Pick up your car at the airport (following the instructions you'll receive before your flight) and hit the road.

To get into the Canary island vibe right away, I recommend ducking into a local restaurant and ordering some of these local classics:

• Papas arrugadas con mojo: An absolute island staple. Small potatoes in their skins, boiled in heavily salted water (traditionally sea water), which are dipped in delicious red and green sauces (mojo rojo and mojo verde).
• Ropa Vieja: A hearty and honest dish made of shredded meat, chickpeas, potatoes, and vegetables. Even though it literally translates to "old clothes," it tastes absolutely fantastic and will reliably fill you up after your flight.
• Pimientos de Padrón: Small green peppers fried in olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt. A great snack with drinks.
• Fresh fish (Pescado fresco): You're on an island, so fresh fish from the daily catch or various seafood is always a safe bet.

If you aren't planning on heading to a restaurant your first evening and would rather cook something from your own supplies, the HiperDino Express chain of smaller supermarkets will serve you well. You'll easily find all the essentials there—from fresh pastries and fruit to great Spanish jamón and cheeses, and these stores have very convenient opening hours, usually every day from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Check here for details.

Important information:

Regarding hydration, keep in mind that you're on an island—while tap water is safe to drink here and goes through a number of checks, it doesn't taste the best due to the desalination process, so based on my own experience, I definitely recommend tossing plenty of bottled water into your basket right away.

Your road trip starts with a drive through the Mirador Astronómico de la Degollada. This place will blow your mind right away—it's not called the "Canarian Grand Canyon" or the "Valley of a Thousand Palms" for nothing. The road winds beautifully along a massive, deep ravine flanked by steep rock faces on both sides. The contrast between the arid mountains and the lush green palm oases at the bottom of the canyon is absolutely fascinating. Along the way, you'll come across several small rest stops and stone viewpoints right by the road. Definitely don't hesitate to flip on your turn signal and pull over. It's the perfect opportunity to kill the engine for a moment, take in the crisp mountain air, and snap your first epic photos.

The road will then lead you directly to one of the most beautiful and authentic villages on the entire island. Fataga feels like a revelation – in the middle of the rugged mountains, you will find an oasis full of traditional white houses with wooden balconies and narrow cobblestone streets. Park your car, let it rest for a while, and set off to soak up the incredibly peaceful atmosphere. Definitely don't miss a short walk to the little church of San José, and I highly recommend dropping into one of the local little cafes. Having a great coffee here and just watching the surrounding mountains is the best way to recharge your energy before the next climb.

Hiking Roque Bentayga – a hidden gem without the crowds

From Fataga, continue further into the mountains until the impressive Roque Bentayga rock massif appears before you. This mountain isn't one of the island's most famous attractions, but that is exactly where its huge charm lies. If you arrive ideally in the morning, between 10:00 and 12:00, you will avoid the crowds of tourists, and with a bit of luck, you'll have all this beauty entirely to yourself.

Be prepared for a bit of a hike. It’s quite a climb, and sturdy footwear is an absolute must here. The route starts calmly on an asphalt path, but it soon turns into a rockier terrain. However, the bit of physical effort is well worth it. At the very end near the top, the climb is made easier by built-in railings and a few steps that will lead you to a spot with a fantastic panoramic view.

Link to the route here.

💡 Travel tip from personal experience:

There is an official parking lot right under the mountain, but it may happen that it's closed. If you run into a closed barrier, it’s no big deal. You can just safely leave the car on the side before it and simply walk the initial part to the starting point along the asphalt road.

Before you head out for the hike to Roque Nublo, it's the perfect time for a proper lunch. Right on the way, you'll come across Bar-Restaurante Ayacata, which is an ideal strategic spot. Don't expect an overcrowded and overpriced tourist trap here, but rather an honest local place where you can sit down in relative peace. I recommend choosing from their selection of grilled meat specialties or traditional, hearty Canarian dishes.

From Bentayga, you'll move on to the absolute symbol of the entire island – the impressive rock monolith, Roque Nublo. Once you've parked safely, you'll leave the car behind again and set off on foot towards the summit. The path is well-marked and will give you a nice little stretch. Expect about 1.5 km of walking.

But the real highlight comes when you reach the plateau at the base of this giant rock towering toward the sky. Absolutely stunning panoramas will open up before you, ranking among the best on all of Gran Canaria. In good weather, you can see across deep canyons and mountain ridges all the way to the ocean, and often the neighboring island of Tenerife with its majestic Teide volcano appears on the horizon. This is exactly the moment to just sit on a rock, take a deep breath, and enjoy the incredible depth and space beneath you.

