Things to do in Gran Canaria
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Gran Canaria: Canyoning Cernícalos Canyon with Photos & PicnicYou’ll feel your heart race as you jump into cool pools, rappel down waterfalls, and hike through Gran Canaria’s lush Laurisilva forest with a small group led by an experienced local guide. Expect laughter, muddy hands, a simple picnic among ancient trees—and photos to remember it all by long after you’ve dried off.
Gran Canaria: Canyoning Adventure & Waterfall Rappelling TourYou’ll scramble through Gran Canaria’s volcanic canyons with a certified guide by your side, rappel down waterfalls, taste local snacks mid-adventure, and learn how these wild landscapes were shaped. Expect laughter, cold water on your skin, and stories you’ll want to retell long after you dry off.
Gran Canaria: Small Group Boat Tour & Snorkeling with LunchYou’ll drift along Gran Canaria’s southern coast in a small group boat tour from Puerto Rico to Mogan, stopping for snorkeling in hidden coves and trying paddle surf if you’re up for it. Share homemade Canarian food and sangria with locals on board—there’s time to swim or just breathe in the view. It’s relaxed, personal, and leaves you wanting more salt on your skin.
Snorkeling in Gran Canaria: Catamaran & Hidden BeachesThis snorkeling tour sails a small-group catamaran along Gran Canaria's hidden northern coast, stopping at four pristine beaches and sea caves where you swim and snorkel in crystal-clear water. The boat includes a live guide in your language, a full lunch of local seafood or vegetarian paella with salads and fruit, unlimited beer, sangria and cava, snorkeling gear, and paddle boards; hotel pickup is included. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours and stays deliberately small to avoid crowds.Is it for me?You're on a shared boat with a small group, so this suits anyone who wants to snorkel without renting a private catamaran or organizing the route themselves—the guide, the stops, the lunch and the timing are all arranged. If you prefer to move at your own pace or avoid any group setting, a private rental or self-guided snorkeling from a beach would suit you better.
Gran Canaria: Ron Arehucas Distillery Tour & Rum TastingYou walk through the production process from aging cellar to bottling plant, taste three award-winning rums, and learn the history of rum-making in the Canary Islands. The whole experience takes about an hour, includes a proper tasting (not a sample), and ends with the option to buy. Bring your printed ticket.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how rum is actually made without arranging transport or finding the distillery yourself—the guided format means you get the story and the tasting in sequence, and the fixed one-hour length fits easily into a morning or afternoon in Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria Sailing & Snorkeling: Helm a Yacht, Small GroupsYou board a 14-ton yacht at Puerto de Mogán and either take a turn at the helm or relax while the crew handles the sails. The boat anchors in a quiet bay where you snorkel, swim, or rest before a vegetarian lunch with wine and soft drinks. Hotel pickup and all gear are included; the trip runs 4 hours with groups staying under 8 people.Is it for me?Book this if you want to actually sail rather than watch sailing happen, and you'd rather not spend the morning arranging transport to the port or figuring out where to anchor for lunch — the whole day is already planned around the boat and the crew.
Gran Canaria: Via Ferrata Adventure & High Swing Small GroupYou’ll climb Gran Canaria’s via ferrata with iron steps and cables, explore a hidden cave, cross a floating bridge high above the ground, and finish by flying on the island’s tallest swing—all with a small group and local guide. Expect sweaty palms, real laughs, and views you’ll remember long after you leave.
Gran Canaria: Sioux City Park Wild West Town & Animal FarmYou walk through a real 1972 Western movie set with live bank robberies and sheriff shootouts, grab food and drinks at the working saloon, and visit an animal farm with Canarian livestock and reptiles. Everything is included in one ticket, and you move at your own pace between shows.Is it for me?Right for families wanting something different from typical theme parks, and for anyone curious about a real movie set that still functions. Plan for 2–4 hours depending on how many shows you catch and how long you spend with the animals.
Gran Canaria: Kayak & Snorkeling Caves Tour with GuideYou’ll kayak from Playa de Taurito along Gran Canaria’s dramatic cliffs, slip into volcanic caves, and land on a hidden beach for snorkeling and paddle boarding—all with a friendly local guide who brings snacks and stories. Expect salty air, laughter echoing in caves, and maybe even your first cliff jump if you’re feeling bold.
Dolphin and Whale Watching Gran Canaria: 2.5-Hour Boat TourA 2.5-hour dolphin and whale watching boat tour in Gran Canaria departs from Escala Pier in Puerto Rico at 11:00 aboard the Lineas Salmón, a boat carrying nearly 150 passengers with a professional guide in English or Spanish. The boat is wheelchair accessible and has a bar on board; drinks are available for purchase.Is it for me?The 2.5-hour window means you can fit this tour into a morning or afternoon without losing the rest of your day in Gran Canaria, and the 11:00 departure works if you're staying in Puerto Rico or nearby and want to start after breakfast.
Gran Canaria highlights tour: Arucas, Teror, Roque NubloThis full-day guided tour of Gran Canaria covers the island's most distinctive valleys and landmarks—Arucas, Teror, and the viewpoint at Roque Nublo—with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a guide in English, Spanish or German. The tour runs approximately 8 hours and includes time to explore each village at your own pace, plus a stop at an aloe vera plantation. Lunch is optional and paid separately at Valleseco.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're arriving in Gran Canaria for the first time or have a free day and want to see the island's interior without renting a car or planning stops yourself. The guide handles navigation and timing, so you spend the morning and afternoon looking at the landscape instead of at a map.
