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Teide volcano was belching ash when Columbus sailed past on his way to accidentally discovering America in 1492, and a large chunk of Lanzarote got covered in lava during the 1730s. More recently, El Hierro experienced an undersea eruption off its southern tip in 2011 and La Palma island is currently experiencing an eruption on its southwestern flank.
Volcanic activity can be violent and destructive with houses and farms swallowed by lava and ash. However, volcanoes are also the reason the Canary Islands exist and without fresh lava, the archipelago will one day disappear back under the sea.
And since eruptions have been an inevitable part of live on the Canary Islands since people arrived here, the locals know how to take advantage of the lava once it cools. Here are some of the ways Canarians have made amazing things out of lava flows.
Natural swimming pools made from lava
When molten rock hits the sea it forms a rock delta or fajana that sticks out into the sea. In many cases they form natural pools because the lava shrinks as it cools, or blocks off an area of the old coastline. The nartual pools at Agaete in Gran Canaria, called Las Salinas, are a great example of this. Pozo de las Calcosas pool in El Hierro is another. And La Fajana in La Palma is yet another.
Lava Cemeteries In Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria's aboriginal people, called the Canarii, buried their dead in side lava flows at burial sites like Maipez in the Agaete Valley. Nobody knows whether they did it as an offerring to the mountains that they considered sacred or whether it was just a convenient place to put their dead. Either way, they chosse the solid lava rivers of Gran Canaria as the place for their cemeteries.
Lava banana plantations in La Palma
When La Palma erupted in 1949, the lave destroyed banana plantations as it flowed towards the sea. It then formed a large delta just to the south of the current volcanic activity. As soon as it was cool, La Palma locals started to bring soil from up in the highlands and put it on top of the lava. The area is now one of the most productive banana plantations in the Canary Islands. In Fuencaliente, at the far southern tip of La Palma, there is now a large, multicoloured saltpan on top of the lava from from the 1971 eruption.
Auditoriums made out of lava tubes in Lanzarote
As lava flows the surface cools and solidifies. The molten lava keeps flowing thjough within a rock tunnel. When the volcano stops it leaves behind long tunnels that were once underground rivers of lava. In Lanzarote, local artist Cesar Manrique took these lava tubes and made one into an Auditorium and garden at Los Jameos de Agua , another into a tourist attraction called the Cueva de los Verdes. He even built his house on top of a lava tube, put a swimming pool inside it, and had a lava flow inside his living room!
Lava flows as walks and tourist attractions
In La Palma, the Caños de Fuego visitor centre lets you walk over the lava flow from the 1949 eruption of the San Juan volcano, then drop down from the boardwalk into caves and tunnels left by the flowing lava as the volcano stopped.
Barbeques using volcanic heat
At Timanfaya in Lanzarote the ground is still so hot after the 1730 eruption that the restaurant cooks its food over an open pit. Around the back (ask the geyser man where it is) there are even a couple of barbeques that visitors to the Timanfaya National Park can use to grill their lunch.
Vineyards on on the lava rock
A thick layer of lava covered large areas of Lanzarote during the last eruptions on the island. Volcanic gravel, called lapili or picon, covered an ever bigger part of the island. This bubbly rock, formed from lava foam, traps moisture from the cool night air and keeps the soil buried metres underneath moist all-year-round. Lanzarote locals worked out almost as soon as the ground had cooled that they could dig down to the soil and grow crops and grape vines. Some of the vines they planted are still in their original holes almost 300 years later.
Thank you for booking an Airport Transfer with us!
Written by Lex Thoonen
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Alex & Lex
Gran Canaria Info
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Learning Spanish for a couple of hours is a fun holiday option that lets you experience what it really feels like to be Canarian, and have some real-life interactions with locals during your stay in paradise.
It is also essential if you plan to stay on the island(s) or travel to Spain for more than a getaway.
In this article you will:
- learn about “La Casita de Laura - Learn Spanish”, a successful language business based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (teaching Spanish to foreigners for over 8 years!),
- pick up some useful Spanish tips for when you are in the Canaries and...
- get to meet the young entrepreneur behind it all.
HOLA, Laura León! Could you share a bit about why did you decide to dedicate your life to teaching Spanish and helping newcomers integrate in the local language and Canarian culture?
I love traveling and learning languages myself (I speak English, Italian, French and understand a few other European languages), so it soon became very natural to also share my language and my culture with other travelers. That is why almost 9 years ago I decided to create “La Casita de Laura – Learn Spanish”, to help newcomers integrate in the community and learn more about the locals, our way of living life and enjoying its simple things.
How easy is learning Spanish at La Casita? What can people expect when learning Spanish with you?
Imagine if you could learn Spanish with your best friend. Well, what we offer is exactly that! We are three freelance teachers working under the same brand name. What we do is we become our students friends and we guide them through the process of learning Spanish with a very conversational method and lots of practice. We keep it very simple and more importantly FUN, so our students don’t frustrated with all the boring grammar. Anyone joining our community can expect very little weekly commitment and a great progress. You just need to read our reviews and see how many students tend to extend their programs, to keep on learning and having fun with us.
So, you are teaching anyone who would like to learn Spanish? Do you only teach adults or also children?
We have had students from 5 up to 70 something years old. We do specialize in expat families and remote workers or digital nomads who need Spanish to live in the Canaries, but we also have many students who decide to come here on holidays and take Spanish to get to speak to locals and enjoy their experience to the max. I teach mainly adults but my colleague Niti is also really good with children. More recently, due to the COVID crisis we have focused more on the online teaching which has allowed us to get even students from abroad, people who would like to improve their Spanish and get ready for their next visit to a Spanish speaking city. For in-person lessons (whenever possible due to the restrictions), me and my colleague Niti we teach in Las Palmas and our other colleague, Dina, teaches in Maspalomas.
