Why Go
With close to perfect climate promising visitors year round spring-like sunshine, travel seekers don’t really need too much of a sales pitch to go to Grand Canary. So, if you’re a parent suffering from a case of winter blues or simply needing an injection of change to recharge your batteries, Grand Canary might just be the cure. As for the kids, a lot of resorts offer entertainment for the young ones as well. Outside the hotel, the island is bursting with life and won’t fall short in providing an assortment of things to do and see for everyone in the family.
Insider Tips
- It’s eternally spring in Grand Canary so you can literally go any time of the year and still get enough sunshine. During winter months (November to February), the average air temperature is 62ºF. During the summer from June to September, it’s about 75ºF. But if you want to beat the crowds and the costly peak season rates, visit in December before the Christmas/New Year holidays or early in May, before the summer season. December is said to be the wettest month of the year but this really varies from year to year. If it rains, chances are you won’t even be bothered by it if you are staying on the southern coast, where rain is usually very light and doesn’t last long. In May, the average air temperature is 68 ºC with very little chances of rain.
- Grand Canary’s International Airport is on the east coast of the island. It is 25 kilometers away from the south, where the main tourist areas of the island are located.
- Rates for car rental in Grand Canary are pretty low. Of course they vary depending on the type of car you hire, but you can easily find a reliable 5-door car from a reputable car rental company for about €200/week, inclusive of tax and full insurance. Rental companies provide booster or child seats on request with an additional charge.
- There is a myriad of beaches in Grand Canary ranging from long or short , sandy or rocky, crowded or quiet and so on. Your beach preference is a good start in narrowing down your hotel or resort search.
- Playa del Ingles, possibly one of the most popular beaches in Europe, has a fine sandy beach of over 2 kilometers long. Due to its fame, it’s just natural that you might want to see for yourself what the buzz is all about. Don’t be caught off guard, however, especially if you’re with your kids. This area is swarming with nudists and gays.
- The beaches of Maspalomas and San Agustin are quieter and family-friendlier.
- Before you book, check reviews of hotels or resorts where you intend to stay to get a better idea of what to expect. Grand Canary has a wide array of hotels and apartments to choose from to suit any taste and budget.
- Don’t let Grand Canary’s spring-like sunshine deceive you. It usually is a lot stronger than it feels, so make sure to always put on proper sun protection. When walking on the beach and sand dunes, don’t forget to take your sandals, flip-flops or shoes with you. The sand can become too hot to walk on bare feet.
Where to Stay
The Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort Spa & Casino, just meters away from Maspalomas Beach is a bit pricey, but the resort is an island in itself. The hotel has a whole lot of sports and leisure facilities, including a cinema, a putting green and a bowling alley, to keep you contently occupied- for days! The huge swimming pool complex with a man-made beach area set on tropical gardens was impressive. With a mini-club and animation center, large enough rooms to comfortably accommodate a family with a child and a premiere location near the promenade and sand dunes, it is, all in all, a good resort choice for family travelers with kids.
Half-board rates range from about €140/night to €230/night for 2 adults in a double room, depending on the dates you go and how early you book. A child of not more than 2 years old stays free of charge in an extra bed or baby cot, while older children are charged 50% to 70% of the adult rate. If you require a baby cot, make a request when you book and make sure that the hotel acknowledges your request when they confirm your booking.
For families who want to stay away from the crowds and have direct access to the beach, the Melia Tamarindos Hotel, San Agustin, is a good option.San Agustin beach is about half a kilometer long of dark sand beach. It's sheltered against the waves, and the beach slopes down gently, so it's a safer bathing spot for kids. The Melia Tamarindo also offers plenty on-site for families with kids: swimming pools, a club house with entertainment, a kids' club and a games area for kids.
Depending on the season, room rates for a double room with 2 adults range from around 100 EUR/night to 190 EUR/night, on a half-board basis. On request, the hotel provides complimentary cribs for children under 2. Children 2 or younger stay free of charge in the room, and discounts are available for older kids.
What to eat
When it comes to eating, you’ll be spoilt for choice with the variety and number of restaurants in Grand Canary. On such a small island, it’s astonishing to find restaurants specializing in even the not so popular cuisines of the world. So if you have an adventurous palate, it is possible to sample one different cuisine per day.
Not to be missed, of course, is Canarian food. Canarian food is mainly traditional Spanish cuisine infused with some African and Latino influences. Be aware that most food served in hotel and resort restaurants caters to the international taste, so before you leave the island, venture out at least once to sample authentic local cuisine.
Some items that are definitely not to be missed are:
- Papas Arrugadas with Mojo Picon sauce
Pappas Arrugadas, or wrinkled potatoes in Canarian, are new potatoes boiled in their skin in salted water until they wrinkle up. Pappas arrugadas are served with a tasty sauce made of garlic, olive oil, vinegar and spices.
