10 Things to Do in Gran Canaria in November

Gran Canaria is one of the main islands of Spain and with its year-round good climate and variety of natural sites, it has many 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.

To the best things to see and do in Gran Canaria in November, add the Maspalomas marathon, shark diving, sunsets in the dunes and the Atlantic Cruiser Rally, which mines the Canary Islands sea of small boats bidding to win the competition.

Gran Canaria is an ideal setting for sports and the Maspalomas Marathon is one of the most popular activities on the island. It is held every year in November and each new edition increases the number of participants and summons 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 runners and allows the registration of minors.

The entry fee for the Maspalomas Marathon is around 50 euros for each 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.

Details of interest

• 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.

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 start arriving to the island to prepare for the LPA Surf City Open, which is held every year in December.

That's why you can attend the practices and also take surfing lessons at Las Canteras Beach, even if you have no experience or board. There is a great organized offer with which you can learn to ride the waves and that include in its price the equipment and the necessary clothing so you can enjoy one of the best activities to do in Gran Canaria.

You can also live surfing experiences in the area of the Port of Maspalomas, in the Port of Mogán and in the Confital Beach, in the Peninsula of La Isleta.

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

The International Kite Festival is held every year in November in Fuerteventura, at El Burro beach in Corralejo Natural Park, with the dunes and the Natural Park of Islote de Lobos 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 colored with the kites of the participants and a jury that awards the winners. On the island there are also many excursions that offer the transfer to Fuerteventura during the time of the festival.

This activity is very popular with children, so if you plan to visit Gran Canaria with your family in November, you can take into account that in Fuerteventura there has been a festival for over 30 years that rewards the best kites in various categories.

Gran Canaria has some of the best dolphin watching excursions as well as glass bottom boat trips and snorkeling excursions where you can discover marine wildlife that do not 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 area of Gran Canaria the angel shark, which is in serious danger of extinction and prowls the coasts of the island in search of breeding sites. Therefore, it is common that during the tours you will come across one of them, which with enough 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 the Port of Maspalomas.

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

Many cities in the world have literature, dance and music contests, but only Las Palmas organizes 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 organized every year in November.

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

For just over a week, the WOMAD Festival bathes the streets of Las Palmas with activities for adults and children and if you plan to visit the island in November you can access any of the events, many of them with free admission.

Details of interest

• Price... Entrance to the concerts is free, although some activities may have an extra cost.
• 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 that address a wide range of themes, ranging from the Wild West in Sioux City to the characters of digital platform games, as in the case of the Angry Birds park.

The best theme parks in Gran Canaria also 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, since the influx of tourists is very low, so you won't have to wait in long lines to enjoy the Ferris wheel or the roller coaster at Holiday World Maspalomas or the displays at Sioux City, but also because during the off-season months tickets are usually discounted.

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

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 from the dunes of Maspalomas, one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

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

Within 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 epicenter of the celebration next to the Yumbo Shopping Center.

This event, which takes place every year during the second week of November, is characterized 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 the best boat excursion in Gran Canaria.

Interesting details

• Price... General admission costs approximately 55 euros, although some of the activities have an extra cost.
• When... The second week of November each year.
• Where... The epicenter is in the Yumbo Shopping Center, 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 kilometers in several stages, which cannot exceed 100 hours in duration. This endurance event is held every year in Gran Canaria and starts and ends in Tejeda, at the foot of the Roque Nublo Natural Monument.

This tour through volcanic trails is held every year in November in Gran Canaria through inhospitable ravines and crags and sometimes covered in mud and mist, but it has given the island a great fame because it runs through some of the most famous sites of the Canary Islands.

If you are planning to visit Gran Canaria in November and want to participate in this endurance race 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 goals or at the final trophy presentation.

Details of interest

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

Gran Canaria has always lived facing the sea, so there's no way you could miss a maritime competition that starts on the island. The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is an endurance race that is held every year in November from the Port of Mogán and ends before Christmas on the island of Saint Lucia, in the Caribbean.

This regatta that covers more than 5000 kilometers has participants from all over the world and is a significant social event for Gran Canaria, since days before the start the organization holds parties and farewell meetings in the port, as in every edition since 1986.

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

You will also be able to participate in the meetings where the competitors talk about their experience and their travel plan to complete the route of the Atlantic Rally Cruises.

Details of interest

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

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

November also marks the beginning 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 low season. If you plan to travel at that time you will be able to do some of the best excursions from Las Palmas without delays in queues and 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 time of 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 and this way you will be able to access discounts and secure the best locations in the attractions at the best price.

• Bathing suit
• T-shirts
• Sunscreen
• Waterproof jacket
• Comfortable urban footwear
• Trekking shoes
• Waterproof pants
• Summer sweaters
• Sunglasses
• Light coat