Our Irish opinion of a November visit to the tourist attractions that Gran Canaria, Spain has to offer.
Link to a video and still image montage of our November 2024 Las Palma Tour in Gran Canaria, Spain:-
Gran Canaria …Las Palmas
Visiting Gran Canaria in late November is the polar opposite to visiting the same destination during the height of Summer, as we did in July of 2023. ( https://www.justretired50plus.com/post/spain-al-3-7-a-14-night-trip-to-the-spanish-island-of-gran-canaria-in-the-canary-islands ).
It is pot luck with the weather you experience during a holiday at this shoulder period (November) between late summer and the dearest Christmas holiday season anywhere in the Canaries. The saving grace is that the average temperatures in the Canaries are between 18 degrees Celsius and 26degrees Celsius. So, no matter if you experience poor weather during your vacation, you will still happily experience temperatures conducive to enjoying activities in the outdoors. These activities can range from sitting reading a book in a secluded spot of your choice to sky diving or base jumping from a hilly peak.
In order to hedge out bet against the vagaries of all possible weather conditions we chose to spend 4 nights in the north of the island in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria and 5 nights in Puerto Rico situated on the southern end of the island.
During our stay in Las Palmas we stayed at the Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway 5 star Hotel situated in the middle between the old and the new town of Las Palmas. We would highly recommend Hotel Catalina following our stay there.
We then took a bus the length of the island down to Puerto Rico where we stayed at the XQ Vistamar apartments in a 2 bedroom serviced apartment right across from the beach. We would normally like to stay at the El Greco apartments next door to the Vistamar, however, these are block booked by TUI Norway for 6 months from Oct - Sept and as such they are not available for bookings.
While in Las Palmas we did the open top hop-on-hop-off bus tour and toured both the old and the new towns.
Day 1: Arrival and First Impressions
After a smooth flight, we landed at Gran Canaria Airport and quickly made our way to Las Palmas. The city greeted us with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. We Took a stroll around Las Palmas old Town
Las Palmas is the main city in Gran Canaria, and it is the largest city in the Canary Islands. This city, with more than 500 years of history, has a lot to offer. One of the best things to do in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is to stroll around the old town which is divided into two parts: Vegueta and Triana.
Vegueta was the original settlement where life in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria began. In this part of the town, you will find the main historical buildings and museums. Did you know that Christofer Columbus lived here for a short while before heading to America. His home is now a museum, called Casa de Colon, and it is open to the public. The best way to explore Vegueta is to join the walking tour with a local guide.
Triana is the posh side of Las Palmas and it is the shopping Mecca of the region, with its vast array of shops, restaurants and markets.
The most impressive building in Las Palma is the Cathedral of Santa Ana. For a small entrance fee you can go up the bell tower to have a panoramic view of the city. For those who cannot make the stairs, a lift takes you to the top as well. The Cathedral of Santa Ana was the first church on the Canary Islands and it is worth visiting
Day 2: Beach Bliss at Las Canteras
Las Palmas is home to one of Europe’s best urban beaches, Playa de Las Canteras. Day two was dedicated to soaking up the warm winter sun and enjoying the crystal-clear waters. We rented sun beds and an umbrella. Whether you’re a swimmer, snorkeller, or someone who enjoys lounging with a good book, Las Canteras has something for everyone. For lunch, we indulged in freshly caught fish at a beachfront restaurant – the sea-to-plate freshness was unbeatable. but not before strolling along the beach’s vibrant promenade. Street performers, cafes, and local artists added to the lively atmosphere.
Day 3: Culture and Local Flavours
After a leisurely breakfast, we delved into the city’s cultural side with a visit to the Casa de Colón, a museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus. The exhibits were fascinating, offering insights into the Canary Islands’ historical significance.
Next, we wandered through Triana, a bustling shopping district filled with boutique stores and charming cafes. Don’t miss a café cortado (espresso with a splash of milk) while people-watching. In the evening, we joined a food tour that introduced us to more local flavours, including gofio (a traditional roasted grain flour) and Canary Island cheeses paired with local wines.