- Fresh octopus, squid, cuttlefish and an interesting variety of fish are of great abundance around the island. If you’re a seafood lover, you’ve come to the right place. Try local seafood dishes, such as the Pulpa a la Gallega (Galician octopus) or even just a pescado a la plancha (fresh grilled fish).
- Canarian cheese- the Canary Islands are a big producer of different types of cheese and some of them have won world acclaim. One of the best known types, which has won several awards is the “Queso de Flor” or flower cheese. This soft cheese is made from a mix of fresh sheep and goat’s milk and curdled with artichoke flowers. It has an unusually distinctive taste, but is absolutely delightful. For children, a milder and simpler goat cheese, called “queso blanco” might be more enjoyable.
- For dessert, try the Truchas de Batata, a pastry stuffed with sweet potato, almonds, lemon rind and cinnamon then fried and dusted with powdered sugar.
If you’re in Maspalomas, you can sample an array of delightful Canarian tapas, including the well-known pappas arrugadas without paying too much at the Bandera Tapas y Copas located on Mar Mediterraneo, Maspalomas. You will find this gem of a restaurant right across Lopesan Costa Melanores, along a line of bars and shops.
And then there’s Cho Juanillo Restaurant in Faro 2 center, Maspalomas, where everyone in the family can get their hearts’ (or stomach’s) desires. They’ve got tapas, pizzas, steaks and a lot more. It’s another restaurant where you can get good value for your money.
What to do
Explore the sand dunes of Maspalomas: When you’re ready to take a break from the relax and comfort zones of your hotel, a great place to explore first is the Maspalomas Sand Dunes. Beautiful beaches front this nature reserve, which is approximately an 8 km stretch from the lighthouse of Maspalomas all the way to the end of Playa del Ingles. If your kid is anything like mine, he’ll be joyfully sprinting up and rolling down the sand dunes in no time.
Just be aware that along this walk are the nudist and gay beaches of Grand Canary. As a marker, take a look at the kiosk numbers along the beach. The numbers start at 1 to 7 from both the Maspalomas end and the Playa del Ingles end of the stretch. The nudist beach is at kiosk number 6 and the gay beach at number 7, smack in the middle of Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles.
Camel Safari: This is an unforgettable up-close experience with camels and an exciting way of exploring the magnificent sand dunes. Not far from the Faro (lighthouse)of Maspalomas, at the left hand-side of the dried river away from the beach, you’ll see a camel farm. Here is your chance to join a caravan onto the Sahara-like dessert saddled up on the back of a camel.
This is an awesome 30-minute guided camel ride through the sand dunes at € 9/adult and € 6/child.
Submarine Adventure: Although just the thought of staying underwater in a submarine gives me a panic attack, with a child who is extremely fanatical about submarines, this opportunity is difficult to resist. (Oh, what parents will do for their kids!)
More than just the experience of actually boarding a submarine, you will spend about 30 minutes enjoying views that you’d otherwise only see if you scuba dive. Aside from watching sea life, exploring an underwater shipwreck under the sea was the tour’s main attraction.
This tour departs from the port of Puerto de Mogan, which is located on the southwest part of the island, just a few miles from Maspalomas. (Tour Price:€28/adult and €14/child)
Palmitos Park: Driving away from the coast to Palmitos Park would remind you why Grand Canary was nicknamed “a small continent.” Just a few minutes inland from the sea, you will be greeted by completely different landscapes of lush verdant greens and rugged gorges.
Palmitos Park is a vast zoo, botanical garden and aviary rolled into one. There is so much to see that it’s possible to stay here for a day without seeing everything there is. Make sure to check out the show times to make sure you get to see all the exhibitions. It’s easy to get lost in the hugeness of the place and miss the performances.
Among the major highlights of our visit in Palmitos Park was the Birds of Prey Exhibition. The uphill walk to the amphitheatre where this exhibition takes place will leave you breathless – but so will the show. The sight of a variety of species of birds, flying down from the peak of the mountain and performing their magnificent aerobatics will simply take your breath away.
The parrot show is also awesome. The tricks and acrobatics that these parrots can do are beyond imagination!
Aqualand Maspalomas: This is not a cheap place to go (€25/adult; €18/ chil) considering that all its attractions close at 4:30 pm, but it’s the biggest waterpark on the island and a great and safe place to get an adrenaline rush. It has different water slides for all ages, a kid’s play area and a man-made surf beach.
TIPS: Footwear is not allowed on the slides, but ankle socks are. To protect your feet from getting cut or burnt , wear ankle socks.
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Photos: Hotel Melia Tamarindos, Keliones, Jacqueline Lauri, L. Suarez, Fer, Bandera Tapas y Copas, Atatiw Flickr, Lezzles