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You have to up early and very lucky to find the Bandama Caldera full of mist like in Lex's photo. It only happens a few days every year and clears as soon as the sun starts to warm up.
However, there is a lot of stuff to see and do in and around the caldera other than drive to the top of the cinder cone and look at it. You can walk around it, down to the crater floor, visit the aboriginal caves, and the secret bunker (when the visitor centre reopens).
The Lady Of Bandama
A few days ago we walked down to the caldera floor to find something truly unique.
Parolinia glabriuscula, know as the Dama de Bandama or Bandama Lady, only grows inside the walls of the caldera. In fact, it only grows on the cliffs at the southeastern end of the caldera and on the scree at its base.
To be honest, the Dama isn't the most exciting plant in the world to look at. It's similar to other Parolinias growing in other places around the island (Guayadeque, the southern slopes of the island, etc).
What makes it special is that it is critically endangered and only grows in a tiny area: Definitely unique enough to walk across the Caldera floor to find; especially in January to March when it produces its little white flowers.
It seems to be thriving now that goats no longer graze inside the Caldera (and now the aggressive donkey has gone). There are far more plants than I remember when I was a kid and they have spread down the scree slope and almost onto the floor. Good news that is being repeated all over the island now that most goats are kepet bpenned in rather than roaming free.
ALEX SAYS: I was with my mother, a botanist, when she discovered the Dama de Bandama back in the 1980s. We were walking around the crater rim and spotted the only one growing outside the caldera.
Everything you need to know to walk down to the caldera floor is in our Gran Canaria map. We haven't marked the caves because we want to go back and make sure they are still safe to reach.
Note that the Hoyos de Bandama winery tends to have fairly erratic opening houtrs so if you see it open, head in for a glass of wine. The Caldera dry white is one of Gran Canaria's best.
Parallel to Mesa y Lopez, the pedestrian Ruiz de Alda has become a firm favourite as a lunch spot for Las Palmas locals.
It's always busy but most places have a free table even at peak times. As always, if you want a guaranteed spot, turn up early at 13.00 on the dot before the locals finish the morning shift and head out to lunch.
We've tried many of the restaurants and so far the general quality and value is good. Here are my top recomendations at the moment...
Mr Kale at the west end is always a good bet for poke bowls and wok dishes, especially if you get the 2-for-1 main course offer from its Facebook page.
Pinxe Tacos at the far west end of the street does a small but well-curated selection of tacos, sopes and nachos. Excellent for a light lunch at its outdoor tables but there isn't enough on the menu for a substantial meal.
For a big menu del dia with three courses, drink and coffee (12 euros) head to La Tasca de Lua about half way along the street. Modern Spanish food with sold Asian-inspired dishes depending on the day. The Thai beef rice I had last time I was here didn't look like much but was delicious.
If you just fancy a burger, the 200 Gramos half way down the street is always a solid option but remember to ask for yours "bien hecho" as the default way to serve burgers in Gran Canaria is pink inside.
Llevame al Huerto is the spot for vegetarian although the restaurant is actually more flexitarian with some seafood and dairy options.Everything is fresh, well-presented and tasty.
The Top 5 Reasons To Join The Gran Canaria Info Club
Hi, Alex here from Gran Canaria Info and I'd like to tell a little bit about Gran Canarias Info and its Club.
Lex and I have worked on Gran Canaria Info since 1998 when Lex first started the website. Since then we've taken thousands of photos, written hundreds of articles and made countless social media posts and comments. We run one of the busiest Facebook groups about Gran Canaria and the biggest Facebook page about the island.
It's been a labour of love for over 20 years and we want to make it better than ever with the Gran Canaria Info Club
The GCI Club is for people who love Gran Canaria and really want to explore the whole island. It's where we share the hidden spots and local places that you can't really reveal to everyone without spoiling them. It includes a map of all the best local places in Gran Canaria, a place for members to chat, regular meetups, and a small but growing set of discounts and offers just for members.
The GCI Club is the first time we have ever charged for anything on Gran Canaria Info and we know that it has to be excellent if it is going to work.
So, please read on for the top five reasons we think the GCI Club is a great idea for you...
You help make Gran Canaria Info better
We've never made any money directly from the site or the Facebook group. Ok, that's not completely true: We cover our server costs with ads and started to sell excursions at the start of 2020.
