Where to stay on Gran Canaria to explore the island?

Hi there,

I’m planning a trip from Gran Canaria to El Hierro to Tenerife at the end of winter.

My current dilemma is where to book accommodations on Gran Canaria.

We’re planning to stay 7 nights on the island, and our goal is to hike, drive along small roads, discover a few villages, and admire some beaches (just for the views, not for swimming!).

Since the island is quite rugged, the journeys can be long even if the distances are short. I’d like to avoid driving 2 hours every morning and evening to reach the area we want to explore...

I’m thinking of splitting the 7 nights into 4 somewhere and 3 elsewhere.

But where? It seems the center and the northwest might be the best options.

Any advice, given that I’m mainly looking for peace and quiet, a beautiful view, a secluded spot, or a quiet village?

Thanks! :)

Hi Agnès

I’m thinking of splitting the 7 nights into 4 somewhere and 3 elsewhere.

That’s exactly what we did—3 nights in the mountains and 4 by the sea.

For the mountains: Tejeda (photo 1). A pretty, quiet village (late 2021!) and the perfect base for walks or hikes through some stunning landscapes. For the coast: Maspalomas (2). A typical Spanish seaside town with lots of concrete, but our place was a bit farther north in Playa del Águila, with a sea-view apartment (quiet in late 2021!). Otherwise, the Maspalomas dunes are worth seeing, especially early in the morning. Also, I’ve heard it’s less crowded around Agaete. One town we really loved: Las Palmas (3)—we ended up spending two full days there.

I think we benefited from the low crowds during that post-COVID period. A friend just got back from Lanzarote and said it was packed.

(Lanzarote was our "favorite" island, but it’s not in your plans 😉)

Hi Kate,

Tejeda

That’s exactly where I’m focusing my research right now! 😉

I’ll head to the dunes from there since the southern area really isn’t my cup of tea...

Agaete

That could be my base for the ocean side, then.

Las Palmas

I was wondering if the city was worth it. You’ve almost convinced me to spend a night there. 🙂

That’d make 4 nights in the mountains, 2 nights by the ocean in the northwest, and one night in Las Palmas.

I didn’t find the crowds overwhelming in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, or Tenerife—either before or after COVID.

I’m starting to think it’s a seasonal thing.

A lot of people travel from June to September, plus during school holidays.

In winter, since it’s too chilly for the beach and swimming, it’s mostly older folks who hang out by the coast looking for sunshine and a cheaper cost of living than back home. Outside of their second homes, you hardly see them...

I’ll be going in winter, outside of school holidays, so it should be fine.

Fingers crossed...

(I really liked Lanzarote too—different from Tenerife but just as nice!)

Hello, We’ve already made five trips to Gran Canaria, and I think I can say we know the island pretty well—both the mountain side and the coastal areas. For the mountain side, Tejeda is indeed a great base. For the ocean side, my personal pick would be Puerto de Mogán, which is more intimate and less crowded than Maspalomas. The wind is less frequent there, and swimming is possible year-round. The island is really lovely, and there’s something for everyone. It’s true that travel times can be a bit long, but you can easily get from Puerto de Mogán to the center of the island in just over an hour, do a 3-4 hour hike, and enjoy a swim by the sea on your way back in the late afternoon. Have a great trip!

Hello,

I’m planning a trip to Gran Canaria - El Hierro - Tenerife at the end of winter.

My current dilemma is where to book accommodations on Gran Canaria.

We’ll be staying 7 nights on the island, and our goal is to hike, explore small roads, discover a few villages, and admire some beaches (just for the views, not for swimming!).

Since the island is quite rugged, the routes take a while even if the distances are short. I’d like to avoid driving 2 hours every morning and evening to reach the area we want to visit...

I’m thinking of splitting the 7 nights into 4 somewhere and 3 elsewhere.

But where? It seems the center and the northwest would be the best areas to focus on.

Any advice, keeping in mind that I’m looking for peace and quiet above all, a beautiful view, a secluded spot, or a quiet village?

Thanks! :)

Hi there,

Thanks for the tips!

I’m not sure Puerto de Mogán is the right place for me beyond a daytime stroll.

I’m looking for total peace and quiet, as few people and as little activity as possible. A secluded little house would be ideal! Also, I’m not even sure I’ll bring a swimsuit… I struggle to swim if the water isn’t warm—even more so if it’s not very warm outside. The beach isn’t the goal of the trip at all.

Have a great evening

I went there at the end of October. I couldn’t swim—the water was too cold!

Tejeda, you won’t regret it; the place has some of the most beautiful landscapes on the island. Las Palmas, as I mentioned, was a hit with us. It’s got a unique vibe—cooler and calmer than big Spanish cities but with all the same perks: old quarters with cobbled streets, colonial houses, markets, terraces, wine bars, and lively evenings. Sound like your kind of thing? Visiting, drinking, and eating—just what you love, right? 😉 The coast, though, isn’t great, or at least only a few small spots here and there. You’re right not to linger there.

