10 Things to Do in Gran Canaria in November

Gran Canaria is one of Spain's main islands and with its year-round good weather and variety of natural sites, it has plenty of activities to offer, even during the low season months. In November, when the temperature starts to drop, the season of festivals and mountaineering competitions begins.

The best things to see and do in Gran Canaria in November include the Maspalomas Marathon, shark diving, sunsets in the dunes and the Atlantic Cruiser Rally, which mines the Canary Islands sea for small boats bidding to win the competition.

Gran Canaria is an ideal setting for sport and the Maspalomas Marathon is one of the most popular events on the island. It is held every year in November and with each new edition the number of participants increases and attracts runners from all corners of Spain and Europe.

The marathon route starts and finishes in the area of the Maspalomas Lighthouse and runs along the dunes, past the golf club, the Parque del Sur and the Rotonda de Colón, on an asphalt circuit at sea level.

The event also includes musical shows, permanent medical assistance for the runners and allows the registration of minors.

The entry fee for the Maspalomas Marathon is around 50 euros per participant and you can register up to a week before the start, so if you plan to visit Gran Canaria in November and you are a running enthusiast you can run through the south of the island at a trot.

Interesting details

• Price... Registration for the race costs approximately 50 euros per person.
• When... Every year in November.
• Where... The start is from the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse.

November is one of the best months to enjoy surfing in Gran Canaria: the wind brings the best waves, the weather is still warm and the best surfers in Spain begin to arrive on the island to prepare for the LPA Surf City Open, which is held every year in December.

That's why you can go to Playa de las Canteras for practice and also take surfing lessons, even if you don't have any experience or a surfboard. There is a wide range of organised surfing lessons to learn how to ride the waves and the price includes the necessary equipment and clothing so that you can enjoy one of the best things to do in Gran Canaria.

You can also experience surfing in the area of Puerto de Maspalomas, Puerto de Mogán and Playa del Confital, on the peninsula of La Isleta.

Gran Canaria is Spain' s surfing capital and if you're planning to visit the island in November you can discover the Canary Islands' passion for the sport and join in the experience too.

The International Kite Festival is held every year in November in Fuerteventura, on El Burro beach in the Corralejo Natural Park, with the dunes and the Islote de Lobos Natural Park in the background.

This event is very popular in the Canary Islands and although its main edition is not in Gran Canaria, the activity is replicated in other islands.

In Gran Canaria, for example, there is a local edition in Playa de las Canteras, where the sky is coloured by the kites of the participants and a jury awards prizes to the winners. There are also many excursions on the island that offer transfers to Fuerteventura during the festival period.

This activity is very popular with children, so if you are planning to visit Gran Canaria with your family in November, you can take into account that Fuerteventura has had a festival for more than 30 years that awards prizes to the best kites in various categories.

Gran Canaria has some of the best dolphin watching excursions as well as glass-bottom boat trips and snorkelling trips where you can discover marine wildlife that doesn't come to the surface, such as turtles, goldfish, rays and sharks.

On diving excursions between the months of November and January, you can see in the Gran Canaria area the endangered angel shark, which prowls the island's coasts in search of breeding sites. It is therefore common during tours to come across one of these sharks, which with sufficient care are harmless to humans.

Diving excursions with angel shark sightings are very popular in the southern part of the island and most of them depart from Maspalomas harbour.

Note also that during November the influx of tourists decreases significantly compared to the high season months, making it an ideal time to do these tours, as well as opting for snorkelling experiences or some of the best boat trips in Gran Canaria.

Many cities in the world have literature, dance and music festivals, but only Las Palmas organises a festival that unites all these disciplines at the same time and brings together exhibitions and itinerant activities distributed throughout the city. This is the WOMAD Festival and it is organised every year in November.

With the presence of international artists, as well as concerts, WOMAD offers parallel activities such as vocal and instrumental workshops, gastronomic tastings, cabaret shows, audiovisual projections, conferences on a wide variety of subjects and children's courses.

For just over a week, the WOMAD Festival fills the streets of Las Palmas with activities for adults and children and if you are planning to visit the island in November you can attend any of the events, many of which are free of charge.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the concerts is free, although some activities may cost extra.
• When... Every year in November.
• Where... The interactive activities are held in different parts of the city and the concerts in Santa Catalina Park.

Gran Canaria stands out for its natural landscapes and outdoor excursions, but also for the number of theme parks on the island, which deal with a wide range of themes, from the Wild West in Sioux City to the characters of digital platform games, as in the case of the Angry Birds park.