But we don't want to ruin Gran Canaria Info with adverts and sales. We want to keep doing exactly what we do; providing quality, independent information about Gran Canaria, showing you the best of your favourite island, and doing our best to support quality local businesses and restaurants.
The Gran Canaria Info Club lets us do exactly that. As a member you get exclusive information and perks but you also support the whole idea behind Gran Canaria Info.
You get detailed, fresh local info
As a member you get exclusive content written by Lex, Alex and guest local experts, and access to our huge map of local spots with all the best hidden bits of Gran Canaria. Natural pools, instagram photo locations, snorkelling spots, and local bars and restaurants. It's like a extra layer of Gran Canaria Info that lets you get the most out of your time on the island. When we find something new or exciting, you will be the first to know about it.
Plus you'll get news posts from Alex covering the most important things that happen in Gran Canaria.
We'll keep updating the content so that there is always something new for you to explore or try the next time you come to Gran Canaria.
You can chat and network with other members
We want the GCI Club to become a place where true Gran Canaria fans can get together and talk about the island and also get to know each other, organise meetups and events, and help each other to enjoy Gran Canaria.
We'll start by organising regular meetups in Gran Canaria's resorts for members and their friends and we hope this side of the club develops a life of its own.
Direct help and information from Lex, Alex and other local experts
If you have a question about Gran Canaria and want an answer, ask the other members or contact us directly and we'll reply straight away.
If you need help in Gran Canaria, just let us know. Anything we can do, we will: We may not be able to get you out of jail in Gran Canaria, but we can come and visit you (joke).
Discounts, offers and other perks
Don't join the Gran Canaria Info Club just for the discounts, but please do take advantage of them. We'll be arranging exclusive offers and perks for members at many of our favourite places in Gran Canaria just for members.
Coming To Gran Canaria? Join The Club For Just 10 Euros A Year
Are you a Gran Canaria fan who wants to really get to know the island like a local? Do you want to hit the ground running as soon as you arrive? Do you already know what the weather is like in Gran Canaria in October?
Join the Gran Canaria Info Club for just ten euros per year and you get immediate access to the best source of detailed Gran Canaria information there is, plus a load of other perks.
Here's what you get for less than one euro a month...
The Map: You get detailed, fresh local info
As a member you get exclusive access to our huge map of local spots with all the best hidden bits of Gran Canaria: Natural pools, instagram photo locations, snorkelling spots, and local bars and restaurants. The places we wouldn't necessarily tell everyone about because they are small and easily ruined by crowds.
It's like a extra layer of Gran Canaria Info that lets you get the most out of your time on the island. As soon as we find something new or exciting in Gran Canaria, you know about it via the map.
Club Articles: Detailed Info Every Month
You get detailed news posts from Alex covering the most important things that happen in Gran Canaria. New restaurants, local events, news and travel information.
And, you get one big monthly feature article every month covering a new area of Gran Canaria in detail with photos and local-level information.
The Club Group: You can chat and network with other members
We want the GCI Club to become a place where true Gran Canaria fans can get together and talk about the island and also get to know each other, organise meetups and events, and help each other to enjoy Gran Canaria.
So we made a private GCI Club group that will skip many of the questions we get in the main GCI Group.
The Club has it's own Facebook Group and Whatsapp list so you can stay in touch and share experiences with other Gran Canaria fans.
The Hotline: Direct help and information from Lex, Alex and other local experts
If you have a question about Gran Canaria and want an answer, ask the other members in the group or contact us directly and we'll reply straight away.
If you need help in Gran Canaria, just let us know. Anything we can do, we will: The club has its own Whatsapp List so you can contact Lex and Alex directly at any time. We may not be able to get you out of jail in Gran Canaria, but we can come and visit you (joke).
Freebies: Discounts, offers and other perks
Don't join the Gran Canaria Info Club just for the discounts, but please do take advantage of them. We'll be arranging exclusive offers and perks for members at many of our favourite places in Gran Canaria just for members. For example, you get commission free airport transfers, and commission free excursion bookings and discounts at quality local restaurants.
From Gran Canaria Info To The GCI Club
Gran Canaria Info started in 1998 and has grown since then into the biggest community of Gran Canaria fans online and on social media. We have shared thousands of photos, hundered of articles and countless socialmedia posts since then and now run the biggest Facebook group about Gran Canaria and the biggest Facebook page. The website is still packed with useful information about visiting Gran Canaria and living in Gran Canaria.
