50 Of The Best Places To Visit in Gran Canaria

Hello peeps! Looking for any plans during the weekend in Gran Canaria? Of course, you can find plenty of info on the net, but nothing like the recommendations of a native islander (like me). I’ve been collecting some of the best places to visit in Gran Canaria to take amazing photos. Enjoy them and let me know your comments!

Gran Canaria. Credit: www.holaislascanarias.com

Gran Canaria is such an amazing place that it’s been a difficult task for me to reduce the list to just 50 spots, so maybe I will share another list in the future… with at least another 50! But, I have tried to make a good summary of what to expect in Gran Canaria: beaches, nature, towns and architecture.

These spots have not been ordered, just distributed into different areas:

  1. Las Palmas Area
  2. South & East Gran Canaria,
  3. North & West Gran Canaria
  4. Center Gran Canaria, that is, the mountains…

Enjoy the list and in case you need more info, or just want to let me know about other spots that I have left outside the list, you can just contact me at hello@thelofito.com. Looking forward to reading from you!

Places To Visit in Gran Canaria: Las Palmas Area

This first section of this post about things to see in Gran Canaria has been dedicated to Las Palmas urban area. It’s the more populated area of the island and there are so many places to see. I’ve tried to offer some different things to visit: from beaches to view points, aquariums or nature.

There are many more things to discover of course, but I think this is a good summary!

1. Playa de Las Canteras

2. Bahía de El Confital

3. Muelle Deportivo

4. Mirador de Las Torres

5. Poema del Mar Aquarium

6. Parque Doramas

7. Botanic Garden (Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo)

8. Caldera Bandama

Places To Visit in Gran Canaria: East & South

Southern Gran Canaria is probably the most visited area of the island as it is the most touristic one. But, when they come to the island, many visitors just spend their whole stay in a hotel or apartment and their surroundings. But the south of the island is much more than that…

Also, I have added the eastern part of Gran Canaria in this section, because I am aware many digital nomads and remote workers rent a car from Las Palmas and drive to the south, so maybe they consider taking a look at other spots as well!

9. Bufadero de La Garita (Telde)

10. Cuatro Puertas (Telde)

11. Tufia (Telde)

12. Cuevas de la Reina Mora (Telde)

13. Barranco de los Cernícalos (Telde)

14. Agüimes Town

15. Las Salinas de Tenefé

16. Barranco de las Vacas

It’s a bit difficult to find as there aren’t good indications on Google and the names of the places around can be a bit tricky. When you finally find it, you realise it’s what you see in the picture and that’s it. So don’t expect a big valley like the Colorado Canyon. Good pic either!

17. Castillo del Romeral Natural Pools

I must admit I found these by chance. You don’t go to El Castillo del Romeral except you are going to El Castillo del Romeral for some reason. Cool natural pools to enjoy a different experience! But be careful: a windy day can spoil your stay. And it’s something relatively usual!

18. Arco del Coronadero

19. Barranco del Toro

20. Maspalomas Dune Sea

21. Degollada de la Yegua Viewpoint

22. La Fortaleza de Ansite

23. La Sorrueda

24. Puerto de Mogán

25. Los Azulejos

26. Güi Güi

Places To Visit in Gran Canaria: North & West

If you are looking for something different, I would recommend you to check some of the incredible places I’ve added in this section located in the north and west parts of Gran Canaria. It’s more than surf and more than rocky pools… give it a try and you won’t regret it!

27. Firgas (Paseo de Gran Canaria)

28. Balneario de Azuaje

29. Los Tilos (Moya)

30. Cuevas del Guincho

31. Tagoror del Gallego

32. Cenobio de Valerón

33. El Agujero

34. Sardina del Norte Lighthouse

35. Furnia

36. Charco Azul

37. Guayedra

38. Mirador de Balcón (Andén Verde)

Places To Visit in Gran Canaria: Center

The center part of the island (mostly mountains) is another great option to discover another Gran Canaria. I’ve left here those places you cannot find in the north or the south. However, some of them limit the western area… because the center area of the island it’s just… INCREDIBLE!

