10 Things to Do in Gran Canaria in December

Christmas Eve tends to change the dynamics of tourist destinations and Gran Canaria is no exception to the rule, as during the month of December the island prepares to welcome Christmas and bathes itself in lights, festivities, Christmas markets and concerts to celebrate the start of the high season.

In addition to the best things to see and do in Gran Canaria, December brings clean, open skies, surfing competitions, Christmas festivals and markets, and the traditional beauty of the historic centre of Las Palmas, all with fewer tourists than in summer and ideal weather for outdoor excursions.

Las Canteras Beach is one of the most famous beaches on the island, one of the most visited by tourists and the most popular for concerts. As travelling to Gran Canaria in winter does not mean giving up the sunny days, it enjoys a very good reputation also in December and to accompany the Christmas spirit a sand crib is built there every year, which attracts visitors.

The Belén de Arena started as a tradition of independent artists and has grown to become one of the best activities in Gran Canaria and a different and unique concept of Christmas celebrations. Every year the best sand sculptors in the world look for a place in Las Canteras Beach to develop their works.

The sculptures of the Belén de Arena also fulfil a cultural function, as during the exhibition, which runs throughout December, it is accompanied by artists' events and other activities organised by the island's government. Admission is free and it is possible to enter every day from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm.

During December, Gran Canaria proudly displays all its natural beauty, but it also shows off its musical and cultural offerings, as this is the month of concerts in every corner of the island. One of the best known is the traditional pre-Christmas Eve concert, which takes place every year in the Plaza de Santa Ana, one of the main squares in Las Palmas.

The protagonists of these concerts are the musicians of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and their carols are combined with the sunny and warm days, in a Christmas celebration that is different from the traditional ones.

The Plaza de Santa Ana is also located in the heart of the historic quarter of Vegueta, so that when night falls the spectacle illuminates the traditional sites of the old quarter creating a very special atmosphere.

Vegueta can be reached by public transport buses or Gran Canaria's hop-on-hop-off tourist buses. During the day of the concert, which is free of charge, you can also visit the best museums in the old town, such as the Casa de Colón, the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, the Casa Museo Pérez Galdós and the Museo Canario, free of charge.

When Christmas Eve begins, Gran Canaria also formally opens the Christmas market season. In Las Palmas you will find some of the best known, such as the Maritim Playa Christmas Market, which is held in the area of Playa del Inglés, and which imitates the tradition of the German markets.

You can also visit the Maspalomas, Telde, Teror and Vega de San Mateo markets. Other markets, such as the one in El Puerto or Vegueta, adapt to Christmas and dress up with coloured lights, festive decorations and offer Christmas food and products.

At each of them you may come across Father Christmas and other Christmas characters with whom you can have your photo taken, making it an excellent option if you plan to visit Gran Canaria with children.

Markets usually extend their opening hours during Christmas and it is common to come across street music shows and other open-air concerts.

December is a time of frequent rainfall in Gran Canaria, but also with the humidity the temperature drops a little and this helps with the adventure excursions, which often tend to be overwhelming during the hot and sunny days.

Therefore, December is an ideal month to visit the Roque Nublo Natural Monument, the Maspalomas Dunes, and the Pico de las Nieves.

The best tours in Gran Canaria are outdoors and in many cases on difficult hiking tra ils or long walks, so having the help of cool weather will facilitate the tour and enhance your experience.

Keep in mind that some of the adventure tours are cancelled in case of rain, so I recommend that you check the weather before booking to avoid changes in dates, which could be detrimental if you're planning a short stay on the island. If this is your case, here is a list of activities to discover Gran Canaria in 3 days.

December sees the island's tourism start to pick up again, but it's still an ideal time to visit Gran Canaria's best theme parks with fewer tourists, especially those that during the summer months tend to have a large number of visitors or sell out.

If you prefer Ferris wheels and roller coasters, you can visit Holiday World Maspalomas, if you want to travel to the Far West, you can visit Sioux City and if you prefer water parks, you can choose Aqualand Maspalomas or Lago del Taurito. In all cases you can book in advance and some of these parks include reduced rates for children.

If you're planning to travel with friends, you can also visit theme parks for adults, such as Hangar 37, a battle arena where you'll have to defend yourself with airsoft ball guns in a fun experience.

Vegueta, the old town of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is a haven of colonial houses, typical balconies, cobbled streets and a host of attractions such as the Plaza de Santa Ana, the Parque de San Telmo, the Cathedral and the Casa de Colón.

All these buildings, which date back to the time of the city's founding in the 15th century, are illuminated in December to welcome Christmas and celebrate the pre-Christmas Eve concert in the Plaza de Santa Ana. A stroll through this traditional neighbourhood bathed in Christmas colours is one of the best things to do.

