Enjoy an unforgettable stay! Discover our selection of the best attractions in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria. No time to get bored: the beach, the dolphins, the children’s park… But you also have the whole island to explore if you wish!
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. Playa de Puerto Rico
Why visit?
In the heart of Puerto Rico lies a beautiful sandy cove with calm waters.
It’s known for being the sunniest but also the most crowded of all Gran Canaria’s beaches.
We recommend an early morning swim when it’s quiet!
The sand is golden and the water transparent with a gentle slope.
Practical advice
- In the heart of the city
- Port parking lot nearby, fee payable
- Fine golden sand
- Supervised beach
- toilets, showers
- Nearby restaurants
2. 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.
See boat tour options.
WHERE TO STAY IN Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
Around the beach and harbour
Marina Suites Hotel – See prices, photos and availability
Around Playa de Amadores
Hotel Serenity Amadores – See prices, photos and availability
Hotel Gloria Palace Royal – See prices, photos and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Puerto Rico
3. Playa de Amadores and seafront promenade
Why visit?
Playa de Amadores has fine sand, a beautiful cove shape, turquoise waters and few buildings on the front of the beach.
We liked the feeling of space, even though the beach isn’t 6km long here.
This beach is ideal for families, as the two dikes create a calm environment for swimming and playing in the water. And there’s also an inflatable play area at one end of the beach, sure to please young and old alike.
Practical advice
- City: Playa de Amadores, Puerto Rico
- From Puerto de Mogan: 20min drive
- Parking nearby, but fills up quickly
- Sand with a few rocks
- Supervised swimming
- Toilets, showers, sun loungers
- Restaurants, children’s games, water games
4. Angry Bird Park
Why visit?
The Angry Birds activity park is a mainly outdoor facility designed for children. It features over 20 activities, including slides, climbing walls, pedal cars, mini-golf, trampolines, splash zones with Angry Birds representations.
See more photos in our dedicated article (coming soon).
Practical advice
- Inside the city, near the bus terminal
- Allow at least 2 hours
- Snack bar / brasserie
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Latest news on the official website here
- 10D cinema is extra price
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. Walking around the harbour
The area around the port and beach of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria is a lively and well-developed tourist center.
Around the square, we recommend walking along the seawall to the tiny lighthouse to see the town from a different perspective.
It’s a city made for tourists, so you see mostly tourists. But early in the morning, when everything is quiet, it’s very pleasant.
Behind the beach, there’s a parking lot and next to it a small green area with magnificent trees.
We always notice the beautiful trees, and these are really surprising with their V-shaped base.
6. Take the ferry to Puerto de Mogan
Why visit?
Puerto de Mogán has a district known as “Little Venice”, a picturesque old fishing village. Around the marina you can stroll through narrow streets surrounded by colorful houses, over bridges spanning canals and through an interesting archaeological site.
From Puerto Rico, you can get there by car, but you can also take the shuttle boat, to enjoy a different perspective on the island of Gran Canaria.
>> Find out more about Puerto de Mogan attractions
Practical advice
- Ferry managed Lineas Salmon
- Duration 30min
- Center of Puerto de Mogan and “Little Venice” very easy to explore, and flat
- On the other hand, the old town is very steep, with many staircases.
- Numerous restaurants
A LITTLE MORE patience
All the photos, maps, information and addresses you need to make your stay in the Canaries a success will soon be available in a single ebook!
If you’d like to be notified when our guide to the Canaries is published, please subscribe:
7. Admire the sunset
Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria is ideally placed for watching beautiful sunsets. At the end of the day, the sky is transformed into a vibrant canvas of oranges, pinks and purples, reflected on the sea.
A number of hotels offer views over the harbor to admire the changing colors.
Alternatively, the seawall is a good option for moving towards the sea.
8. Golf or mini-golf
For those looking for a “real” golf experience, Anfi Tauro golf is just a 5-minute drive from Puerto Rico. It’s an 18-hole Arizona desert-style course designed by renowned architects Von Hagge, Smelek and Baril.
