Six Places That Made Our Week in Gran Canaria
A family week, six stops, and a few notes for anyone planning a trip.
We had a full week in Gran Canaria, and we wanted to see a little of everything — the mountains, the beaches, and the small towns. Here are six places we visited and enjoyed. Each one was different, and all of them made our week special in their own way.
1. The Coffee Plantation (Agaete Valley) ☕️
We visited the coffee plantation around ten in the morning. It was in the mountains in the Agaete Valley — a green and quiet part of the island. We walked in without a booking, and the staff welcomed us straight away. A tour was just starting, so the timing was perfect.
The guide showed us around the farm. We walked between the trees and learned how many things grow there: coffee, avocado, guava, mango, oranges, limes, quince, pomegranates. It was interesting to see it all in one place.
After the walk, we went to the small café on the farm. This was the best part. The coffee smelled amazing, the kind of smell that makes you want to sit down and drink slowly. We tried local cheese, jams, and even banana cookies made on the farm — they were delicious. We also roasted a little coffee ourselves, which the girls enjoyed. I worried they might get bored or too hot, but the fruit trees gave enough shade, so the whole visit felt easy and pleasant.
One fact stayed with me — a single coffee tree needs around 7 litres of water a day, and one cup of coffee needs about 70 beans. When you think about how many cups of coffee the world drinks each day, it is hard to imagine.
It was a great stop and something different from the usual beach days.
⭐️ Link to the place: Cafe Platinium
2. The Banana Plantation Mundo del Plátano 🍌
We planned the coffee plantation and the banana plantation for the same day. They were only about thirty minutes apart, so it made sense to visit them one after another. The banana farm was closer to the coast, and the views were beautiful.
We arrived without tickets again. It was not a problem, but we had to wait about an hour for the next tour. It gave us time to walk around, take photos, and enjoy the warm air. When the tour started, a small group of around ten to twelve people joined us.
Our guide, Dani, was great. She explained everything in a simple way, and suddenly I looked at bananas completely differently. It is funny how a few facts can change the way you see something you buy every week.
We saw different kinds of bananas — yellow, red, even blue. One thing surprised us the most: the banana “tree” is not a tree at all. It is a type of grass. And each plant produces fruit only once in its life. After that, it is cut down to make space for the next one. I never knew that.
The tasting at the end was lovely. The bananas tasted different than the ones we buy at home. We tried banana cookies and even banana liqueur. It was a simple tasting, but interesting and worth the visit.
There were also a few facts that stayed with me:
a banana plant needs around 20 litres of water a day,
the island uses desalinated seawater for agriculture,
one bunch of bananas can weigh around 70 kg and hold about 300 bananas.
It was a relaxed stop, and we were glad we added it to our day.
⭐️ Link to the place: Mundo del Plátano
3. Las Palmas Aquarium (Poema del Mar) 🐠
We arrived at the aquarium just before it opened. This time we already had the tickets bought online, and it felt safer and easier.
Driving through Las Palmas is not my favourite thing. The roads are busy, and it is hard to navigate. We missed a few turns and got confused more than once, but we made it in the end. The parking is right at the entrance, which helped a lot.
I have always wanted to take the girls to an aquarium in London, but visiting London just for that would be very expensive and very far from Edinburgh. So being already on Gran Canaria, with a good aquarium right there, it felt like the right moment to finally do it.
As soon as we walked inside, I knew we chose well. We have been to aquariums before, but this one felt very special. The colours, the size, and the way everything is displayed make it easy to enjoy. We spent about three to four hours just walking around, looking at everything, and stopping whenever something caught our attention.
We stopped for coffee in the café. The cake and coffee were not amazing, but the view of the sharks behind the glass made it worth it. It felt peaceful to sit there for a moment and watch them pass by.
After the break, we went to the big hall with the massive curved window. It is the largest aquarium window in the world. You can feel the scale the moment you walk in. The whole room feels focused on that one huge wall of water.
