Are you planning a trip to the southern part of Gran Canaria and can’t decide between two neighboring resorts: Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogan?
We spent some time at both, and they offer completely different experiences, even though they’re only a 10-minute drive apart. Here is our comparison, along with our tips and photos, to help you choose your base camp:
- Atmosphere and Identity
- Beaches
- Activities and Attractions
- Gastronomy
- …
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogan: Comparison Summary
Short answer
Both resorts are located on the southern coast of Gran Canaria, just 10 minutes apart, but their atmospheres are quite different.
- Puerto Rico is a beach resort built around its harbor and central beach, designed for families and those who enjoy outdoor activities: dolphins, a children’s playground, water sports, and shopping centers are all just a few minutes’ walk away.
- Puerto de Mogan, for its part, has grown up around an old fishing village and a marina nicknamed “Little Venice”: its canals, flower-lined alleys, and laid-back atmosphere make it a popular destination for couples and families seeking peace and quiet.
Depending on what you’re looking for…
- For families with young children: Puerto Rico
- For a romantic getaway or a more peaceful vacation: Puerto de Mogan
- for the most beautiful beaches: equality
- For shopping: Puerto Rico
- For fine dining: Puerto de Mogan
- For dolphin-watching: tied (departures from both ports)
- for the charm of the place: Puerto de Mogan
- See our selection of the best hotels in Puerto Rico and those in Puerto de Mogan.
Access and location
Both towns are located on the southern coast of Gran Canaria, in neighboring valleys. We recommend them for the same type of beach vacation, but access varies slightly depending on where you’re coming from. Puerto Rico is a 30-minute drive from the airport, 15 minutes from Maspalomas, and 1 hour from Las Palmas. Puerto de Mogan, further west, is a 10-minute drive from Puerto Rico, 20 minutes from Maspalomas, and 1 hour from Las Palmas as well.
- From Puerto Rico to Puerto de Mogan = 10-minute drive
- Puerto Rico Airport = 30-minute drive
- From Puerto de Mogan to the airport = 40-minute drive
- Both are in Maspalomas = a 15- to 20-minute drive
From the airport, the GC-1 expressway leads directly to both stations, whether you choose a rental car or a taxi. Buses also run from the airport to Puerto de Mogan (Global Bus Route 1), as well as to Puerto Rico, Maspalomas, and Las Palmas. We recommend renting a car to enjoy day trips to the center of the island, but the bus system is still a good option for those who prefer not to drive.
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.
Atmosphere and identity: two sides of the southern part of the island
Puerto Rico: A Resort Focused on Recreation
Puerto Rico is a lively and well-developed tourist destination, built around its harbor and central square. We recommend walking along the seawall to the small lighthouse to see the city from a different perspective.
It’s a resort designed for visitors, where you mostly run into tourists; early in the morning, when everything is quiet, a stroll is still pleasant. Behind the beach is a parking lot, followed by a small green space planted with tall trees whose V-shaped bases never fail to catch our eye.
Puerto de Mogan: the “Little Venice” of the Canary Islands
Puerto de Mogan is not a typical town in the Canary Islands. It is often nicknamed “Little Venice,” in reference to its canals that run through the marina. Around the harbor, the narrow streets are full of charm, thanks to their white houses with splashes of color and their many potted plants. We recommend that you explore this labyrinth and be sure not to miss El Paseo de Mis Padres, a passageway adorned with scenes from historical life.
It’s a pretty romantic spot that appeals to couples, but the whole family should enjoy the walk. Allow between 30 minutes and 1 hour for the tour, depending on your interest in photography. Every Friday, the “Mercadillo de Mogan” takes place—a market around the harbor. If you don’t like crowds, avoid this day; otherwise, enjoy it, keeping in mind that it has become more of a tourist attraction than a local one.
Our review
The two atmospheres cater to different preferences. Puerto Rico appeals to travelers looking for a lively atmosphere and easy access to recreational activities, while Puerto de Mogan attracts those who prefer to stroll through charming narrow streets. We prefer Puerto de Mogan for its unique character, but we fully understand the appeal of Puerto Rico for an active vacation.