39. Barranco del Álamo (Teror)

40. Cruz de Tejeda

41. Ventana del Nublo

42. Roque Nublo

43. Mirador Pico de la Gorra (Tejeda)

44. Mirador Degollada de la Becerra

45. El Charco de la Paloma

46. Pinar de Tamadaba

47. Mirador El Mulato

47. Acusa Seca

49. The Valley Of The Tears

50. Risco Caído

Discovering Las Palmas: Cool Nature Spots Without Leaving The City!

If you want to explore a city, you’ll probably type its name on Google and search for a while trying to discover a bunch of cool places. In the case of Las Palmas, apart from the 4-5 same touristic places, there are not so many other recommendations. Until now. Let me show you some of my favourite ones! 

Las Palmas (de Gran Canaria) is a relatively young city when compared with others. Officially founded by the Spanish Crown in June 1478, you won’t find ancient buildings, big history museums or classic monuments. However, due to its maritime character and its special orography conditions, there are different places to enjoy! 

I tried to gather all of them into one single post but it seemed an endless task that I’ve been crafting for weeks and the result would probably be a bit boring so I decided to split them into “sections”. The first one is going to cover nature places in Las Palmas without leaving the city! 

Guiniguada Path: A 11Km Hike Without Leaving The City

Hiking, trail running, mountain biking… These are just three of the many interesting activities you can practice in the Guiniguada path. It’s one of the most popular routes among locals and a cool one if you are looking for some nature without leaving the city.

Barranco Guiniguada Path. Credit: José Antonio Llompart.

It is divided into two parts: from Vegueta to Maipez (7,5km) and Maipez to Puente La Calzada (3km). The Guiniguada Path was conditioned by local authorities recently (2017 to 2019) so everybody can enjoy the visit. 

Extra Info: https://lpavisit.com/en/activities/urban-routes/2223-sendero-del-guiniguada 

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/n2T8BN773si1V3he9 

Botanic Garden (Jardín Canario): Macaronesian Flora As Its Finest

If you’ve chosen to hike or ride the Guiniguada Path, it can be a good idea to combine it with a visit to the Las Palmas Botanic Garden (officially called Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo but commonly known as Jardín Canario).

Jardin Canario – Botanic Garden. Credit: Flickr.

It is said to be one of the largest botanical gardens in Europe, it covers 23 hectares and it shows a great part of the Macaronesian flora.  

Official Website: http://www.jardincanario.org/  (includes English info)

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/FCKTJNrYfWoykZZNA 

La Laja Natural Swimming Pools (Made Of Rocks)

If you have reached Las Palmas from the southern access which goes in parallel to the sea (what we call the Avenida Marítima), you’ll probably have seen a beach at your right side when arriving in the city. That beach is called La Laja.

La Laja is probably the least visited in the city: due to its currents and the fact that it is a bit far from the city centre. However, there is a treasure hidden in La Laja: a series of natural swimming pools made of rocks. 

La Laja Natural Swimming Pools. Credit: LPAVisit

It is worth visiting if you are looking for something different. You will rarely find tourists or foreigners: it is a place which seems only reserved for those who live around. However, if you want to visit them, you can go by bicycle or even by bus. 

More info: https://localguidegrancanaria.com/en/la-laja-beach/ 

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/EUQyTfbHNNuTdtwu8 

Muelle de San Cristóbal Beach: Many Locals Don’t Even Know This Exist! 


Not even Google Maps is capable to spot this place exactly. It’s a piece of sand -I would say no longer than 50 or 100m- by the tiny harbour of San Cristobal. This can be undoubtedly called a “secret spot”. If you want something different, this is your place. Usually visited by people from nearby.

It is located in the San Cristobal district, on the southern end of Las Palmas, before La Laja if you come from the city centre. You can reach it by foot (yet it’s a long way) or bike if you go through the Avenida Marítima or by bus. If you manage to get a car, take into account there are not many places to park.  

You can combine this visit with a good fish meal in any of the restaurants in San Cristobal (Restaurante Miramar is my favourite!).

