Which Gran Canaria Resort Is Best For You?

Playa del Inglés resort in Gran Canaria Playa del Inglés resort in Gran Canaria

There's a resort for everyone in Gran Canaria so, whether you're a sun-worshipper or a party-animal, here's a guide to all the top spots. Take your pick and enjoy the sunshine.

Puerto de Mogán for a touch of class

Puerto de MoganThe marina at Puerto de Mogán, with its bougainvillea arches, white-washed houses, and narrow lanes, is Gran Canaria's prettiest seaside spot and home to some the island's best restaurants. The resort is still small enough to feel cozy and upmarket and Mogán is close to several of the island's best beaches and the rugged roads heading west. Playa de Mogán beach is small with golden sand and calm water. 
 
Go to Puerto de Mogán for great food and great surroundings.

Maspalomas for sun lovers

MaspalomasçWith miles of sand,  sunny bungalows and thousands of palm trees, Maspalomas is the resort for sunbathing, relaxing and walking. Most of the low-rise accommodation is spread out in tranquil Campo Internacional and just a short walk from the dunes and the shore.  

For outdoor dining right by the sea, head down to the upmarket Meloneras boulevard just west of the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse, or to the Paseo del Faro just to the east. Six kilometres along the shore and you're in Playa del Inglés with everything the island's busiest resort has to offer. 

Choose Maspalomas for a peaceful beach holiday and the odd big night out in Playa del Inglés. 

Meloneras for the hotel experience

Meloneras sunsetGran Canaria puts on its glad rags at Meloneras; its line of seafront hotels are the newest and smartest on the island and you even splash out on a villa right by the promenade. Meloneras' hotels know how to look after their guests and you're just a few paces from the bars and restaurants on the boulevard. 

There is more to Meloneras than hotels. The west end of the resort has a great set of smart villas and bungalows. 

Choose Meloneras for a posh hotel holiday where you can just relax.

Playa del Inglés for the whole hog

Playa del InglesGran Canaria's biggest and busiest resort and home to its top nightspots, Playa del Inglés is more than a party town. While the Yumbo and the Kasbah throb until late, most of the resort is quiet and peaceful and you can avoid the crowds on Playa del Inglés beach by walking east to El Cochino. Playa del Inglés is all of Gran Canaria's resorts in one. You just have to decide what kind of holiday you want.

Go to Playa del Inglés for any holiday you want and choose your accommodation wisely. You don't want to be right by the Yumbo unless you plan to spend the night there.

Puerto Rico for the resort experience

prico beach 0001It's bold, it's brash and it's a whole lot of fun. With two beautiful beaches at Puerto Rico itself and Amadores next door, a shopping centre packed with restaurants and bars, two marinas and quiet corners perfect for a romantic night out, Puerto Rico resort has it all.

Visit in winter and it shows its sedate side with Scandinavian tourists taking it easy in the sunshine. Arrive in summer and the Brits pick up the pace and party all night. 

Go to Puerto Rico if you want all your home comforts and everything you need for a perfect sunny holiday right at hand. 

Agua La Perra because you know it's there

agua la perraLittle Agua La Perra Resort is right next to Puerto Rico but is a much more relaxed spot. The tiny shopping centre has some of the area's best restaurants and you walk down to the marina and Puerto Rico beach in the shade of a palm garden.  

Go to Agua la Perra if you want to be close to buzzing Puerto Rico, but not that close.  

Arguineguin for the local experience

ArguineguinArguineguín is a local town that sits right between Gran Canaria's main resort areas and is itself half way between local town and small resort. It has all the amenities of a small resort, great transport links to all the best beaches and still has local shops, bars and even a fishing port. 

During the winter, Arguineguín feels like Oslo on Sea thanks to an annual invasion of Norwegian winter visitors. During the summer, it goes back to being a sleepy local town and only wakes up once a week for market day.

Go to Arguineguín if you want to experience authentic local life in south Gran Canaria and still have the convenience of being near the action. 

Las Palmas for a city break

Las PalmasWith the world's best city beach (seriously), a cobbled old town, top-class shopping and dozens of quality restaurants, Las Palmas is the perfect spot for a warm city break.  

Choose between local seafood restaurants, superb steak fresh from South America, and any number of national cuisine restaurants (we've counted over 40 in the city).

Go to Las Palmas if you want to experience the buzz of a Spanish city and still have the beach right on your doorstep.

Bahia Feliz for complete peace and quiet

Bahia FelizBahia Feliz is a different world from the bustling resorts further round the coast in south Gran Canaria. A narrow resort right by the sea, it's a mix of bungalows, apartments and hotels with plenty of outdoor space. Bahia Feliz doesn't have the epic beaches on Puerto Rico and Maspalomas / Playa del Inglés, but it does have a long, coastal walk and little, private beaches all along the shore.

Go to Bahia Feliz to sit in the shade of a palm tree and forget that the rest of the world exists. 

San Agustín for relaxation

San AgustinSan Agustín resort went native years ago and most of its apartments, houses and bungalows are privately owned. With a golden beach, long seafront promenade (that goes all the way to Playa del Inglés) and plenty of quality spots to eat out, it's Gran Canaria's low-key destination and perfect for a holiday that feels like home in the sunshine.

