Planning your trip to Gran Canaria? What can you do in Puerto de Mogan?
Here’s our complete guide to all the most beautiful places and must-do activities, to make the most of your stay:
- beautiful sandy beach
- charming district of Little Venice
- boat tours
- archaeological site
- …
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Content
1. Marina “Little Venice” (and market)
Why visit?
Puerto de Mogan is a truly surprising place.
It’s not your typical Canary Island town. It is often referred to as the “Little Venice of the Canaries”.
Around the port and canals, the narrow streets are full of charm, with white houses with colorful features, and lots of plants.
It’s a romantic spot that appeals to couples, but everyone should enjoy strolling through its narrow streets.
Explore this labyrinth and don’t miss the pretty passageway with scenes of historical life: El Paseo de Mis Padres.
Useful tips
- Free access
- Easy to explore (flat and in good condition)
- Area with many restaurants
- Allow 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your passion for photography…
- Every Friday, there’s the “Mercadillo de Mogan” market around the port. If you don’t like crowds, avoid this day, but if you do, choose it! But you should know that this has become more of a tourist event than a local one.
2. Playa de Mogan
Why visit?
Puerto de Mogan is a beautiful cove of fine golden sand surrounded by cliffs.
It’s right next to Gran Canaria’s “Little Venice”. It’s an ideal place to spend a day or an entire holiday.
The access slope to the water is gentle, ideal for families. And there are kayak and pedal-boat rentals for couples and families.
The beach is also protected by sea walls, making its calm waters ideal for swimming.
In our opinion, this is one of the most beautiful beaches on Gran Canaria.
Useful tips
- Easy access from the city
- Fine sand
- Supervised beach
- Toilets, showers, sun loungers
- Nearby restaurants
- Kayak and pedal boat rental
WHERE TO STAY Puerto de Morgan
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
In charming little Venice.
Hotel Livvo Puerto de Mogan, with view – see photos and availability
In the modern city, 5 to 15 minutes’ walk from the beach.
Radisson Blu Hotel, 5 stars – See prices, photos and availability
Hotel Cordial Muelle Viejo, beachfront – See prices, photos and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Puerto de Mogan
3. Mogan viewpoint and old town
Why visit?
To discover more of the city’s charm, we recommend climbing up to the city’s Mirador.
This takes you through the old town with its steep staircases.
It takes 257 steps to reach the viewpoint, which is well signposted. And signs regularly tell you how many steps you’ve reached.
From the viewpoint, you can see the beach, Little Venice, the port and the cliffs.
We advise you to climb it in the late afternoon for the best view of the city and the cliffs.
Useful tips
- Allow 30 min to 1h (if you’re exploring the narrow streets of the old town).
- 257 steps
- No access by car
4. Dolphin observation tower
Why do we love it?
We love the whale and dolphin watching tours. We were very hopeful, and were lucky enough to see some dolphins. A wonderful experience with Gran Canaria’s landscapes in the background.
Sightings are never guaranteed, but in this corner of Gran Canaria, the chances are excellent!
Useful tips
There are tours in catamarans, speedboats and more traditional boats. Departures are mainly from the port of Puerto Rico in the south of the island, but there are also departures from Puerto de Mogan.
See availability and book
Or see options in Puerto Rico:
See boat tour options.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Gran Canaria
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- If you’re planning to explore the mountains, don ‘t take the smallest cars. A more powerful engine will be more comfortable.
- But don’t take too big a car either, as some roads are narrow.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
5. Los Gatos Archaeological Site Canada
Why visit?
Canada de Los Gatos is one of the island’s best-known sites, not only because it’s located in the charming town of Puerto de Mogan, but also because you can climb the cliff to see the structure of the village from above. We really appreciated this perspective.
In this valley, the inhabitants found water and fertile soil, making it an ideal location for a coastal village. The population was large.
There are ruins of houses and burials dating back 1,300 years.
Read more in our article (coming soon).
