FIRST HOURS AFTER ARRIVAL
The airport of Gran Canaria – Las Palmas, often called Gando, is located on the east coast of the island, about 20 km from the capital Las Palmas and about 30 km from Maspalomas in the south. It is the largest passenger and freight port among the Canary Islands airports, as well as the sixth airport for passenger traffic in Spain. Every year, it transports several million passengers, which shows how important tourism is for this region. Gando is a very modern airport, it has been modernized and expanded in recent years. On arrival, you will find here all the services and information you need. In the arrivals hall, there are e.g. car rental offices. If you arrive at Gran Canaria on your own, you can easily get to the northern and southern parts equally.
FROM THE NORTH GANDO AIRPORT TO LAS PALMAS
Of course, the fastest, but also the most expensive means of transport are taxis waiting in line in front of the airport building. Inexpensive buses also run to Las Palmas and I personally think this is the best option. Bus number 60 runs very often and until late at night. The exact timetable can be downloaded as pdf here. The road will take you about half an hour and during the route you can admire the picturesque landscapes of shattering ocean waves, in particular reaching Las Palmas. That’s why it’s worth sitting on the bus on the right to admire the island from the very first moments.
In Las Palmas itself, the bus stops at two stations and it is very likely that when getting on the bus and buying a ticket from the driver, you will be asked about your final station. That is why it is worth to remember or write down the names of these two stations and even before arriving check whether your accommodation is close to either stations. The first of them is the main bus station in Las Palmas – Estación De Guaguas San Telmo, it is located just at the entrance to the city. The other is called Santa Catalina same as the park located nearby. Situated in the northern part of the city, near the port. This stop is also close to Las Canteras beach and it is in this area where many of the mains hotels are located. If your accommodation is among them, be sure to get off at Santa Catalina. If the accommodation is far from these two stops, then you can take a taxi, which in Las Palmas are not too expensive. The cost of a bus ticket from the airport to Las Palmas is around 2-3 euros.
FROM AIRPORT TO SOUTH COAST
Most tourists arriving in Gran Canaria are choosing accommodation in one of the resorts in the southern, more touristic part of the island. By bus No. 66 and No. 90 you can get to most southern resorts. A link to the current timetable can be found here. The drive to Playa del Inglés will take about 40 minutes. There are regular buses from Playa del Inglés to further resorts on the southwest coast such as Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogán (bus number 32). A direct trip to Puerto de Mogán by bus No. 91 will take you about an hour, cost 6-7 euros.
FROM AIRPORT TO SOUTH COAST
Most tourists arriving in Gran Canaria are choosing accommodation in one of the resorts in the southern, more touristic part of the island. By bus No. 66 and No. 90 we can get to most southern resorts. A link to the current timetable can be found here. The drive to Playa del Inglés will take about 40 minutes. There are regular buses from Playa del Inglés to further resorts on the southwest coast such as Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogán (bus number 32). A direct journey to Puerto de Mogán by bus No. 91 will take us about an hour, cost 6-7 euros.
Finally, some useful phrases in Spanish, just in case:
Although the Spanish equivalent of the English word bus is quite easy because it’s just – el autobús, hardly anyone in Gran Canaria or the Canary Islands in general use it. In the Spanish Canarian version, the bus is la gugua and this version is widely used by Canarians.
¿Dónde está la parada de guaguas? – Where is the bus stop?
A qué hora sale la guagua para … (here you have to specify where you want to go, e.g. Las Palmas, Maspalomas etc.) – What time does the bus leave for …?
Quiero llegar a … (Here you should also enter the city you want to reach) – I want to get to …
At the end of this entry, practical advice. Buses in Gran Canaria are quite cheap and comfortable. Virtually every city on the island can be reached by bus. And if you do not plan to rent a car, it can be a good alternative to explore the island a bit. If this is the plan you have, then when buying a ticket at the airport it is worth buying a multi-pass ticket, which will not only save us a bit but will also be a more convenient option.
I hope that the entry will prove to be helpful and after landing on Gran Canaria you will quickly and easily reach your goal to enjoy the Canarian climate as long as possible.