We sat there for a long time, just watching everything move. There were sharks, rays, and many other fish swimming slowly across the glass. I always enjoy watching sharks. They look calm, almost peaceful. Rays always look like they are smiling. You could easily spend half a day in that room without getting bored.
It felt a bit like meditation. You sit, you watch, and you forget about time for a moment. It was amazing.
It was a great few hours for all of us. Something different, something we do not do often, and definitely worth the visit.
⭐️ Link to the place: Poema del Mar Aquarium
4. Aquapark 💦
We were not sure about visiting the aquapark at first. We had read many mixed reviews, and the tickets are expensive. We also had Siam Park in Tenerife in the back of our minds, and we were not sure anything could be as good. The girls really wanted to go, so we decided to try and see for ourselves.
We arrived exactly at opening time. It was November, so definitely off-season. This made a big difference. There were no queues, and the whole place felt much calmer. In summer it must be very busy.
We read comments about the ground being extremely hot, but in November it was completely fine. The day was warm, around 26°C, but nothing uncomfortable. This was another reason why off-season works well.
We rented a locker (8 euros). It was very small, so we only kept the essentials with us. Then we went straight to the slides. Some were fast and a bit scary, but fun. We spent five hours running around the park. I think the adrenaline carried us through the whole day.
Visiting in November has one clear advantage: no queues. You go up, slide down, and move on to the next one. Looking at the fast-track systems, I can imagine that peak season must feel very different.
The aquapark is expensive, but if you visit outside the busy months, it is a great day out. Just prepare for extra costs like the locker, food, sunbeds or parking. If you have the energy for it, you will enjoy it.
⭐️ Link to the place: Aqualand Maspalomas
5. Camel Safari 🐪
This was something completely new for us. I had never seen a camel up close before, and definitely never imagined sitting on one and riding through the dunes. At first, I was not sure how I felt about the whole idea. I kept wondering whether the weight was safe for the camels and if the work was not too much for them. I still have mixed feelings, but I have to admit it was a special experience.
The camels looked strong and well cared for. The route was short, and they had breaks between groups. The whole ride took around 30 minutes. It was slow and steady, and the views were beautiful. Sitting on a camel and moving through the sandy paths is something I will remember for a long time.
We bought our tickets in advance, and it was good we did. You need to arrive at least 15 minutes before your booked time. We were a little late, so we had to wait for the next group. It was not a problem, but it is better to be early.
It is a short attraction, but worth doing once if you are curious and want something different from the usual beach day.
⭐️ Link to the place: Camel Safari Park
6. Sioux City Park — Wild West Day 🐴
After the camels, I was not sure how I would feel about another animal attraction. I always worry that animals are used too much for people’s entertainment. I also saw one review saying the horses were not in good condition, so again I had mixed feelings.
It was a warm day, around 26°C, but a few clouds helped and it did not feel too hot. I think in much higher temperatures this place would be too much for us. We arrived right at opening time, which gave us a chance to walk around slowly and look at everything before it got busy. The whole Wild West town made a big impression on us. It felt like stepping into a film set — wooden buildings, cowboys on horses, goats, and even buffalo.
Every hour there was a different show with actors dressed as cowboys. The highlight for us was the moment when a group of wild horses ran through the main street with the cowboys. It lasted only a few seconds, but it was powerful to see. Lily’s smile said everything — she was in her own little horse paradise.
One important thing to mention: all the horses here are rescue horses. It was comforting to see how well the staff treated them. They were gentle, calm, and clearly attached to the animals. Lily even got a chance to sit on a horse and take a small circle around. She was absolutely delighted.
⭐️ Link to the place: Sioux City Park | San Agustín
These six places were our favourites from the whole week. Each one gave us something a little different, and together they made the trip special for us.
If you are planning a visit to Gran Canaria, maybe some of these stops will be useful.