Day 4: Nature Escape and Farewell
Our final day was one of poolside relaxation.. A final dinner at a rooftop restaurant offered panoramic views of the city and a perfect farewell.
Things that strike a visitor to Las Palmas:-
the population is just half a million, generally living in high density apartment buildings. However, there are ample public spaces and activities to facilitate good mental health for the apartment occupants.
Public transport is cheap and regular. Taxi’s are also reasonably priced. The city’s bus system is efficient and budget-friendly.
Because of the strategic position of the Islands between three continents, Las Palmas port is a major commercial port and cruise ship hub.
It is a city of contrasting areas (1) the modern contemporary port and high street region (2) the historical old town region (3) the Barridas region in the Guiniguada ravine (4) the expensive hilltop properties region.
The noticeable proliferation of Hospitals, Clinics and all measure of medical intervention options.
Use Public Transport: The city’s bus system is efficient and budget-friendly.
Things to do in Las Palmas
Climb the Santa Ana Cathedral for a different perspective of the City;
Visit the Museo Casa de Colón;
Visit the Vegueta and Triana neighbourhoods;
Visit the colourful houses of San Juan from the San Roque neighbourhood;
Relax in the warm sand of Playa Grande beach;
Stroll along the Las Canteras seafront;
Enjoy the sunset from the Mirador de la Cruz;
There are photo opportunities all around you in Las Palmas.
Gran Canaria …Puerto Rico
Our recent trip was for 5 nights, staying in the three star XQ Vistamar apartments in Puerto Rico, which is situated on the south west coastline, about a 45 minute transfer from the airport of just over an hour from Las Palmas.
It was our first time to stay at these newly refurbished apartments. It is a wonderfully situated right across the road from the beach. We dined out every night in a different restaurant - Italian, French, Chinese, Thai and traditional Spanish cuisine. All our meals were excellent and reasonably priced in comparison to Dublin prices. The hotel typically has a very high concentration of Northern European guests.
Our daily constitutional 2K walk took us from the Puerto Rico beach via a lovely beach promenade leading you along the cliff face to a man-made bay – Playa Amadores. Take a dip or just chill in the warm sun, then grab something to eat and soak in the energy of the drowning sun.
Day trips are available to all the tourist spots on the island if a visitor wants to get a sense of this small island within the Canary island group situated on the Eastern edge of the Atlantic almost abutting Africa.
Our Observations from our November 2024 trip:-
The island of Gran Canaria is very multicultural;
It is a duty-free island……..part of Spain but not in the EU;
You need to ware flip flops on the beach in summer, when the weather is very hot………..unless you prefer you get your feet burnt;
The islanders are very accustomed to tourists and tourist interactions and are very friendly;
If you hire a car, the road infrastructure is good, particularly the main coastal route circumnavigating the majority of the island’s coastline.
If you visit during the winter months of October to March, be prepared for inflated prices to match Scandinavian tourists’ disposable incomes;
They have all kinds of restaurants as a result to their multicultural residents and tourist population, and the quality of local cuisine is generally very good;
Due to the ‘all year round good weather’, foreign property ownership is on the rise;
If you intend to reside long-term on the island, be sure to reside in a residential area and not a tourist area. The reason for this is two-fold (1) cheaper to reside in residential locations (2) life in a residential area conforms better to a standard working week type life style. Life in a tourist area is generally denoted by tourists burning the candle at both ends, usually noisy;
The island caters for all tourist budgets from 1 star to 5 star;
If wheel chair bound the footpaths can be a real challenge, featuring lots of areas of weather destruction to the tile covering and dangerously steep roadside sloping;
Supermarkets on the island are very well stocked;
The island has embraced renewable energy production from both wind and solar;
Travelling from an EU 27 member States country, the Canary Islands are classed as duty-free, as such, perfumes and cigarettes etc are considerably cheaper than those available within the EU.
