Outdoor & Sport Activities in Gran Canaria

Travelers to Gran Canaria are spoilt for choice when it comes to activities in the great outdoors — after all, how many destinations can claim they have an active volcano in their backyard?

The island’s unique landscapes put outdoor and sport activities in Gran Canaria in another bracket — with a myriad of options available catering to all types of travelers, from weekend hikers to die-hard adventurers. In fact, there are so many things to do in Gran Canaria that it may be a bit overwhelming when planning your trip’s itinerary — a wonderful problem to have!

Boat Tours

Short of a day trip from Gran Canaria, a boat tour is one of the best ways to get to see the island — as it enables you to explore Gran Canaria’s entire coast as well as some of the other isles in the archipelago.

Boat tours in Gran Canaria also allow you to visit some of the island's best-kept secrets, like the black sand beach of Faneroque. These boat tours come with different price tags, covering everything from basic shore excursions to luxurious fully catered nautical soirees.

For travelers feeling the need for speed, there are a couple of jet boat tours in Gran Canaria available, offering up all of the island’s best views — combined with the thrill of racing across the water.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving in Gran Canaria is the best in all of the Spanish archipelago — and it constantly makes the list of top ten diving spots in all of Europe.

The main reasons for this accolade are the unique combination of crystal clear waters, the warm gulf stream and volcanic activity — creating unforgettable underwater views that will stay with visitors for years.

One of the must-visit scuba diving locations in Gran Canaria is El Cabron, a marine reserve where you’ll find angel sharks and stingrays.

Snorkeling

Gran Canaria’s warm, mineral-rich water means that the ocean is a hive of activities just waiting to be discovered — and a snorkeling tour in Gran Canaria is one of the best ways to do so.

The activity is not as expensive or elaborate as scuba diving, making it perfect for families with small children. You’ll enjoy the tutelage of an experienced guide throughout, allowing you to explore the shores with confidence.

Surf Lessons

If you’ve always dreamt of riding waves, surf lessons in Gran Canaria is a great place to start. Playa del Ingles is a beach that features constant waves of manageable sizes, making them perfect for beginners. Your surf instructor will cover all of the basic techniques with you, getting you up on your feet in no time.

If you’re already comfortable on a surfboard, you could choose one of the beaches best suited to intermediate surfers — while your wave guru takes you through the finer details of making the waves yours.

If you’re looking for a more laid-back vibe, you could always opt for stand-up paddleboarding — with a number of serene bays perfect for this relaxing pastime.

Jet Ski

Jet ski tours have become a staple of almost any island getaway and Gran Canaria does not disappoint in this regard. There are jetski tours and excursions available, as well as the option to rent these exhilarating vehicles.

The ability to have a passenger on your jet ski makes it great value for money when traveling as a couple or small group of friends.

Jet skis also provide the basis for flyboarding — one of the most exciting activities in Gran Canaria. Essentially, you’ll have a water-powered jet strapped to your feet, propelling you up to 4 meters into the air. Here, you’ll hover above the water, before trying a number of tricks as you become more comfortable with defying gravity.

Dolphin Watching

If all that hovering and diving sounds too involved, you could choose to keep things more dignified with a dolphin-watching tour in Gran Canaria. These expeditions are usually between 2 and 4 hours long and your experienced skipper will lead the quest for these enigmatic animals.

The rich warm waters mean that there’s a sizeable dolphin population around throughout the year, as well as a healthy number of whales. Whale tours tend to visit the same areas as they are usually operated by the same companies that offer dolphin tours.

Kayaking

Canoeing and kayaking tours in Gran Canaria remain a popular way of exploring the island’s many coves and bays. The unique geography means that there’s no shortage of sites to marvel at as sandstone cliffs give way to black sand beaches and volcanic hills.

The pedestrian-like pace of these tours allows you to take it all in before paddling along and sometimes includes a swimming and snorkeling session.

Camel Riding

Gran Canaria’s shoreline, while truly encaptivating, is only one facet of this magical island. Most of its hidden treasures lay inland, just waiting to be explored during a tour on camelback.

