gran Canaria that looks and sounds like a chemist but doesn't sell medicine. This is the Parafarmacia and it also uses a green cross sign.

    A parafarmacia is a herbal medicine shop that is not allowed to sell any normal medicine such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or antibiotics. 

    Instead, parafarmacias sell herbal alternatives to medicine but don't have to prove that they work and they can charge whatever they want.

    We recently heard from a visitor to Gran Canaria who went into a parafarmacia and was charged 40 euros for a herbal alternative to Ibuprofen. It was only when they read the label that they realised what had happened. 

    To locate a genuine farmacia, see this website and search within your municipio (Puerto Rico is in Mogán, Playa del Inglés is in San Bartolomé de Tirajana). At weekends and on fiesta days many farmacias close but there is always one open, known as the farmacia de guardia, in each municipio.

    Search for the nearest one to you with this tool

    Lex Says: To keep costs down, see this article for the way to ask for generic medicine rather than expensive branded alternatives. 

Latest articles

Who's Online

We have 5137 guests and no members online

Login / Register

Take this website to the max, login or create an account now! By clicking on any Social Media platform logo, you can login with just one click.