Much more to do and explore on Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria has a lot more to offer than the beach on your doorstep. On this page, we've collected our favourite bookable tours and activities – from the aquarium around the corner to a camel ride through the dunes of Maspalomas. We've sorted them by how easily you can get there from the apartment: first the tours that start in Las Palmas, then activities elsewhere on the island, where we tell you whether the bus will get you there or a rental car is the better choice.
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Tours in and around Las Palmas
All of these start in Las Palmas. You can walk to the aquarium and the hop-on hop-off bus from the apartment, and for the day tours you'll be picked up in town.
Poema del Mar aquarium
Poema del Mar is Las Palmas' spectacular aquarium at the port, and you can easily walk there from the apartment. You'll explore three worlds – a tropical jungle, the coast and the deep ocean – and stand in front of a huge curved window that's said to be the largest of its kind in the world. Sharks, rays and countless colourful fish glide past just centimetres away. A great tip for families and perfect for a cloudy day. With a skip-the-line ticket, you can head straight in.
Book on GetYourGuide →Hop-on hop-off bus tour of Las Palmas
If you don't want to explore the city of Las Palmas de GC on your own, bit by bit, you can take a hop-on hop-off bus tour to see all the sights of the Canary Islands' capital in a single day. The tour departs from Parque de Santa Catalina, which is very close to the apartment. Depending on the type of ticket, the price includes some guided tours, museum admission, access to the cathedral tower and a few perks at participating shops.
Book on GetYourGuide →Full-day tour of the green north
✓ Pick-up in Las Palmas
No rental car, but still keen to see the green north of the island? This full-day tour starts right in Las Palmas. One of the pick-up points is the Hotel Reina Isabel on the Las Canteras promenade. You'll visit Arucas with its impressive neo-Gothic church, the little town of Firgas with its famous water cascade, and the Agaete Valley, where you'll stop at a coffee plantation and taste coffee grown right here in Europe. The day ends in Puerto de las Nieves, Agaete's charming harbour, with time for a stroll and lunch by the sea.
Book on GetYourGuide →Highlights of Gran Canaria day tour
✓ Pick-up in Las Palmas
An ideal tour for anyone who doesn't have a rental car but still wants to see some of the highlights in the east and south of the island: from the Guayadeque Gorge near Agüimes to the dunes of Maspalomas, the bay of Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán – the "Little Venice" of the south. The tour starts and ends at several stops in Las Palmas de GC. Please ask the tour operator for the exact meeting point.
Book on GetYourGuide →Volcano tour with sunset, food and wine
✓ Pick-up in Las Palmas
If you don't enjoy hiking alone but prefer to hike in a group, you can join this guided tour to four of the island's natural landmarks: Caldera de Bandama, Mirador de Tejeda, Roque Nublo and Pico de las Nieves are on the itinerary. The hike to Roque Nublo is about 3.5 km with a fair bit of climbing, so you should be reasonably fit. The tour operator offers transport from Las Palmas de GC.
Book on GetYourGuide →Tours and Activities on the Island
These activities take place elsewhere on the island, so you'll need to make your own way there. Where the bus is a good option, we've marked it. For everything else, a rental car is the easier choice.
In the north
Tandem paragliding in Los Giles
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
Pure thrills and hundreds of metres of open sky beneath your feet. That's paragliding! Very close to Las Palmas de GC, in Los Giles, the conditions are ideal for this experience. Don't worry: you don't have to take the plunge on your own – you'll fly alongside an experienced paragliding pilot.
Book on GetYourGuide →Arehucas rum distillery in Arucas
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
Rum has a long tradition on Gran Canaria, and in Arucas you can see where it's made. On a one-hour guided tour of the Arehucas distillery you'll walk through the production halls and the impressive barrel cellar, where many of the casks have been signed by famous visitors. At the end, you can taste their rums and liqueurs, including the local honey rum. Arucas is easy to reach by bus from Las Palmas, and with a tasting at the end, the bus is the smarter choice anyway ;-). While you're there, take a look at the impressive neo-Gothic church in the town centre.
Book on GetYourGuide →Banana plantation near Arucas
Canary Islands bananas are delicious. If you'd like to learn more about this tasty fruit and how it's grown on a banana farm, you're sure to enjoy your visit here. Hacienda La ReKompensa is located in the north of the island, near Arucas. We recommend getting there by car.
