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Gran Canaria Excursions

Adventure Activities in Gran Canaria

Buggy and quad tours, jeep safaris and canyoning in the ravines and mountains of inland Gran Canaria, a short drive from the south coast resorts.

Activities

5 activities

  • Two camels in bridles and colourful tasselled saddle blankets against a blue sky, with bare branches behind them

    Maspalomas

    Camel ride in the Maspalomas sand dunes

    A 30-minute camel ride through the sandy landscape beside the Maspalomas dunes, with Sahrawi guides and two-seater saddles so you sit beside your companion rather than on the hump.

    30 minFrom €18

  • Man and woman in life jackets riding a white and yellow jet ski through spray, a yellow buoy in the background

    Puerto Rico

    Jet ski tour from Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria

    Ride your own jet ski along Gran Canaria's southwest coast with an instructor following in a safety boat. A short, fast half-hour on the water from Puerto Rico harbour.

    30 minFrom €70

  • Off-road buggy with two riders in face buffs and sunglasses raising dust on a dirt track below a bare volcanic mountain

    Maspalomas

    Buggy tour through the Ayagaures canyons

    A two-hour guided buggy drive into the south of Gran Canaria, on tarmac and dirt tracks, with viewpoints over the Ayagaures Valley, its reservoir and the mountains around it.

    2 hoursFrom €65

Where you can do this

Good to know

Most of the island's adventure trips go inland, where the roads turn to dirt tracks and the ravines get deep.

Buggy and quad tours mostly run in the south, in the canyons and the Ayagaures valley above Maspalomas. Tours last around two to three hours on a mix of tarmac and dirt tracks, and several operators also run a sunset tour. You'll need a driving licence to take the wheel. Expect a lot of dust, so wear sunglasses and clothes you don't mind getting dirty.

Jeep safaris are the gentler option. A guide drives a 4x4 up into the centre of the island, through mountain villages and up to viewpoints, often on tracks a hire car couldn't use. They take half a day or a full day, and they're as much sightseeing as adventure.

Canyoning takes place in the greener ravines of the north. You walk, scramble, slide, abseil and swim down a ravine with a guide, who brings the ropes, helmets and wetsuits. You need reasonable fitness and a head for heights, but no experience.

Good to know

  • Many tours pick up from the south coast resorts. Check the pick-up area in the listing if you're staying elsewhere.
  • Minimum ages and weight limits vary by operator and activity. The listing gives them.
  • In summer the south is hot and dry. Morning and sunset tours are the cooler choice.