Discover Gran Canaria During COVID: Top Tips for Your Island Trip
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So you’re looking to visit Gran Canaria during the COVID pandemic. I’m sure you have a lot of questions, because I did too! While things are constantly changing, I hope that my experience can help give you the answers you’re looking for, and offer some photographic inspiration and tips along the way! Let’s start with pre-departure requirements:
I flew to Gran Canaria from the Netherlands, a high-risk country. I had to show a negative PCR test, which I obtained from Snelle PCR Test. Because it was my first time taking one, I opted for the less invasive saliva test over a nasal swab, which brought me to a grand total of €119.95. I was also required to fill out a passenger locator form via the Spain Travel Health app (also possible on their website). This generates a QR code that you show at control points. With these two tasks complete, I was allowed to enter the beautiful Canary Islands!
Important note: to fly between the islands or to mainland Spain, no further testing or documentation is required.
To return to the Netherlands, I was required to show a negative PCR test once more (which cost me €140 on a weekend in Madrid!), and also get a rapid antigen test (€24.45) within four hours of boarding. I was able to obtain the latter at Madrid Airport and made an appointment online with Travel COVID Test Center, which serves Madrid, Malaga, and Seville airports. A lesson learned: the PCR at the airport is only €58.68 and you get results within 12 hours. I overpaid severely just because I didn’t want to go to the airport twice.
When it comes to the EU, I found Re-Open EU to be a very helpful website. It describes specific measures in place by country as well as any restrictions for your particular travel plan.
Now onto the things that make all of that testing and added expense worth it! (If possible, I highly recommend renting a car to explore the island- it will make your life infinitely easier!)
where to stay
My time in Gran Canaria was spent in two types of accommodation: a hotel and an Airbnb. This gave me a nice mixture of experiences- luxurious resort life but also a comfortable home for living, working, and cooking! Depending on what you’re looking for, here are two recommendations:
Seaside Palm Beach is a relaxed 5-star hotel located in the resort town of Maspalomas, right next to the magnificent sand dunes that you’ll see later on in this post! Featuring a fun 70s retro vibe, the hotel is just 45 minutes from Gran Canaria airport (LPA) and is a perfect base for exploring the south of the island. You’ll find colorful and comfortable rooms, lush green grounds, beautiful swimming pools, spa services, and truly amazing cuisine. Seriously. The food was incredible and made me hop out of bed in the morning and run back for dinner after a day of exploring. I recommend booking a room with half board so that you can enjoy breakfast and dinner as part of your stay.
The health and safety of visitors is the hotel’s priority, which you’ll discover immediately when you’re asked for your COVID test results upon check-in. You must present a negative result taken in the 72 hours prior to arrival in the Canary Islands. Because information is constantly changing, Hello Canary Islands is a great resource that will tell you everything you need to know. After treating yourself with a luxurious little splurge, you can then pop over to an…
Airbnb
It’s no secret that I love Airbnbs. When I was traveling full-time (pre-pandemic) I stayed in them for probably 90% of my year! To also have a great base in the north of Gran Canaria, I spent time in Las Palmas, the island’s capital, with friends. We stayed in this gorgeous 3-bedroom apartment in Vegueta, a neighborhood in the Old Town. It had ALL the charm and was just steps from the beautiful Santa Ana Plaza and the amazing cathedral that you’ll see later on below! I particularly enjoyed the incredible rooftop from which I was able to drone, workout, sunbathe, and have movie nights! There are several other beautiful units in the building including a studio and 1-bedroom that can be found here.
What to See
Maspalomas Dunes
This stunning nature reserve can be found in the south of Gran Canaria, in the resort town of Maspalomas. With 1,000 acres of rolling sand and the beautiful Atlantic in the background, it was much more impressive than I’d anticipated! For more information on the formation of the dunes, how to get there, and the best access points, check out this helpful Guide to Canary Islands.
Roque Nublo
Ready for some trekking, incredible views, and an otherworldly experience? A visit to Roque Nublo will give you exactly that. The volcanic rock (and third highest point on the island) can be found in the mountainous municipality of Tejeda. From the trailhead where there’s a parking lot for cars, you follow a walking path for approximately 1.5 km (stopping frequently along the way to take in the sights, no doubt) until you walk over a landscape not completely dissimilar to Mars and reach the towering rock itself. With a name meaning “clouded rock”, it was no surprise when my beautiful views were obscured entirely by a thick white cloud rolling through. The weather changes frequently up there, so definitely take layers that you can shed or pile on accordingly!
Arucas
Just 12 km from Las Palmas, Arucas is a charming little city full of colorful facades, gardens, and this rather striking cathedral, The Parish Church of San Juan Bautista. It’s a recent build by European standards (1909) and you can pop inside and have a look around. It’s much smaller inside than you might imagine- but offers some beautiful stained glass windows and a pretty remarkable carving of Jesus. On Saturdays there’s also an open-air market where you can find local products. Find the city center parking lot and you can’t miss the market!
