Gran Canaria
General Info on Gran Canaria:
Jan 2014
General
First impressions are not so nice, a bit built up, but within a few days we were free camping anywhere and it felt better. Its an easy exit from the port, following signs for the airport and the GC1 motorway it quickly gets you out of Las Palmas. Its green compared with the Lanzarote and Fuerte, and the “interior” in the mountains is something else – very impressed, so many paths, cycle tracks and views but very little wildlife (apart from Canaries Ha)
Windsurf
All the main wave sailing windsurf beaches seem to be small to large pebbles with no real sand, especially at high tide, which is a dumpy break. Having travelled the north shore in a N to NW wind, it looks too rough and hard, purely for real experts or locals! The main wave sailing is south of the airport until the prevailing NE winds tend miss the land. Obviously other areas will work in other winds and these can be found by the different shop web site “spot locations” listed below. The wind was about 60% Force 5 or above and often much better than the forecast. Locals said it was a bad year?
Vargass
Just below the airport, it has less wind and slight possible shadow on the inside, but it is a side or cross on wind, making down the line on whatever sort of wave possible. Sailing is just in front Philip Koester’s (world wave champion) house. It is also possible to sail the point break at the North end of the beach by the light house, at low tide the break is great but can be a little hardcore.
Kiting is kept to South end of the beach, however as of 18.1.2014, barriers were erected to vehicles, so most of the beach is barred off, but after demos etc, access is now “allowed” for sailing (camping is not allowed). But a campsite is 300 meters away.
Salina Arinaga
2k North of Pozo, has flat conditions often used by the schools for beginners and speed specialists!
Mosca Point
About 1k North of Pozo, before Arinaga, produces a proper down the line wave, but needs a good swell of 3-4 mtrs to make it work well. Experts can enter at the point down the cliff, otherwise people sail up from Pozo. The cliff top above is great for video/photos.
Pozo
Has 3 windsurf shops, all of which hire kit (Guys at Pozo Winds were really helpful). No kiting allowed which is great!
Pozo on a an average winters day with a NE F5 wind blowing and a 1.5m wave height, according to windguru – appears to produce a mainly bump and jump scenario – the possibilities for real down the line wave sailing are severely limited on the main beach as it is very onshore, it is not a place for beginners! 2 showers at Pozo, one above the beach and one on the swimming beach (the main town bit).
Pozo Salinas
Round the point from Pozo to the south, we saw Koester and some other people sailing here, down the line is possible.
Spot Guides , Web Cam and Forecast Sites
https://english.cutre.com/2011/03/windsurfing-spots.html
https://www.spot-explorer.com/spotguide.php?spot_id=373
https://www.dunkerbeck-windsurfing.com/08-spotinfo-uk.php
My Movie
Canoeing
Saw people at Arinaga, looked good on a flat day, plus loads of other places, but needs to be flat and windless!
Snorkleing
Arinaga has a dive place and a natural pool for easy snorkel. Just north around the corner is a marine reserve. The water is generally clear everywhere but windsurf areas are liable to chop and swell.
Cycling
Cycle paths, sand tracks, you name it, we saw them all over!
Walking
Loads, bought a map (by accident) had all the trails (even “naked hikers” half way up a mountain, wearing nothing but boots and a rucksack…) Saw the SunFlower trail books, if you want to do a lot of walking, might be worth buying, full of good walking information.
Campsites
Vargas Camping – exit Junction 18 from GC1, follow signs for Vargass and then the campsite – 3 “windsurf sails” on the roundabout where turn to campsite. Price E6.50 per night for 2 people (E2 for electric) – but: Water is .05 cents per litre and you need the man to open the taps. Showers are only hot for 2 hours a day (8-9am and 7-8pm!). Loos etc are miles from camper area, so not keen to walk it. Can walk to Vargass beach, but not a short walk (well about 500mtr, I mean not short with kit!), cycling and walks easy access.
Camping Pinillo – exit Junction 56 from GC1 at Arguineguin onto the GC505 then about 7 K up the road, can’t miss it. Very nice, had laundry 3E, had free WiFi – password on the wall (was 5B74F9AAC6). In a gorge and pretty, but nothing much to do. 10E plus 1.5E for electric.
Camping el Juncos – up in the NP, need a permit to stay – fantastic views and looked great. Permits from…
Camping Llanas de la Paz – up in the forest, had loos and water but was really for tents, plenty of parking on the road and quiet. (also in NP).
See also Steve’s document, has more details.
Guatanamo Camping – closed
Water, Empty and Fill
Pozo – take the main road out and cross the GC1 and follow signs for El Doctoral, keep going straight – at statue roundabout bear left and then right again, still following El Doctoral – there is a BP garage on your right after about 500mtr. It has an “Aire de Service”, free to empty the loo, 2E to fill with 100 ltrs.
