Gran Canaria’s fantastic weather makes it a firm favourite among sporty people who enjoy taking part in the huge range of activities the island has to offer... especially water sports. Maybe you like to sail? Or windsurf? Or go fishing? Here at Spain-Grancanaria, we have put together some information on the main sports available to whet your appetite. Read on...
Deep sea fishing
If you like an adrenaline rush then you’ll love big-game fishing!
With the lure of some of the world’s most exciting species such as barracuda, tuna, marlin and wahoo, Gran Canaria offers sports fishermen a real challenge. Fishing trips can be organised at the principal charter marinas located at Las Palmas (Santa Catalina pier), Pasito Blanco and Puerto Rico.
Diving
The warm, crystal clear waters found around Gran Canaria make scuba diving a popular pastime for holidaymakers. The seabed is colourful and the marine life varied. Divers will encounter rays, groupers, barracudas, turtles, tropical fish and occasionally sharks. There are many diving schools to choose from here, but make sure they are certified and offer all safety requirements; the best bet is to ask for professional schools at your hotel’s reception.
Sailing
If you have salt-water in your veins look for marinas, local sailing clubs and federations where you may be able to rent yachts or catamarans for day excursions or longer trips. In Las Palmas search for the Federación de Vela, the Puerto Deportivo or the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria. In Maspalomas head to the Catamaran Club, the Maspalomas Yacht Club or the Puerto Deportivo de Mogán.
Water-skiing
There are many schools in different locations; too numerous to list, most tourist beaches offer water-skiing, jet-skiing and parasailing facilities.
Windsurfing
This is one of the most popular sports and is practiced off many beaches. It does not matter where you are; there always seems to be enough breeze to head out with your board and sail.
There are many great places for windsurfing in Gran Canaria such as: Playa de las Canteras (Las Palmas), Dunkerbeck F2 Windsurfing School or Passat School (both in Maspalomas), and Joaquín Blanco, a sailing school in Puerto Rico.
Hiking
Away from the coast there are plenty of countryside landscapes to explore. Gran Canaria has a rugged interior and lots of Caminos Reales (royal pathways), which are ancient roads dating back to Guanche times. Many of them have been maintained and are used by hikers, providing a wonderful opportunity to see the island from a new perspective.
Canarian Wrestling
Canarian wrestling (Lucha Canaria) is a popular sport watched by people throughout the islands. The basic objective of this sport is to throw the opponent to the ground, in teams usually consisting of 12 wrestlers. Some of the inter-island competitions, where teams from all over the Canaries play each other, are shown on Canarian TV. Matches are sometimes held on Playa de las Canteras in Las Palmas.
