⭐ Things I highly recommend have a star emoji next to them.

My trip to Gran Canaria was in 2022 with two friends. We spent five days in Gran Canaria and four days in Tenerife, getting the ferry between the two.

⚡ TLDR

I have never enjoyed driving as much as I did on this trip. Get a 4WD car and let loose on the pristine and, crucially, quiet roads. The views are incredible.

Stay away from the south of the islands, as these are the touristy regions. There is so much dramatic nature to see, from forests, to mountains to black sand beaches.

🛌 Accommodation

Gran Canaria

Great location and a pretty cool pool on the roof and it’s so close to the beach you’ve got options. We were exploring the wilderness all day so didn’t hang around much.

AC Hotel by Marriott Gran Canaria

Tenerife

A very nice hotel opposite a beautiful park. The swimming pool is handy too (although we didn’t use it much as we were out all the time).

Hotel Taburiente

🍽️ Food

Gran Canaria

• ⭐ Restaurante Tasca Galileo - get the duck
• Rincón de Triana - tapas
• Mr Kale - A classic brunch

Tenerife

• ⭐ Noi Restaurante - Excellent tasting menu, which featured the best scallop I’ve ever eaten
• ⭐ Sabela - brunchy, but seems like a good bar too
• Bárbaro - fancy-ish steakhouse
• Minas de San Jose - Good for breakfast

🎑 Things to do

Gran Canaria

• ⭐ Llanos de Ana López - A forest we passed on our way elsewhere, but breathtakingly beautiful
• ⭐ Pico de Nieves - Highest point on the island, worth it for drive alone (but stay for the views!). You’ll see lots on the way, too.
• ⭐ El Bufadero - Rock pools by the sea you can go swimming in. Felt once-in-a-lifetime
• ⭐ Dunas de Maspalomas - Sand dunes as far as the eye can see. This sold me on Gran Canaria more than anything, as I realised just how varied the landscapes were. (Incredibly hot under the sun and no shade in the dunes or on the beach, take a cap and lots of water)
• Worth spending half a day looking around Las Palmas, but there’s nothing major to see
• Playa de Hombre - Black sand beach near El Bufadero

Tenerife

• ⭐ La Ruleta Vista Point - The best view of the trip and the best drive to get there.
• ⭐ Drive through Las Lagunetas - to get to La Ruleta Vista Point
• ⭐ Minas de San Jose - surreal landscape
• Star gazing excursion - The star gazing bit was great. The food, not so much. This also included La Ruleta Vista Point.
• La Ruleta Vista Point - cool rocks
• Jet skiing - need I say more
• Similarly to Gran Canaria, it’s worth looking around the city, Santa Cruz, but you won’t miss out too much if you don’t