Gran Canaria

Sweeping beaches, bustling resorts and villages ripe for exploring make holidays to Gran Canaria a failsafe choice year-round.

Everyone’s favourite

Gran Canaria is often billed as a miniature continent, and it won’t take you long to see why on a Cruise & Stay holiday here. Rolling hills contrast with sandy beaches, while traditional whitewashed villages are paired with purpose-built tourist havens. Such diversity means crowds have flocked here for hundreds of years – and today, the island is as popular as ever.

Sand and sea

Gran Canaria’s made-to-measure beaches offer something for everyone. Secluded coves mingle with vast swathes of sand, stretching out for miles. At the island’s southernmost tip, hop your way along the much-loved Playa del Ingles. Close by, Maspalomas draws the crowds with its never-ending expanse of sandy dunes and 19^th-century lighthouse, while families flock to the quieter San Agustín. Further west, Puerto Mogan’s marina is the perfect spot to enjoy dinner with a view.

A touch of class

Stylish Meloneras ramps up the class a bit. Modern shopping malls and designer brands can be found as readily as smaller boutiques. Both Meloneras and Playa Taurito are home to a good smattering of luxury hotels, bars and restaurants, for those in search of chic.

Dramatic scenery

Beaches aside, Gran Canaria is home to some dramatic natural beauty, so it’s easy to take to the hills and explore. Pilancones Natural Park is well within your reach, around an hour’s drive from Maspalomas. The thick pine forests make an ideal habitat for bird and animal life, giving you the chance to glimpse rare and endangered species of flora and fauna at every turn.