Other top theme parks in Gran Canaria include Holiday World Maspalomas, Aqualand Maspalomas, Lago del Taurito and Hangar 37, which recreates a battle scenario in which you must defend yourself against your opponents with airsoft ball guns.

November is one of the best months to visit these parks, as the influx of tourists is very low, so you won't have to wait in long queues to enjoy the Ferris wheel or the roller coaster at Holiday World Maspalomas or the displays at Sioux City, but also because during the low season months tickets are usually discounted.

The dunes of Maspalomas hold one of the most fascinating mysteries of Gran Canaria, because they replicate a landscape similar to the Sahara desert on a volcanic island.

The Canary Islands offer one of the clearest skies on the planet and during the months of November and December, on clear days, it is possible to contemplate one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world from the dunes of Maspalomas.

Entrance to the Natural Park that houses the dunes is free and the best time to visit during the high season is in the morning, but in November, when the temperature drops and there are fewer visitors, you can visit during the afternoon and wait for the sunset and the starry night.

Inside the Natural Park you can also opt for a guided tour that takes you through the best landscapes of the Maspalomas dunes or take a camel ride.

Maspalomas Winter Pride is considered the most popular LGBT-themed event of the European winter season.

Since its first edition in 2014, it attracts more and more visitors every year to Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria, the epicentre of the celebration next to the Yumbo Shopping Centre.

This event, which takes place every year during the second week of November, is characterised by boat parties, pool parties, music concerts and performances by performers who bring to life, in each edition, the most famous international artists, from ABBA to Lady Gaga. In addition, every year the Gay Boat Cruise departs from the Port of Maspalomas , which is considered to be the best boat trip in Gran Canaria.

Interesting details

• Price... General admission costs approximately 55 euros, although some of the activities cost extra.
• When... The second week of November each year.
• Where... The epicentre is in the Yumbo Shopping Centre, although there are also activities in other parts of the city.

The 360° The Challenge is one of the most demanding mountain races in the world and consists of a route of more than 250 kilometres in several stages, which cannot exceed 100 hours in duration. This endurance event takes place every year in Gran Canaria and starts and ends in Tejeda, at the foot of the Roque Nublo Natural Monument.

This volcanic trail run is held every year in November in Gran Canaria through inhospitable and sometimes muddy and misty ravines and crags, but it has brought the island great fame because it takes in some of the most famous sites in the Canaries.

If you are planning to visit Gran Canaria in November and want to take part in this endurance event you can register up to ten days before the start or you can also attend the 360° The Challenge as part of the audience at one of the finish lines or at the final trophy presentation.

Interesting details

• Price... Registration costs 400 euros per person.
• When... A weekend during November.
• Where... The start is from Tejeda but the race runs through various parts of the island.

Gran Canaria has always lived facing the sea, so there is no way you could miss a maritime competition that starts on the island. The Rally Atlántico de Cruceros is an endurance race that takes place every year in November from the port of Mogán and finishes before Christmas on the island of Santa Lucía in the Caribbean.

This race, which covers more than 5000 kilometres, attracts participants from all over the world and is a significant social event for Gran Canaria, as the organisers hold parties and farewell meetings in the port, as in every edition since 1986.

If you are planning to visit Gran Canaria in November, you can attend the preparations, the festivities prior to the start of the race and the exciting start.

You can also take part in the meetings where the competitors talk about their experience and their travel plan to complete the route of the Atlantic Cruise Rally.

Interesting details

• Price... Registration for the regatta costs 3000 euros per person and includes marine assistance and navigation instruments.
• When... The regatta starts in Las Palmas every year in November and takes between 17 and 21 days to reach its destination.
• Where... The regatta starts in Puerto de Mogán.

Temperatures in Gran Canaria in November average 19°, with highs of 25° and lows of 15°, making it an ideal time for beach visits and outdoor excursions.

November is also the start of the island's wet season, when rainfall is very frequent, although it is usually short-lived and not heavy.

November is one of the months with the lowest number of tourists in Gran Canaria, which is why it is considered the low season. If you are planning to travel during this time you will be able to do some of the best excursions from Las Palmas without queuing and in comfort.

High season on the island starts from mid-December until March, including Christmas and New Year.

November is one of the most affordable months to travel to Gran Canaria from an economic point of view, as it is a low season and therefore the price of hotels and excursions decreases significantly.

If you are planning to travel to Gran Canaria in November, I advise you to book in advance so that you can access discounts and secure the best locations at the best prices.

• Swimwear
• T-shirts
• Sunscreen
• Waterproof jacket
• Comfortable urban footwear
• Trekking shoes
• Waterproof trousers
• Summer jumpers
• Sunglasses
• Lightweight coat