Nestled in the paradisiacal south of Gran Canaria, Grand Horizon Resort offers more than just luxurious accommodations. It’s your gateway to a world of adventures, relaxation, and authentic experiences. If you're planning a holiday and wondering what to do in Gran Canaria, this guide is for you. Here are 10 must-try activities near our luxury apartment complex that will make your stay unforgettable.
Discover the Magic of Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is famed for its diverse landscapes, from golden dunes and crystal-clear beaches to majestic mountains and picturesque traditional villages. We’ve carefully curated the best local experiences to help you explore everything this magical island has to offer.
1. Relax at Maspalomas Dunes
Just a 20-minute drive from the resort, the iconic Maspalomas Dunes transport you to a unique desert-like landscape. Perfect for walks, photography, or sunset viewing, this is one of the island's most iconic spots.
Spanning 400 hectares, the area features a stunning beach, live organic sand dunes, a palm grove, and a saltwater lagoon—a mix of desert and oasis. The dunes extend 3 km from east to west and 2 km from north to south.
Local Tip: Visit early in the morning or at sunset to avoid the heat and capture the best light for photos.
2. Explore Puerto de Mogán: The Little Venice
Known for its charming canals, bougainvillea-lined streets, and vibrant marina, Puerto de Mogán is perfect for a day of exploration. With architecture reminiscent of Italian fishing villages, it’s just a 15-minute drive from Grand Horizon.
Extra Adventure: We recommend an excursion that will give an extra touch to this day, an excursion by boat or jet ski to enjoy the area from the inside as well.
3. Venture to Roque Nublo: A Natural Treasure
For hiking enthusiasts, Roque Nublo is a must. This natural monument, symbol of Gran Canaria, offers spectacular views to see Gran Canaria and the rest of the islands from the top. There are several routes from Grand Horizon to Roque Nublo, they are just over an hour away and all have their own charm.
Roque Nublo is one of the largest natural crags in the world, of volcanic origin, rising 80 metres above its base and 1,813 metres above the sea. It is also an ancient place of worship for the aborigines and was declared a protected natural area in 1987. The distance is 3.33 km, with an elevation gain of 187 m and a height of 1,762 m.
Level of difficulty: Easy. We recommend parking in the car park at La Degollada and walking up the 40-minute route to Roque Nublo. Make sure you bring comfortable shoes and enough water for the walk. If you go at sunset, we recommend you bring a jacket, as once the sun goes down it can get a bit chilly.
4. Stroll Through Tejeda: Traditional Canary Charm
Tejeda is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, located in the central summit of Gran Canaria, known for its landscape full of almond trees, the fruit on which its traditional confectionery is based. In the middle of a landscape dominated by ravines, you can see both Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga, essential symbols of the island. It is a village where tranquillity is to be found in every corner. It also has a municipal swimming pool.
Local Tip: Don't miss the typical sweets of Tejeda, they have more than 30 types of palmeras, but their star product is the chocolate ones.
5. Visit Teror: A Symbolic Canarian Gem
It is one of the oldest inhabited areas on the island. It has been the place of pilgrimage par excellence for the inhabitants of Gran Canaria for more than five centuries, as the Basilica of the Virgen del Pino is located in the centre.
It was founded in 1481 and is home to one of the most important religious, architectural and cultural heritages of Gran Canaria. Teror is full of cobbled streets and traditional Canarian balconies, with colourful and well-kept houses.
Local tip: Try to visit on Sundays when there is usually a street market with typical Canarian food, such as chorizo from Teror, cheese or honey.
Water Sports and Outdoor Adventures
Gran Canaria's warm and sunny climate makes it the ideal destination for outdoor activities 365 days a year, escape the winter on this island paradise. It has many kilometres of beach where you can enjoy outdoor activities and adventure. We suggest the following essential plans to do alone, with family or friends.
6. Practice water sports: surfing, windsurfing or jet skiing.
If you love windsurfing, you will know that Pozo Izquierdo beach is recognised as one of the best places in the world for windsurfing.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for surfing, Gran Canaria is your ideal destination. The island has 60 km of beaches and spectacular waves in some areas of the island. The most popular beaches for surfers are Playa de la Cicer, Playa del Puertillo, Playa del Inglés and Playa de Confital.
If you want to take a ride on a jet ski you can do it in Puerto Rico, the closest beach to Grand Horizon, contact the apartment complex to arrange this activity, we will take care of everything you need.