Go to San Agustín for a peaceful resort holiday without any of the hassles. 

Taurito for easy fun

TauritoWith its own water park and palm-fringed beach with water sports and dive schools, this mini-resort is a perfect destination for families and couples that want to relax with everything at hand. You're only ever five minutes walk from the sand and the pools and can easily spend a week here without needing to pop next door to Puerto Rico. 

Go to Taurito for a complete resort experience without the crowds.

Patalavaca for sea views

PatalavacaMost visitors to Gran Canaria whizz past Patalavaca on their way to Puerto Rico or Mogán without realising what they're missing. It's golden beach is gorgeous and it's waterfront hotels, such as the Radisson Blu, are amongst the best in Gran Canaria. Walk east along the shore to local town Arguineguín or west for Gran Canaria's Caribbean beach at Anfi

Stay at Patalavaca for gorgeous sea views and great little beaches.

Agaete

agaeteGran Canaria's alternative to resorts is tucked away in the north-west corner. It has almost as much sunshine as the southern resorts but remains untouched by mass tourism. With coffee and mango plantations, wineries, an aboriginal cemetery on a lava flow, and lots of seaside restaurants at Puerto de las Nieves, the Agaete Valley is a destination in its own right.

Walkers and people who like things laid back and local should turn right at the airport gate rather than left.

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  • How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer
    How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer

    Gran Canaria's hotels have to be licensed and offer a quality level of service as well as having insurance and complying with fire regulations. The same goes for the boats that take people out to watch dolphins, the companies offering jeep safaris, and even the holiday let apartments. 

    However, not everybody in Gran Canaria follows the rules. For example, there is a significant industry running illegal and uninsured transfers between Gran Canaria airport and the island's resorts. These cars, driven by locals and foreign-residents, are just private vehicles and the drivers are unregulated and uninsured. They don't pay tax and there is no way to hold them responsible if something goes wrong. 

     At Gran Canaria Info we believe that all people and all companies offering services to tourists should legal and above board.

    So, how do you know that your airport transfer service is legal and registered with the Gran Canaria authorities?

     Using legal Gran Canaria airport transfers

    It is quite easy to know if your airport transfer service is operating in a legal way because all registered transfers have the following...

     A blue license plate: Taxis and other public service vehicles in Gran Canaria all have blue plates.

    A VTC sticker in the window: This stands for Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor, the official designation for licensed transfer drivers ans chauffeurs.

    An SP sticker on the car: This indicates that the car offer a Servicio Publico or public service and is therefore allowed to pick up and transfer members of the public. 

    Parked in the transport zone: Official airport transfer vehicles don't park in the public car park of the airport. Instead they have their own parking zone right by the arrivals gates at the airport (next to the taxis and package tour buses). Your transfer driver therefore should not have to pay a parking fee before leaving the aiport. 

    How to spot an unlicensed transfer service

    Unlicensed drivers get away with offerring their service because they claim that they are just members of the public picking up a friend. They are allowed to stand at arrivals with a sign (just like any member of the public can).

    However, they also have to park their car in the public car park and will walk you there with your luggage, stopping to pay the parking fee at the meter. A licensed transfer driver does not need to do this because they have their own parking zone right by arrivals.

    Some unlicensed drivers don't even wait at the arrival gate because the official drivers recognise them and get annoyed. Instead they have to stand further away (often by the Spar supermarket or the car rental desks). 

    When an unlicensed driver drops you at the airport they will not want to be paid in a public area because this proves that they are charging rather than "transporting a friend" for free. 

    An unlicensed car will not have a blue license plate, or a SP or VTC sticker, and will often look like a private car (because it is a private car). 

    What's the problem with unlicensed airport transfers?

    Some people use unlicensed cars because they are the cheapest option and don't realise that they are unlicensed. 

    There are several problems with unlicensed services. The most obvious is that they are uninsured so if something goes wrong or there is an accident, you are not protected. The price that unlicensed drivers offer is only low because they cut corners (hopefully not literally). You have no way of even knowing if your unlicensed driver has a Spanish driving license, insurance and a good driving record. Licensed drivers are vetted regularly and must be fully insured and licensed to work.

    Another problem is that unlicensed transfers undermine the legitimate transfer drivers and businesses in Gran Canaria. Local drivers make a living from transfers and offer a legal, regulated service with minimum standards. Every time an unlicensed service undercuts them, it is effectively stealing from local people and the island economy.

    We believe that everybody in Gran Canaria deserves better!

    Gran Canaria Airport Transfer Services

    To find out more about the Gran Canaria airport transfer, see our Gran Canaria airport transfer article which explains the three different models; man/woman from pub with car, online transfer websites, and local transfer services.

    Or you can book a legitimate Gran Canaria airport transfer at a great price right here. Our service uses local drivers and supprts the island economy because all the money you spend stays in Gran Canaria.

    Alex Says: Using our service also helps the Gran Canaria Info team to keep providing quality local information here and in our Facebook Group

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