We really enjoyed the surroundings with the arid mountains all around.
Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria offers several mini-golf courses: in town, at Agnry Birds Park…
Mini Golf Pto Subway, located on Avenida Lanzarote, is a popular option in the heart of the city.
FUN in Gran Canaria:activities
Dolphin watching
Buggy / Quad
Snorkeling
Kayaking in the Mogan caves
But also: Canyoning, Horse riding, Via Ferrata, Coasteering… See all options
9. Shopping
Why visit?
Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria is particularly popular with tourists for its many shopping opportunities.
Mogan Mall is a modern open-air shopping center with over 100 stores, restaurants and a spectacular cybernetic fountain show at weekends. It offers a unique shopping and dining experience in a magnificent setting.
Shopping Center Puerto Rico is a complex of independent shops selling clothes, souvenirs, leather goods and much more.
But you’ll still find plenty of international brands and few local products.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
- Get away from it all with Region Lovers’ beautiful destinations!
- Once a month
- Advertising-free
10. Enjoy the many activities
Puerto Rico is a seaside resort with all its facilities designed for tourists. In addition to the dolphins and Angry Bird Park, you can:
- Inflatables at Playa Amoradores beach
- Discover the thrill of skydiving at Fly Gran Canaria
- Try diving
- Catamaran tour
- Take a buggy ride
- Take a jet-ski tour
See lots of activities and their availability.
Best things to do in Puerto Rico with children
- The beach is child-friendly
- The dolphin-watching tour is also sure to please – see availability and book now.
The town of Maspalomas is not far away (just a 20-minute drive), where you’ll find numerous theme parks:
- Aqualand Maspalomas, the big water park – book your skip-the-line tickets
- Holiday World Woodland, for thrill rides – reserve your tickets
- 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
Best things to do in Puerto Rico when it rains
- The first option is to just wait, which shouldn’t take long…
- If it’s only raining without a thunderstorm, you can still go for a swim, as you’ll already be wet!
- Take a stroll through the covered shopping malls
- Take an excursion to another part of the island where it may not be raining.
Excursions around Puerto Rico
Maspalomas dunes
Just a 20-minute drive away, you can enjoy the sand dunes of Maspalomas.
We recommend visiting them at sunset, to enjoy the magnificent changing colors of the golden sand.
Center of the island: Fataga, Roque Nublo…
The classic excursion: 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!
And lots of other ideas
The island of Gran Canaria offers a wide variety of attractions: mountains, beaches, dunes, villages, natural pools, gardens… Be sure to explore. More ideas in our article on the island’s top attractions.
Useful tips for visiting Puerto Rico
Where is Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria?
- On Gran Canaria’s south coast
- From Las Palmas = 1h drive
- From airport = 30min drive
- From Maspalomas = 15min drive
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
How do I get to Puerto Rico?
The town is very easy to reach, close to the GC-1 expressway.
Several buses connect Puerto Rico with Puerto de Mogan, Maspalomas and Las Palmas.
Parking in Puerto Rico Gran Canaria
In Puerto Rico, there’s a very large outdoor pay parking lot around the harbour and a smaller one behind the beach.
Getting around the city
Mind you, the town is in a valley.
It’s easy to get around the city center on foot.
But many of the hotels are on the high sides of the city. You’ll have to climb up or down slopes or stairs.
Where to eat in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico doesn’t have the best selection of restaurants on Gran Canara Island, but we still enjoyed some good options:
Among our favorites:
- Restaurant El Puerto, near the port – shareable dishes with Asian and Mexican influences
- Tipsy Bee restaurant, inside the city – cocktail bar
- Restaurant Kaia, on the Playa Amoradores side, in the Gloria Palace hotel with a beautiful view
See our article on the best restaurants in Puerto Rico (coming soon)
Puerto Rico de Gran Canara in winter
Puerto Rico is also an excellent winter destination.
Conditions are often sunny, and you can enjoy all the attractions.
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