Playa del Muelle de San Cristóbal. Credit: Teldeactualidad.com

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/uAFVaTXpabQKGZGC7 

Caldera de Bandama Path: Walking Inside & Around Volcanos

Well, it’s not properly in the city but it’s not far from it (you can get there by public bus or car). But as far as it’s part of the municipality of Las Palmas, I decided to include Caldera de Bandama’s path in this post.

There are two ways to enjoy the Caldera: a circular hike around the 1,000-metre rim of the crater or a 200-meter descent to the deepest part of La Caldera. 

Caldera de Bandama Paths. Credit: Flickr.com.

Both hikes are usually recommended for starters but I am not quite sure about this. Well, it’s not a tough hike to the end of the Caldera and it is certainly a short one, but you need a certain fit level to come back to the top.

More info: https://localguidegrancanaria.com/en/caldera-de-bandama-en/ 

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/rRaRzgqkLSDcoDyP8 

And that’s all for now, folks! Hope you decide to visit any of these soon. If so, please let me know with a comment if you liked them or not… or how can this blog be improved. You may either contact me via WhatsApp (+34722155156) or via email (hello@thelofito.com).

Looking forward to your replies!

Surf in Gran Canaria: A Guide For All Levels (From Starters To Experts)

When it comes to surfing, one of the most important things you have to take into account is your level. This is no different in Gran Canaria. That’s why I crafted this blog, helped by some friends who are local experienced surfers: to help you find the best spots in Gran Canaria according to your experience!

One of the most important things about this blog is that you won’t read any information copied and pasted from other blogs. Maybe I can use some as a resource, but I definitely wanted something authentic and I’m going to stick to that idea.

Surfing at El Altillo. Credit: Octavio Rua.

Whatever you will find here it’s genuine stuff… Maybe not always my own experience, but in case I need some help, I will contact local experts before start writing.

This is the case. I haven’t surfed in my life. Not a single wave. But after some time around digital nomad circles, I have found out this is one of the activities most demand. So I contacted a couple of friends and asked them to help me with this blog… and in the process, help you with the search.

First Rule: Stick To Your Level

I already talked about this in the first paragraph, but I think it’s worth repeating it! Before choosing any spot to surf, I would recommend you to find out what’s your real level.

La Cícer. Las Palmas Surf City. Credit: El Coleccionista de Imágenes / Flickr.com

If you are going to surf a wave that’s it’s too much for you, you’ll probably not enjoy the ride it and you’ll probably put yourself in danger. And that’s not all: you will probably spoil other’s surfing time. So… so that’s why I would tell you to be sure the place is for you.

Imagine you have recently got a driving licence. Would you start with a Ferrari in Monaco GP? Don’t think so. This is something similar!

Surf in Gran Canaria For Starters

You will find a lot of information about every single spot that I’m going to mention here, so I will just focus on the names and divide them into levels. We (my surfer friends and me) will select 3 spots on every level. Of course, there are many others, but I just wanted you to have some info to start.

La Cicer/Muellitos

These are probably the best spot to start with. They are both in Las Palmas so you won’t need any media transport to reach them (in fact, if you’re staying by The Lofito, you can reach both spots by walking).

La Cícer. Best Surf Spot in Gran Canaria for Starters. Credit: 3RJ Surf Time School.

Also, there are plenty of rental shops and surf schools if you need some help. Take a look at 3RJ Surf Time or University Surf School, just to mention a couple (I don’t have any benefits, it’s just an honest recommendation from my surfer friends).

La Laja

Another recommended spot in Las Palmas if you are a starter. It’s by the other side of the side (in the southern exit) so you’ll have to take a bus if you want to reach there if you live in Las Canteras area.

The advantage of surfing in La Laja is, in fact, its distance from the city centre, which makes it more genuine: as a general rule, you will find fewer surfers and the great majority will be locals.

If you consider yourself a starter but you want to avoid overcrowding in the sea with students from schools, then go to La Laja and avoid La Cicer.

Surfing in Maspalomas. Credit: Maspalomas News.

Maspalomas

If you are staying in the south of Gran Canaria, you’ll probably want to stay there. Then, you should try Maspalomas! I would not even be considering it a surfing spot, but the beach has some good waves to start with.

Intermediate Level: Where To Surf in Gran Canaria?

