Gran Canaria is one of Europe’s most popular getaways, particularly for those coming from Northern Europe in the winter, as well as for gay travelers year round. The relaxed, open-minded, and vibrant atmosphere helps to make Gran Canaria, which is part of the Canary Island chain located west of the Moroccan coast, so appealing for gay travelers. Here you get fun, sun, and natural beauty. Whether you are looking to escape life and find a private beach, bask in the sun, or drink wine on a patio, you will find something to tickle your fancy.

I recently had the privilege of taking off on a Gran Canaria vacation with some fellow travel bloggers, including My Normal Gay Life, Nomadic Boys, Two Bad Tourists, Dream Euro Trip, Gastro Gays, and Engineer on the Road. I must also give a shout out to Connextions Magazine, Paso Chico, and the Gran Canaria Board of Tourism for making this trip possible! Check all these guys out to get a peek at their experiences with our action packed week together. Here are come of the sights I recommend you check out while planning your trip to Gran Canaria!

For travelers looking to get away from it all, I would recommend going from Puerto de Mogan in the south to Guigui beach, a secluded beach on the west side of the island. Normally it would take 4 hours each way to hike to this beach. Luckily, www.canariasgay.com will take you and a group of up to 10 friends there for just €95, although this rate decreases if you bring a large group. If you are looking for a trip that is not gay-oriented, www.veleroaventura.com also offers excursions. 

This trip includes the boat ride, a transfer to the port if you are located in the south portion of the island, paella on the beach, tapas on the boat, drinks all day long, and insurance. The scene at the beach had us all immediately captivated with its sheer cliffs, dark sand beaches, waves pushing into shore, and not another person in sight. Trust me, this was one of those locations that are difficult to leave when the time comes. This trip took me to a level of happiness and serenity that you can only find in nature. I highly recommend checking this out if you are on the island and I promise you will not regret it.

Now let’s take it from sea level to one of the highest points on the island! Traveling to RoqueNublo, the second highest point on the island at 1800m, is in my opinion the best way to experience the natural magnificence of Gran Canaria. There are various ways to get there. Tour companies,  including    www.canariasgay.com, will take you. You could also rent a car and drive up yourself. Hell, we even saw people biking to the top, whichever method you choose, make sure to stop at the various viewing platforms that give you different perspectives on the island. Each one has a character of its own. Gran Canaria has five sub climates on the island. By making your way to the top, you will get to experience seeing each of these sub climates as you scale the island. Once you arrive to the parking lot at the top, it is just a short 20 minutes to RoqueNublo. The view at the end of the hike is just sheer beauty. You can see villages cascading down the island, neighboring Canary Island Tenerife in the distance, and water for as far as the eye can see. You don’t want to miss this.

While there may be sand dunes at the coast, and rocky mountains at the top of the island, in between you’ll find a beautiful and lush landscape that has the perfect weather for wineries. I have to tell you, the Bodega las Berrazales tour was the epitome of treating myself. This was like an oasis of all of my favorite things being grown at once. They grow anything from bananas to coffee to grapes to papaya, and all with a mountainous landscape in the background. After our tour of the winery, we were given some samples of their wines. They have a whole variety of wines to choose from and there is something for everyone. For just €6 you get to try three types of wine with cheese, Serrano ham, coffee, and cake. They will also show you how to make mojo sauce, the traditional sauce of the island. Bring extra cash, because you are certainly going to want to buy some wine bottles to take home with you.

After all this exploring, it’s time to treat yourself! Whether you are looking for food, shopping, or just a nice stroll, Calle Triana is a guaranteed good time. This street has all of the major brands that you’d look for on a typical shopping spree. I struggled real hard to not drop every dime I have on this street. All I could think was, “let’s get some shoes!” The options are just endless! There are also plenty of patios to sit on and enjoy the atmosphere along with a cocktail, meal, or dessert. Be sure to check out the side streets off of Calle Triana as well! Since it is so close to the old city, you can also plan to head to other nearby attractions. Some of these include the Casa de Colón museum, Mercado de Vegueta, which is the oldest market in the city, and Catedral de Santa Ana.

Luckily there is no shortage of great places to eat on Gran Canaria! If anything, the hardest part about eating will be deciding where to go. One of my favorite places we ate at was Casa Montesdeoca, located dangerously close to Calle Triana. Here you can get a perfectly prepared and beautifully presented multiple course lunch, which includes wine and dessert, for just €25. My personal favorite from this meal was the octopus prepared with apple and leek. Another experience one cannot miss while in Gran Canaria is tapas! There is nothing better than sitting out on a patio with tapas coming one after the other and a cerveza to wash it down. My recommendation is anything seafood. Let us not forget paella… beautiful, aromatic, and delicious paella. My recommendation is to avoid touristy locations, apparently if you end up in a tourist trap, you will get less meat, more rice, and lower quality ingredients. For a more authentic interpretation, go off the beaten track.
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Whether you are exploring the terrain, relaxing on the beach, or shopping, you will find your happy place. I encourage you to go on an excursion to this beautiful, wild, and serene island. The beaches, mountains, wineries, shops, and restaurants are there everyday. The only thing missing is you!