Gran Canaria Frequently Asked Questions

Transports

Is there any means of transport which connects to the north and south of the Island?
The island of Gran Canaria boasts structures of modern and wide roads. From the airport there are regular bus lines which connect to the north and the south of the island. Therefore a visitor can use the bus from one point to another of the island every day of the week.

Is it possible to travel the island by any means of transport? How long does it take to travel the island? Are there any organised outings?
There are many ways to travel around the island personally or with guided outings, in only one day. You can choose between the public transport (the bus) with the company Global, which connects all the towns of the island, or rent a car for the days you wish. It is also possible to contract guided outings by Jeeps or travel around the island on a boat.

How is the transport among the islands?
There is a wide network of transport that allows the mobility among islands. By means of airlines it is possible to travel on small planes to any island and at several times. You can also travel betwenn the islands using different sea companies, which provide diverse ships for the transport of travellers, goods and vehicles, with different timetables and cruise speeds.

How far is the Airport from the capital of the Island? And from the south?
The Airport of Gran Canaria is situated in the town of Telde, in the east zone of Gran Canaria. It connects to the capital and the south of the island by a motorway of 22 kilometres from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and at a distance of 30 kilometres from the south. (Playa del Inglés).

Sports

Are the roads safe to practise road cycling?
All the routes for road cycling are punctually signposted and there is no danger in any of them. That makes  Gran Canaria an ideal island for fans of bicycle touring and nature. If you love downhill cycling or long-distance routes, the bicycle and the enormous variety of routes which the island offers are a perfect combination to get to know indescribable spots.

What beaches are ideal to practice water sports?
Mainly, on the eastern and southern coast of the island it is more possible to find ideal winds for sailing, ocean currents which help the existence of big fish shoals near the coast and beautiful sea beds. The 236-kilometre coast of Gran Canaria is a real paradise for those who are keen on sea and activities related to it. It is possible to practise many kinds of water sports all year around, as there is wide variety of sports port structures and also good conditions of sea and wind.

Are there golf courses in Gran Canaria?
The island features six golf courses situated in the northern and southern part. Most of them provide a 18-hole round: El Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, situated in the area of Bandama; el Cortijo Club de Campo, el Cortijo Golf Center at only 6 kilometres from the capital, and the Maspalomas Golf Courses, Anfi Tauro and Salobre Golf & Resort, both in the southern tourist area.

Where does the most representative football team on the Island play?
The most historic football team on the Island is la Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, which which was created 50 years ago. Until the previous season, competitions where held in the historical Estadio Insular, which was situated in the heart of the capital. This year the Estadio de Gran Canaria has been opened, in the residential area of Siete Palmas, to accommodate a higher number of spectators who support the ‘yellow’ team.

Economy

Is it cheaper to buy in the Canary Islands than in the rest of Spain?, what kind of purchases are cheaper?
Gran Canaria has low taxes and is essentially the perfect place for shopping with lots of local and imported products. This helps to offer many products at lower prices, between 10% and 30%, than in the rest of Europe. For example, perfumery and cosmetics; cigarettes and alcohol and, to a lesser extent, electronic devices and vehicles have very competitive prices on the Island.

What is the legal currency in Gran Canaria?
Gran Canaria belongs to Spain which in turn is a part of the European Union, therefore the official currency is the euro, since year 2002, where it began to be used in those countries belonging to the European Union and which is equals to 166,386 of the old Spanish pesetas.

Climate

Which is the zone on the Island where it is more sunny?
In Gran Canaria it is possible to find a great variety of climate resulting from the special relief of the Island. So even though on the coastal zones above all in the southern incline of the Island, the climate is dry and sunny almost all year, when we reach a a certain height, the influence of the sea is lower and the mountains bear the clouds, causing great thermal variety  from the temperate zones of half-way points.

What is the best time of year to visit the Island?
The most common mistake people make is to assume  that if the islands have such a warm winter, it must be unbearably hot in summer, but that is not true: the summer in the Canary Islands is eased because of the trade winds which make the Archipelago cooler, with mild and nice summers, at around 24 degrees.

Geography

How many inhabitants are there on the Island?
Gran Canaria is the island with a higher number of inhabitants in the Canary Archipelago (741,161 people in year 2000) and its capital is the first city for its high number of population and economic activity: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Which are the volcanic zones of the Island?
The volcanic zones in Gran Canaria are situated in the centre-route of the Island. Among the most outstanding craters is the Caldera de Bandama, in the zone of Monte Lentiscal, a wide crater with wonderful outlooks over the island; and in the Rural Park of the Nublo, the subsidence/erosion crater of the basin of Tejeda.