What would you say it is the common struggle of those who start learning Spanish?
They struggle with basic conversations in interactions with locals. They feel alone and lost in translation! Especially those who come to Gran Canaria to live with their Canarian partner - when they meet their new extended family they often feel like they can’t find the words to be able to interact in basic everyday life conversations. We focus on making that integration process faster and less painful. They find in our lessons a safe space for them to make mistakes (and not be judged), get proper corrections and grammar explanations when needed. It helps them regain some control in their lives. We connect with them because we understand what they are going through. It’s very rewarding seeing them grow confidence and become the most updated Spanish version of themselves. And they know they are not alone. We have created an amazing community and we do organize free Spanish meetups online and in-person ones whenever we can.
Could you share some Spanish tips for our readers to make it easier to understand Canarians?
Here you go, the top 5 Canarian Tips that will help you a lot:
1. Letter “-S” is kind of randomly exhaled mostly at the end of words, and it sounds almost like an English “h”, but for some reason tends to sound like an omission to foreign ears. One good example would be “gracias” which really sounds like “graseeah”, or ‘hasta luego’ which sounds like “ahta looegho”.
2. Canarians use “ustedes” instead of “vosotros” when addressing more than one person at the same time (“you all”). For example, we would say “¿Ustedes son de Reino Unido?” for ‘Are you all from the UK?’, instead of “¿Vosotros sois de Reino Unido?”. This actually happens also in most countries across Latin America, so we could say that “vosotros” is only used in the mainland, and even they may understand you if you use “ustedes” and not “vosotros”. Canarians can travel to the mainland and they never have any misunderstandings, they may just sound more formal – which is not a bad thing, right?
3. When Canarians use “mi niño/a” (my child), “mi cielo” (my sky), “mi amor” (my love) they are doing it from a good place as a term of endearment, don’t take it literally. They are not calling you “my child” or “my love”, they are just trying to be friendly and more approachable. Once you get used to it, you will miss it when you go back.
4. Canarians don’t use “Pasado Compuesto (Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto)”, they use “Indefinido (Pasado Simple)” instead. But I always encourage my students to use it because it’s easier to conjugate and we understand it anyway. For example, “Hoy fui a la playa” rather than “Hoy he ido a la playa”, to say that you went to the beach earlier that day.
5. We have a beautiful and very rich dialect and very funny words for some everyday things, for example “la guagua” for bus, “papa” for potato, “mojo” for our very own Canarian red or green spicy sauce, “millo” for corn, “leche y leche” for a delicious and extremely sweet coffee with condensed milk, “fleje” for when we want to say “a lot”, “calufa” for extreme heat and “chacho/a” for buddy/girl.
Thanks so much for sharing these useful tips and for your dedication to help newcomers in Gran Canaria. How can people connect with you?
They can find “La Casita de Laura – Learn Spanish” on Google, Facebook and Instagram, and also feel free to reach out via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. We are also working on our YouTube channel where we will be sharing tips and hacks to learn Spanish faster and easier.
So, if you would like to learn Spanish or improve it, head to “La Casita de Laura – Learn Spanish”; hands down the most fun and useful Spanish learning experience in Gran Canaria.
Go to any market or even local supermarkets and you find piles of cheese made in the Canary Islands but not all of it is the real deal. Here's how you recognise the good stuff...
The best Gran Canaria and Canary Islands cheese is made from goat and sheep cheese although most of the cheese on sale in supermarkets is a blend of cow and goat or sheep cheese.
If a cheese has a picture of a cow on the label, you know it is a mixture. Or if it says 'mezcla de leche de cabra, oveja y VACA'. This doesn't mean that it won't be nice but it will be blander tasting and with a smoother texture than the proper stuff.
Types of Canary Islands cheese
There are well over 100 cheeseries on Gran Canaria, 500 across the islands, and Canarians love their cheese so much that they eat over 11kg per person every year.
Queso tierno is fresh cheese that hasn't had a chance to ripen. It is pure white and roughly equivalent to Mozarella. It's often served as a starter along with sweet quince or guava jelly, or in salads. Go for a brand like Pajonales (black tub) that is pure goat cheese and has some flavour because queso tierno can be bland.
Queso semi tierno is cheese that has had some maturing time in a cellar or cave. It's still creamy and soft but has developed some flavour and sharpness. Many Canarian cheeses have gofio or pimentón rubbed into the rind during then curing process.
Queso duro or maduro is mature cheese that has plenty of acidity and flavour. It can still be fairly soft but some go rock hard (great for grating over pasta or using to make pesto).
Queso flor is a sheep milk cheese made using thistle sap rather than rennet. It is soft and tastes of grass and socks; a real cheese-lovers cheese. The real stuff is just called flor but you often see semi-flor which uses some rennet and is harder and milder in flavour. Proper flor comes in small wheel only a few centimetres high because it doesn't hold its shape well enough to be bigger or taller. Flor de Guia cheese has its own EU designation of origin and has to be made mostly from local sheep milk fro sheep that roam free to graze. It was first mentioned in 1526!
Queso Majorero is cheese made from goat milk in Fuerteventura. It tends to be drier, spicier and more acidic with a stronger flavour than Gran Canaria cheeeses. Try the maduro or semi curado with the pimentón rind by the Maxorata brand. This is sold in local supermarkets and has won lots of medals at the World Cheese Awards.
Queso ahumado is smoked cheese and is traditionally made on El Hierro island.
Find the best cheese in Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria cheeses tend to be slightly sweet with bitter, herbal notes and small irregular holes. Many are made from raw goat and sheep milk which is quite safe because the Canary Islands are brucelosis-free.
A lot of the tastiest cheeses come from mountain areas like Valsequillo and Tejeda where the goats and sheep get to graze, or at least are fed with fodder harvested on the island.
Local markets are an excellent place to try and buy local cheeses as you always get a nibble before you have to choose. Don't be afraid to say what you like.