Useful tips
- Closed on Mondays
- Normally open at least from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 4 euros
- Parking in the city (nearby underground parking lot: parking Mogan)
- Staircases for the best views
- Small high bar with city views
- Latest news on the official website here
A LITTLE MORE patience
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6. Admire the sunset
Puerto de Mogan is well placed for watching beautiful sunsets.
There’s even a place on the cliffs to the west of town called Sunset Point.
But we preferred the ambience of the marina to admire the changing colors.
Useful tips
- Not much room at Sunset Point. If you want to settle in, come early enough.
- Don’t book your meal at sunset!
7. Enjoy good restaurants
We really enjoyed Puerto de Mogan’s culinary offerings.
There’s not the choice of the capital, La Palmas, but we’ve found that, for southern cities, this is where some of the best restaurants are.
Our two favorites are:
- Restaurant I Love Mogan: The name may sound like a tourist trap, but it’s not. Their fresh fish is succulent, and they’re also good on desserts, which isn’t always the case. What’s more, we really appreciated the friendly service.
- Restaurant Los Guayres: gourmet restaurant in the marvellous Canarian setting of the Cordial Playa Mogan hotel. We really liked their work with seafood.
8. Other boat tours
From the port of Puerto de Mogan you can also enjoy other boat tours:
- The yellow submarine tour, to admire the fish in comfort while singing a “yellow submarine” – see availability and make a reservation
- A catamaran tour to relax, enjoy the scenery and reconnect with nature – see availability and make a reservation
- Kayak tour for the more sporty, to really take the time to admire the scenery and enter the caves – see availability and make reservations
There is also a shuttle service between Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogan on a glass-bottomed boat.
This allows you to combine a boat tour with the discovery of another city.
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9. Water park: Lago Taurito
Why visit?
In the twin valley of Puerto de Mogan lies the small seaside resort of Taurito.
It’s famous for its Lago Taurito water park, located in the heart of the town between the hotels and next to the beach.
It was undergoing maintenance when we last visited, so there was no water, but the slides look nice. It’s a park that runs on seawater. Its main slides are: Roller Coaster, Kamikaze, Freefall and Space Bowl.
Useful tips
- We advise you to visit in the morning to avoid crowds.
- Open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- There are snacks on site
- Sun loungers and parasols are available.
- Book your tickets
10. Climbing the Puerto de Mogan valley
Puerto de Mogan lies at the end of a valley, the barranco de Mogan.
A road crosses it and then takes you to the colorful mountains and the Aldea.
Along this route, we recommend two stops:
- The Molino Quemao mill in El Molino de Viento.
Even if it’s not open, you can still admire it from the outside. It has been beautifully restored. It’s 7m high, one of the tallest on the island.
If it’s open, it’s an extraordinary attraction with giant tools and information about its workings and history.
- Mirador de Veneguera
A little further up, you can stop at a viewpoint with a few parking spaces. From the road, you can look west over the village of Veneguera and part of the colorful mountains in the distance.
And if you walk a little, you’ll discover the view over the Mogan valley.
Useful tips
- Easy road with one lane in each direction.
DISCOVER Puerto de Mogan
Things to do in Puerto de Mogan: other ideas
Another archaeological site: Las Crucecitas
Right next to Canada de Los Gatos is the smaller site of Las Crucecitas. They could be considered as a single site, but the access conditions are different.
The structures are part of the village that was built in this fertile valley.
On this site you will find mainly graves and funeral structures.
Church in Puerto de Mogan: Ermita de San Fernando
Ermita de San Fernando is Puerto de Mogán’s spiritual beating heart. Built by a local family in 1935, this simple chapel is where the families of fishermen prayed for their safe return from the sea.
Other beaches in Puerto de Mogan: La Caleta de Mogan
If the sandy beach crowds don’t appeal to you, Puerto de Mogan also has a small beach made of large pebbles under the cliff overlooking the Taurito valley: Caelta de Mogan.
It’s particularly beautiful when the sun descends over the horizon and the cliffs change color.
Things to do in Puerto de Mogan with children
- The beach is child-friendly
- The large central avenue is ideal for children’s cycling.