Over the years, the experience Lex and I got from has earned us some great photographer and social media jobs and we are very grateful for them. However, we've never made any money directly from the site or the Facebook group.
Ok, that's not completely true: We cover our server costs with ads and offer offer excursions and reliable airport transfers.
But we don't want to ruin Gran Canaria Info with adverts and sales. We want to keep providing quality, independent information about Gran Canaria, showing you the best of your favourite island, and doing our best to support quality local businesses and restaurants.
If you join the club, for less than a euro per month, you help us to do exactly that. You get exclusive information all the other perks but you also support the whole idea behind Gran Canaria Info.
the Gran Canaria Info Club
Gran Canaria's Bioagaete Festival Launches Charity Music BIODISCO
Gran Canaria's biggest music event, the annual Bioagaete festival, can't happen this year due to Covid-19.
However, the organisers have decided against taking a well-deserved year off and have instead launched a charity music playlist.
Dubbed the BIODISCO, it features 18 new songs from local famous singers and bands that always play for free at the festival.
To listen to the BIODISCO, please go here and make a small donation to the Bioagaete Foundation. The money raised goes to local families who have been left in need due to the Coronavirus, and to street children in Senegal.
What Brexit Means For British Visitors To Gran Canaria
Britain remains on track to leave the EU on January 1st 2021 and this will affect both British visitors and tourists, and British residents in Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands.
From January, British visitors will have to use the non-EU passport queue at Gran Canaria airport and will be electronically logged in as a visitor to the Schengen Area.
British citizens will only be allowed to spend 90 days within the Schengen Zone during a rolling 180 day period. This won't affect most holidaymakers but does pose a problem for those who plan to spend the winter in the Canaries. For example, you cannot avoid the 90 day limit by popping to Marrakesh for the weekend or spending a week back in the UK.
British citizens will not require a visa for entry for stays of less than 90 days, and where they will not be working. However, they will have to pay for the EU Visa waiver scheme to be called ETIAS. This will start at some point in 2021 and cost about seven euros.
Pets: The EU Pet passport scheme will no longer be valid for British citizens and the new rules are not yet clear.
Roaming Charges: UK telecoms firms are not obliged to keep up with flat roaming charges but some have said that they will.
Driving Licences: For now your UK driving license will be valid for car rental in Gran Canaria. This may change in the future but is unlikely. Residents should swap over to a Spanish license before the end of 2020.
Healthcare: British citizens will no longer be included in the European Health Card (EHIC) system and will have to pay for comprehensive travel insurance that includes cover for any preexisting conditions.
Customs: All good purchased in the UK will be subject to inspection and relevant import taxes.
British Residents In Gran Canaria
All UK citizens should register with extranjeria and make sure that they are registered as permanent residents if possible. You can now swap the little bit of green NIE paper for a TIE card complete with photo; this is not obligatory but does give you legally valid photo ID with having to carry your passport at all times.
Horse riding in Gran Canaria, an amazing experience for beginners or more experienced riders. The horses are friendly and very well trained and you are matched to a suitable horse and provided with riding hats. This is a fantastic ride with stunning views.
Availability. Everyday 09.30 – 18.30.
Pick up. Various from hotel or pick up points.
Duration 2 hours.
Well trained horse for beginners as well as more experienced riders. Stunning rides with fantastic views of mountains and the sea and beaches.Photographs provided on DVD as a memento of your ride. Professional and friendly staff.
Return transport is included to and from the stables and we pick up from all hotels in the tourist resorts in South Gran Canaria. Playa Del Ingles, Maspalomas, Puerto Rico, Meloneras and many more.
Upon arrival, all belongings are placed safely into into your locker and it’s time to be matched with your horse.
The instructor/leader asks each of you in turn if you have any previous experience with horses. Those without any experience will be matched with the plodding type of horse, which will go slower to ensure you feel comfortable throughout.
Those who have ridden before will be matched with a horse with whom they will be able to canter on, later in the day. Hats and hair nets are provided and instructions given by professional and friendly staff.
The trek is fantastic and you will ride over rough terrain and rocky landscapes and see amazing views across the dunes of Maspalomas, the sea and the mountains.
This is the best riding stables on Gran Canaria and the lovely staff will always see your enjoyment and safety their priority. It is very important to book in advance to avoid disappointment, as only 12 people and 12 horses can go on the trek together.
