The Cunning Canary

How do you fancy eating Christmas dinner on the beach and spending New Year al fresco at a bar? You can easily do that here in Gran Canaria because, even though December is cooler than the summer months, you can still expect daytime temperatures between 19ºC and 26ºC, like in November or January. A white Christmas is rather unlikely unless you’re on the top of a Canarian mountain, but a dip in the sea in mid-December is a great way to relax! Expect temperatures of around 17ºC at night so you might need a light jacket in the evening. By day, the weather is warm enough to sunbathe on the beach or by the pool.

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November is slightly cooler than October but you can see packed beaches every month in Gran Canaria so it is hardly ‘cold’! Daytime temperatures range from 20ºC to 26ºC in November. You might get a couple of overcast days or a little rain or you might not. Spending a week in the winter sun can be really uplifting!

The WOMAD music festival takes place at Santa Catalina Park, in Las Palmas, every November. There are stars and bands from all over the world and craft and refreshment stalls too. The park is only 10 minutes from the beach. There are workshops you can take part in, featuring everything from drumming and percussion to playing blues guitar. 

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October is warm and approaching the end of what we residents call summer. I know it is hot all year in Gran Canaria but we do like to define some kind of seasons! The day temperatures in October can range from 20ºC to 30ºC and almost every day is sunny. The evenings might be 18ºC or slightly more, so you might need something with long sleeves for the evenings or you might not, depending whether you are from John O’Groats or somewhere a bit warmer! 

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September is slightly cooler than August but still hot – over 25ºC anyway! It is quite a busy month, tourist-wise, and you are still pretty much guaranteed clear skies and constant sun. The evenings are still warm in September and the nights are pleasantly cool. There is a small chance of a rainy day if you visit in September but, when it rains here, it only lasts an hour or so and there are plenty of bars to relax in while waiting for it to stop!

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August is the hottest month of the year. If you want it slightly cooler (but not much!) try July or September. Temperatures range from 25º to 40ºC in the daytime and every day is hot and sunny. August is also the busiest month for tourists so if you like it more quiet, you might prefer to visit in a different month. August is another month of blue skies and heat, even at night. You will need a fan in your apartment or hotel room (you can easily rent one) or you could treat yourself to an air-conditioned hotel room!

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The sun doesn’t set until about 10.30pm in July so be prepared for long, hazy days. July can have temperatures of up to 38ºC so make sure you bring plenty of sun cream. (It’s cheaper bringing it from home!) As a Gran Canarian resident, I do see ‘lobsters’ walking around in July (and even more in August when there are more people around!) The nights are still hot, about 20ºC or more, and the sun can be very strong. Even in the summer months, there is usually a sea breeze which will cool you down as you bronze yourself by the pool or on the beach.

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The temperatures in June can range from 20ºC to 35ºC so if you plan to come in the summer, you’d better like it hot! The Atlantic is about 10ºC colder than the Med so you can have a refreshing dip if you get too warm. The sun is up until about 9pm in June so you can eat dinner al fresco and watch the sun set over the ocean. Evenings are warm, about 18ºC, and rain is almost unheard of between June and September. You can enjoy the light evenings with some Canarian Cooking in one of the many restaurants dotted around.

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May is a great time to visit. Most tourists tend to come in July and August so it is still relatively quiet. You are practically guaranteed long, sunny days every day of your holiday in May. If you do get one overcast day, this is rare, but there are plenty of other things to do, such as visiting one of the shopping centres for some souvenirs or renting a car and exploring the lakes and mountains. The evenings and nights are nice and warm in May. 

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April is the start of our summer season. Although the weather is warm all year, the summer is hot hot hot! If you are coming over between April and October, bring some Factor 15 at least! It is still possible to get rain in the summer but it’s unlikely. April is a month of hot sunny days and mild evenings. Expect the temperature to be about 18ºC in the evenings and 24ºC in the daytimes. You can bring a jacket just in case but you probably won’t need it, even at night.

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March is slightly warmer than February and the sun rises earlier and sets later. There is something really magical about enjoying a sangria whilst watching the sun set over the dunes of Maspalomas! You will probably still need a lightweight jacket if you plan to go out in the evenings. The temperature drops to about 16ºC at night. Sea temperature is fairly constant all year and is about 20º or 21ºC. If you don’t like extreme heat, March might be a nice time to visit. 

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