"Mas fuerte" means stronger while "mas suave" means milder.
Local shops and delis also allow tasting,as do some supermarket deli counters (although Covid has made this rarer).
No matter where you buy your cheese, try to keep it out of the fridge or at least let it warm up before you eat it. Refrigeration can change the texture of cheese, especially flor de Guía.
Canary Islands cheese for vegetarians
All Canary Islands cheese sold in shops and markets is made with vegetarian-friendly rennet and pure queso flor is made using thistle sap rather than rennet to curdle the milk.
Gran Canaria Info has teamed up with a quality local transport company to offer you a safe and reliable transfer service from Gran Canaria airport direct to your accommodation.
The service lets you skip the airport taxi queues, save money, and travel direct to your accommodation with no delays or hidden charges. The quality of this service is guaranteed by Gran Canaria Info; the island's top source of quality local information.
The Gran Canaria Info airport transfer service includes the following...
- Greeting at the arrival gate by your driver
- Transfer to your accommodation in a quality, fully insured car by a licensed, multilingual driver
- Payment on arrival apart from the booking deposit of 20%
The prices of the Gran Canaria Info airport transfer service for up to 3 people* in euros are as follows...
- Airport - Playa del Ingles 40. Return 75
- Airport - Meloneras / Pasito Blanco 45. Return 85
- Airport - Puerto Rico 50. Return 90
- Airport - Mogan 60. Return 100
*Covid rules limit the number of passengers in a standard taxi or private transfer vehicle to three.
For larger groups of four to six people, with transport in a Mercedes van, the prices are as follows...
- Airport - Playa del Ingles 50. Return 100
- Airport - Meloneras / Pasito Blanco 55. Return 100
- Airport - Puerto Rico 60. Return 110
- Airport - Mogan 70. Return 120
For even larger groups (more than 6 persons), please send us a message, or contact our booking team via this WhatsApp form. Thank you!
To book a Gran Canaria airport transfer just fill in this form, leave a small deposit and you will receive a confirmation form right away. Our transfer service will then be in touch to arrange the details of where you will be met, etc. Any questions or problems, just let us know and well sort them out right away.
Covid, Migration, Masks, etc: The GCI Position On All Of It
This is a personal message from Lex and Alex at Gran Canaria Info.
It has been a loooong year since the first lockdown and the collapse of tourism here in the Canary Islands. During this period we have done our best to provide accurate and useful information about a wide range of subjects; travel restrictions, Covid rules, mask use, migrants, more migrants, etc. We feel like we have done a good job overall and we hope the majority of you do too.
However, we also know that we have, at different times, annoyed a lot of people. Many of them haven't been shy about telling exactly why and most of the time we appreciated the communication and honesty. We did remove a small number of people from the group and from the page for consistently being rude to us and/ or other members, and for sharing fringe beliefs such as "Covid doesn't exist", "you are all sheeple", "the chemtrails did it", "migrants should be thrown in the sea", etc. Life is just too short!
2020: Fun, fun, fun in the sun
Back during the first lockdown we warned that Covid was going to take at least a year to sort out (based on official government estimates and the scienfitic consensus on vaccine development) and were heavily criticised for being negative. Unfortunately, we were right and even now in April of 2021, tourism is still at very low levels and even the optimists don't expect summer numbers to be above 50% of pre-Covid figures.
We also covered the ever-changing mask, distancing and travel rules imposed by the Canary Islands, Spain and other countries in as much detail as we could. We were shouted at for encouraging people to follow "the stupid rules" and shouted at for not being strident enough about getting people to follow them. We have been frustrated at times by the many rule changes and by the need to wear masks at all times outdoors. However, we have also seen that there has been very little conflict here between the people and the police because of the simple mask rules.
We also got the standard Brexit outrage from people at both ends of the argument. We were either too pro-Europe or too anti-Britain, or too pro-Britain and anti-Europe. For the record, as foreign residents living in Spain, we believe that the EU is a good idea despite its flaws.
As for vaccines, we are in favour. We plan to be in the queue for ours with a bag of ice and a bottle of rum as soon as possible (even Lex, who very likely had Covid back in February 2020). Not everyone agrees with us about this either.
We have allowed plenty of debate in the Gran Canaria Info group but it really isn't the place for endless arguments so we have also deleted a lot of posts.
It is our deeply-held belief that there is no grown-up or friendly way of calling us or anyone else in the group "sheeple".
Then the migrants hit the headlines and all hell broke loose...
As we said, fun, fun, fun in the sun!
Gran Canaria and the 'migrant crisis' of 2020
Migrants have arrived on Gran Canaria's shores in small boats for 25 years but they only became a story in 2020 due to Covid and messy Spanish politics.
Our position was and still is that the people arriving in Gran Canaria should be treated with dignity and allowed to continue on their journey as soon as possible. Almost all of them come with the dream of working to provide for their families back at home. None of the migrants arriving in the Canary Islands want to stay here. They all have a destination in mind somewhere in mainland Europe. Many have borrowed money from family and friends to get to the islands and feel huge pressure to move on and start earning.
To give a bit of context to this, here is a single statistic; those lucky enough to work in one of Senegal's fish processing factories make the equivalent of one dollar per day.
Whatever your politics and beliefs about migration, the migrant's interests and the interests of the Canary Islands are pretty much the same. It is in all of our best interests for them to be allowed to continue to migrate from the Islands to mainland Spain and Europe. Why? Because as we saw this autumn, the Canary Islands do not have, and shouldn't need to have, the facilities to house thousands of people. Spain and Europe both have agreements in place to process and house migrants. and while Covid did make things harder, the only reason these agreements didn't work was due to politics. As one Spanish minister said, the Canary Islands were used "like a cork in the bottle" to stop migrants reaching Spain.
To us, this idea that treating people badly stops them dreaming is absurd.