Options for Beginners: Local schools offer hourly lessons and equipment rentals.
7. Explore the underwater world with snorkeling or diving
The crystal clear waters of Gran Canaria are teeming with marine life and tropical fish. All along the Gran Canarian coastline it is possible to find all types of seabed, down to 30m several miles off the coast. The most outstanding diving spots on the island are: Playa Chica in Las Palmas, Sardina del Norte, Playa de El Cabrón, Playa de Tufia, Pasito Blanco, the artificial reef of Arguineguín and Mogán. In the latter there are two wrecks, two sunken ships 40 metres apart from each other, a real challenge and paradise for divers.
Options for beginners: Just as with surfing, there are local schools offering courses for all levels and in groups, as well as the rental of the necessary equipment.
8. Visit Unique Beaches and Northern Natural Pools
In Gran Canaria you can find several very special beaches. Playa de las Canteras, in Las Palmas, one of the best city beaches in Spain, with all the services you need; the famous Playa del Inglés, next to the dunes, in Maspalomas or the beach of Güi Güi in Aldea de San Nicolás, an exotic beach, completely natural and unspoilt, which can be reached after a 2-hour walk.
In addition to these beaches you can find the well-known natural swimming pools, located in the north of the island. The best known are those of Gáldar and Agaete, the latter are formed by 3 natural volcanic pools connected by underwater tunnels and protected from the strong waves, which makes them the ideal place to enjoy the crystal clear water of the sea and sunbathe.
Rentals and guides: From Grand Horizon, we connect you with reliable suppliers for cars and guided tours.
Experience Canarian Culture and Gastronomy
9. Enjoy a show of traditional canarian music
Discover the shows and theatres of the island, in addition, many villages organise folklore shows with traditional music and dances, when you have the dates of your trip to Gran Canaria don't forget to check the musical agenda and programming of the villages or theatres such as Guiniguada or Pérez Galdós or the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium.
There are many instruments that make up traditional Canarian music, but the main string instruments are the timple and the guitar, the wind instruments are the whistle and the conch shell, and the percussion instruments are the hueseras, the tambourine, the tambourine and the percussion instruments.
The musical folklore of the Canary Islands is rich and varied, it is the result of the mixture of aboriginal percussion music and the sounds of the mainland. A mixture of cultures with the influences generated by the Genoese, Jewish, Flemish and British traders, as well as the human flow between the Canary Islands and America.
10. Las Palmas: A journey through time
The city is made up of several neighbourhoods, among them we highlight the historic centre composed of Vegueta and Triana, with the most emblematic buildings of the city. These are two fascinating neighbourhoods to learn about the history of Gran Canaria, with the Cathedral of Santa Ana, museums, churches and colonial streets that will transport you to the past, as well as the commercial area with buildings of high historical and artistic value.
Las Palmas is also home to Las Canteras, one of the main beaches of the island and one of the most lively beaches of all the Spanish capitals, with three kilometres of blond sand, bordered by a large promenade full of bars, restaurants, pubs, terraces, ice-cream parlours, etc.
Culinary Tip: Take the opportunity to get to know the local gastronomy and taste the typical flavours of the Canary Islands. Some of the dishes you can order are: papás arrugás with red mojo and green mojo, herreño cheese, ropa vieja, sancocho, scalded gofio, and for dessert polvito uruguayo or bienmesabe.
Are there family activities near the resort?
Of course there are! If after reading this article you feel like starting your adventure don't hesitate to contact us by emailing booking@grandhorizon.es or calling 0034 619 12 16 77. We will inform you of all the activities we can arrange for you near Grand Horizon, some of them are: Golf, jet skiing, boat trips, kayaking, hiking, quad biking and a long list of other adventures.
Also, if you need to get around the island from Grand Horizon, we offer private transport and can arrange car hire to explore the island in comfort. There are also public buses that connect the main points of the island with no problem.
Gran Canaria is a year-round destination with warm weather, so any time of year is a good time to visit. However, the spring and autumn months offer milder temperatures and less crowds.
The Grand Horizon Resort not only offers you a luxury experience, but also the perfect access to the wonders of Gran Canaria. From breathtaking natural scenery to exciting activities and rich local culture, the perfect activity for you and your family is waiting for you.
If you want to enjoy activities close to the apartment complex while immersing yourself in local tourism, look no further. Book your stay at the Grand Horizon Resort and get ready for an unforgettable holiday.
