Attractions Nearby Gran Canaria, Day Trips and Excursions

(Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain)

Gran Canaria is the central of seven Canary Islands sited in the Atlantic Ocean, near to mainland Spain. A number of other island attractions can be found close to Gran Canaria, with Tenerife to the west, and Fuerteventura and Lanzarote standing to the east of Gran Canaria. All three of these islands can be easily reached from Gran Canaria by a series of regular ferries and cruises, and 'island hopping' is always popular between the Canary Islands.

The smaller island attractions of La Palma, Gomera and Hierro can be found on the western side of Tenerife and although these islands are not as popular with tourists, they still have plenty to offer.

Fuerteventura

To the east from Gran Canaria, daily Trasmediterránea ferries travel from Gran Canaria to Fuerteventura's Morro Jable harbour, with the journey lasting around one and a half hours. Further ferries also travel to Puerto del Rosario, which lasts around eight hours. With many superb attractions for all ages, Fuerteventura is laid-back island with a population of around 65,000 and is always popular with holiday makers staying on Gran Canaria. Most people visiting Fuerteventura head to the island's many spectacular beaches, with the Playa de Sotavento de Jandia being amongst the most popular, stretching for around 20 km / 12 miles. Apart from its beaches, Fuerteventura is also famed for its large range of water sport attractions, which include windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving and snorkelling, together with several coastal golf courses and a legendary selection of night spots. Near to Fuerteventura, the Isla Lobos (Los Lobos Island) is an impressive nature reserve, with regular ferry trips available from Corralejo.
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Tenerife

The largest of all the Canary Islands, with a population of around 810,000, Tenerife is within easy reach of Gran Canaria and contains a superb selection of attractions, suiting all ages. A number of regular ferries and speedy jetfoils are available twice daily, with the journey between Gran Canaria and Tenerife lasting around 80 minutes, departing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and travelling to Tenerife's bustling capital city, Santa Cruz. With many seemingly endless stretches of sand and notable tourist resorts, those visiting Gran Canaria often choose to travel to Tenerife as part of their holiday, with some of the many attractions around the island including Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz - with a host of exotic animals including parrots, sharks, dolphins, gorillas and tigers; Aqualand Costa Adeje - offering countless water slides, swimming pools and one of Europe's largest dolphinariums; and the Black Pyramids of Güimar - an important part of Tenerife's heritage. Tenerife is known for its party atmosphere and numerous nightspots, mountainous scenery and appealing coastline, where a variety of water sports are on offer, with the main attractions being scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing and windsurfing.
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Lanzarote

Standing directly to the east of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote is an appealing island with a population of about 102,000, full of well-known holiday resorts and a vast selection of beaches, with the Playa Blanca, Papagayo and the Puerto del Carmen beaches being amongst the best. Further inland you will find that Lanzarote has much more to offer than sunbathing, with many impressive attractions, both natural and man-made. Regularly visited by both locals and tourists from Gran Canaria, some of Lanzarote's best attractions include the enormous Parque Nacional de Timanfaya, and the volcanic caves of Los Jameos del Agua (Water Caverns). For families travelling to Lanzarote from Gran Canaria, a number of attractions should not to be missed, with Guinate Tropical Park and Rancho Texas Park being amongst the best, both of which are home to a number of wonderful animal attractions.
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