Exploring the hidden gems of Gran Canaria is a must for those visitors who enjoy going off the beaten track to see amazing places that are left undiscovered by most people.

Gran Canaria is an island full of diverse landscapes and impressive nature. Sometimes the island is even referred to as “miniature continent”. Unfortunately, its reputation often portrays it as a crowded mass tourism destination for beach holiday tourists. While this is not completely wrong the island does have much more to offer than just beaches. Once you leave the main tourist hotspots you’ll discover the true beauty and the hidden gems of Gran Canaria.

Top 6 Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria

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Getting around in Gran Canaria

As you can already guess, the hidden gems of Gran Canaria are located away from the main tourist areas. With this remoteness comes also a difficulty to reach these places with public transport.

The best way to explore Gran Canaria and the hidden gems of the island is by renting a car. Check reantalcars.com to compare prices and to get the beat deal on your rental car.

Top 6 Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria

Barranco de las Vacas

Barranco de Las Vacas, Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria

Barranco de las Vacas on Gran Canaria or Antelope Canyon in the United States?

Photos from Barranco de las Vacas can look confusingly similar to the famous Antelope Canyon in the US. But no, Barranco de las Vacas is hidden in the rural area of Gran Canaria and was discovered just a few years ago. The best part about it is that there’s no entrance fee and also no visitor crowd – just nature.

Visit Barranco de las Vacas in the morning or in the evening to avoid sharing the spot with other visitors. I went there just before sunset and I had the whole canyon to myself.

Alternatively, you could book an experience with Get your Guide. A knowledgable local guide will pick you up from your accommodation and guide you through the canyon. This is followed by a local food tasting in a rural environment and the experience ends with a visit to a secluded black sand beach:

How to get to Barranco de las Vacas

Barranco de las Vacas is so remote that there’s not even a sign or a proper parking lot that would point out the exact location. If you want to find Barranco de las Vacas you have to follow directions from the internet. For me it was a hassle to find it because I entered “Barranco de las Vacas” in Google Maps and trusted it would show me the correct way. After having hiked for 20 minutes in the wrong place (there were also other people mistakenly looking for the canyon) I realized that this couldn’t be right. I did some more internet research and finally found directions that would lead me directly to Barranco de las Vacas.

These are the exact coordinates: 27°54’54.7″N 15°28’33.6″W
You can copy+paste them into Google Maps to get there.

Follow the directions to get near the coordinates. When you’re the closest you can get on the road you need to park your car and hike for a few minutes. Coming from Agüimes you find a small parking space on the left side of the road. From there you descend the canyon until you get to a grey brick bridge. You walk through it and keep hiking for 5 minutes to get to the spot of the photo above.

Sunset at Mirador Pico de las Nieves

Sunset at Pico de las Nieves
Pico de las Nieves: 1.949 m

Mirador Pico de las Nieves is the best spot to watch the sunset on Gran Canaria. The view from there is fantastic at all times, but when the sun starts to set, painting the sky orange and illuminating the clouds it is simply magical.

Pico de las Nieves is the highest reachable peak on the island. From there, you have an amazing view of Roque Nublo, which is Gran Canaria’s most famous landmark. Roque Nublo is a mountain with a weird looking rock on top of it, but for some reason, it’s considered as a must-see.

Further away in the distance, you can even see the peak of volcano Teide, which is Spain’s highest peak. It might appear closer, but Teide is not even on Gran Canaria but on the neighboring island of Tenerife.

Sunset at Pico de las Nieves
Behind the sea of clouds you can see the peak of volcano Teide on Tenerife

If you head to the viewpoint for sunset, make sure to be there on time. There are only a few parking spots, and you’re probably not the only one who wants to watch the sunset. The viewpoint is located at an altitude of 1,949 m above sea level, so bring some warm clothes with you. Even during the day, it can be fresh and extremely windy, but after the sun has set, it gets really chilly.

Sunset on Pico de las Nieves - Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria

If you would like to learn more about beautiful rural and mountainous places on Gran Canaria, read this guide to the rural area of Gran Canaria.

The best way to explore the hidden gems of Gran Canaria is by going with a local. They know the best spots off the tourist paths and they can share all the insider tips with you.

Check out these amazing experiences:

Playa Guigui

Playa Guigui, Gran Canaria

Playa Guigui is a beautiful virgin beach surrounded by mountains. Not many tourists visit this beach because getting there is a bit tricky: You need to cross a mountain and hike for 2-3 hours. And that’s only getting there, then you need to hike back as well.