Anyway, when we got back, we agreed Gran Canaria was worth the trip for its mountain scenery, its capital, and the Maspalomas dunes at sunrise.

Hello, I totally get your choices. We also visited the northwest coast, and I have to admit we weren’t charmed at all. First, the weather is much more unpredictable—even cold in winter. Plus, it’s an agricultural region, so there are lots of towns and greenhouses right up to the water, which means few hiking opportunities. Agaete has beautiful natural pools, but it’s not really your style. Firgas and Teror are very pretty villages. Gáldar is super interesting for its amazing Christmas decorations. If hiking is what attracts you, you might consider staying in Tejeda—you’d be about an hour away from the farthest points on the island. Have a great day

Okay, so if I get it right, it'd be better to spend 6 nights on the mountain side and one in Las Palmas! 😛

Yeah, staying in the middle of the island does seem like a better fit for me. 🙂

Okay, so if I get it right, it'd be better to spend 6 nights on the mountain side and one in Las Palmas! :P

Are you planning to visit another island during this trip?

Yeah, as I mentioned in my first post...😇😄

El Hierro for 4 nights and a little trip to Tenerife for 3 nights to go back to the caldera and try to see the western part in the sun.

Yes, as mentioned in my first post...😇

Oh right, shoot—I’d even seen that and thought, why not Lanzarote... So if you go to Tenerife, you’ll get your fill of ocean!

Hi Agnès,

I’m jumping into the discussion since, after many changes, we’ve finally decided on Gran Canaria at the end of March for 10–12 days. The Tejeda area looks amazing, of course (landscapes, hikes, and not too crowded), but since I’m really sensitive to the cold, I’m a bit worried it might be chilly there—especially if the sun isn’t out (and here, I’m asking Bernard 09 if you have any experience with this 😉).

Hi Agnès,

I’m jumping into the discussion since, after many changes, we’ve finally decided on Gran Canaria at the end of March for 10-12 days. The Tejeda area seems great, of course (landscapes, hikes, and not too crowded)... but since I’m really sensitive to the cold, I’m a bit worried it might be chilly there, especially if the sun isn’t out (and here, I’m asking Bernard 09 if he has any experience with this ;)).

Hi Muriel, It’s hard to say about the weather, but Tejeda is around 1,000m above sea level, so it’s definitely much cooler there in the early morning or late evening than on the coast. Personally, for the temperature, I’d prefer—like you seem to—to stay around Puerto de Mogán, which is far from overcrowded, or maybe Mogán itself. However, for hikes in the center of the island, you’ll need to allow about an hour’s drive and be comfortable with mountain driving.

Hi Muriel,

So far, I’ve only been to the Canary Islands in November. I found the weather spring-like, with occasional cold spells due to the very high altitude (the summit of Teide), wind, or nighttime.

Anyway, in the evenings, I almost never strolled around in just a t-shirt, and the duvet was definitely welcome in the room! But during the day, even at 2,000 meters, it was pleasant. The wind had more of an impact on how cold it felt than the altitude did.

I’d be going a bit ahead of you, but not enough to give you my feedback before you book!

In the end, I booked 6 nights about ten kilometers from Tejeda, one night in La Aldea de San Nicolás, and one near the airport since my flight to El Hierro leaves early in the morning.

The night in La Aldea will let me visit the north/northwest coast and then check out the dunes before heading to my final stop.

I was pretty surprised by the cost of inter-island transfers. It’s almost the same price to fly from Gran Canaria to El Hierro and then take a boat from El Hierro to Tenerife as it is to travel between the Canary Islands from France...

Thanks Bernard for the reply. I’ll keep digging... while calculating the distances (well, more like the travel times 😉)

Hello Agnès, I went to Lanzarote in February—the weather wasn’t very sunny, but it wasn’t cold either (though altitude isn’t really a factor there). Then to Tenerife in April, where about three-quarters of the time, there was a cloud band between 1,000 and 1,500 meters. Result: pretty mild but gray under the clouds, clear blue skies on the Teide side above them, and very pleasant daytime temps. Just avoid staying between 1,000 and 1,500 meters... (which is why I’m wondering about Tejeda). But hey, weather from one year to the next—or even one week to the next—is a bit of a luck thing 🤪

Yes, I remember that cloud band! Fingers crossed we don’t run into it every day on Gran Canaria!

Hi, Just back from Gran Canaria—just so you know, the road between Mogán and the center of the island (Ayacata) is closed due to construction work. Access to Veneguera beach is also cut off because the winter rains completely destroyed the road, which now blends into the stream where I’d never seen water before. It’s nice to see some water in the reservoirs again.

Thanks for this super fresh info. I'm leaving in just over a month, so this could still come in handy 😉

Hi Bernard,

Thanks for the info! :)