Alternative Tourism

Every day hundreds of people arrive in Gran Canaria and do the unthinkable: They don't bomb down the motorway to the resorts.

Instead they head for the 99% of the island that isn't touristy. Some stay in cave houses up in the highlands, others in golf villas, seaside homes or beachfront apartments. 

There's a huge range of alternative holidays on offer in Gran Canaria that you don't find in the travel agencies and touroperator brochures. Here's our guide to the other side of Gran Canaria.

You can come on holiday to Gran Canaria on holiday guilt-free by offsetting your carbon production, and contribute to making Gran Canaria green again. Here's our detailed guide to all the things Gran Canaria is already doing to reduce the environmental impact of tourism. And here is the way to…
Gran Canaria's recent wildfires have highlighted the importance of the island's forests. Here's why they are so important and what is being done to replant and maintain them.
With its international outlook and bilingual business culture, Gran Canaria is an ideal spot to study international business. The MBA Business School has offered higher education since 1986.
Gran Canaria plans to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels by tapping its natural solar, wind and geothermal energy potential. We hope that it is just a matter of time before Gran Canaria becomes energy independent and doesn't have to burn hydrocarbons to keep the lights on.  
Gardeners say that almost anything grows in Gran Canaria as long as you keep it watered. Here are five of the beautiful flowers you'll see as you walk around in the Gran Canaria sunshine.
You see and hear Canarian ravens all over the Gran Canaria highlands, but the population has crashed and the species is in serious danger of disappearing completely.
Gran Canaria's biggest butterfly, the Monarch, is from the USA but colonised the Canary Islands by flying across the Atlantic Ocean and is now a resident.
The beautiful Canarian bellflower survives in Gran Canaria despite the disappearance of it's original laurel forest habitat.
Camping in the Gran Canaria highlands is a great way of immersing yourself in nature but you do have to fill in a few forms before you pitch your tent. Legal camping by the sea is virtually impossible.
Giant Gran Canaria lizards (Gallotia simonyi stehlini) only live in Gran Canaria but are common all over the island. However, you really should leave them in peace.
As if Agaete doesn't have enough fun at the La Rama fiesta, it also puts on Gran Canaria's coolest music eco-festival.
Tourist rental law changed in Gran Canaria (and all of the Canary Islands) in May 2015. It is now legal to rent residential property to tourists on a short-term basis.
The Canary pine (pinus canariensis) is a miracle tree. Its needles make rain from the clouds and protect the tree from intense forest fires. When the Trade Winds blow clouds and mist through the Gran Canaria pine forests the mist condenses on the long, droopy needles and falls as rain.…
Only 70 of the Europe's rarest tree, the Gran Canaria dragon tree (Dracaena tamaranae), survive on the cliffs of the Arguineguin Valley just minutes drive from the island's main resorts. 

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Tip of the day

  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

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