Gran Canaria has plenty of delicious traditional dishes which are worth trying during your cruise holiday. Sancocho canario is fresh fish, often sea bass, stoker or cherne, which is cooked whole and accompanied with sweet potato,  papas arrugadas, gofio, and mojo picón.

Carajacas is a wonderful dish to tantalise your taste buds featuring filleted beef liver, cooked with green pepper, paprika, garlic, cumin, olive oil, oregano and served with boiled Canarian potatoes. Another much-loved Canarian meal is Ropa Vieja, a scrumptious slow-cooked stew made with meat, peppers, chickpeas, onions and potatoes.

Bienmesabe is a wonderful dessert made with almonds, eggs, sugar and lemon zest, while Machanga is a custard-like dessert comprising milk, lemon, cinnamon, vanilla powder, sugar and a grated chocolate topping. Popular drinks in Gran Canaria include honey run (Ron Miel) and Tinto del Monte, a local speciality wine.

Gran Canaria’s sub-tropical climate means the island enjoys sunshine throughout the year. The warmest time of year is between June and September when the island gets highs above 30°C. During winter the coastal areas are generally warm and sunny with an average temperature in December of 22°C. The central mountainous region is cooler, cloudier and has more frequent periods of rain. Sea conditions are mild for most the year with the water temperature averaging between 19°C and 22°C.
Weather conditions are very pleasant in spring, making it a great time for hiking and exploring the island while the summer months area more appealing for sunbathing and taking to the crystal-clear ocean for swimming, snorkelling and thrilling water sports action. Gran Canaria is sporadically affected by Calima, a hot wind which blows over from the Sahara in Africa, leaving a fine layer of dust across the island.

Gran Canaria is overflowing with wonderful things for families, couples and groups of friends to see and do during their cruise visit to the island. You’ll discover a myriad of awe-inspiring cultural, historical and natural attractions, as well as sports and leisure activities galore. Head out to sea on a catamaran to watch dolphins in their natural habitat, visit the dormant crater of Bandama during a thrilling High Peaks and Roque Nublo tour or explore the enchanting caves and prehistoric burial grounds in the Barranco de Guayadeque. How about spending a romantic evening watching a movie in the outdoor Moonlight cinema in Maspalomas, taking to a buggy for an exciting drive across the rolling Maspalomas Dunes or gazing in awe at more than 500 species of plants in Canary Gardens in Las Palmas?
Other major attractions in Gran Canaria include the Cathedral of Santa Ana, Teror Old Town, Los Tilos de Moya Natural Reserve, Cenobio de Valerón fortress and the Painted Cave Museum. Key attractions which ensure a feast of family fun include Crocodile Park near Agüimes which features more than 300 rescued crocs and Sioux Park where you can get a flavour of the Wild West with cowboy shoot-outs, wild horse shows and knife-throwing displays. Poema de Mar Aquarium is home to sharks, giant manta rays and turtles, while Palmitos Park is the place to encounter Komodo dragons, caiman and emus. The island is also home to dozens of fabulous beaches where you can soak up the sun, enjoy some games on the sands to take to the sea for some exciting water sports action, including waterskiing, jet-skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking and parasailing.