Otherwise campsites or – see F/C area for any info.
Other Motorcaravaners
Loads compared with Lanzerote and Fuerte, a lot of Spanish registered ones, but also a lot more French, German and even the odd English one!
LPG/Gas
Disa is again the local gas, often at Disa garages, but also at other garages and “ferreterias”. There are some that will refill a cylinder.
Wi-Fi Access.
Mc Donalds at Vecindario, Pozo car park café. Library at Vecindario.
Television
TV Canaries had local news and weather (in Spanish) many stations have some English language films etc if you can select the audio.
Libraries
Vecindario (near Pozo) – joined with copy of passport, which is for all the islands, so once done all sorted – could borrow up to 5 books – had a small selection of English ones! Vecindario has 4 libraries this is the main large one at the back of the town.
Shopping
Same as other islands, Spars, Hipo Dino, %Dia, Mercadano, but also had Carrefour, who’s milk was way better and kept compared with the stuff in cartons from the island! It seemed to be fresh in on Fridays (ferry on Thurs). LIDL. Bottled water 5ltr from as little 60 cents
BookSwaps
Laundry
Camping Vargass had a machine E4 and Camping Pinillo had a machine E3
Rubbish and Re-cycling
Same as others – plenty everywhere!
Other Info:
Fuel Price – from E1.02 (Avg 1.05)
Gas Price – E18.00 for 11Kg this is DISA Gas the local one and all you can get, we already had a cylinder, not sure how to get one, but asking at a garage would get you that info.
Movie Star
Bought a Sim card for the dongle for 13Euro with MovieStar, the most common provider, (gives 10 Euro credit) so we bought three weeks worth of use at 100MB per week. Orange does 2Gb per month 23Euro. Vodaphone does 1Gb 23Euro. Reception will vary.
Ferry Price
Euro 833 from Cadiz to Gran Canaria with Acconia Transmeditarania, double cabin and all meals included.
Free Camps Used
Gran Canaria Jan 2014 Feb 2014
Unless otherwise said all these had a shop within walking or 4k cycling distance.
Actually, there were so many places you could stay, I’ve listed where we stayed and a couple of “useful” other spots we saw, but basically you do what you do best and work out what you like and where you want to be!
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Place and Date |
Description and Directions |
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Pozo Izquierdo |
The main windsurf spot – can stay all night just outside the car park and also on the rough car park next to it. Were told not to stay overnight on the actual car park. Big town 3k away, with a Carrefeour and all other shops! |
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Salinas Arinaga |
The windsurf spot back towards Arinaga – tarmac road all round, but drive onto rough ground to park – quieter than Pozo, but less “civilized”! |
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Castillo de Romeral |
Saw vans parked here near the harbour and also on the road side when we drove through – there is a “sea pool” for swimming which looked nice. |
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Playa de Mogan
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Two car parks as you enter from the road at the back of the town, one just near the Hypo Dino had the most vans in, the one further back was closer to the road, and had less vans, we tried both, OK, but road noise! Seems a nice town with harbour and beach and walking distance to eat our easily. |
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Roque Nublo |
Stayed on the “Mirdor” car park, went totally quiet as soon as it was dark, a few cars drove past – fantastic views (miles from anywhere!) |
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Pozo de la nieve |
Could have stayed (we think) on the “old” road. As you drive up to it, turn left to park and anywhere on there would be fine, can even drive to the very end of the tarmac – great views, too cold in Jan, so we came down. |
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Lookout?? |
Could have stopped here, was bit close to the road, but by dark would be fine, did not as was a bit early and busy. |
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Cazadores |
About 1-2k down the hill from here – only spot we found on that road (the GC130), if heading down! |
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Playa del Hombre |
Were told about this – junction 9 from GC1 and follow signs, you will see other vans there, has loo and showers and OK to park, a sort of tourist area, but low key. Could cycle the edge, snorkel, swim etc, small sort of sand beach area. |
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North Coast/north West Coast – top part! Roque Bar? Cruez Teguise |
Did a trip around, were not impressed – could’ve stayed at a couple of places, but did not –saw a German camper at Roque Prieto (would’ve stayed but was too early and nothing to do!) The light house at Sardina was another option but ditto ! We then moved to Puerto de Nieve thinking we could stay – was a “private” area, as was the one we saw at El Risco. Stayed on the road side – quiet once it got dark! Apart from the road side (which is quiet after dark) we did not find anywhere, the towns did have car parks, but not easy to find! The other monument rock in the hills. We saw a little spot from the top, which we then drove down to – could park two, was total bliss, not a sound or person all night – fantastic sunset and views etc! Could stay in the main car park, but very touristy and too early, we drove back down, but had you been walking all day, you might be happy to stay. |
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