Book on GetYourGuide →Coffee plantation in the Agaete Valley
Coffee from Europe? Yes, it exists, in the lush green Agaete Valley in the north-west of Gran Canaria, one of the very few places in Europe where coffee is grown. On a one-hour guided tour of Finca Los Castaños you'll learn how the beans are grown and processed, and you can round off your visit with a coffee tasting. Afterwards, head down to Puerto de las Nieves for lunch by the sea. The finca is best reached by rental car, and there's free parking on site.
Book on GetYourGuide →In the east
Canyoning near Telde
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
Canyoning is a lot of fun, but it's also challenging – and definitely a wet and unforgettable experience. Wetsuits, helmets and personal safety gear are provided by the organiser, and the group is led by a professional guide. The meeting point is in the town of Telde, near Decathlon, making it easily accessible by both bus and rental car.
Book on GetYourGuide →Horse riding near the airport
A unique horseback riding experience is offered at a ranch near LPA Airport. After a brief introduction, you'll set out on a trail ride through the open countryside, enjoying stunning views of the east coast and the nearby mountains.
Book on GetYourGuide →In the south
Camel ride in the dunes of Maspalomas
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
Although the Maspalomas Dunes are vast and offer no shade, they are still not a desert. Riding on the back of a camel, however, can bring you a good deal closer to that desert feeling. The meeting point is in Maspalomas. You can get there by bus, but a rental car is, of course, faster and more comfortable.
Book on GetYourGuide →Aqualand water park in Maspalomas
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
A day full of splashing fun for the whole family: at Aqualand in Maspalomas, more than 40 slides and pools are waiting for you – from gentle ones for the little ones to steep thrill rides for the brave. In between, there's plenty of space to relax in the sun. The park is in the south of the island near Maspalomas and can be reached by bus, but a rental car is quicker and more comfortable – especially with kids and beach bags in tow.
Book on GetYourGuide →Horse riding on the volcano trail
In the southern part of the island, you can enjoy an unforgettable horseback riding excursion through the breathtaking volcanic landscapes. The one- to two-hour rides are suitable for both beginners and experienced riders. Rides take place in small groups with professional instructors. Since you'll need to arrange your own transport to the ranch, you should have a rental car available.
Book on GetYourGuide →Off-road buggy tour in Ayagaures
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
Personally, I'm a bit sceptical about off-road buggy rides, but if you're into that, you'll definitely have a lot of fun here – and you'll be rewarded with potholes and dusty glasses.
Book on GetYourGuide →Jet skiing in Puerto Rico
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
If you don't like paddling, you can also zoom across the waves at full speed. Jet skiing is a lot of fun. Just don't go overboard ;-). There are, of course, several jet ski rental companies, but seeing the scenery of Puerto Rico from the water is especially fun. Puerto Rico is located on the south-west coast of Gran Canaria and is also easy to reach by bus.
Book on GetYourGuide →Parasailing in Puerto Rico
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
And for those who still haven't had their fill of adrenaline from jet skiing, you can hop on a parachute right after (or before) and let a speedboat tow you across Puerto Rico Bay to see the bay from above.
Book on GetYourGuide →Dolphin and whale watching by catamaran
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
Spotting dolphins and whales in the wild is something you won't forget in a hurry. A large catamaran takes you from the harbour of Puerto Rico in the south out to sea, where dolphins and whales are often seen. Of course, nobody can guarantee a sighting – but if you're out of luck, the operator offers you a second trip. On the way back, there's a stop in a quiet bay for swimming and snorkelling. Puerto Rico is easy to reach by bus from Las Palmas. If you're prone to seasickness, come prepared – the Atlantic can be quite lively.
Book on GetYourGuide →Yellow Submarine in Puerto de Mogán
✓ Also easy to reach by bus
Have a great time in Puerto de Mogán. Stroll through the picturesque, flower-lined alleys of "Little Venice", grab a table at one of the many restaurants in the harbour, and then hop aboard the Yellow Submarine and dive into the fascinating underwater world of Gran Canaria.
Book on GetYourGuide →Kayaking to the sea caves of Taurito
Even more water fun: this time, kayak along the cliffs of Taurito to spectacular sea caves. Before or after the kayaking trip, you might want to visit the botanical garden in Taurito. This activity is also located in the southern part of the island and is best reached by rental car.
Book on GetYourGuide →