Teror
Gran Canaria’s cutest little mountain town has a very unusual name: Teror. According to my amazing tour guide Maria, the name likely came from an indigenous word meaning “red soil.” A soundtrack of church bells and lively street music accompanied my stroll through the gorgeous village center. It’s lined with traditional Canarian architecture, shops, and restaurants. And while “Plaza de Teror” does sound mildly terrifying, I promise it’s anything but! If you’re into photography, this is one of the most photogenic spots I visited all trip!
Tejeda
Head to the island’s mountainous center and you’ll find the beautiful village of Tejeda. Even in the rain, its charm is very apparent. My camera was drawn to the stunning views and quiet streets. If you’re going to drive around the mountainous parts of the island, mentally prepare yourself for the narrow, winding roads! They’re a doozy.
Las Palmas Cathedral
Located in the island’s capital city of Las Palmas, the Cathedral of Santa Ana is well worth a visit. Head to the Vegueta neighborhood and the Plaza Mayor of Santa Ana to find it. The square itself is lined with palm trees, nice restaurants, gorgeous architecture, and just in front of the cathedral, some famous statues of bronze dogs. They’re a symbol of the island, as the name “Gran Canaria” actually comes from the Latin “Insula Canaria”, meaning “Island of the Dogs.” I sent my drone up from my Airbnb’s roof terrace to capture this sunset shot!
Santa Lucia
I say Santa Lucia, but Lucas from the adventure and tour company Climbo took a group of us on an amazing hike in the surrounding area. If you want a unique experience that’s off the beaten path, check out the website or hit him up on Instagram! We saw some incredible scenery, including epic flower fields, and even made our way into a small village of people living totally off the grid! His adorable pup Gofio will likely accompany you, too- and that in itself is worth it. Look at that face!
Bodega Los Berrazales
Who else loves wine!? If so, Bodega Los Berrazales should definitely make it onto your must-see list. Set at the foot of the Tamadaba cliffs and located in La Finca de La Laja, the 200+ year old farm is famous for its oranges, coffee and delicious wine. Support the locals and take a bottle to go- I absolutely did!
Five Star Boat Cruise
Five Star Boat Gran Canaria was hands down the most relaxing boat cruise I’ve ever been on! On this luxury catamaran you’ll find socially distanced beds, an open bar, and the wind blowing in your hair. It doesn’t get much better than that. I’m not usually into crazy party boats (although I wouldn’t mind one right about now) so this was perfect for me. I imagine COVID made things a bit more chill than usual, but I really enjoyed the music, the views, taking down a bottle of bubbly, and getting some sun. Given it was March, I definitely needed a sweater whenever the sun disappeared behind some clouds, so keep that in mind!
Puerto de Mogán
Puerto de Mogán was one of my favorite stops in Gran Canaria- I mean, just look at it! Located in the southwestern part of the island, it’s only 93 km from Las Palmas and very worthy of a visit. If you love picturesque streets, cute restaurants, golden beaches, and lively marinas filled with beautiful sailboats, this is exactly where you wanna be. Be sure to walk beyond the beach out to the jetty. Look left and take in the view of a smaller beach, a big cliff, and the gorgeous turquoise water. For reference:
Agaete Natural Piscinas
I unfortunately didn’t make it to these incredible natural swimming pools until just after sunset, but given what I saw even with darkness falling, I can imagine they’re a real gem during the daytime! Sheltered from the sea by a barricade of columns, there are three pools in total and they look out over the rugged northwest coast.
Food & Drink
If you’re looking to eat some great food in a restaurant or want to actually go out and get a drink at a bar, YOU CAN. What a treat. These are my top recommendations from my time in Las Palmas.
Restaurants:
Amazing wine, tapas, and super friendly English-speaking staff.
Burger lovers rejoice. This establishment has several locations and the burgers are simply delicious.
A very local joint serving up tasty tapas and drinks. Get the flaming chorizo, you won’t regret it.
A nice Italian restaurant with a roof terrace overlooking Las Canteras Beach. Great spot for a sunset meal, and the portions are huge!
Great food in Vegueta. The restaurant has a very ambient interior and terrace for outdoor dining as well.
Honorable mention OUTSIDE of Las Palmas:
Located in Tejeda, this restaurant can be found inside of the Parador Hotel. Though I dined there on an incredibly cloudy day, it normally offers sweeping mountain views. What I can confidently say is that the food was absolutely exquisite!
Bars:
Alis Rooftop Bar (Hotel Santa Catalina)
Head to Hotel Santa Catalina and take the elevator to this gorgeous rooftop bar. Great vibe and scenery with delicious cocktails. The gummy bears included in the snack bowl had me immediately sold.
As the name implies, this is a great rooftop bar with tasty cocktails and food. I can imagine it’s a ton of fun during normal times- but I still loved the vibe and it was a great spot to grab a drink with friends.
Alis Rooftop Bar (Hotel Santa Catalina)
I hope these tips help you plan your Gran Canaria trip! If you have any questions at all, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Considering a trip to Lanzarote? Read my post 10 Reasons to Jet2 Lanzarote on Your Next Holiday.