- The dolphin-watching tour is also sure to please – see availability and book now.
- The submarine tour is also an excellent option – see availability and book now.
- As well as the Taurito water park – book your tickets now!
The towns of Puerto Rico and Maspalomas are not far away (only 10 and 20 minutes by car), and you’ll find many theme parks:
- Aqualand Maspalomas, the big water park – book your skip-the-line tickets
- Holiday World Woodland, for thrill rides – reserve your tickets
- Angry Birds Park, with games for younger children – book your tickets now!
- Mundo Aborigen, find out more about the Guanche people – book your tickets now
- Palmitos Park, the zoo – book your tickets
- Sioux City, for Western fans
Excursions around Puerto de Mogan
Here are some suggestions for day trips from Puerto de Mogan.
But there are many others possible. See our article on Gran Canaria’s top attractions.
Los Azulejos and Cactualdea
With a car, you can head west on less touristy roads. In just one day, you can discover..:
- Los Azulejos, a colorful stretch of mountain
- Cactualdea, the cactus garden
- La Aldea with its lagoon and pretty waterfront
Center of the island: Fataga, Roque Nublo…
Of course, we also recommend driving to the center of the island with its mountains and magnificent views. In one day, you can:
- Roque Nublo short hike
- Viewpoint Pico de las Nieves
- Visit one or more mountain villages (Tejeda, Fataga…)
Aguïmes and the barrancos
Or you can drive east to visit:
- The charming village of Aguïmes
- Barranco de Guayadeque, the island’s best-known valley
- Barranco de las Vacas, a little hidden treasure that takes you to the US!
Useful tips for visiting Puerto de Mogan
Where is Puerto de Mogan?
- West of the south coast
- From Puerto Rico = 10 min drive
- From Maspalomas = 20 min drive
- From Las Palmas = 1h drive
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
How do I get to Puerto de Mogan?
From the airport
- the expressway takes you directly to Puerto de Mogan in 35 minutes, whether you rent a car or take a cab
- A bus (Global Bus Route 1) takes you from the airport to Puerto de Mogan.
Full-day excursions:
If you’re staying in another town and want to visit Puerto de Mogan, some day trips include a visit to Little Venice.
- From the southern towns: visit Puerto de Mogan, La Aldea, Agaete and a glimpse of the capital – see availability and make reservations
- From southern towns: visit the market on Fridays – see availability and make a reservation
- From La Palmas: visit Puerto de Mogan, the caves and dunes of Maspalomas – see availability and make a reservation
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Gran Canaria
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- If you’re planning to explore the mountains, don ‘t take the smallest cars. A more powerful engine will be more comfortable.
- But don’t take too big a car either, as some roads are narrow.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
Parking in Puerto de Mogan
There are several parking options in Puerto de Mogan:
- The small harbour parking lot closest to Little Venice, quite expensive
- Large underground parking lot Parking Mogan, close to the beach, chargeable
- Back of town, around hotels with free parking spaces
Getting around Puerto de Mogan
Once in Mogan, it’s easy enough to get around. It’s a valley with a beautiful central promenade, bike paths and wide sidewalks.
It is easy to walk around.
Visit Puerto de Mogan in winter
Puerto de Mogan is a beautiful winter destination.
With the eternal spring, you can enjoy beautiful days and the same attractions as in summer.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Gran Canaria
- Best of
Best things to do in Gran Canaria
Most beautiful landscapes
Most beautiful towns and villages
Most beautiful beaches
Best natural pools
Archaeological sites
Best museums
Best boat tours (coming soon)
Secret places, off the beaten track
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Gran Canaria
When to go?
How to get around
How to rent a car in Gran Canaria
Driving tips
Best excursions (coming soon)
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 7 days – 10 days
- The must-dos
Las Palmas and its historic center
Dolphin watching in Gran Canaria (coming soon)
Maspalomas dunes
Puerto de Mogan (Little Venice)
Agaete and its natural pools
The magnificent town of Agüimes