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain November 2024
Gran Canaria is one of the eight volcanic Canary Islands in Spain, it is located off the northwestern coast of Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean. Even though geographically it is closer to Morocco and the African continent, it is part of Spain but not classed as part of the EU.
We have visited Gran Canaria and the other Canary Islands many times during our Irish winters. Generally in the months of September to March, the actual timing depending on the severity of the Irish weather. The climate, during these months, is always temperate and sunny and ideal for a beach style winter break from Ireland.
These trips, to any of the islands of the Canary Islands, would be regarded as a rest and recuperation type holiday with relatively very little activity required.
Other things to do while visiting Gran Canaria:-
Visit the unique Maspalomas Dunes
Probably the most beautiful place in the south of the island is the Maspalomas Sand Dunes, covering over 400 hectares. It might be said that the sand arrived here from the Sahara, but that is not true. The sand was deposited during the ice age and the wind created the dunes you see today.
The dune system is one of the most important natural spots in Gran Canaria and it has suffered degradation with a constant loss of sand, mainly due to urban development and human impact. To protect the dunes, Gran Canaria is limiting access to the public. People can still visit the dunes but only via the marked walking paths.
Puerto Rico, where we based ourselves is in the south-west of the island. We usually have stayed in El Greco Hotel, where we have had a really lovely two-bedroomed bungalow, nestled in a tropical garden and across the road from the beach, with AC, a small but well fitted-out kitchen, a pool and a poolside jacuzzi. This time however we stayed in the three star XQ Vistamar apartments next door to the El Greco in Puerto Rico
Visit close by Puerto de Mogan. If you’re here in early summer, everything will be in full bloom. The white houses have colourful edges, which match the endless sea of flowers. The swimming here in the bay and the marina are great and not too crowded.
For the wine lovers
Bodega Señorío de Cabrera is a small hillside vineyard located on the outskirts of Telde on the east side of the island. Be sure to take the tour and tasting, it is well worth a visit.
Sample Delicious Rum at Arehucas Rum Distillery
Located next to the Arucas town, you will find Arehucas Rum Distillery, one of the oldest rum cellars in Europe which has been producing rum since 1884. It started as the sugar factory San Pedro and later became a distillery.
Arehucas Rum Distillery now produces some of the finest rums in Europe and it is worth a visit.
San Pedro, the only coffee plantation in Europe is situated in Finca los Canstanos. Be advised that the opening hours are limited. Be sure to take the tour and tasting, especially if you’re an avid coffee drinker.
A sense of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain 2024
The official currency of Gran Canaria, Spain is the Euro.
If you get an opportunity during your travels in Gran Canaria, hike to the summit of Pico de las Nieves, the highest peak on the island.
Our general experience of the people from Gran Canaria, Spain is that they are very friendly and they all seem to have a particular liking for small children. The taxies are very reasonable and frequent. The shops and the restaurants are all clean, up to date and very inviting. The street sellers were non pushy and in no way intimidating. Once in the Aparthotel itself, XQ Vistamar, it could not be faulted for service and the general excellent of the guest experience.
Recommendations for Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain 2024
There is no language barrier, if you speak only English. The vast majority of both young and old Spaniards speak English.
So it lends itself to undertaking trips that can be self directed. The hire cost of a car is very cheap in comparison to Irish prices.
Our must see recommendation for a trip to Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain during November 2024:-
(1) Our 4 night stay at the excellent Santa Catalina Hotel in Las Palmas.
(2) Our second choice would a hire car self directed tour the island. The island itself is very small and a complete circumnavigation is eminently possible in one days driving, even allowing form generous stops on the way.
(3) Our visit to Gran Canaries multitude of excellent restaurants is the highlight of our trips there. If you are eating out in Puerto Rico, our recommendation is to eat at Fusion Nube restaurant.
“You should travel away from home, to really appreciate the value of what you have at your home, on your return.”
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