Last Christmas, we decided to fly away and spend it somewhere warm. We chose Gran Canaria for the warmth, flight availability and famous cycling routes (for Michal, obviously 😉).
We rented a beautiful villa in Saucillo, in the mountains, in the island’s northern part. The owners were super friendly and helpful. They even decorated the whole house and garden for Christmas, so we even had a Christmas tree, which was a lovely touch, and our little son loved it.
The highest point of Gran Canaria is Pico de las Nieves (1.947m). Because of the nice tarmac road, it is a popular destination for cycling trips. It offers outstanding and peaceful views of the island and the Teide mountain on Tenerife.
Remaining inland, Tejeda is a beautiful village with white houses set on a steep slope. It is nice to walk around and get in the views and the atmosphere. Also, it is an excellent spot for driving enthusiasts to take a break, as the roads leading there wind up and down and there and forth, which is, on the one hand, stunning, but on the other, it can be pretty overwhelming and requires some amount of concentration. Driving through the island in any direction takes a whole day, but it is worth the trip.
The north-west of the island particularly caught our eye. It is wilder and much less touristic than the south and south-east. The village of Sardina offers a great beach and a few good restaurants.
Puerto de las Nieves is a bit further than Sardina and boasts a beautiful beach and a pier for occasional ferries. They run sporadically; in the meantime, you can jump in the crystal clear and deep water. There is also a spectacular big playground on the promenade for children of all ages.
Even further west is the tiny village of Los Caserones. A nice mini trail starts at the info centre and passes a tiny, pristine beach before climbing to a secluded viewpoint.
Back north, quite close to Las Palmas, is the village of Arucas, with a black church made from lava stones and a promenade full of restaurants. The church can be seen from very far away, making it a landmark.
Travelling through the north, the village of Moya should not be missed. It has nice cafés on a promenade, houses made from tiles, and a breathtaking view from a balcony behind the church.
As I mentioned, the south is quite touristy, but a few places are worth visiting. Puerto de Mogán invites you to stroll through its streets, which are full of beautiful, almost colonial architecture. There is also a big, pleasant, and shaded playground for children. Arquinequin is another place to visit in the south if you want to take a swim. It is a lovely big beach surrounded by shops and cafés, but it is already quite touristy.
Last but not least, the most famous landmark from the south is probably the Dunes of Maspalomas. Go in the afternoon, stroll a bit, have fun sliding the slopes and then enjoy a sunset on one of the dunes. Please bring something to eat and drink and make it a lovely evening.
We also moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the last couple of days to have the city experience. The vast beach Playa de las Canteras is in the northern part, with a promenade where one can find Christmas markets and decorations. The historic centre is located in the southern part and has vibes different from the northern part. The beautiful black cathedral offers magnificent views from its towers. Casa Colón is a museum on the voyages of Christopher Columbus, where he also spent a few days. In the evening, go to the Hotel Cordial’s rooftop bar at Plaza Mayor and enjoy a few drinks with views of the cathedral.
