Gran Canaria is all about fun!
I will give you some raw numbers so you get the idea. This morning, you arrived in Gran Canaria after a 3-hour flight from mainland Europe. Maybe you stay at one of the nineteen men-only complexes. Yours is hosting a big pool party today, with a DJ and two hundred guests. You take a shower and get to discover the Yumbo, the World’s biggest LGTB leisure centre. It’s an open-air gargantuan complex open twenty hours a day, every day of the year, with almost a hundred gay venues around a landscaped square. Yumbo Centre in taking in thousands of guys for dancing, drinking and cruising every single night of the week.
Next day, together with around a hundred other men, you cross the Dunes of Maspalomas and the oasis inside them, maybe the World’s largest and most picturesque cruising ground. Half an hour later you reach the gay beach (kiosk #5), where six hundred more men are waiting for you in the Sun, with little or no clothing at all (I repeat, in Winter)… There’s even a bear zone, to the right! In the evening, you can choose from among eleven men-only clubs where you shake off your sand and your shyness. Finally you have dinner at one of the hundreds of restaurants in the area. You decide to start a calmer second night and order a cocktail in one of the thirty gay terrace bars. You breath deeply with a smile in your face while staring at the blinking lights outside… to suddenly realize this place is like a gay Disneyland! There’s no time to get bored, everything grabs your attention, and everything is definitely BIG
Welcome to the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are by far one of the most important beach destinations in Europe, thanks to their sunny, subtropical climate all year round, while avoiding many of the natural hazards found in other regions. They are part of Spain and the European Union, although geographically much closer to the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The seven islands are incredibly diverse. The landscape ranges from 30 km-long golden sandy beaches with turquoise waters to dramatic valleys crowned by 4 km-high volcanoes. From quaint mountain villages to luxury marinas and vibrant modern cities; from breathtaking deserts to foggy forests and even snowy peaks — all within an hour’s drive! Canarian culture itself is a captivating blend of European modernity, Spanish openness, African serenity and Latin American charm that reveals itself gradually.
The largest tourist resort is Maspalomas, located on the southern tip of the island of Gran Canaria. To describe Maspalomas as “gay-friendly” is almost unnecessary. The area had already been welcoming gay tourists for 30 years before the term “gay-friendly” was even popularised elsewhere in Europe. Yes, there is a gay district in Playa del Inglés, around the well-known Yumbo Centre and nearby Tirajana Avenue… but you will see gay couples holding hands all over the island. Canarians are accustomed to diversity and often consider themselves the most liberal region within already progressive Spain.
This may explain why many of the most fun and popular events in Gran Canaria’s cultural calendar are distinctly queer-friendly. These include the hugely successful Maspalomas Gay Pride (mid-May), the lively Gay German Carnival and Winter Pride (mid-November), and the Canarian Carnivals (mid-February). The pinnacle of the latter is the world-famous Drag Queen Gala, broadcast live from the capital city of Las Palmas to audiences around the world. In recent years, the islands have even hosted a publicly funded drag-queen school for children. So, you get the idea?
Practical Info
Even when travel prices are at an all-time high, Gran Canaria remains a budget destination compared with many others, as a VAT-exempt territory with a highly competitive tourism offer. For a start, getting here is relatively cheap considering the distance. From low-cost flights and shared apartments to drinks at Yumbo Centre, everything tends to feel more reasonably priced than on the continent. Men-only bungalow resorts such as Los Almendros or Axel Beach are a bit pricier, but the experience is well worth it. Even luxury, Las Vegas-style hotels on the oceanfront are often reasonably priced. Finally, your regular shopping spree—including designer clothing, perfumes, jewellery, tobacco or liquor—can easily cost 30–50% less than in your home country.
Bear Carnival usually features up to three sightseeing excursions covering many of Gran Canaria’s highlights, but you may prefer to explore on your own. Petrol typically costs around €1.0–1.3 per litre and the roads are generally very good, so renting a car is an excellent way to discover the island beyond the tourist areas. You can also visit the Tourism Office on the outskirts of Yumbo Centre to obtain maps and personal advice about all sorts of leisure, sports and adventure activities.
Maspalomas’ long history as an inexpensive gay mecca also has a downside: part of the offer aimed at the gay clientele can look obsolete. Yumbo Centre itself could benefit from refurbishment, and some of its shops can feel rather tacky. Also beware of unusually cheap apartments, as they can sometimes be quite run-down. Those are really the only warnings for the prospective traveller. The rest is simply pure, relaxing fun.
Recommended Sightseeing
Yes, we know you are coming for Bear Week. However, maybe you did not get the ticket you wanted, or the weather is a bit so-so. What should you do with your day? You can easily rent a car with some bear friends and enjoy sightseeing around the island.
We have compiled a quick list of ideas for such a day, including Maspalomas must-sees, nearby destinations (less than 30 minutes away), attractions further afield and, of course, some shopping meccas!