Mount your dromedary camel as the small caravan journeys through the famous Maspalomas sand dunes, stopping at a beautiful oasis. These sturdy animals are perfect for the rugged environment and a camel ride in Gran Canaria presents an authentic way to explore the island. However, if camels aren’t your thing you could opt for their equine cousins, with a number of horse riding tours available on the island.

Hiking

Imagine taking a stroll into the countryside and ending up a stone's throw from one of the world’s most active volcanos. That’s exactly what's on offer for visitors hiking in Gran Canaria, with mesmerizing views and otherworldly landscapes combining to create a prime hiking destination.

Gran Canaria’s terrain is varied, ranging from desert and lunar landscapes to pine forests and Mediterranean hills — making it perfect for hardcore hikers and ambling amateurs alike. There are also a number of bike tours available if you want to spare your soles.

Buggy Tours

Buggy tours in Gran Canaria are one of the island’s most popular activities — and it’s easy to understand why with these rugged vehicles providing the perfect means to explore Gran Canaria’s more isolated spots.

You’ll do the driving and you can choose a private or a group tour with both options promising a whole lot of fun. Each buggy can accommodate two people and these excursions tend to last between 2 or 3 hours.

Jeep Tours

Jeep tours in Gran Canaria offer a more dignified way to explore the island’s wilds when compared to buggy or quad tours. You can choose between self-drive and chauffeured options — enabling you to test your driving skills against the challenging terrain or simply sit back and enjoy the ride.

These trips offer a safe, but thrilling, way to explore the island’s unique landscapes and are sure to leave visitors with a host of memories.

Canyoning

With countless volcanic cliffs, jagged shorelines and cavernous ravines Gran Canaria is a haven for climbing, abseiling and canyoning. The latter is an especially popular activity that takes full advantage of the island’s unique topography.

The terrain varies from simple to challenging, making Gran Canaria an ideal place to descend into this wonderful sport. However, if you want to experience the thrill that canyoning offers without any of the technicalities you should consider zip lining — an activity perfect for casual adventurers.

Submarine Tours

Gran Canaria, and more specifically Puerto de Mogan, is one of the few places in the world where you’ll get to enjoy a true submarine tour. You’ll dive to the ocean floor, exploring all it has to offer, including at least one shipwreck.

Submarine tours in Gran Canaria are an especially great way to discover the depths of the ocean without wetting your feet — a feature that makes it a popular activity for families with inquisitive children.

Paragliding

Conditions are near perfect for paragliding in Gran Canaria because the island enjoys relatively pleasant weather all year round. This, and the unbelievable landscape that you’ll be gliding over has made the isle a haven for free-flight aficionados — meaning that you’ll be in more than capable hands if you want to take to the air.

Parasailing tours in Gran Canaria are also an option and you’ll soar high above bright blue waters while being pulled by a motorboat.

Bungee Jumping

Gran Canaria’s interior is as extreme as the activities you’ll encounter here, making it a hotspot for thrillseekers and adrenaline junkies. Bungee jumping in Gran Canaria remains at the very top of the list when comes to pulse-racing pastimes on the island — attracting thousands of visitors all willing to take a leap of faith.

Skydiving in Gran Canaria is another option available to get the blood going — while indoor skydiving offers a way to experience the freedom of the blue expanse in a controlled setting.

Helicopter Tours

If you prefer sitting in an aerial vehicle as opposed to jumping out of one, you could opt for a helicopter or airplane tour in Gran Canaria. From the sky, the island is a sight to behold with all of its quirks and idiosyncrasies on display. You’ll also get to see some of the other islands in the archipelago and even view a volcano from up high.

Kitesurfing

Gran Canaria enjoys pleasant tropical winds throughout the year, making it perfect for wind-based sports like kitesurfing and windsurfing. Don’t worry about bringing your own equipment, everything you need is available to rent. If you are new to these activities, you should consider acquiring the expertise of an instructor to show you the intricacies of windsurfing and kitesurfing.