Almost all migrants have now been moved out of Gran Canaria's resorts and there isn't any reason why the islands will need to house migrants in resort areas again. Even at the peak of the wave almost all the migrants housed in resort areas behaved well despite the lurid press reports in Europe's tabloid press.
That said, we do aknowledge that many people living in areas like Puerto Rico experienced serious disruption from migrants housed in empty complexes. There were serious crimes, including a rape, committed by migrants and the noise and disturbance in some areas was considerable and constant.
But the theory that the migrants have caused Gran Canaria's resorts to be empty, or will cause them to be empty in the future is pretty thin. Gran Canaria's resorts are empty due to Covid, not the migrants. And once Covid travel restrictions end, tourists coming back will find Gran Canaria is the same as always (better in the case of Puerto Rico thanks to the new malls and the refurbished main shopping centre).
We make no apology for our position about the migrants. The fact that the islands have handled the migrants with dignity and respect is to our credit. We believe that the vast majority of people who want to come back to Gran Canaria will understand that the islands dealt with a difficult situation pretty well.
We hope to see you all on the beach again very soon.
Lex and Alex
We have
Bululú, quite appropriately on the corner of Calle Venezuela and Olof Palme in Las Palmas, is a South American restaurant that looks towards the Caribbean and beyond for its inspiration.
Its food is a fascinating fusion of South American and Latin Caribbean ingredients and dishes with a healthy hint of Lebanese influence mixed in.
If that sounds like too much geography for one restaurant, don't worry: Bululú pulls it off. This is a restaurant that really understands food and specifically what makes Latin American food so delicious.
It plates up an elevated mix of sweet, hot, rich and crispy in every dish. Pabellon criollo with crispy arepas and bananas fried to the point of caramelisation. A fatoush salad that is generous and moreish, hummus with marrow and curry, served with excellent falafels. For dessert, a rich quesillo with just the right amount of dulce de leche.
The quality food comes with service to match. Friendly, efficient, always smiling, happy to advise. In fact, Bululú pretty much has this whole restaurant game nailed down.
Great value and just the perfect spot for lunch in Guanarteme if you are bored of the tyranny of always having to sit on the beachfront.
Book for a weekend table or arrive early for weekday lunchtime as Bululú has a loyal local crowd.
On Tripadvisor
Tel: 828 66 10 79
You have to up early and very lucky to find the Bandama Caldera full of mist like in Lex's photo. It only happens a few days every year and clears as soon as the sun starts to warm up.
However, there is a lot of stuff to see and do in and around the caldera other than drive to the top of the cinder cone and look at it. You can walk around it, down to the crater floor, visit the aboriginal caves, and the secret bunker (when the visitor centre reopens).
The Lady Of Bandama
A few days ago we walked down to the caldera floor to find something truly unique.
Parolinia glabriuscula, know as the Dama de Bandama or Bandama Lady, only grows inside the walls of the caldera. In fact, it only grows on the cliffs at the southeastern end of the caldera and on the scree at its base.
To be honest, the Dama isn't the most exciting plant in the world to look at. It's similar to other Parolinias growing in other places around the island (Guayadeque, the southern slopes of the island, etc).
What makes it special is that it is critically endangered and only grows in a tiny area: Definitely unique enough to walk across the Caldera floor to find; especially in January to March when it produces its little white flowers.
It seems to be thriving now that goats no longer graze inside the Caldera (and now the aggressive donkey has gone). There are far more plants than I remember when I was a kid and they have spread down the scree slope and almost onto the floor. Good news that is being repeated all over the island now that most goats are kepet bpenned in rather than roaming free.
ALEX SAYS: I was with my mother, a botanist, when she discovered the Dama de Bandama back in the 1980s. We were walking around the crater rim and spotted the only one growing outside the caldera.
Everything you need to know to walk down to the caldera floor is in our Gran Canaria map. We haven't marked the caves because we want to go back and make sure they are still safe to reach.
Note that the Hoyos de Bandama winery tends to have fairly erratic opening houtrs so if you see it open, head in for a glass of wine. The Caldera dry white is one of Gran Canaria's best.
Parallel to Mesa y Lopez, the pedestrian Ruiz de Alda has become a firm favourite as a lunch spot for Las Palmas locals.
It's always busy but most places have a free table even at peak times. As always, if you want a guaranteed spot, turn up early at 13.00 on the dot before the locals finish the morning shift and head out to lunch.
We've tried many of the restaurants and so far the general quality and value is good. Here are my top recomendations at the moment...
Mr Kale at the west end is always a good bet for poke bowls and wok dishes, especially if you get the 2-for-1 main course offer from its Facebook page.
Pinxe Tacos at the far west end of the street does a small but well-curated selection of tacos, sopes and nachos. Excellent for a light lunch at its outdoor tables but there isn't enough on the menu for a substantial meal.
For a big menu del dia with three courses, drink and coffee (12 euros) head to La Tasca de Lua about half way along the street. Modern Spanish food with sold Asian-inspired dishes depending on the day. The Thai beef rice I had last time I was here didn't look like much but was delicious.
If you just fancy a burger, the 200 Gramos half way down the street is always a solid option but remember to ask for yours "bien hecho" as the default way to serve burgers in Gran Canaria is pink inside.
Llevame al Huerto is the spot for vegetarian although the restaurant is actually more flexitarian with some seafood and dairy options.Everything is fresh, well-presented and tasty.
The Top 5 Reasons To Join The Gran Canaria Info Club
Hi, Alex here from Gran Canaria Info and I'd like to tell a little bit about Gran Canarias Info and its Club.
Lex and I have worked on Gran Canaria Info since 1998 when Lex first started the website. Since then we've taken thousands of photos, written hundreds of articles and made countless social media posts and comments. We run one of the busiest Facebook groups about Gran Canaria and the biggest Facebook page about the island.