All guides are focused either on starters or experts, but what if you are not a novice but you won’t consider yourself an advanced surfer? Well, we try to solve this question for you.

Los Enanos

This spot is located in the North of Gran Canaria. Not far from Las Palmas (there are plenty of buses during the day and it won’t take you longer than half an hour to reach there). There are other alternative spots around Los Enanos you might want to try: El Puertillo, San Andrés or Quintanilla. Up to you!

Some of the Best Beaches To Surf are in Northern Gran Canaria. Credit: Arucas Blogspot.

Boquines

Another spot in the North of Gran Canaria for intermediate level. It’s in the same area than the other spots we’ve mentioned above. Best in mid tide, can be a crowded place sometime with local surfers.

Spots Whose Level Depend On The Conditions

There are some other spots in the North of Gran Canaria whose level depends on the day: well, they might be for starters (not usual to be honest), intermediate or experts depending on the sea conditions.

As far as you’ve got to trip into them around half an hour, maybe it’s better to check before driving. Which are these spots? Boquines can be included into this option, but I’d rather put it into the intermediate level, but also El Altillo, La Caleta, El Picahcho, El Alto (right wave) or El Roque.

El Roque. Right Wave. / Credit: Octavio Rua.

Surf in Gran Canaria For Pros

If you are an experienced surfer, you will be probably looking for the best spots to surf in Gran Canaria. And I want to be clear about this: this section has been specifically designed for those surfers with top level. If you don’t reach it, you’d better try other sections.

El Confital. One of the Best Surfing Beaches in Gran Canaria. Credit: Wikipedia.com.

El Confital

It’s one of the gems in the city of Las Palmas. Located at the end of Playa de Las Canteras (eastern end), it’s linked to the city via a non-asphalted path. You can reach it on foot or by car if you’ve got transport.

It was once considered one of the top waves in Europe and hold surfing contests, but in the last few years has lost part of its fame. A long right break which makes it really palatable for local surfers who don’t want to go far from the city.

Best Spot For Surfing % Bodyboard in Gran Canaria: El Frontón. Credit: El Coleccionista de Imágenes / Flickr.com.

La Guancha

La Guancha, Bocabarranco, El Agujero, El Frontón… These fours spots are close from each other and all of them are excellent options for surfers (and bodyboarders). El Frontón is a world class wave, especially among bodyboarders, so that’s why I decided to talk about La Guancha.

El Agujero does not need any publicity (well, maybe this is not he goal of this post), but La Guancha can be considered more a hidden gem as it’s rarely crowded. It’s more difficult to reach this area with public transport, but you can.

Gran Canaria Best Surf Spots Map. Credit: TravelSurf.com

El Lloret

If El Confital was the northern end of Las Canteras, El Lloret is located on the western end. The fact that is near to areas for beginners like La Cícer may lead to confusion: don’t get tricked by the ubication as El Lloret is only for proficient surfers.

In fact, El Lloret is and exposed reef break and the waves are really near to the rocks. Any little mistake and you can have a terrible accident. And no one here wants that!

My Best 8 Restaurants in Las Canteras Area

If you are so lucky to be my guest at The Lofito (that little cosy studio in Las Palmas), you will find lots of places to enjoy a good meal in the area. Even if you’re staying for a couple of months, you will not have enough time to visit all of them! That’s why I made the hard work for you (you’re welcome): here you go my personal restaurant ‘top 8’ in Las Canteras.

As a marketing guy, when I started thinking about this post, I wondered how to make the best possible headline to position it on the top… and searched about the best keywords to use. My first idea was to sketch something like “Best restaurants in Las Palmas” or “Top 10 Restaurants in Gran Canaria”. 

But, to be honest, that would not have been fair at all and, you see, blogs success when they are honest! It’s obvious… but I haven’t been to every restaurant in the city and the places in my list would have been other’s favourites, not mine. 

So I decided to change my topic a bit and write a blog only about restaurants that I have visited and give you my opinions about them (I don’t get a penny with these recommendations). Not only this: they must be around The Lofito. 

Las Canteras Terraces. Credit: El Coleccionista de Imágenes / Flickr.com

Pro Tip Before Start: Look At How Full A Restaurant Is! 

