I recently had the incredible opportunity to explore Gran Canaria, one of Spain’s stunning Canary Islands located just off the northwest coast of Africa. To make the adventure even better, my trip included a quick stopover in vibrant Madrid.

First Impressions of Gran Canaria
As soon as you arrive, you notice the island’s contrasting landscapes. The south of Gran Canaria is dry, sunny, and almost desert-like, while the north is greener and more lush. Rising mountains dominate the center of the island—during our stay, we reached elevations of over 6,500 feet!
On the drive from the airport, we passed large white fabric tents covering crops--bananas, potatoes, and tomatoes—shielding them from the island’s nearly year-round sunshine. Interestingly, before the 1960s, tomato exports were Gran Canaria’s main source of income. Today, the island thrives on tourism, welcoming visitors from all over Europe and beyond.