Most beautiful beaches
Beaches of Puerto Rico
Right in the heart of the city, Playa de Puerto Rico features a cove of fine, golden sand, with calm waters and a gentle slope. However, it remains the island’s most popular beach, so we recommend going for a swim early in the morning, when it’s still quiet.
A little further on, Playa de Amadores features a harmonious cove, turquoise waters, and few buildings along its waterfront. Two seawalls create a peaceful setting there, ideal for families, complemented by an inflatable play area that the little ones will love.
- Playa de Puerto Rico: right in the heart of the city, paid parking at the port, lifeguard-patrolled beach, restrooms, and showers
- Playa de Amadores: a 20-minute drive from Puerto de Mogan; the parking lot fills up quickly; supervised swimming; playground for children
Beaches of Puerto de Mogan
Playa de Mogan is a cove of fine, golden sand, flanked by cliffs, right next to the marina. The slope leading down to the water is gentle, making it ideal for families, and breakwaters protect the bay, ensuring calm waters perfect for swimming. We rented kayaks and pedal boats there to make the afternoon last a little longer.
A little further off the beaten path, Caleta de Mogan features a small pebble cove at the base of the cliffs, overlooking the Taurito Valley: it’s especially beautiful as the sun sets and the cliffs change color.
- Playa de Mogan: easy access from downtown, fine sand, lifeguard-patrolled beach, kayak and pedal boat rentals
- Caleta de Mogan: a pebble beach, more secluded, perfect for watching the sunset
Our review
Both resorts have beautiful sandy beaches. We rank Playa de Amadores and Playa de Mogan equally among the most beautiful beaches in Gran Canaria. See our complete selection of the island’s most beautiful beaches.
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Activities and Attractions
In Puerto Rico: The Choice of Families and Athletes
Puerto Rico has the largest number of organized activities in the region. Angry Birds Park, located near the bus terminal, offers more than 20 outdoor activities: slides, climbing walls, pedal cars, mini-golf, and splash zones. Nearby, the Anfi Tauro Golf Course features an 18-hole desert-style course designed by architects Von Hagge, Smelek, and Baril, just a 5-minute drive away. See our article on Puerto Rico’s attractions.
When it comes to shopping, the Mogan Mall features more than 100 open-air stores, restaurants, and a fountain show on weekends, while the Puerto Rico Shopping Center is home to independent shops. For thrills, you can also try skydiving at Fly Gran Canaria, scuba diving, catamaran sailing, buggy rides, or jet skiing. View a wide variety of water activities and their availability
In Puerto de Mogan: Heritage and Walks
Puerto de Mogan is placing greater emphasis on its heritage and scenic views. You can reach the Mirador de Mogan through the old town via its fairly steep stairs: there are 257 steps—all clearly marked—leading to the top, where the view takes in the beach, the marina, the harbor, and the cliffs. We recommend going up there in the late afternoon to enjoy the light.
The Los Gatos Canada archaeological site is also worth a visit: you can climb up the cliff to view the village layout from above and explore the ruins of houses and burial sites dating back 1,300 years. See our article on the attractions in Puerto de Mogan.
From the port, several boat tours round out the experience: the yellow submarine lets you observe the fish without getting wet, the catamaran is perfect for a more leisurely outing, and the sunset kayak tour takes you to the caves. A shuttle also connects Puerto de Mogan to Puerto Rico on a glass-bottom boat, a great way to explore both destinations. (Submarine tour (40 min) – Catamaran cruise – Sunset kayaking trip)
We especially enjoy the dolphin-watching tours organized in this part of the island. We can never be absolutely certain that they will cross paths, but the chances are still high in this area, and we’ve been lucky enough to observe them doing so twice. Trips depart by catamaran, speedboat, or more traditional boat, mainly from the port of Puerto Rico, but also from Puerto de Mogan.
Check availability and make a reservation, or learn more in our article on dolphin watching.
Our review
Puerto Rico is better suited for a vacation filled with activities and shopping, while Puerto de Mogan is ideal for exploring its heritage and taking walks. Both options allow you to book a dolphin-watching tour, so this factor shouldn’t influence your decision.