I left The Lofito many years ago and Guanarteme has changed a lot, but still one of the most vibrant barrios in Las Palmas. 

Due to the pandemics, I am not used to eating out as I was. So again, I will try to be as honest as possible: some opinions that I am going to write here may be slightly dated or at least not complete. 

There might be other cool new restaurants around that I’ve not tried yet. I am just listing my personal recommendations but, if you are looking for something different, then go ahead with Tripadvisor to do that job for you!

If I were you, I would use this list as another reference if you aren’t sure where to eat out. However, if you aren’t sure where to go, here’s a pro tip: walk around the barrio and get into the restaurant with the crowdest terrace! Never fails!

My #1: Tasca Galileo 

Spaniards love eating… and eating out. Fact. That’s why we have more restaurants and bars per capita than any other country in the world. If you’ve been here for a while, this is not going to shock you.

Tasca Galileo. Credit: Tripadvisor.com.

And that’s the reason why we have so many words for places to eat in Spanish: restaurante, bodegón, taberna, cantina, chiringuito… or tasca, among many others. And my favourite restaurant in the area is a “tasca”. But what’s this exactly? Etymologically, a ‘tasca’ is a place where you can be served alcohol (especially beer, wine or liquor), but also tapas are offered. 

But the reality is quite far from this nowadays. A “tasca” reminds me of a small and snug place where you can get some good quality food. And Tasca Galileo responds better to that definition. 

It’s a nice place where you can have a good time with friends around a table to drink a good cup (or a bottle) of red wine -almost all in their stock are good choices but Pago Capellanes or Habla del Silencio are two of my favourites- and have great tapas. You won’t regret any order you make!

As you can see, I am a big fan of “Tasca Galileo” and that’s why they’ve awarded with my personal #1. But above everything, I would say it’s an unbeatable quality-price ratio! 

The only con -if I were to mention anything- is that it’s a small place so you need a reservation (well, I think with pandemics this is a ‘must’ everywhere, but be sure to go with some time to book your place).

Terrace in Calle Olof Palme. Credit: Bululú on Instagram.

#2. Bululú. Some Venezuela Taste!

I found this one not so long ago. I was recommended by some friends and it did not disappoint me at all! It’s a Venezuelan restaurant and they serve typical dishes from that country. By the way -historical detail here- If you don’t know, there are close relations between Venezuelans and Canarians, and there are many of them settled in the Canaries. 

A lot of tasty dishes on their menu, but I won’t lose the opportunity to try their wonderful ‘arepas’ (typical Venezuelan corn meal pockets) mixed up with a delicious Spanish IPA. I’ve added Bululu in the #2 as it was not expensive and I’m always looking for your economy! 

Parrillada minutes before being served to customers. Credit: El Novillo Precoz website.

#3. El Novillo Precoz

I’ve been considering which of my choice should be #3 and I finally decided “El Novillo Precoz” because it’s so close from The Lofito (if you glance through the window, you will see this restaurant on your right side, 50m far from where you are) and, honestly, if you love meat… you cannot leave Gran Canaria without visiting it.

Best meats from Argentina and Uruguay in the heart of Las Palmas. A restaurant with a great tradition in the city. But I must warn you: it’s not a cheap option, though it is worth the effort! What would I order here? Well, in fact, I always order the same! A parrillada! Stone-grilled meat that you can grill by yourself. And for dessert a mousse de Dulce de Leche (a typical Argentinian milk-based caramel candy).

One of my favourites in Guanarteme: Allende Puerto. Credit: Allende Restaurant on Instagram.

#4. Allende Puerto. The “Usual” Place To Eat.

Don’t you have a restaurant you usually go to when you have no idea where to go and it’s a sure bet? That’s Allende Puerto for me (and I would say for many other locals too!). It’s five minutes by walking from The Lofito. It’s usually full so I’d recommend a book before!

Almost everything is tasty! My favourites: Queso herreño con mermelada (breaded cheese from the island of El Hierro with red pepper marmelade), Tartar de Salmón (salmon-tartare), Huevos Rotos con Jamon (Fried Eggs with Jamon), Lagartillo Ibérico or Lomo Angus (these are both meats). Crema de cheesecake con maracuyá y crumble for dessert.