Link to the route here.

Once you've enjoyed this breathtaking view to the fullest and captured all those amazing scenes in photos, it's time to slowly head back to the car. Then, all that awaits you is a peaceful drive down from the mountains and a well-deserved return to your accommodation, where you can clear your head and soak in all those fantastic experiences the inland countryside has packed into your day.

Your first trip will lead you to a unique natural phenomenon that you can see right from the road. The rock formations of Los Azulejos will surprise you with their colors – thanks to volcanic activity and the oxidation of various minerals, the walls display shades of green, blue, yellow, and red. It looks a bit like someone poured a huge bucket of paint over the mountains. Just pull over safely at one of the pull-offs along the road, take a few cool photos against this rainbow backdrop, and you can hop back into the car.

From the mountains, you'll head straight down to the coast to the town of Puerto de Mogán, which is quite rightfully nicknamed the "Venice of the Canaries." Forget about tacky hotel complexes; here, you'll be greeted by an amazing atmosphere. You can look forward to photogenic white houses with colorful trim, balconies literally overflowing with cascades of purple bougainvillea flowers, and water canals that weave through the harbor. Make sure to set aside some time for a slow stroll through the alleys, and most importantly – this is the perfect moment for lunch. Grab a seat at one of the harbor restaurants and treat yourself to some excellent grilled fresh fish or seafood; it’s definitely worth it.

With a full belly and the town explored, there's only one thing left to do—stretch out on the beach. Just a short distance from Puerto de Mogán lies the man-made bay of Playa de Amadores. It's a very pleasant and spacious spot to relax, where the ocean is beautifully calm and free of treacherous currents thanks to large breakwaters. It's an absolutely ideal location to just lie back, let the sun warm up your muscles tired from yesterday's hike, and take an occasional dip to cool off. In short, the perfect, laid-back end to another day on the island.

As an ideal and practical starting point, I recommend entering 'Aparcamiento camellos maspalomas' into your GPS. It's a parking lot located on the eastern edge of the reserve, right where the traditional camel rides start. Parking is often easier here than at the main viewpoints near the big hotels. Once you've locked your car, just walk a few steps and you'll find yourself right in a sea of sand. You'll start exploring from a slightly quieter angle away from the crowds, but don't be fooled—as you gradually weave your way over the sand dunes, you'll smoothly reach the very heart of the dunes and the most famous, most photographed scenery. This way, you get to enjoy the area nicely, moving from the quieter spots to the biggest highlights!

It depends entirely on your energy level how much you want to dive into exploring. You can take a shorter walk around the edges, or head deeper into the center of the dunes and spend several hours there. The area is really vast, so even though it's a well-known spot, once you walk a little further, you'll easily find completely untouched places with perfect ripples in the sand. If you love taking photos, you'll be in your element here—the scenery is absolutely unique.

Since you'll be moving through open terrain surrounded by sand, be prepared for the fact that it can get really hot. Definitely don't underestimate your water supply, sunscreen, and headwear. A huge advantage, however, is that this entire "desert" lines the coast. As soon as you start sweating, you can just run down to the ocean and cool off in the waves on the beach.

The best shots with pristine ripples in the sand won't just fall into your lap here, but once you head a bit deeper and find your own way, you'll be rewarded with absolutely fantastic photos.

Start your day with a look at a massive natural phenomenon. Caldera de Bandama is a breathtaking volcanic crater, over a kilometer wide and 200 meters deep, left behind by an ancient, gigantic explosion. You can drive up the winding road to the very top of Pico de Bandama. A huge advantage is that you can leave your car in the parking lot literally a few steps from the viewpoint, so you can reach the amazing panorama effortlessly. 

From here, you'll get a fantastic view not only of the surroundings and the island's east coast, but mainly straight into the steep depths of the crater. Looking down, you'll be surprised by how this vast volcanic floor is covered in greenery, and if you look closely, you can even spot traces of old terraced fields and an abandoned historical homestead. It's a fascinating place where you can truly appreciate the enormous power of nature that formed all of Gran Canaria. Once you've enjoyed the views enough, get back in the car and head towards the historical town of Arucas.

Even though people and guidebooks often call it a cathedral, it is officially a parish church. Nonetheless, this building is the absolute and unmissable landmark of the entire city. It is built entirely from dark volcanic basalt in a magnificent neo-Gothic style, which makes it look incredibly majestic, slightly dark, and like something straight out of a fantasy movie. Definitely walk around it up close, and if it's open, take a peek inside as well. Only up close can you truly appreciate the incredibly precise and detailed stonework of the local masters and the beautiful stained-glass windows that let the sunlight filter through.