It's been a labour of love for over 20 years and we want to make it better than ever with the Gran Canaria Info Club
The GCI Club is for people who love Gran Canaria and really want to explore the whole island. It's where we share the hidden spots and local places that you can't really reveal to everyone without spoiling them. It includes a map of all the best local places in Gran Canaria, a place for members to chat, regular meetups, and a small but growing set of discounts and offers just for members.
The GCI Club is the first time we have ever charged for anything on Gran Canaria Info and we know that it has to be excellent if it is going to work.
So, please read on for the top five reasons we think the GCI Club is a great idea for you...
You help make Gran Canaria Info better
We've never made any money directly from the site or the Facebook group. Ok, that's not completely true: We cover our server costs with ads and started to sell excursions at the start of 2020.
But we don't want to ruin Gran Canaria Info with adverts and sales. We want to keep doing exactly what we do; providing quality, independent information about Gran Canaria, showing you the best of your favourite island, and doing our best to support quality local businesses and restaurants.
The Gran Canaria Info Club lets us do exactly that. As a member you get exclusive information and perks but you also support the whole idea behind Gran Canaria Info.
You get detailed, fresh local info
As a member you get exclusive content written by Lex, Alex and guest local experts, and access to our huge map of local spots with all the best hidden bits of Gran Canaria. Natural pools, instagram photo locations, snorkelling spots, and local bars and restaurants. It's like a extra layer of Gran Canaria Info that lets you get the most out of your time on the island. When we find something new or exciting, you will be the first to know about it.
Plus you'll get news posts from Alex covering the most important things that happen in Gran Canaria.
We'll keep updating the content so that there is always something new for you to explore or try the next time you come to Gran Canaria.
You can chat and network with other members
We want the GCI Club to become a place where true Gran Canaria fans can get together and talk about the island and also get to know each other, organise meetups and events, and help each other to enjoy Gran Canaria.
We'll start by organising regular meetups in Gran Canaria's resorts for members and their friends and we hope this side of the club develops a life of its own.
Direct help and information from Lex, Alex and other local experts
If you have a question about Gran Canaria and want an answer, ask the other members or contact us directly and we'll reply straight away.
If you need help in Gran Canaria, just let us know. Anything we can do, we will: We may not be able to get you out of jail in Gran Canaria, but we can come and visit you (joke).
Discounts, offers and other perks
Don't join the Gran Canaria Info Club just for the discounts, but please do take advantage of them. We'll be arranging exclusive offers and perks for members at many of our favourite places in Gran Canaria just for members.
Coming To Gran Canaria? Join The Club For Just 10 Euros A Year
Are you a Gran Canaria fan who wants to really get to know the island like a local? Do you want to hit the ground running as soon as you arrive? Do you already know what the weather is like in Gran Canaria in October?
Join the Gran Canaria Info Club for just ten euros per year and you get immediate access to the best source of detailed Gran Canaria information there is, plus a load of other perks.
Here's what you get for less than one euro a month...
The Map: You get detailed, fresh local info
As a member you get exclusive access to our huge map of local spots with all the best hidden bits of Gran Canaria: Natural pools, instagram photo locations, snorkelling spots, and local bars and restaurants. The places we wouldn't necessarily tell everyone about because they are small and easily ruined by crowds.
It's like a extra layer of Gran Canaria Info that lets you get the most out of your time on the island. As soon as we find something new or exciting in Gran Canaria, you know about it via the map.
Club Articles: Detailed Info Every Month
You get detailed news posts from Alex covering the most important things that happen in Gran Canaria. New restaurants, local events, news and travel information.
And, you get one big monthly feature article every month covering a new area of Gran Canaria in detail with photos and local-level information.
The Club Group: You can chat and network with other members
We want the GCI Club to become a place where true Gran Canaria fans can get together and talk about the island and also get to know each other, organise meetups and events, and help each other to enjoy Gran Canaria.
So we made a private GCI Club group that will skip many of the questions we get in the main GCI Group.
The Club has it's own Facebook Group and Whatsapp list so you can stay in touch and share experiences with other Gran Canaria fans.
The Hotline: Direct help and information from Lex, Alex and other local experts
If you have a question about Gran Canaria and want an answer, ask the other members in the group or contact us directly and we'll reply straight away.
If you need help in Gran Canaria, just let us know. Anything we can do, we will: The club has its own Whatsapp List so you can contact Lex and Alex directly at any time. We may not be able to get you out of jail in Gran Canaria, but we can come and visit you (joke).
Freebies: Discounts, offers and other perks
Don't join the Gran Canaria Info Club just for the discounts, but please do take advantage of them. We'll be arranging exclusive offers and perks for members at many of our favourite places in Gran Canaria just for members. For example, you get commission free airport transfers, and commission free excursion bookings and discounts at quality local restaurants.
From Gran Canaria Info To The GCI Club
Gran Canaria Info started in 1998 and has grown since then into the biggest community of Gran Canaria fans online and on social media. We have shared thousands of photos, hundered of articles and countless socialmedia posts since then and now run the biggest Facebook group about Gran Canaria and the biggest Facebook page. The website is still packed with useful information about visiting Gran Canaria and living in Gran Canaria.
Over the years, the experience Lex and I got from has earned us some great photographer and social media jobs and we are very grateful for them. However, we've never made any money directly from the site or the Facebook group.
Ok, that's not completely true: We cover our server costs with ads and offer offer excursions and reliable airport transfers.
But we don't want to ruin Gran Canaria Info with adverts and sales. We want to keep providing quality, independent information about Gran Canaria, showing you the best of your favourite island, and doing our best to support quality local businesses and restaurants.
If you join the club, for less than a euro per month, you help us to do exactly that. You get exclusive information all the other perks but you also support the whole idea behind Gran Canaria Info.
the Gran Canaria Info Club
Gran Canaria's Bioagaete Festival Launches Charity Music BIODISCO
Gran Canaria's biggest music event, the annual Bioagaete festival, can't happen this year due to Covid-19.