Keep in mind that the winding streets of the old town are built high up, so I recommend that you wear comfortable shoes when you visit. Although the weather in December is usually not so hot, the best time for a walk is in the morning.

Vegueta is also a good option if you need to go shopping, as you'll find plenty of shops in the main street of Triana. Nearby you can also have lunch or buy food at the Vegueta Market.

You can go on some of the best dolphin watching excursions in Gran Canaria, but you can also opt for snorkelling excursions to discover some of the animals that don't come to the surface such as turtles, rays and sharks.

Winter diving trips are a good option to see the endangered angel shark in the Gran Canaria area , which visits the island's coasts between November and January in search of breeding sites. With the necessary care and the assistance of instructors, it is possible to swim close to them.

Bear in mind that from mid-December onwards the influx of tourists increases substantially, so if you want to do an excursion of this type I recommend you book in advance to avoid delays or last-minute increases in the price of the tours.

During December you can also opt for snorkelling experiences or some of the best boat trips in Gran Canaria.

The Canary Islands have some of the clearest skies in the world and during December you can enjoy the Geminids, one of the showers of stars that fill the sky with bright stars every year.

The interesting thing about the Geminids is that to see them you don't need telescopes or professional equipment, you just need to observe them with the naked eye. All you need to do is to stand in a dark place and fix your eyes on the sky to detect them.

In Gran Canaria, Playa de las Canteras beach or the area of the Maspalomas lighthouse are the ideal places for sightings, and during the Geminids, groups of enthusiasts usually gather to follow the phenomenon closely.

The Canary Islands also have three Starlight reserves, which are protected from light pollution, but are located on La Palma, Fuerteventura and Tenerife. You can also see the phenomenon clearly from the Roque de los Muchachos Astrophysical Observatory, which is the highest point on the Isla Bonita.

In December in the Canary Islands you can experience one of the best climates in the middle of winter, contemplate some of the best starry skies and also savour the typical sweets and desserts of Canarian cuisine, with the particularities of each area and each island.

Whether at Christmas markets, street stalls or restaurants that change their menus on Christmas Eve, you will be able to choose which delicacies to try.

The most popular dish is trout stuffed with yellow sweet potato, which is a must on any Canarian Christmas table, but there is also a place for cagajones de batata, which is typical of Gran Canaria, alfajores from La Gomera, mantecados de vino, home-made turrón, almendrados palmeros and almond cheese, which is very typical of El Hierro.

If you really want to get to know the local gastronomy and products, you can't miss out on the island's wineries that produce red wine and rum distilleries, or the sausages of Gran Canaria, which are among the best in Spain.

Gran Canaria is considered one of Spain' s surfing capitals, and every year the LPA Surf City Open is held on La Cícer Beach in Las Canteras . This event, which scores points towards the national surfing circuit, is held in December and brings together some of the best surfers in Spain and Europe in the men's and women's categories.

The LPA Surf City Open is a prestigious competition that has gained fame as the most important on the national surfing circuit, as well as being the only one with a three-star rating that puts 1,400 points up for grabs every year. It is also the competition that represents the Iberdrola League of the Spanish Surfing Federation on the island, which previously passes through communities such as Asturias, Andalusia, Cantabria and Galicia.

The choice of Gran Canaria in December is not random, but it is the best time for surfing on the island due to the wind speed and the weather. Therefore, it is the ultimate test to crown the annual winners of the Spanish surfing competitions in the men's and women's categories.

If you enjoy surfing or simply want to see some of the best surfers breaking the biggest waves in Spain, you can come to Playa de las Canteras to follow a unique spectacle that every year captivates more people and continues to place Gran Canaria as a reference for water sports.

Temperatures in Gran Canaria in December average 18°, with highs of 25° and lows of 12°, although it rarely gets below 15°, so despite being winter, it is a warm time to visit the island.

December is also a rainy month, although the humidity helps to reduce the hot days, which can be sweltering.

December is the start of the high season in Gran Canaria, but it is still a month with a low tourist influx, at least until the Christmas period, so it is an ideal time to visit the island and take some of the best excursions from Las Palmas

From mid-December until March, the influx of tourists increases considerably, so if you are planning to stay until then I recommend that you book your excursions in advance.

October, November and December are the best months to travel to Gran Canaria from an economic point of view, as you can get deals due to the low number of tourists.

If you book in advance, you can also get discounts and other benefits, although the situation changes from mid-December and January, when prices in Gran Canaria start to match those on the island in the high season months.

• Swimwear
• T-shirts
• Waterproof jacket
• Comfortable city shoes
• Trekking shoes
• Waterproof trousers
• Summer jumpers
• Sunglasses
• Lightweight coat