GRAN CANARIA 7-DAY ITINERARY
Ocean, pine forests, deserts, and mountains stand together on this small island, one of the Canary Islands – Gran Canaria. It is called a “continent in miniature” because of the diversity of its landscapes and microclimates: a warm and dry south and a cool and humid north. With 300 days of sun per year and an average winter temperature of 19°C, Gran Canaria is a great place to escape winter in search of summer. Here’s a Gran Canaria 7-day itinerary to discover the very best of the island.
Here you can find my guide: Gran Canaria – Best Time to Visit and Where to Stay
Day 1: Agaete Valley
Agaete Valley is a lush, fertile valley surrounded by the Tamadaba Mountains. Here you can go trekking or visit Bodega de los Berrazales, with vineyards, orange groves, and a coffee plantation. In the valley, you can also find Necropolis de Maipés, an archaeological park with over 700 aboriginal tombs carved into volcanic lava, dating back more than 1,300 years.
After exploring the valley, it is worth visiting Las Salinas de Agaete – natural saltwater pools, perfect for a refreshing dip.
Day 2: Puerto de las Nieves and Sunset at Guayedra Beach
Puerto de las Nieves
Puerto de las Nieves is a charming port where you can go for a walk along the white and blue houses, visit the dark volcanic sand beach, and try local cuisine in seafront restaurants.
Sunset at Guayedra Beach
Guayedra Beach is a wild beach at the foot of the Tamadaba Mountains, overlooking the white harbor of Puerto de las Nieves. It’s a great place to watch the sunset at the end of the day.
Day 3: Tilos de Moya, Firgas, El Roque
Tilos de Moya laurel forest and Moya village
Tilos de Moya is a 2 km circular trail that passes through remnants of a laurel forest. It is a short and pleasant walk, taking between 30 minutes and 1 hour to complete. While in the area, it is also worth visiting the village of Moya, located 490 meters above sea level and overlooking a dramatic gorge and nature reserve.
Firgas
Next, it’s worth heading to Firgas. The town is known for its picturesque street featuring cascading water channels, colorful mosaics depicting the towns of Gran Canaria, and detailed maps of the islands, making it an ideal place for a relaxed and leisurely walk.
El Roque
At the end of the day, I recommend visiting El Roque, a coastal villige in the north of Gran Canaria that stretches down to the ocean, offering dramatic coastal scenery. You can walk along narrow streets lined with houses touched by the Atlantic sea breeze.
Day 4: Central Gran Canaria - Mountain Range and Tejeda
Pico de las Nieves, Roque Nublo, Roque Bentayga
In the central part of Gran Canaria lies a volcanic mountain range, home to some of the island’s most famous natural landmarks. Pico de las Nieves is the highest peak in the Canary Islands, offering panoramic views over Gran Canaria. You can reach this spot by car, making it an easy stop even if you don’t want to hike.
Next, visit Roque Nublo, a striking volcanic monolith rising over 80 meters, one of the island’s most iconic symbols and a popular hiking destination.
You can also stop at Roque Bentayga, another impressive volcanic formation in the central mountains.
Tejeda
Finally, nearby is the charming mountain village of Tejeda, which offers a scenic walk to Cruz de Tejeda and lovely interior views of the island. It’s a perfect spot to relax, enjoy a local food, and watch the sunset over the surrounding mountains.
Day 5: Poema del Mar in Las Palmas and El Bufadero
Las Palmas - Poema del Mar
On a single day on the island, it’s worth visiting the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. You can wander around the Vegueta district and see its traditional architecture, and check out museums like the Casa de Colón or the Museum of Science and Technology.
One place you definitely shouldn’t miss is the Poema del Mar Aquarium — it has a huge tank that feels like a movie theater on water.
El Bufadero
At the end of the day, it’s worth driving to El Bufadero, where waves crash into the rocks and force water up through the crevices, creating an amazing natural water show
Day 6: Barranco de Guayadeque, Barranco de las Vacas
Barranco de Guayadeque
In pre – Hispanic times, the valley was inhabited by the Guanches, who lived in cave dwellings. Today, visitors can walk through the gorge and enjoy a meal in a restaurant carved into the rock.
Tobas de Colores in Barranco de las Vacas
Then you can visit the nearby Barranco de las Vacas to see the orange layers of volcanic tuff, known as Tobas de Colores. It looks like a miniature version of the Grand Canyon, with striking rock formations.
Day 7: Palmitos Park and Maspalomas
Palmitos Park
During your trip in Gran Canaria, it’s also worth checking out some interesting theme parks. One of them is Palmitos Park, where you can stroll through a huge garden and see exotic animals along the way. A highlight of the park is the dolphin show, where the animals perform choreographed routines to music. Another interesting park is Sioux City, a Western-style town where you can watch scenes from life in the Wild West. Nearby, there is also a water park – Aqualand Maspalomas – where you can enjoy various water attractions. Keep in mind that each park requires at least half a day to fully enjoy.
Maspalomas
The rest of the day can be spent at the nearby beach in Maspalomas, enjoying a swim in the ocean. It’s also worth watching the sunset over the famous sand dunes.