Authentic Japanese food at Fuji Restaurant. Credit: Unknown.

#5. Fuji. Authentic Japanese food.

Fuji was the first Japanese restaurant not only in the Canary Islands but also in Spain so they were pioneers in Japanese food when they opened their restaurant around 40 years ago in Las Palmas. If you want to live an authentic Japanese experience, far from experiments and trendy places, you should pay them a visit! 

Some of the incredible dishes you can order at De Contrabando. Credit: De Contrabando on Instagram.

#6. De Contrabando. Gastronomic Experience. 

Not sure if I can find the words to describe my only experience at De Contrabando, but I am looking forward to repeating. This restaurant was opened a couple of years ago as a revolutionary concept in Guanarteme: not only a place to eat but a space to learn how to cook exotic dishes. 

They had to stop their educational part due to restrictions from the pandemic but kept the restaurant open, which was an excellent piece of news for all of us. Not cheap, but you will enjoy any euro you are paying! An outstanding gastronomic experience!

#7. La Lonja. The Best Red Tuna I Have Ever Tried

My visit to La Lonja -same owners than Tasca Galileo- was some years ago, but sometimes you remember restaurants just for one taste or one feeling. And this was my case. I confess I dislike most seafood (especially prawns) but their red tuna with sesame is (or was) simply awesome. I have never tried anything like that in any other place! A good white wine is a ‘must’ too! 

Hestia’s Creative Food. Amazing! Credit: Hestia Gran Canaria on Instagram.

#8. Hestia. Creative Kitchen In The Heart Of Guanarteme.

When you pass by Hestia’s main entrance, it’s not easy to notice there is a restaurant there. It’s not what I would call a ‘hidden gem’, but almost. Creative kitchen at its fullest. Worth the visit. Not many comments on Tripadvisor as other restaurants in the city, but most of them are quite good. 4,6 out of 5 stars! 

There’s even someone which is demanding a Michelin star for Hestia! It’s so low on my list because of the high price, and that’s something I wanted to consider seriously when writing this post. 

With Hestia my list is done! I have read the list again and wondering if I’ve been unfair with some of them… perhaps they must be in a higher place. Well, I will finish by saying that any of these 8 restaurants are good options in Las Canteras area so… if you decide to start on the other way round, it would be great as well.

One last thing. PLEASE. If you are reading this blog and you want to add any other restaurant, let me know. I will do the ‘hard work’ again for my readers. And, if you have tried any of these, let me know your feelings about them. I guess the more comments you add, the better idea you will get! 

Best Places To Live In Gran Canaria: Tips For Digital Nomads

If you are planning to come to Gran Canaria, this is probably the first and most important question you need to solve: Which part of the island are you going to live in?

The answer will mainly depend on the reasons bringing you here!

Gran Canaria From The Air. Credit: Wikipedia.

There are several option upon the table but I would gather them into three main areas:

  • Las Palmas. The biggest city of the island with a population of 380,000 inhabitants and the preferred place for most digital nomads.
  • The South. That is, the southern part of the island, which is more a touristic area and your choice if you look for sun, beaches and relax.
  • Other parts of the island. Small and mid-size towns in the eastern and northern coast of the island, usually least known and more exotic. 

Well, Las Palmas is my city and The Lofito is located there, so I’m not being 100% fair, but the city is the best place for digital nomads in my opinion! 

As I have said, this option is the best one for digital nomads. And it’s not only a personal view. I would even say it’s the preferred one by most of you as far as I have seen.

Las Palmas: live a true experience

Las Canteras Beach in Las Palmas. Credit: El Coleccionista de Instantes / Flickr.com

Why? Well, every person is different, but I have observed that most digital nomads share some values. Of course, you, dear reader, might disagree, but it’s not crazy to assume they travel around the world to live new authentic experiences. 

And they will find that in Las Palmas. On the other side, Southern Gran Canaria is made for tourism. That is, lovely weather all year round and sandy beaches… but also hotels, resorts, international cuisine and fast-food restaurants. This is not what locals would say is an authentic Gran Canaria experience!

