We’ve recently come back from our family holiday to Gran Canaria, and I’ll be posting the hotel soon (although my reel is now live). I had been before twice: the first time for a family holiday in 2000, and then in 2008 for a girls’ holiday, but it’s crazy how much I remembered.
There are so many things we didn’t do, which I’ll list at the end. But if you’re travelling to Gran Canaria for a family holiday, here are the five things you must do.
1. Dunas de Maspalomas
The Maspalomas dunes stretch as far as 400 acres
and they’re actually a protected nature reserve. Because of this, the
viewpoints have cordons up and there are designated paths. We saw the dunes
from the viewpoint near the Riu Palace Hotel (and yes, you have to walk under
an arch, past the hotel entrance to access them).
There are marked trails you can follow, and these range from 20 minutes (to the beach) to 2 hours (for the full traverse between Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles). Alternatively, you can book a buggy tour, camel ride or guided walk. I wish we had followed the trail, but the viewpoint was pretty spectacular and it’s definitely worth seeing. The area is home to migratory birds and the Gran Canaria lizard.
2. Walking tour of Las Palmas
The approach to the city of Las Palmas is very
industrial and you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a bit dingy – especially
when you arrive to grey skies and rain, after the bluest skies in the south of
the island. However, a walking tour of its cobbled streets unveils a wealth of
colonial architecture and a mixture of influences. The vegueta (old
town) is particularly beautiful.
The historic heart of the city is home to the
majestic Cathedral de Santa Ana, Casas Consistoriales (town hall)
and a combination of gothic and neo-classical styles. While we didn’t go inside
the cathedral, our guide said you must climb the tower to witness panoramic views
of the old town. You’ll also find the Casa de Colon, the colonial style
museum, which is said to be where Christopher Columbus stayed. I like the Calle
de los Balcones, where the buildings all had balconies – some in
traditional Canarian style (large wooden structures), and others influenced by
Morocco (much smaller in size).
If history and culture aren’t your thing, there
are plenty of shopping opportunities, with a mixture of high-street and high-end
options.
3. Underwater adventures at Poema del Mar
Kids and adults alike will love the aquarium, With
three different zones to traverse through: jungle, beach and deep-sea, there’s
so much to see and take in. With over 550 species of animal (marine mammals,
fish, reptiles, and amphibians) and more than 2,000 plant specimens, you best
believe there were several highlights!
I loved the atoll in the tropical zone – you could
walk around the cylinder tube, which was filled with coral, brightly coloured
fish and sting rays. In the deep-sea zone, there was a huge tank – the largest
curved window in the world at 36m. the viewing dome offered 360-degree views
and you could also get up close and personal by viewing through the portholes. This
area was so therapeutic, with plenty of seating. The boys loved the tunnel,
where they could crawl through and poke their heads up to see lots of different
fish including clownfish (aka Nemo).
4. Spend the day at Palmitos Park
I visited Palmitos Park in 2000 and returned this
summer – and it really is a fantastic day out for all the family. Set in the
mountainous ravine in a subtropical haven, this zoological park allows you to
connect with nature. Explore the palm collection, the numerous varieties of
cacti and the orchid house. Watch daily shows: birds of prey, exotic birds and
the dolphins.
There are so many animals to discover – mainly birds,
but there’s also a butterfly house, a lemur walkthrough, and the caimans. There’s
a small aquarium (but if you’ve been to Poema del Mar, you’ll find this
slightly underwhelming and I thought the fish were quite packed in). You’ll
even find the Komodo dragon, snakes and tortoises, capuchin monkeys and
meerkats.
It’s cheaper to buy tickets online than at the gate
on the day. You can also save money on a two-park ticket which grants you
admission to Palmitos Park and Aqualand.
5. See Little Venice
Puerto de Mogan is a beautiful coastal town, with
a famous market held on Fridays and a decent family-friendly beach. You’ll find
the typical, white-washed buildings with colourful window frames, adorned with
bright pink bougainvillea. Known as ‘Little Venice’ due to the network of sea
canals and arched bridges, it’s a really pretty town to walk around, with
waterfront restaurants, a marina packed with boats and a lovely (but steep to
reach) viewpoint. From Mogan, you catch a glass-bottom ferry to the resort town
of Puerto Rico, or even book a submarine.
Just beware of the pushy shopkeepers hanging outside
their stores trying to get you in… they certainly saw my football-mad eight-year-old
coming!
The things we didn’t do that are worth mentioning:
- Aqualand
- Angry Birds Activity Park
- Banana World
- Catamaran cruise
- Dolphin watching
We found it easy getting around by bus and it’s so
much cheaper than taxis (and so much cheaper than English buses!). Under 5s travel
for free and children are the same price as adults – you need to ask for a
ticket for three people, as opposed to two adults and one child.
What did I miss? Let me know your hotspots in the
comments.
Love, Lucy xx
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Love, Lucy xx