There were moments on this island when I was either impatiently waiting for swell or wanted to take fun day trips with friends and this is how I spent my time.
Being based in the city of Las Palmas is the best way to see the island, especially if you aren't renting a car. But regardless, news flash the most the inner parts of the island (the greenest hiking spots and mountain peaks) are more or less inaccessible by bus. It wouldn't make sense to trek out to the middle of the island only to arrive in sweltering heat and hope to catch the last bus back. So, here are the manageable bus rides and daytrips you can take if you want to see what the third largest Canary Island has to offer!
the dunes of Maspalomas
This is the most visited spot on the island for good reason: the sand dunes right next to the ocean are an incredible sight! Because I was a sleepyhead I didn't arrive until about 11:30 AM after taking an hour bus ride to the south of the island. Apparently, this is a bad time to visit the dunes because it can get super hot with the strong Canarian sun. I was okay and got to sun tan a bit on the highest dune around.
To get here, you can just get off on the bus anywhere near Playa del Inglés, but you have been warned that it is full of old nude people. For like two miles. I was traumatized, bro for real. Luckily, the nude beach let out on the best surf spot on the south coast, Faro de Maspalomas, where I was able to do a quick rental and catch some fun right handers on a day where the northern side of the island was flat. I didn't see much of Maspalomas other than the dunes and beach because it's just a typical beach resort town with lots of day drinking and souvenirs. It is also super hot down here so I think if you come to Gran Canaria it's better to be based in Las Palmas.
Agaete
I went here on a daytrip excursion with the Ventana Azul hostel fam, and we just had a chill beach day at the natural pools and at the harbor. This is just the very tip of the western coast of the island (the most scenic portion) so it was stunning to see big cliffs and a little more green, natural side to the island! The town there is very tiny, with just a few restaurants and shops. I wouldn't go out of my way to do it, but it's nice for a couple hours and a very mellow spot to hang out.
Northern coast
Just about 10 minutes out of Las Palmas there is an awesome stretch of coastline rich with gnarly reefy surf spots, volcanic pools, and these gorgeous pink saline ponds that I just stumbled across by accident! I got off at just a random spot along the road and rock hopped about a mile down the coast, passing plenty of nude sunbathers and volcanic coastline. Bring along a book and some music (maybe even bring some friends if you have those) to have a chilled afternoon here. If you go far enough along, you can even go watch boogie boarders out at El Fronton, a wave that be looking like THE Teahupoo!
30 minute get-aways
Two other spots I found that were a convenient distance by bus or taxi were the town of Terór and the Caldera de Bandama.
Terór is on a "must see" list on a lot of travel blogs but I found it pretty quaint and doable in just an hour of walking around. To extend my time there, I went on a partial hike through a riverbed with cool sets of stairs that were just recently added by the local community (pictured).
The Caldera was also just a short stop because the most scenic part is right where you arrive by bus or car. My friends and I walked partly around, but turned back soon enough because it seemed to be more of the same views. It also has a wonderful, blue view of the city down below! Would definitely recommend.
Overall, Gran Canaria isn't a destination I would hands-down recommend to everyone-- the combination of a very Western culture with the intense heat and desert landscape meant it wasn't everything that I dreamed of, but I am thankful that I got to experience life on this island and who knows if I'll get a reason to come back again!
*Disclaimer: since that last point sounded so negative, I don't want to say there aren't some incredible outdoorsy things here, it's just that renting a car will make or break your experience. The prices were so exorbitant (like 120 euro per DAY!) that even a large group couldn't justify the cost, but it definitely would make for a more rewarding and scenic experience :)