Book Gran Canaria's best horse trekking experience here
Morning or afternoon, a Gran Canaria buggy tour is the way to see Gran Canaria through fresh eyes. This is the thrill seeker's Gran Canaria tour and it takes right into the island's heart away from the resorts.
Alex Says: A Gran Canaria buggy tour is great fun for the whole family!
This Yamaha Buggy Tour goes every morning and afternoon and is a two hour buggy driving experience with a limited number of buggies (so you don't spend the whole trip in a coud of someone else's dust). Return transport is included from your hotel in all resorts in the South of Gran Canaria. Great, new vehicles and a cool route into the wild canyons of south Gran Canaria that we call Marlboro Country.
The buggies are very easy to drive and control and you can book one for yourself or fit two to a buggy. The buggies are in great condition and fully insured. Their small size and maneuverability means that the tour takes you to places that you just can't reach by car or bus.
You are in control as you drive through the rugged Gran Canaria mountains over rough terrain and you'll get a great overview of the islands rock formations, steep valleys, cave houses and mountain roads. Bring a camera or even better a GoPro because you are going to want to record the experience and the views. Just make sure you keep it in a zipped-up pocket.
Reserve your spot on this wildly popular Gran Canaria buggy tour right here for just a small deposit. You won’t find a better buggy tour anywhere in Gran Canaria.
If you want to see elephants and giraffes, this is not the safari for you. However, if you want to get out there and explore Gran Canaria in a fun and sociable way with expert local guides, get this trip booked ASAP...
This Gran Canaria jeep safari gets you off the roads and into areas that you can only see with a four wheel drive vehicle. Trips are daily 09:00 to 16:00 all year round with afternoon trips in July and August from15:30-21:30. Hotel Pickups are from 08:30 - 08:55 depending on where you stay the duration of the trip is 7 hours. The capacity is 8 person maximum per Jeep.
The Jeep Safari convoy travels up towards the mountains behind Arguineguin, through the valley of a Thousand Palms and then to a local bar, famous for its watermelon juice, for breakfast.
Next it's on to Presa de las Ninas, an inland lake at the heart of Gran Canaria with amazing scenery and views. You'll see the pine forests, caves and cliffs opf central Gran Canaria plus the local villages where people still live happily in cave houses. Then it's on to San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Tunte) where a typical Canarian lunch is available for only €7. Fruit and water is included on the trip.
Thenonwards to Arteara and the opportunity to take part in a mini camel safari, which is optional, and 10 euros extra on the day.
Join us on this amazing fun-filled adventurous day, seeing wonderful scenery, plant life, mountains, rock formations and pine forests, you will see why Gran Canaria is called the mini-continent.
The full private yacht or boat charter experience in Gran Canaria is the coolest way to spend a day out on the water. Here at Gran Canaria Info we have the best range of private boat options in Gran Canaria. Our local booking team has tried each one and will know exactly which one will best suit your needs.
Just let us know exactly what you are looking for and our Gran Canaria booking team will do the rest. They all you have to do is jump on board and feel like a movie star.
Yachts and speedboats and catamarans in Gran Canaria
A private boat tour allows you to explore the coast of south Gran Canaria at your own pace and in style. Stay on deck and soak up the sun, party non stop, swim to a secluded beach, or explore the caves and coves of the tranquil south Gran Canaria coastline. Snorkel equipment is included, along with sangria, beer and soft drinks along with light bar snacks and lunch.
You are also free to bring your own desired drinks or food. All boats have a music system with Radio and MP3 so you can bring your own music.
Almost all private charter boats depart from Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán marinas. Transers from your accommodation in all the main resorts like Playa Del Ingles, Puerto Rico, Maspalomas and Meloneres are included.
You can book three-hour time slots or a full day experience, or a full week if you want. Party in style on your own private boat in south Gran Canaria; book here to reserve your day on the ocean with total security...
Book the right Gran Canaria boat charter
Don't just book any Gran Canaria boat: Book the right Gran Canaria boat with our no-fuss booking service.
Book your private Luxury VIP speedboat, private catamaran trip, or yacht with captain right here: No app, no fuss, just a super-quick Whatsapp form and then a quick chat with our booking experts.
These private Gran Canaria boat charters are ideal for couples and families looking for a fun and peaceful day on the water, and for corporate groups, and stag and hen dos. It's your boat for the day so you can do as much or as little as you choose.
Lex Says: If you want a boat on a specific day, for a birthday or anniversary for example, it is best to book the right boat well in advance. Same for big groups and corporate days out.
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