As Ryanair announced a new route Bratislava – Las Palmas, a unique chance to fly to the Canary Islands directly from Bratislava was waiting for a suitable deal. At the end of March, we managed to book round-trip tickets for 88€. Our second trip to the Canaries can begin. If you let yourself be carried away by your imagination when visiting Gran Canaria, you will feel as if you have visited 3 continents instead of just one island. The sand dunes of Maspalomas will remind you of Africa, the mountainous inland and freshwater reservoirs will make you feel like you are in continental Europe, and the deep canyons may evoke America in you.
Contents
Day 1 – Night arrival
Day 2 – Puerto Rico and Amadores Beach
Day 3 – Middle of the island – Roque Nublo rock
Day 4 – Maspalomas Sand Dunes
Day 5 – Farewell to the Island
Day 1 – Night Arrival
Update 2024: We have had a very good experience with the Cicar car rental. No deposit, full insurance, payment by card or cash.
We arrive at Gran Canaria Airport on Friday night at 23:45. The flight lasted just under 5 hours. We picked up a Hyundai i30 car from Top Car AutoReisen and drove along the highway around the island to our town, Puerto Rico. It is truly remarkable how many tunnels they had to build in such rugged terrain, and it looks like the highway will continue further. AccommodationApartamentos Cumana consisted of several terrace houses. We had to do a bit of running around until we found ours, but it was worth it; we had the whole apartment to ourselves.
Day 2 – Puerto Rico and Amadores Beach
We wake up to a warm morning. Breakfast this time was not included in the accommodation, so we stopped on the way at SPARe. The board showed 25C in the sun, and we headed to the beach Playa de Puerto Rico. It was a typical city beach with sunbeds, surrounded by luxurious hotels everywhere.
TIP: We recommend applying sunscreen thoroughly, as the sun is quite deceptive 🙂
Since it was March, the beach was relatively full. Sunbeds were, of course, paid for, so we spread out on the sand. Around noon, we move along the coast to another beach. This time it’s the beautiful Playa de Amadores, and it must be said, one of the most beautiful beaches we visited. Even though it was a city beach, the azure color of the water made an impression on us. Both beaches are enclosed with buoys at the end, so you cannot swim too far, but the sea is calm, with practically no waves. The whole Gran Canaria breathes luxury, and no wonder it is the main tourist island.
Day 3 – Center of the island – Roque Nublo rock
In the morning, we set off in our car on the highway towards Maspalomas, and from there we turned onto the road to the center of the island. The roads were a matter of life, the terrain was so mountainous that at times we could hardly believe how they managed to build those roads there. It was customary to honk before each turn and then just hope that nothing would fly at you from the opposite direction. After an hour of driving, we had to stop because we had quite an uncertain stomach, which is not usual for any of us. But enough of scaring, it can be handled 🙂 Along the way, we stopped in the town of Fataga for a coffee and enjoyed the beautiful views of nature.
Our main goal is the rock formation Roque Nublo. We parked our car in the parking lot and set out on about an hour-long hike. That rock is something incredible, completely out of this world; everyone will surely wonder where this 80-meter monster came from.
TIP: From this place, you can also see the island of Tenerife and its highest peak Mount Teide
You can also see the highest peak of Gran Canaria, Pico de Las Nieves, where there is a military base. We spread out a picnic on the rocks, filled our stomachs, and slowly made our way back. Our next stop is the port town of Puerto de Mogán. It’s important to pay attention not to turn onto some questionable road, which was our case 🙂 It’s very easy to mistake the main road for a side road, which looks the same at first glance but gets worse the further you go. During the dizzying journey, we also saw two reservoirs, but we didn’t stop anywhere. Around five o’clock, we arrive in the town and can finally take a dip in the water.Playa de Mogán is ideal for cooling off after a full day. Just before sunset, we managed to visit a beach with gray sand Playa Taurito. The evening was filled with wine; we went to the city for a night at the disco. You might order just one round of wine, but their “free shots” system will promptly bring you another round and a free shot. And then they say you come home sober 🙂
Day 4 – Maspalomas Sand Dunes
Waking up in the morning was harder than on other days. We only set off to the south to the area of Maspalomas around noon. It is the main tourist center of the island. Our first stop was the Playa de Maspalomas beach, where we walked through the sandy dunes. This natural phenomenon has been a protected area since 1989, and the sand is said to come from the Sahara. One feels like in a desert; it’s an unforgettable experience to climb a dune. The beach stretches along the dunes for almost three kilometers, and even nudism enthusiasts can find their spot. Just walk a bit along the beach, and you’ll immediately spot where nudists gather 🙂 After a short walk, we returned to the beginning of the beach and took a dip in the ocean. The water is shallow and rocky, so swimming is not ideal. We took the car towards Playa del Inglés, which is essentially a continuation of Playa Maspalomas, but honestly, who would walk that distance. Here, we first played in the sand dunes and then, for a change, in the ocean waves. At the end of the day, we visited the beach with the darkest sand.Playa San Augustín.
Day 5 – Farewell to the island
We had a flight at 6:00, so we only got about an hour of sleep. Additionally, it was my birthday that day, so the wild celebration started already in the Canary Islands. A toast at midnight and then it continued in Slovakia 🙂 Around noon, we are in Bratislava, alive and well.
