Did you know that Gran Canaria is the perfect backpacker’s destination? The hostels are amazing, public transport is cheap and reliable, and there are so many beautiful places to visit. After reading this blog, you will know everything about the perfect 1-week itinerary for traveling Gran Canaria.
The Southern Coast 3 Nights
Las Dunas the Maspalomas
After arriving at Gran Canaria, Maspalomas is most likely your first stop. Buses from the airport go very regularly and are under a 45-minute ride. Although the town of Maspalomas itself is not the most alluring and you will see more shirtless and retired Germans than actual ‘Canarios’, the Sahara-like dunes that rise up behind it are absolutely dazzling. The beach behind the dunes is also beautiful and the sea is warm all year round, so definitely spend one of your days at the beach, and go back into the dunes with some drinks for a stunning sunset.
Arguineguin
Finding nice and affordable accommodation in Maspalomas is hard, for that reason, we advise you to stay in the more relaxed, cuter town of Arguineguin. Cheap Airbnb’s are easy to find, and most have a beautiful view of the sea from up the hill. There are some good spots to eat out with a view of the ocean, and a little beach to hang out after a day of exploring. Arguineguin has good bus connections to the other towns on the Southern coast, with for instance Maspalomas and the dunes only 25 minutes away.
Puerto Rico
Unless you are into dolphin cruises, which depart from here (as well as from other towns in the South), are amazing and definitely recommended, but on the expensive side. We do not recommend going here. The town mainly consists of high-rise, commercial resorts that ruin the brutal cliffs surrounding it.
Puerto de Mogán
Unlike Puerto Rico and Maspolamos, Puerto de Mogán is a picturesque little fishing town on the waterfront, a 35-minute bus ride away from Arguineguin. Browse around and lose yourself in the countless little tourist shops, or visit the spread-out market on Fridays. Next to the bus connection, Puerto de Mogán also has frequent ferries to both Puerto Rico and Arguineguin, of which the prices vary between 7 and 10 euros each way (look out for dolphins!). This is the perfect day trip from Arguineguin: walk around, have lunch, go to the pretty (but full) beach, and take a ferry back!
The Green Hostel 2 Nights
After having explored the sun-drenched South, The Green Hostel, located on the West Coast, gives a totally different perspective on the island. The 2-hour bus drive from Arguineguin to La Aldea de San Nicolas passes right through the high mountains and cliffs of Gran Canaria and will pass the Rainbow Rocks, beautiful colored rocks in the middle of nowhere.
When you arrive in the town of La Aldea de San Nicolas, do not forget to get some cash out of the ATM, because card payment is not yet a thing on this side of the island. The walk to the hostel is only 20 minutes, through La Aldea where you could get a nice drink on the central square, and on the main road towards the beach. The hostel itself is very, amazing hosts offer you a welcome drink, goats walk around in their cactus garden and volunteers hop around to make everyone’s bed. We even got an upgrade from their dorm room to a private room, ‘because why not, there is nobody in there’. There is also a little bar, so you can relax and have a few drinks after your hike-, or beach adventure.
From the hostel, it is another 20-minute walk to the beach, where you will find a few seafood restaurants to get some lunch and your cold beverage of choice, it is amazing! Next to this, the long, but beautiful ‘guï guï’ hike starts right next to the Green Hostel. It leads to an isolated beach, which is supposed to be marvelous. We did not make it that far, but the views of the sea from the high cliffs were still worth it.
Jacio House 2 Nights
The bus ride from La Aldea to Jacio House is another one with great views, so do not fall asleep! This small hostel on the North Coast is totally different from the Green Hostel. It is beautifully well-maintained, very clean, and has an ocean view. There is a lounge-restaurant outside, where guests of the hostel get a good discount and where you can have good drinks, or even a high-quality meal for a fair price. There is not much to do in the area, so be prepared to chill, go to the beach, and have a lot of drinks. If you are a surfer, however, this is the place to be in Gran Canaria, since it is one of the scarce places with good waves You can rent boards with the hostel and go out with all the locals to catch some good waves.
Teror Lunch Trip on the way to Las Palmas
The biggest mistake you can make is going straight to Las Palmas after your stay in Jació. Teror is an amazing little mountain village, with good bus connections to everywhere you want to go. The ideal day to visit is Sunday since the market of Teror is known to be the best one on the island. However, any other day is fine, as you can always just stroll along the small street and have a traditional chorizo sandwich at one of the squares or cute side streets. If you are into hiking or mountain biking, definitely stay for the night, as there are many trails departing from Teror. Otherwise, a few hours are just perfect and give you the opportunity to see the beautiful inland of this island known for its beaches.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 1/2 Nights
Las Palmas is the capital of Gran Canaria. This charming city has nice bars and cafés and also gives you the opportunity to do some shopping or souvenir hunting before you leave. The city offers multiple hostels, varying in price from €12 to €25 per night, be on time to get your perfect match via hostelworld.com. Las Palmas is very close to the airport (only 25 minutes by bus), so it is perfect for your last night.
If you are a city person, stay here longer, as Las Palmas offers a great number of activities: Go to El Museo Canario to get to know everything about Gran Canaria’s history, walk through the historic neighborhood Vegueta, visit Castillo the la Luz to see the blend between new art within an old fortress, take a bus to La Isleta for a beautiful beach, and go shopping in Calle Triana!
Bonus – Roque Nublo
Off-route and right in the mountainous center of Gran Canaria you will find Roque Nublo, a 68-meter-high monolith at one of the highest peaks (over 1800 meters) of Gran Canaria. Hikes in the area are stunning, with its bigger brother Pico de las Nieves (1949m) also in the area. Since it is far from the other highlights on this route, we only recommend going here when you have more time. When you do go here, stay in Mountain Hostel Finca La Isa, an amazing hostel with mountain views, a common room, and a variety of activities (hiking, biking, etc.) to participate in.
For more articles about the lovely cities of Spain, check out our other posts here!