If you feel like taking a break after admiring the stone monuments, the Municipal Park (Parque Municipal de Arucas) is the perfect spot. Admission is completely free, and it functions essentially as a smaller but meticulously maintained botanical garden. The main attraction here is the stunning, exotic-looking dragon trees, which are so iconic for the Canary Islands. Nature and tree lovers will find it absolutely fascinating to observe their massive umbrella-shaped canopies and the incredibly intricate structure of their trunks. The park offers plenty of benches and well-kept paths, making it an ideal, peaceful place to duck into the shade and just relax before you head off to explore more.

Right opposite the park (or just a short walk from the cathedral) you'll stumble upon one of the most significant and beautiful buildings in the whole city – the Heredad de Aguas de Arucas y Firgas building. This historic institution was once in charge of the most vital resource: managing and distributing the incredibly precious water supply for the entire surrounding area.

At first glance, you'll be struck by its majestic façade, complete with an unmissable clock and bell tower. Upon closer inspection, you'll appreciate the incredible precision and skill that went into its construction. It’s a true masterpiece of manual craftsmanship using local dark basalt. The level of detail, the clean lines, and the symmetry that the masters of the time managed to carve by hand from such a hard and stubborn material are truly fascinating. It's exactly the kind of building that makes you stop and admire the honest, skillful workmanship with respect.

Thanks to its relaxed atmosphere, Arucas is an ideal spot to take a nice lunch break. You'll have plenty of time to sit back and relax, so if you're looking for a solid tip on where to go, try the Chef and Pizza Arucas restaurant, where you can grab a great bite before continuing your journey.

From Arucas, it's just a short drive to the neighboring picturesque town of Firgas. Park here and head to the unique pedestrian zone of Paseo de Canarias and Paseo de Gran Canaria. This is where you'll find the main attraction—a beautiful artificial water cascade lined with colorful mosaics runs down the entire street. But what will grab your attention most are the amazing 3D models of all the Canary Islands created on the ground. You can walk right across the entire archipelago and see it from a bird's-eye view. It's a very original and peaceful spot that definitely deserves your attention and a few photos for your collection.

Right at the top end of the street with the water cascade and 3D island models, you'll come across the Iglesia de San Roque. Don't expect a giant, gold-covered monument, but rather an example of honest local architecture. The most interesting thing is hidden inside—if you can appreciate precise manual craftsmanship, you'll surely be impressed by the beautiful, intricately detailed wooden ceiling. Combined with massive structural elements and details made of dark volcanic stone, it's a great demonstration of how masters of that time could work by hand with completely raw natural materials. It's a quick, but visually very interesting stop.

Next up is a deep dive into island history. Cenobio de Valerón is a fascinating archaeological site and a huge complex of nearly three hundred caves and chambers carved high into a steep volcanic cliff. The island's original inhabitants (the Guanches) used this ingenious system as a protected and well-guarded grain storehouse. 

The entire tour along the paved path with stairs alongside the cave complex will take you about an hour, which is just enough time to explore the place and stretch your legs. And a little practical tip: if you have a valid ISIC student card, definitely show it at the box office—you'll get a nice discount on admission.

Admission information here.

The highlight of the day awaits you at the very west of the island. A trip along the picturesque, though somewhat winding road, will lead you to the breathtaking Mirador del Balcón viewpoint. Keep in mind that this place is very popular, especially in the afternoon, and there tend to be quite a few people gathering here for the views. But don't worry – there are plenty of parking spaces, so you can park your car comfortably and for free right by the road, literally just a few steps from the viewing platform.

And it's definitely worth it – it's built to hang over the abyss at the edge of steep cliffs that drop hundreds of meters directly into the wild waters of the Atlantic. When you stand on the edge and look toward the south, an incredible view of the fascinating line of rugged cliffs opens up before you. Because of their characteristic jagged shape, they are aptly nicknamed the "Dragon's Tail" (Cola de Dragón). It's an incredibly photogenic, windy, and raw place where you can truly feel the immense power of the ocean and nature. Plus, the setting afternoon sun can create a truly magical light show here.

You can head to a quieter beach, away from the busiest tourist spots, where it's not so crowded. It's the perfect chance for one last swim in the ocean, a relaxing stroll along the coast, and to soak up the local vibe.

Before you actually head off, it's definitely worth stopping by one of the local restaurants. Relying on overpriced airport sandwiches doesn't pay off, so it's much better to sit down and have a proper meal—like a juicy lava-grilled beef steak, traditional Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce, or some fresh fish.