Gran Canaria: Maspalomas Segway Tour with Pickup & Local GuideYou’ll glide through Maspalomas on a Segway, guided by a local who knows every shortcut and story. Expect easy pickup at your accommodation, quick training, plenty of time for photos at the dunes and lighthouse, plus bottled water to keep you cool. It’s relaxed but somehow still feels like an adventure — especially that first glimpse of the sand stretching out ahead.
Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise: Gran Canaria Half-Day TourA half-day dolphin and whale watching cruise departs from Puerto Rico on Gran Canaria's southwest coast, sailing in search of cetaceans aboard a catamaran built for smooth navigation. The boat returns to anchor at one of four coastal coves—Cala del Perchel, Taurito, Tauro or Anfi del Mar—where you swim, use included snorkeling gear and drink for 30 to 45 minutes before heading back to port. Hotel pickup is available as an option at checkout.Is it for me?Book with pickup if your hotel is in the Puerto Rico area and you'd rather not drive to the marina; choose direct-to-port if you have a rental car or prefer to meet the boat yourself. The half-day length fits a morning or afternoon slot without eating a full day, and the cove swim makes sense only if you're comfortable in the water—if you plan to stay dry, the sailing portion alone is the draw.
Gran Canaria Coastering: Cliff Jumping & Via Ferrata AdventureYou jump from coastal cliffs, climb via ferrata routes bolted into the rock, cross floating bridges, and abseil down ropes while swimming between sections. The route follows Mogán's dramatic coastline for a full day, with natural pools for rest and a sunset view toward El Teide included. Wetsuit, helmet, lifejacket and snacks are provided; you need moderate fitness and no spinal or cardiovascular concerns.Is it for me?Book this if you're fit enough for sustained climbing and jumping, comfortable in the ocean, and want to move through a landscape rather than observe it from a path — the guide's knowledge of the route and the safety gear are what make the risk manageable enough to actually do it.
Gran Canaria: Climbing, Via Ferrata, Zipline & Cave AdventureYou’ll hike through Gran Canaria’s wild canyons with a local guide, try beginner-friendly rock climbing and via ferrata routes, explore a volcanic cave by headlamp, then finish by zipping 50 meters above rugged cliffs. Expect laughter, new skills (even if your hands shake), and views that stick with you long after you leave.
Small-Group Surf Lessons in Gran Canaria: Real ProgressionSmall-group surf lessons in Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria teach you to catch waves with real progression, not just a single session. You meet at the surf school at the foot of the Maspalomas dunes around 9:30, watch a video theory class built on 10+ years of teaching experience, do a beach simulation, then paddle out for two separate 50-minute sessions with a break between them. Groups stay at maximum 5 students per instructor, so the day adapts to your level whether you're starting out or already have experience. All photos are included and free to download.Is it for me?You're learning to surf for the first time or building on experience you already have, and you want the same instructor watching your form all day instead of rotating through different teachers. Small groups and a structured day — theory, simulation, two separate water sessions, a break between them — mean you progress instead of just paddle out and hope.
Gran Canaria Hiking: Pico de las Nieves Peak & Roque Nublo ViewsYou hike to Gran Canaria's highest peak with a mountain guide, trekking poles, and views that stretch to Tenerife on clear days. The route is either 7 kilometers in 3.5 hours or 10 kilometers in 4.5 hours depending on the day and season. Transport, a full lunch with a drink, and all equipment are included. Plan for a moderate fitness level and proper hiking shoes — the guide checks both before you start.Is it for me?Right for moderate hikers who want to reach Gran Canaria's highest peak and see across to Tenerife without arranging transport or navigation. The 3.5–4.5 hour pace and late lunch timing mean you're out most of the day, which is what lets you climb high and still have a proper meal included.
Gran Canaria peaks tour from Las Palmas: Roque Nublo and BandamaA 7-hour guided tour from Las Palmas through Gran Canaria's protected upland region, stopping at Roque Nublo and Bandama Caldera, two of the island's most recognizable landmarks. The guide is a trained professional who shapes the day around your interests, explaining the geology, history and local stories of each stop. Hotel pickup in central Las Palmas is included; children from age 6 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Gran Canaria's interior peaks and valleys without navigating mountain roads yourself—the guide handles the route and timing, and the air-conditioned vehicle means you move between stops without the drive becoming the main event.
Coasteering Gran Canaria: Jump, rappel and zip-line the cliffsCoasteering in Gran Canaria is a 4–6 hour activity on the island's southwest marine cliffs where you jump from different heights, rappel directly to the water, traverse a Via Ferrata above the waves and zip-line across a cave that opens to the sea, all guided by a professional and mixed with swimming and cave visits. A guide in English or Spanish leads the group; all equipment, water and a picnic of fruit, nuts, chocolate and biscuits are included. Minimum age is 10 with an adult; moderate fitness required.Is it for me?Most coasteering days on the island are single-activity outings—you jump or you rappel, then you're done. This one strings together jumps at different heights, rappels straight into the sea, a Via Ferrata above the waves and a zip-line across a cave, all in one 4–6 hour arc with a guide who's there for every section, so you're building skills and confidence instead of doing one thing once.
Gran Canaria Cave Tour: Descend into Barranco de las VacasYou walk through a canyon sculpted by ancient water, explore caves the guidebooks don't list, and finish in a working village where you taste local food and meet people who actually live there. Transport and a professional guide who knows the island because they're from it are included, which is what makes the difference between seeing Gran Canaria and understanding it.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see the interior of Gran Canaria without arranging their own transport or figuring out which places are worth the drive — the guides know the routes and the stories, which is what turns a canyon and some caves into an actual understanding of the island. Plan for a full morning or early afternoon out, with some walking and uneven terrain, which is exactly what gets you to the places most visitors never reach.