Playa Guigui - Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria

If you think you’re not fit enough for the hike you can also take a boat to Playa Guigui but that would only be half of the experience. Especially the stunning views during the hike are what makes this hidden gem of Gran Canaria so amazing.

Playa Guigui, Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria

Here’s a full guide with everything you need to know about Playa Guigui:

Playa Guigui – Gran Canaria’s Hidden Beach

 This hike is an absolute must if you enjoy off the beaten track travel!

Piscinas Naturales in Agaete

Piscinas Naturales de Agaete - Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria

The piscinas naturales (natural pools) in Agaete is another one of the hidden gems of Gran Canaria that is definitely worth visiting.

Agaete is located in the north-west of Gran Canaria and it’s the furthest town you can get to on the highway. Past Agaete it’s just nature and mountain roads.

Piscinas Naturales in Agaete

Agaete is home to the only port for passenger ferries in Gran Canaria. If you want to do a trip to one of the neighboring Canary Islands you can take a ferry there. Besides those who take a ferry or arrive from another island, not many tourists visit Agaete because it’s quite far away from everything else.

Sunset in Agaete - Piscinas Naturales in Agaete

I recommend staying at the piscinas naturales until the evening and having dinner in one of the numerous fish restaurants in Puerto de las Nieves. Within only 5 minutes of walking along the coast you arrive to the tiny center of Puerto de las Nieves and its restaurants. All the restaurants have a great offer of fresh fish, seafood and local dishes. Make sure to watch the sunset from there, it looks beautiful and if it’s a clear day you can even see the peak of volcano Teide in the distance.

 

Playa de Tauro

Playa Tauro, Gran Canaria

Playa de Tauro is a small beach that not many people know about – not to be confused with the more touristy Playa Taurito. It’s located between Playa de los Amadores and Playa del Cura. Playa de Tauro is the perfect beach for those who seek tranquility and want to escape the crowds of the more touristy beaches.

 

Restaurante Vistamar is the only restaurant at Playa de Tauro, and I highly recommend eating here. The smell of grilled seafood and garlic that overcomes you when you enter is mouthwatering.

 

Their food is fantastic, and the prices are lower than at restaurants near other beaches. Try the grilled shrimps with garlic; they’re delicious! Also, the quiet terrace with sea views is perfect for enjoying the sunshine.

 

Piscinas Naturales el Agujero

Piscinas Naturales El Agujero

The Piscinas Naturales el Agujero are natural pools in the north of Gran Canaria close to Galdar. During the day, you can relax here, enjoy the views and jump into the refreshing pools filled with ocean water.

 

In the evening, the clouds turn pink just before the sun disappears behind the horizon. Giant waves clash against the rocks, and if you’re lucky, you get to watch a few brave surfers in the water.

Piscinas Naturales El Agujero

Not many tourists visit this place; it’s rather locals who come here to spend a day at the natural pools. Just make sure to check the weather forecast before your visit.

 

The north of Gran Canaria has a rough climate compared to the south. Even if there is sunshine and a clear sky in the south, it could be cloudy or even raining in the north.

Where to stay in Gran Canaria

I have an entire blog post dedicated to the different areas of Gran Canaria and the best places to stay in Gran Canaria.

Where to stay in Gran Canaria depends on your preferences and if you like to be on the beach, in the city or near the mountains.

Here are two great accommodations in Las Palmas:

Agüita House - €

If you’re on a budget check out Agüita House. It’s located near the beach in Las Palmas and is a great place for backpackers with a good social vibe.

Boutique Hotel Cordial La Niña de Vegueta - €€

The chic Boutique Hotel Cordial La Niña de Vegueta is located right in the old town of Las Palmas and has a nice rooftop pool with views of the Santa Ana Cathedral.

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The relatively small island has it all: beautiful beaches in the south, impressive mountain ranges in the center and wild coasts in the north.

Even the climate changes depending on which part of the island you are in. The sunny south is most popular among tourists because of the beaches and excellent weather. However, you also shouldn’t miss out on the rural and mountainous areas in the north and in the center of the island. If you don’t want to spend their whole stay on a touristy beach will enjoy exploring the following hidden gems of Gran Canaria.

These are my favorite 6 hidden gems of Gran Canaria. There are many more places to explore and leaving the touristy areas to go off the beaten track is definitely worth it.

 

Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria
Hidden Gems of Gran Canaria

Do you enjoy off the beaten track travel? If you’ve been to Gran Canaria, what were your favourite places? Let me know in the comments!

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