Advantages of living in Las Palmas:

  • A true local experience. At least, more authentic than what you will find in the South.

  • Better connections. Especially if you are planning to move around the island in public transport.

  • More gastronomic options. Much more good restaurants on average than anywhere in the island, including tapas, local cuisine and exotic restaurants.

  • Better beaches for surfing. The best surfing spots are located in the North, but the city has a couple of interesting beaches. And also… if you want to go north, it’s nearer!

  • Better social life. Maybe the nightlife in the South was great before pandemics, but afternoon and evenings in Las Palmas terraces are great!

  • The Lofito. Last but not least… isn’t this a good reason to choose Las Palmas? 

Obviously, there are some cons of living in Las Palmas too. Let’s say the weather is not as sunny as in the South so you can find some cloudy days… Temperature is great though. It’s like living an eternal spring in the Canaries.

Vegueta. Old Las Palmas. Panoramic View. Credit: El Coleccionista de Instantes / Flickr.com


Also, there is another thing to consider. Not everyone speaks fluent English, so it’s a bit more difficult to communicate with locals!  

Check these websites if you need further info:

Nomad City Las Palmas 

The Ultimate Guide For Las Palmas: Nomad Guide 

Las Palmas for Digital Nomad Girls

The South: best option to enjoy sun and beaches

What is The South exactly? Well, even among locals, there is no consensus. If you ask any native what is “El Sur” (this is what we call it), you will probably find as many answers as people you ask. 

However, the great majority of us would agree that El Sur is the coastline from Bahia Feliz to Playa de Mogan: plenty of leisure, beaches and resorts, and ready for tourists to enjoy Gran Canaria and its incredible weather all year round! 

Dunes in Maspalomas. Credit: El Coleccionista de Instantes / Flickr.com

At the time of writing this post, the world is still suffering from pandemics, so tourism is being severely affected in Gran Canaria. The situation now is very different than before the virus appeared, so you will find a different place. 

At this moment, there are many hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars closed. That is, less tourists and limited activity. The South is a further quiet place now, which is good news if this is what you are looking for. Not sure how the pandemics will evolve, but the trend is for the South to recover its lively rhythm soon! 

Advantages of living in the South:

  • Sun and beaches. Didn’t we mention this already? Most of the best beaches in Gran Canaria (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Amadores, Anfi del Mar…) are located in this area. And you’ll probably get sunny days most of the time!

  • Land of eternal holidays. Life goes at another pace in the South! Yep, there are workers… but don’t forget most of the people are there enjoying their holidays. 
  • Much more people speak English. There are many foreigners from all over the world living in the south of Gran Canaria during the whole year that language won’t be an issue. English, German or Swedish are even more used than Spanish! 

  • Better leisure activities and nightlife. I have always disagreed with this assumption, but I recognise it’s just a personal opinion. Traditionally, it is said that you can party all the time in the South – and it’s probably true (however, the restrictions with the pandemics have dramatically changed this perception). 

Check this if you need further info:

If you need more info about the South, I found this “Complete Travel Guide To The South of Gran Canaria” pretty cool to use as a reference, so it’s a good resource to read! 

Other cool options to live in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is more than Las Palmas and the South, but these are more exotic places. But it it’s that what you need, then here you go a bunch of alternatives to live in our island:

Telde

Telde is a handy village between the airport and Las Palmas. It’s only 15 minutes from the city and I don’t think it will take longer than 25 minutes to get to the South. Telde has good beaches also (search for La Garita, Melenara o Salinetas on Google).

San Francisco. Telde. El Coleccionista de Instantes / Flickr.com

Best of Telde are the good connections if you are planning to have a private transport. Everything is more or less nearby. And it’s also a cheaper place to find a good rent. But it’s not a touristic place, so it would be a bit difficult (not impossible) to find a mid-term contract. 

Arinaga and Pozo Izquierdo

I personally love these two villages located in the south west area of Gran Canaria but I recognise they are not for everyone. For instance, a first ‘must’ here is to have a private transport to move around.  