Is there in Gran Canaria any Natural or National Park?
Gran Canaria has an extraordinary natural wealth in spite of its rather small surface. The uniqueness of its ecosystems as well as its flora and fauna, which maintain sole species, has enabled that Gran Canaria has 32 protected spaces which cover almost 43% of the island’s surface. On the Island there are two natural parks: Tamadaba Natural Park and Pilancones Natural Park.

Where is situated the Parador Nacional de Gran Canaria?
The Parador de Tejeda is situated in the highest zone on the Island, from where you can see the most rugged landscape in Gran Canaria, with large stretches of pine forests. Nowadays the Parador is closed, since it is being restored.

Beaches

Where can I see the dunes? May I walk over them?
The Dunes of Maspalomas are situated on the beach which is named after them        and is itself situated in the southern tourist zone of the Island. This beach holds a special position among others in the world since its Dunes are classified as Special Natural Reserve, with 403.9 hectares of sandy dunes where the Charca (Pond) de Maspalomas is located. This is an area of great ecological value and a centre of bird nesting. It is possible to walk over them.

In which zone of the island are situated the most peaceful beaches and those which are visited by a higher number of tourists?
Of all 236 kilometres of coast in Gran Canaria, almost 60 are occupied by beaches of different characteristics, including the fantastic and tourist beach of Maspalomas, with its 250 hectares of dunes near the sea, and the isolated and virgin beach of Güigüi, both situated in the southern zone. Also, the lively beach of Las Canteras is situated in the capital of the island.

On which beaches is it possible to practise nudism?
There are about 30 nudist beaches in Gran Canaria located from north to south and from east to west. In order to get information required, tourists should visit any of the Tourist Information Offices situated in the different coastal towns.

Culture

What is the main cultural offer in Gran Canaria?
Gran Canaria provides with no doubt a multi-cultural environment. The island has inherited a great deal of archaeological, artistic, architectural and ethnographic value, witnesses of the cultural development of this island community. There is also musical and theatrical activity on the island, where famous Film, Theatre and Opera Festivals are held in its capital.

When does the longest calendar of fiestas take place?
Gran Canaria is famous for its festivals, a feature which you come across all year. All towns, villages or groups of farmhouses, hold its particular event. Mainly in summer   time there is the highest number of folk festivals which take place gathering a great number of tourists.

Are English and German spoken in the main tourist zones of the Island?
The main tourist zones of Gran Canaria are situated in the southern part. High-standard hotels, wide shopping centres and a variety of clubs bars and restaurants offers tourists anything they can ask for. In all these places visitors will be spoken in several languages, being English and German the main ones.

Are there theme parks for children?
Gran Canaria features in the southern tourist part artificial and natural spaces with original attractions and shows. Waterparks with lots of chutes, or fun fairs, are others of the possibilities which Gran Canaria offers to children.

Where can I buy traditional craft work or where can I go to see street market?
There are still some descendants of aboriginal people of the Canary Islands who actually used to be very good craftsmen, and they continue with the craft tradition of their ancestors. Home utensils and icons, such as the Idol of Tara or the so-called ‘pintadera canaria’, are still made with clay. Basketwork, stonework, knives, wood or spinning are the main deep-rooted craft techniques on the Island. These items you will easily find in any Sunday street market, which takes place in all the towns of the Island every weekend. Or if you want, it is possible to go to the Fedac, a foundation for promoting the Canary craft work.

Where can I attend a musical show in the capital of the Island?
The Alfredo Kraus Auditorium has become an symbolic place in the capital of Gran Canaria. Within the year there are lots of classical and modern music concerts that take place there. Likewise, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria offers the Cuyas Theatre and the Cultural Initiative Centre of La Caja de Canarias to hold small concerts and musical shows where the theatre art and the music are combined.

Health

Does Gran Canaria provide seawater therapy or wellness centres?
Gran Canaria provide a great variety of wellness centres. In there you can enjoy all kinds of  massages with special herbs and oils which are used to tone up the body and provide the visitors with a unique treatment that can soothe and calm the senses.

Gastronomy

Where can I enjoy the Canary gastronomy and fish?
The traditional local cuisine is defined by  healthy and light recipies. Goat meat, ‘tollos en salsa’, the ‘ropa vieja’ or the delicious pork leg are served in any restaurant or ‘bar de tapas’ (snack bar) for starters or snacks. However if you want to taste what the traditional cuisine really has to offer, you must  try ‘Sancocho canario’. The basic ingredients are the salty ‘cherne’ (a type of fish), potatoes, sweet potatoes and ‘gofio’. In the northern and southern zones of the island it is possible to taste them every day.

Leisure time

Which is the zone of the Island with better night leisure?
In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria there is a great variety of pubs and discotheques in the zone of El Puerto as well as in the old quarter (Triana and Vegueta). In the south of the Island it is also possible to enjoy lots of night places situated in the tourist zones, mainly around the shopping centres.