However, the organisers have decided against taking a well-deserved year off and have instead launched a charity music playlist.
Dubbed the BIODISCO, it features 18 new songs from local famous singers and bands that always play for free at the festival.
To listen to the BIODISCO, please go here and make a small donation to the Bioagaete Foundation. The money raised goes to local families who have been left in need due to the Coronavirus, and to street children in Senegal.
What Brexit Means For British Visitors To Gran Canaria
Britain remains on track to leave the EU on January 1st 2021 and this will affect both British visitors and tourists, and British residents in Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands.
From January, British visitors will have to use the non-EU passport queue at Gran Canaria airport and will be electronically logged in as a visitor to the Schengen Area.
British citizens will only be allowed to spend 90 days within the Schengen Zone during a rolling 180 day period. This won't affect most holidaymakers but does pose a problem for those who plan to spend the winter in the Canaries. For example, you cannot avoid the 90 day limit by popping to Marrakesh for the weekend or spending a week back in the UK.
British citizens will not require a visa for entry for stays of less than 90 days, and where they will not be working. However, they will have to pay for the EU Visa waiver scheme to be called ETIAS. This will start at some point in 2021 and cost about seven euros.
Pets: The EU Pet passport scheme will no longer be valid for British citizens and the new rules are not yet clear.
Roaming Charges: UK telecoms firms are not obliged to keep up with flat roaming charges but some have said that they will.
Driving Licences: For now your UK driving license will be valid for car rental in Gran Canaria. This may change in the future but is unlikely. Residents should swap over to a Spanish license before the end of 2020.
Healthcare: British citizens will no longer be included in the European Health Card (EHIC) system and will have to pay for comprehensive travel insurance that includes cover for any preexisting conditions.
Customs: All good purchased in the UK will be subject to inspection and relevant import taxes.
British Residents In Gran Canaria
All UK citizens should register with extranjeria and make sure that they are registered as permanent residents if possible. You can now swap the little bit of green NIE paper for a TIE card complete with photo; this is not obligatory but does give you legally valid photo ID with having to carry your passport at all times.
Horse riding in Gran Canaria, an amazing experience for beginners or more experienced riders. The horses are friendly and very well trained and you are matched to a suitable horse and provided with riding hats. This is a fantastic ride with stunning views.
Availability. Everyday 09.30 – 18.30.
Pick up. Various from hotel or pick up points.
Duration 2 hours.
Well trained horse for beginners as well as more experienced riders. Stunning rides with fantastic views of mountains and the sea and beaches.Photographs provided on DVD as a memento of your ride. Professional and friendly staff.
Return transport is included to and from the stables and we pick up from all hotels in the tourist resorts in South Gran Canaria. Playa Del Ingles, Maspalomas, Puerto Rico, Meloneras and many more.
Upon arrival, all belongings are placed safely into into your locker and it’s time to be matched with your horse.
The instructor/leader asks each of you in turn if you have any previous experience with horses. Those without any experience will be matched with the plodding type of horse, which will go slower to ensure you feel comfortable throughout.
Those who have ridden before will be matched with a horse with whom they will be able to canter on, later in the day. Hats and hair nets are provided and instructions given by professional and friendly staff.
The trek is fantastic and you will ride over rough terrain and rocky landscapes and see amazing views across the dunes of Maspalomas, the sea and the mountains.
This is the best riding stables on Gran Canaria and the lovely staff will always see your enjoyment and safety their priority. It is very important to book in advance to avoid disappointment, as only 12 people and 12 horses can go on the trek together.
Book Gran Canaria's best horse trekking experience here
Morning or afternoon, a Gran Canaria buggy tour is the way to see Gran Canaria through fresh eyes. This is the thrill seeker's Gran Canaria tour and it takes right into the island's heart away from the resorts.
Alex Says: A Gran Canaria buggy tour is great fun for the whole family!
This Yamaha Buggy Tour goes every morning and afternoon and is a two hour buggy driving experience with a limited number of buggies (so you don't spend the whole trip in a coud of someone else's dust). Return transport is included from your hotel in all resorts in the South of Gran Canaria. Great, new vehicles and a cool route into the wild canyons of south Gran Canaria that we call Marlboro Country.
The buggies are very easy to drive and control and you can book one for yourself or fit two to a buggy. The buggies are in great condition and fully insured. Their small size and maneuverability means that the tour takes you to places that you just can't reach by car or bus.
You are in control as you drive through the rugged Gran Canaria mountains over rough terrain and you'll get a great overview of the islands rock formations, steep valleys, cave houses and mountain roads. Bring a camera or even better a GoPro because you are going to want to record the experience and the views. Just make sure you keep it in a zipped-up pocket.
Reserve your spot on this wildly popular Gran Canaria buggy tour right here for just a small deposit. You won’t find a better buggy tour anywhere in Gran Canaria.
If you want to see elephants and giraffes, this is not the safari for you. However, if you want to get out there and explore Gran Canaria in a fun and sociable way with expert local guides, get this trip booked ASAP...
This Gran Canaria jeep safari gets you off the roads and into areas that you can only see with a four wheel drive vehicle. Trips are daily 09:00 to 16:00 all year round with afternoon trips in July and August from15:30-21:30. Hotel Pickups are from 08:30 - 08:55 depending on where you stay the duration of the trip is 7 hours. The capacity is 8 person maximum per Jeep.
The Jeep Safari convoy travels up towards the mountains behind Arguineguin, through the valley of a Thousand Palms and then to a local bar, famous for its watermelon juice, for breakfast.
