If you are only planning to rent a car in Gran Canaria for one day, it goes without saying that you will want to see as much of the island in the day as you can. The south is easy to navigate using buses and cabs, so the following route will take you through the centre and around the north of the island. You will need a map for this trip but most car rental agencies give you one when you rent the car.
First of all, follow the signs north to Las Palmas from wherever you are staying. Las Palmas is the capital of the island so it is quite well signposted. When you reach Las Palmas, follow the signs to Arucas. You can see the Montana de Arucas and the town centre. There is also a rum factory there. Next drive to Moya and see the Nuestra Senora de Candelaria church. This is a very scenic area. Drive to Santa Maria de Guia to sample the local cheeses and see the vibrant, colourful town centre. Galdar is next and its Cueva Pintada is very interesting.
Santa Maria de Guia Photo by Noniq
The Huerto de las Flores in Agaete is your next stop and after visiting the gardens you might want to break for lunch, having some tasty fish at one of the harbour restaurants in Puerto de las Nieves. If you want to stay there overnight and continue your trip the following day there are lots of guesthouses in this area.
Next is the remote Aldea de San Nicolas and this is a stunning drive, before heading to Artenara. You can see the cave restaurant there if it is open. The view of Roque Nublo is well worth a photo and this is in Tejeda. The highest point on the island is Pico de las Nieves and you will be able to see for miles.
The Bandama Crater Photo by Scott Zona
Drive towards Las Palmas again and stop at Santa Brigida to see the wine museum. You can visit Bandama which is an old crater and you can see some nice views of Gran Canaria’s northeast from there. This is a great route to take and you will see more of the island than a lot of tourists who spend all day by the pool. There are lots of great things to take photos of too 🙂
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