Gran Canaria holidays

Far from a fly-and-flop destination, Gran Canaria is all about getting out there and lapping up the good life. Swim in sun-kissed waters, hike among almond blossoms, soak in volcanic spa pools, climb cloud-topped rocks and feast on seafood fresh off the boat.

An effortless mix of nature, nightlife and doing sweet nothing, Gran Canaria holidays are hard to beat.

Beaches, beaches and yet more beaches

Almost 60 kilometres (37 miles) of Gran Canaria’s 263-kilometre (163-mile) coastline is covered with sand.

Home to a whopping 80-plus beaches, you’ll never be short of a spot to shake out your towel and snooze in the sunshine. Due to the island’s volcanic roots, you’ll find a whole kaleidoscope of sand, ranging from perfectly golden to silvery grey and lightly toasted brown.

Cocktails and cafés in the capital

It’s a serious mistake to think that all-inclusive Gran Canaria holidays are only about the beach.

Stretched across two scenic bays, Las Palmas, the capital of the island, is a buzzy city packed with historic sights, al fresco cafes and trendy tapas bars. With two beautiful urban beaches and a chic marina, it’s a cosmopolitan spot to shop ‘til you drop, splash out on cocktails and sit around in the sunshine.

A cheap 2020 holiday in Gran Canaria is easily filled with things to see and do, but the island’s capital Las Palmas warrants a break all of its own.

A playground for grown-ups

Beyond the bright lights of Las Palmas and the luxury beach resorts, Gran Canaria is a natural playground just begging to be explored.

Nature buffs and hikers will be in seventh heaven at Roque Nublo (Cloud Rock), set within the Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve and surrounded by fragrant pine forests. This iconic chunk of volcanic material is one of the largest free-standing rocks in the world and, with the aid of a few ropes, you can scramble up to its cloud-swirled summit. It’s guaranteed to add some adrenaline to your Gran Canaria holiday.

Warm and sunny almost all year round, it's pretty hard to get a Gran Canaria holiday wrong

However, if you're headed for Las Palmas in July or August, beware the Panza de Burro (Donkey Belly). This is a grey patch in the middle of summer, when the trade winds push clouds over the city, often making it the only overcast spot on the island. Some years it doesn't show up at all, while other years it hangs around for weeks. If sunshine is a deal breaker on your Gran Canaria holiday, your safest bet is to swerve these months or avoid the capital.

Like anywhere in Europe, prices surge when schools let out, making it harder, but not impossible, to grab cheap family holidays in Gran Canaria.

If you're after a bargain package deal to Gran Canaria in 2020, stick to the shoulder months and travel between February and May (avoiding half terms and Easter) or from September to mid-December. These months are brilliant for picking up cheap package holidays, whether you're after a luxury all-inclusive Gran Canaria holiday deal or a budget getaway with a bunch of mates.

Gran Canaria isn't all about getting a tan. Look beyond the beaches and you'll find plenty of surprises in store, from traditional white-washed towns to plunging ravines and cave villages.

Grab your camera, pack your sunnies and go find an adventure

Tejeda: Smack bang in the centre of the island, Tejeda is a beautiful village sandwiched between bright green hills; it's a place that seems utterly frozen in time.

Here, you'll find narrow streets lined with traditional houses, complete with colourful blooms tumbling from their balconies. Surrounded by towering peaks, it's a bustling little place with plenty of character.

Barranco de Guayadeque: Epic and evergreen, this dizzying ravine is blessed with far more than its fair share of natural beauty. A plunging valley criss-crossed with sparkling streams and singing birds, it's somewhere to escape from it all. The sun-dappled slopes are carpeted with a fragrant mix of Canary Island pines, almond trees, cacti, palms and poppies, making it a slice of paradise for hikers, birdwatchers and nature buffs.

Las Palmas: For a taste of real Canarian culture, make a beeline for the capital. Buzzy and bordering on chaotic, it's packed with museums, tapas restaurants, shopping malls and waterfront bars, with a stretch of urban beach right on its doorstep.

The atmospheric old quarter is a tangle of streets lined with grand colonial buildings and shady papaya-filled courtyards - perfect for an afternoon wander.

Dolphin and whale watching: Beneath the waves lapping Gran Canaria, there's a world of sea life waiting to be discovered.

Almost 30 species of sea mammals frolic in these waters on a year-round basis, including Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, False Killer Whales, Minke Whales and Sperm Whales. Boat trips leave daily from Puerto Rico, giving you the chance to see entire pods of dolphins at play. If you're an animal lover, you'll be awestruck.

Artenara: Clinging to the mountainside some 1,270 metres (4,167 feet) above sea level, Artenara is the highest village on the island. Home to several miradors (viewpoints) offering gobsmacking panoramas over yawning volcanic craters and Mount Teide on Tenerife, it's nothing short of breath-taking. What's more, the villagers of Artenara live in cave houses. It's definitely worth a visit and the (slightly hairy) drive to the village is out of this world.