Next it's on to Presa de las Ninas, an inland lake at the heart of Gran Canaria with amazing scenery and views. You'll see the pine forests, caves and cliffs opf central Gran Canaria plus the local villages where people still live happily in cave houses. Then it's on to San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Tunte) where a typical Canarian lunch is available for only €7. Fruit and water is included on the trip.
Thenonwards to Arteara and the opportunity to take part in a mini camel safari, which is optional, and 10 euros extra on the day.
Join us on this amazing fun-filled adventurous day, seeing wonderful scenery, plant life, mountains, rock formations and pine forests, you will see why Gran Canaria is called the mini-continent.
The full private yacht or boat charter experience in Gran Canaria is the coolest way to spend a day out on the water. Here at Gran Canaria Info we have the best range of private boat options in Gran Canaria. Our local booking team has tried each one and will know exactly which one will best suit your needs.
Just let us know exactly what you are looking for and our Gran Canaria booking team will do the rest. They all you have to do is jump on board and feel like a movie star.
Yachts and speedboats and catamarans in Gran Canaria
A private boat tour allows you to explore the coast of south Gran Canaria at your own pace and in style. Stay on deck and soak up the sun, party non stop, swim to a secluded beach, or explore the caves and coves of the tranquil south Gran Canaria coastline. Snorkel equipment is included, along with sangria, beer and soft drinks along with light bar snacks and lunch.
You are also free to bring your own desired drinks or food. All boats have a music system with Radio and MP3 so you can bring your own music.
Almost all private charter boats depart from Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán marinas. Transers from your accommodation in all the main resorts like Playa Del Ingles, Puerto Rico, Maspalomas and Meloneres are included.
You can book three-hour time slots or a full day experience, or a full week if you want. Party in style on your own private boat in south Gran Canaria; book here to reserve your day on the ocean with total security...
Book the right Gran Canaria boat charter
Don't just book any Gran Canaria boat: Book the right Gran Canaria boat with our no-fuss booking service.
Book your private Luxury VIP speedboat, private catamaran trip, or yacht with captain right here: No app, no fuss, just a super-quick Whatsapp form and then a quick chat with our booking experts.
These private Gran Canaria boat charters are ideal for couples and families looking for a fun and peaceful day on the water, and for corporate groups, and stag and hen dos. It's your boat for the day so you can do as much or as little as you choose.
Lex Says: If you want a boat on a specific day, for a birthday or anniversary for example, it is best to book the right boat well in advance. Same for big groups and corporate days out.
This is the Gran Canaria boat trip for you if you love watersports and are staying in or around Puerto de Mogán.
Enjoy the glorious sunshine and coastline, whilst we gently cruise to our swim stop where snorkeling equiptment is provided for those of you who would like to snorkel. We include a Banana Boat Ride for those who would like to try it out. Parasailing, Jet boat (very fast speed boat), Jet Skis, Flyboarding, the Crazy UFO and many more, can all be tried for the adventurous ones amongst you and you will receive up to 50% Discount on these activities. This is a perfect boat trip to relax and the best boat trip to do your watersports but we do see Dolphins frequently but we cannot guarantee you will see Dolphins.
After boarding the Catamaran in the harbour of Puerto De Mogan, we sail South of the Island, towards Playa De Taurito, or Playa De Tauro, made famous for its rustic feel (weather depending).
Enjoy the glorious Canarian sunshine, whilst chilling on the nets or one of the padded deck areas, whilst listening to chilled tunes played through the trip.
There is an inclusive bar during the entire trip and this includes beer, wine, sangria, and soft drinks, so laying in the sun with a cold drink seems like the perfect thing to do! For those who struggle with the heat, there is a shaded area also.
After an hour or so, we reach our swim stop point. This is the time for those of you who want to cool off, to jump off the boat and enjoy the ocean.
Lunch is served, which is freshly prepared by our chef on board and it is very nice. It is marinated chicken, canarian potatoes, mojo sauce (Canarian speciality), salad and fresh bread.
As we cruise a little further, you should take this time to relax with a full stomach and sunbathe with a cocktail or beer.
Our final stop is where you can all enjoy a banana boat ride (included).
For those who love the watersports, here is your opportunity to try them out and receive a 50% Discount on the Jet Ski, Parasailing, Jet Boat (very fast speed boat), Fly boarding, where the jets attatched to your ankles throw you high into the air and many more…
When everyone is back on board, it is time to return to the harbour of Puerto de Mogan with a drink in hand and enjoying the sun and coastline.
Once you have departed the boat, you are returned to your resort by coach transfer (included).
The Catamaran sails every day from from Puerto de Mogan.
Transport from your hotel is included from all of the Tourist resorts in the South of Gran Canaria, including Playa Del Ingles, Maspalomas, Puerto Rico and Melonares.
Yes return transport is included from the main tourist resorts in Gran Canaria including Playa del ingles, Maspalomas, Puerto Rico, Amadores, San Agustin, Bahia Feliz, Taurito and Puerto Mogan. Pick up times are from 11:15 am - 12:15 pm depending on where you are staying all this will be confirmed in your booking confirmation email as soon as you have booked.
Beer, wine, sangria and soft drinks are included during the trip. A decent lunch is also included.
Tour the south coast of Gran Canaria on the Supercat, Europe’s biggest catamaran with an onboard Jacuzzi and two decks.
This all-inclusive 4-hour boat trip includes all your drinks (beer, sangria, soft drinks) and a decent lunch of BBQ Chicken, Canarian potatoes, Canarian salad, bread and Canarian salsa. This trip includes a dolphin & Whale search, a swimming and snorkelling stop in a calm bay, and half price water sports.
The trip includes free pickup from all main tourist resorts in Gran Canaria including Playa del ingles, Maspalomas, Amadores, San Agustin, Taurito, and Puerto Mogan. Sailing time is 2.5 hours and the boat leaves Puerto Base in Puerto Rico at 10.45 every day except Friday.