Windsurfing World Cup at Pozo Izquierdo. El Coleccionista de Instantes / Flickr.com

Pozo Izquierdo is especially recommended if you are in love with watersports. In fact, Pozo Izquierdo is the venue for one of the Windsurfing World Cup events. It’s windy, for sure, but it’s a quiet place with an interesting environment mixing local people with young surfers.

Check this website if you want to know more about Pozo in English.

The North

Are you mainly coming to Gran Canaria to surf? Then you should consider the northern part of the island to live. In the same way that it happens with “El Sur”, there is not a consensus among locals about which area exactly covers “El Norte” (The North) but anyway… you’ll find Gran Canaria’s best beaches to surf from Arucas to Agaete. I’m not an expert but some of them are El Agujero, el Frontón, El Circo, El Picacho… 

El Fronton. One of the best places for surfing in Northern Gran Canaria. El Coleccionista de Instantes / Flickr.com

Do not hesitate to contact me if you need more info about any of these beaches, as some of my best friends are surfers, so we can help! 

Agaete

If you are looking for something really exotic, I would take a look at places like Agaete. It’s a small village in western Gran Canaria but a beautiful one. Just take a look at the pictures you can find on the Internet and decide for yourself. A quiet place on the coast, far from big cities and a boho atmosphere…

Valsequillo, San Mateo or Tejeda

If you ever consider coming to Gran Canaria because you love the mountains, hiking, trekking and nature, maybe you should consider any of these three villages too. They are both nearby to the highest Gran Canaria’s peaks and plenty of nature activity.

Awesome Sunset from Gran Canaria. El Coleccionista de Instantes / Flickr.com

However, although Internet connection should not be an issue in almost any place on the island, I would advise you to confirm it before!  Let me know if you need more info about these as I’ve been a trail runner and know a lot of trails to discover in these three places! 

There are many other places you can consider when coming to Gran Canaria. The island is so pretty that I could spend words and words trying to convince you about them. I would end up by saying that… please, don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further info about them.

Welcome Digital Nomads To Las Palmas!

Hi there! Welcome to my blog. My goal is to share here valuable information so you can enjoy your stay in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

I said Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Yes. It’s a bit long, but it’s the real name of the city. Everybody says just “Las Palmas”, but the full name is “Las Palmas de Gran Canaria”. [We will explain this in another post – don’t think this is a thrilling story to start with!]

Credit to El Coleccionista de Instantes / Flickr.com

Why Started This Blog About Digital Nomads in Las Palmas?

That’s an interesting question. If you want the shorter answer, I would say it’s obvious: this blog will be a key part of The Lofito website, so it was a good way to connect to potential guests who want to stay in the studio.

But the truth is a bit longer. I’ve been around online digital nomads environments for some time -not long, to be honest- and I personally admire the good vibes that anyone can feel when getting involved in their circles: how do they help each other, how receptive they are to meet new people or how open-minded they are to live new places … and that really inspired me!

To certain extent, a part of me feels share those feelings all digital nomads share…. but without being propertly one of them.

So Here’s My Contribution to Digital Nomads in Las Palmas

I wanted to be part of this somehow.

I live and work in Gran Canaria and not planning to move abroad (at least, in the short-term), but I wanted to offer my little contribution -apart from The Lofito- to the thing.

And there was something I can offer!

Most blogs, websites and social networks about digital nomading in Las Palmas are made by digital nomads, expats or foreigners living on the island, which is great! But I felt there was a point of view that was missing: the local perspective.

And this is where I come in.

Credit: Wikipedia.com

I have travelled myself and also lived abroad for years. Not like a digital nomad, but I know what it feels when living in a place that is not your homeland. Especially, when you don’t know the language (luckily this was not my case).

Sometimes, when I look back into the past, I wish I would have counted on more information before arriving that city. Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoyed my experience, that’s right, but sometimes I missed to have lived the real city, the one locals live.

It was not until a couple of years passed by that I started to find another city and a different lifestyle: the one natives live. And that’s something tourism has brought -especially in the Canaries.

So… if you, as a digital nomad, are going to spend just a couple of months here, why waste your time with other’s experiences and not live yours? Do you want to live a real experience in Las Palmas?

Then, you’ve reached the right place! See you in the next post!