Out of all the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is the most underrated. While the majority of visitors to this archipelago head to Tenerife for its pleasant weather and lovely beaches, or Lanzarote for its volcanic craters and Timanfaya National Park, it would be a mistake to overlook the third largest island of the Canaries. Here you can see picturesque villages, rugged mountains and rolling sand dunes on one of the best tours in Gran Canaria.
Epic Tours are a fantastic local tour operator based out of the capital, Las Palmas, that take guests to the hidden gems of this spectacular island. One of their features is having a private photographer take photos of your group as you travel around for the day. Finishing your Gran Canaria trip with a series of professionally taken photos is the ultimate ‘cherry on top’ of an already incredible adventure. Local cameraman, Sergiu, leads the tours.
Spending the day with Sergiu enables travelers to dive into the culture and landscapes of Gran Canaria – away from tourist traps and overcrowded spots. All of his tours are private, so you and your traveling companions have the full attention of Sergiu as he takes you to beautiful destinations off the beaten track and tells interesting stories along the way. And if you want some photography tips, he will be more than happy to share a few.
Best Tours in Gran Canaria
1. Gran Canaria Full Private Photography Experience
Aspiring photographers will love this tour with Sergiu as he leads a magical journey from one jaw-dropping vista to the next. Throughout the experience, Sergiu shares tips and tricks on how to capture professional looking photos – everything from composition to lighting will be taught. Even if you only have a smartphone, and consider yourself an amateur “Instagrammer”, there will still be plenty of chances to improve your style.
Regardless of the quality of photos you take, you will finish the tour with 60 photos taken and edited by Sergiu himself. These exquisite images can be downloaded and transferred straight onto your devices or printed to be placed in an album. Imagine returning home with amazing photos of your group standing on top of Pico de las Nieves with a sea of clouds beneath you or wandering through the laurel trees of Los Tilos de Moya!
A feature of this tour is the ability to customize the route depending on your preferences. You may be more interested in architecture, rather than nature. If that’s the case, Arucas is home to the Canaries most stunning church and Tejeda is a village nestled in the mountains with charming white buildings. Both towns are usual inclusions on this itinerary, and you can request to stop at additional architectural wonders if you so please.
2. Gran Canaria Highlights Experience
This tour is similar to the one above albeit shorter in duration: seven hours as opposed to nine. The trip begins at your hotel where you get picked up in a private air-conditioned vehicle and transported around the island for a day of sightseeing and photography. It’s the perfect way to start your Gran Canaria vacation as you will learn how to take professional photos, and these new skills can be utilized on your own adventures later on.
Destinations can be tailored around your starting point with the most common places being Dunas de Maspalomas, Roque Nublo, Fataga, Tejada and Pico de las Nieves. Many exciting moments will be had on the excursion such as capturing the rolling sand dunes of Maspalomas, hiking through the gardens of Fataga, seeing the unique formations of Roque Nublo and taking in the sweeping views from atop Pico de las Nieves.
Like the private photography experience, this trip ends with Sergiu sending 60 beautiful images ready for you and your loved ones to take home. There isn’t much strenuous effort required on the tour, so the entire family can enjoy the day – everyone from young grandkids to elderly grandparents are encouraged to go. Prices get cheaper (per person) the more people join the tour and so the saying “the more the merrier” definitely applies.
3. Roque Nublo Hike
One of the best tours in Gran Canaria that adventurers will love is the Roque Nublo hike. It’s a short 1.5 kilometer hike up to this massive crag known as Roque Nublo, with its brother located right beside it called Roque de la Rana. The Nublo rock stands at a height of 67 meters and is situated on a rugged mountainous landscape at 1,813 meters above sea level. The views at the top are only matched by Pico de las Nieves.
Having Sergiu as your guide, not only will you get the opportunity to hike this natural jewel of the Canaries but there are more adventures to be enjoyed along the way like Mirador Degollada de las Yeguas and stopping by Fataga. Roque Nublo is the last stop on the five hour tour and about two hours will be spent hiking up and down, and taking in the majestic views from the top. The 1.5 kilometer trek is totally worth it for the vistas it affords.
This is the only activity with Epic Tours that requires physical exertion as the rest are leisurely in nature. It’s not recommended for people who consider themselves extremely unfit, have back issues, are pregnant or suffer from serious medical conditions. For most travelers, it will be a walk in the park and a nice excuse to get some exercise as they travel through Gran Canaria. Sergiu will be snapping photos the entire time, as is expected.
4. Picnic Experience with a View and Photo Shoot
If you are visiting Gran Canaria on your honeymoon, happen to be traveling through the island on your birthday or would just love to have a picnic (no special occasion needed) – then this tour is a great choice. You and your partner will delight in tasting the local products provided at this pop-up picnic and watching a sundowner over the most picturesque Canary Island of them all: Gran Canaria. It’s two hours of pure indulgent goodness.
The spread is sourced from only the best local vendors and Sergiu will be there to explain each dish. Sample foods like fresh bread, olives, cheeses, hams, pastries, deserts and wines as you sit back on a comfy blanket and pillows admiring the views. The mountainous landscape in the background rolls on for as far as the eye can see. When the sun begins to set, you can request Sergiu to take some nice photos of you and your partner.
Is there any better way to spend your final evening in Gran Canaria than on this romantic picnic? We think not. Ambient music will also be played to set the mood. You can request songs or ask Sergiu to play typical music from the Canaries that will leave a lasting impression on your travel memories. The picnic isn’t just for loved-up couples because even a group of friends can share a glass of wine together with views this good!
Tips for Visiting Gran Canaria
Before making plans to experience the best tours of Gran Canaria, there are a few things to know before you visit. It all begins with getting here – and that involves ensuring you have the right visa to enter the Canary Islands and booking flights from the nearest airport. This archipelago is part of Spain, so it falls under the Schengen Area. Nationalities like Americans and Brits can travel to Gran Canaria for up to 90 days visa-free.
Passport holders from other countries such as India, Thailand and Turkey will need to apply for a Schengen Visa to enter the area legally. Once that has been achieved, these nationalities will have up to 90 days to spend in the Canary Islands if they choose. The next step is planning your arrival. Most flights land in Tenerife, however quite a few also land directly in Gran Canaria. The easiest option is to fly in from Spain or mainland Europe.
We recommend spending at least five days on the island to really immerse yourself in the culture and travel off the tourist trails. Be sure to pack for every season because the weather is unpredictable and changeable depending on where you are. It tends to rain more in the north than in the south, nevertheless this region is wild and authentic – so why not base yourself here for some of the best tours and experiences in Gran Canaria!