The Supercat, purpose built for coastal tours and dolphin watching, is 30 metres long and 12 metres wide and glides quietly through the water without disturbing sea life. Although the Supercat can take up to 240 passengers, capacity is limited to 100 to make sure that everyone has plenty of space to enjoy the experience in comfort.
The Supercat has a bar on the lower deck and a sunbathing area on the upper deck. As with all Gran Canaria boat trips, bring a hat and sunscreen.
You can reserve your spot on this popular trip at an unbeatable price here. Book your Supercat trip using our secure booking engine:
Take a boat trip aboard the custom-built Supercat and you are almost guaranteed to see the wild dolphins of Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria's wild dolphins love the calm, clear water off the south coast. So much so that they are there almost every day of the year.
The open and stable Supercat is a great boat to go on to see them swimming and jumping free in the ocean. You’ll also see flying fish and often turtles, pilot whales and even big whales.
The trip includes free pickup from all main tourist resorts in Gran Canaria including Playa del ingles, Maspalomas, Puerto Rico, Amadores, San Agustin, Taurito, and Puerto de Mogán. Sailing time is 2.5 hours and the boat leaves Puerto Base in Puerto Rico. Departure times vary depending on the season but are always up-to date on our booking site:
If you choose this trip, rather than the full four-hour Supercat day out, you then get dropped off by boat in Puerto de Mogán for your pickup and trip back to your accommodation.
The Supercat: An ideal boat for dolphin and whale watching
Purpose built for Dolphin Tours with an open top deck with plenty of seating, the Supercat is 30 metres long and 12 metres wide. It glides quietly through the water without disturbing sea life and is very stable.
Although the Supercat can take up to 240 passengers, capacity is lower to make sure that everyone has plenty of space to enjoy the experience in comfort.
The Supercat has a bar and jacuzzi on the lower deck and a sunbathing area on the upper deck.
To reserve your spot on this popular Gran Canaria boat trip at an unbeatable price, book it here using our secure online booking service.
As soon as you book you receive an email confirmation and Text/SMS, confirming your excursion date and time of your pick up and confirmation of the deposit received.
If you haven't received your confirmation please check your email spam folder, just in case. If you don’t receive it within 15 minutes, please contact us and we will send it to you manually.
Lex Says: Book boat trips in advance to avoid disappointment as most boats are operating way below full capacity and fill up fast!
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How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer
Gran Canaria's hotels have to be licensed and offer a quality level of service as well as having insurance and complying with fire regulations. The same goes for the boats that take people out to watch dolphins, the companies offering jeep safaris, and even the holiday let apartments.
However, not everybody in Gran Canaria follows the rules. For example, there is a significant industry running illegal and uninsured transfers between Gran Canaria airport and the island's resorts. These cars, driven by locals and foreign-residents, are just private vehicles and the drivers are unregulated and uninsured. They don't pay tax and there is no way to hold them responsible if something goes wrong.
At Gran Canaria Info we believe that all people and all companies offering services to tourists should legal and above board.
So, how do you know that your airport transfer service is legal and registered with the Gran Canaria authorities?
Using legal Gran Canaria airport transfers
It is quite easy to know if your airport transfer service is operating in a legal way because all registered transfers have the following...
A blue license plate: Taxis and other public service vehicles in Gran Canaria all have blue plates.
A VTC sticker in the window: This stands for Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor, the official designation for licensed transfer drivers ans chauffeurs.
An SP sticker on the car: This indicates that the car offer a Servicio Publico or public service and is therefore allowed to pick up and transfer members of the public.
Parked in the transport zone: Official airport transfer vehicles don't park in the public car park of the airport. Instead they have their own parking zone right by the arrivals gates at the airport (next to the taxis and package tour buses). Your transfer driver therefore should not have to pay a parking fee before leaving the aiport.
How to spot an unlicensed transfer service
Unlicensed drivers get away with offerring their service because they claim that they are just members of the public picking up a friend. They are allowed to stand at arrivals with a sign (just like any member of the public can).
However, they also have to park their car in the public car park and will walk you there with your luggage, stopping to pay the parking fee at the meter. A licensed transfer driver does not need to do this because they have their own parking zone right by arrivals.
Some unlicensed drivers don't even wait at the arrival gate because the official drivers recognise them and get annoyed. Instead they have to stand further away (often by the Spar supermarket or the car rental desks).
When an unlicensed driver drops you at the airport they will not want to be paid in a public area because this proves that they are charging rather than "transporting a friend" for free.
An unlicensed car will not have a blue license plate, or a SP or VTC sticker, and will often look like a private car (because it is a private car).
What's the problem with unlicensed airport transfers?
Some people use unlicensed cars because they are the cheapest option and don't realise that they are unlicensed.
There are several problems with unlicensed services. The most obvious is that they are uninsured so if something goes wrong or there is an accident, you are not protected. The price that unlicensed drivers offer is only low because they cut corners (hopefully not literally). You have no way of even knowing if your unlicensed driver has a Spanish driving license, insurance and a good driving record. Licensed drivers are vetted regularly and must be fully insured and licensed to work.
Another problem is that unlicensed transfers undermine the legitimate transfer drivers and businesses in Gran Canaria. Local drivers make a living from transfers and offer a legal, regulated service with minimum standards. Every time an unlicensed service undercuts them, it is effectively stealing from local people and the island economy.
We believe that everybody in Gran Canaria deserves better!
Gran Canaria Airport Transfer Services
To find out more about the Gran Canaria airport transfer, see our Gran Canaria airport transfer article which explains the three different models; man/woman from pub with car, online transfer websites, and local transfer services.
Or you can book a legitimate Gran Canaria airport transfer at a great price right here. Our service uses local drivers and supprts the island economy because all the money you spend stays in Gran Canaria.
Alex Says: Using our service also helps the Gran Canaria Info team to keep providing quality local information here and in our Facebook Group
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