Excursions around the two resorts
Whether you start from Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogan, you’ll have access to the same major excursions on the island, with a few differences depending on your starting point. See our selection of the best excursions in Gran Canaria. For example:
Toward the center of the island
From both stations, the road to the center of the island leads to the mountains and some remarkable viewpoints. In a single day, you can hike to Roque Nublo, take in the view from Pico de las Nieves, and visit one or more mountain villages, such as Tejeda or Fataga.
Westward from Puerto de Mogan
Puerto de Mogan is located at the mouth of its own ravine, along a road that then climbs toward the colorful mountains and La Aldea. On this route, we recommend two stops: the restored Molino Quemao windmill in El Molino de Viento, which stands 7 meters tall and is one of the largest on the island, and then the Mirador de Veneguera, with its view of the village of Veneguera and, a short walk further on, the Mogan Valley itself. A little further west still, Los Azulejos with its colorful landscape, the Cactualdea cactus garden, and the La Aldea waterfront round out a day spent on less-traveled roads.
To the east: Aguïmes and the barrancos
Heading east, the village of Aguïmes is worth a stop, as are the Barranco de Guayadeque—the island’s most famous valley—and the Barranco de las Vacas, a site reminiscent of an American canyon. We recommend visiting both of these canyons, which are only a few minutes’ drive apart.
Our review
Both resorts offer equal access to excursions to the center and east of the island. Puerto de Mogan has a slight advantage for trips to the west, since it is closer to those routes.
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Best gastronomic offer
Restaurants in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico doesn’t have the best selection of restaurants on the island, but we still managed to find a few good places to eat. Among our favorites: El Puerto Restaurant, near the harbor, for its Asian- and Mexican-inspired dishes to share; Tipsy BeeRestaurant, in the city center, for its cocktails; and Kaia Restaurant, near Playa Amadores, located in the Gloria Palace Hotel with a beautiful view of the sea.
See our selection of the best restaurants.
Restaurants in Puerto de Mogan
We were pleasantly surprised by the culinary offerings in Puerto de Mogan: while they don’t rival those of the capital, Las Palmas, they rank among the best in the southern resorts, in our experience. Two places really stand out.
The I Love Mogan Restaurant serves fresh fish and delicious desserts, complemented by warm service; the name may seem geared toward tourists, but the quality belies that impression.
Los Guayres Restaurant, located in the Canarian-style setting of the Cordial Playa Mogan Hotel, offers a more gourmet dining experience featuring seafood.
Check out our selection of the best restaurants in Puerto de Mogan.
Our review
We preferred the dining options in Puerto de Mogan, both for the quality of the food and the setting around the marina.
Ease of getting around the area
Getting around Puerto Rico
The city is located in a valley. The town center is fairly easy to explore on foot, but many hotels are located on the hillsides on either side of the resort; so be prepared to walk up or down slopes or stairs to reach some of the accommodations. Parking is available in a large paid parking lot around the harbor or in a second, smaller lot behind the beach.
Getting around Puerto de Mogan
Puerto de Mogan is also located in a valley, but its center is traversed by a beautiful promenade with bike paths and wide sidewalks: we found it easier to walk along than the one in Puerto Rico. Parking options include the small parking lot at the port—which is close to the marina but quite expensive—the large Parking Mogan underground parking garage near the beach, and free parking spaces in the back of town, around the hotels.
Our review
Puerto de Mogan wins out for its ease of walking, thanks to its flat, well-maintained promenade.
Things to do with children
Both resorts are family-friendly, but Puerto Rico has a slight edge thanks to its Angry Birds park and family-friendly beaches. Puerto de Mogan makes up for this with its wide central avenue, which is perfect for biking, and its submarine tour, which kids usually love. From both resorts, the town of Maspalomas is only a 15- to 20-minute drive away and is home to several amusement parks: Aqualand Maspalomas, a large water park; Holiday World Woodland, featuring thrill rides; Mundo Aborigen, where you can learn about the Guanche people; and Palmitos Park, home to a zoo.
- Tickets for Aqualand Maspalomas
- Tickets for Holiday World Woodland
- Tickets for Angry Birds Park
- Tickets for Palmitos Park
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
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
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 7 days – 10 days
