5 Picnic Places in Gran Canaria - Natural Recreation Areas

You're traveling to Gran Canaria and you want to explore the natural beauty of the island beyond the beaches? Gran Canaria is home to many lovely natural spaces and diverse landscapes, so we highly recommend exploring the center of the island and the north as well.

Where to stop for a picnic lunch in Gran Canaria

If during your travels around Gran Canaria you want to stop somewhere nice for a lunch picnic or even for a BBQ, you should know that there are several recreational areas around the island, which anyone can use for free.

The beach is of course also a great place for a picnic, but in this article, we will try to show you some nice spots that are worth the visit, although they are not located near the coast.

1. Mount Pavón (Santa María de Guía)

Mount Pavon is a recently built recreational area in Gran Canaria and it sits on sloping terrain, located in the municipality of Santa María de Guía.

Facilities at Mount Pavón

• Surveillance
• Tables
• Parking
• Bathrooms
• Water
• Barbecues

The climate in the area is humid in winter and cool in summer.

If you decide to come to Mount Pavon you can have a picnic in a forest in Gran Canaria, with magnificent views of the north of the island. 

• Hours: Holidays: 08:00 to 19:00 (Winter); 8:00 to 20:00 (Summer). Workdays: 9:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays.
• Capacity: 400 people

2. Llanos de Ana López (Vega de San Mateo)

This picnic area is located in the municipality of San Mateo, somewhere in the mountains, in a pine tree forest that is typical for the north of the island.

At the Ana Lopez Picnic area, you get natural shade, peace and tranquility, in a beautiful natural setting that reveals another side of Gran Canaria, one that not many tourists get to see and experience.

Facilities at Llanos de Ana Lopez

• Surveillance
• Tables
• Parking
• Bathrooms
• Water
• Barbecues

This picnic place is also a good point to connect to several of the island's network of hiking trails, some of which will take you to such places as Roque Nublo, Cruz de Tejeda, Pico de las Nieves or San Mateo.

• Capacity: 600 people

3. Presa de Las Niñas (Tejeda)

Presa de Las Ninas picnic area is located in the south of Gran Canaria, so it is a great place for lunch in nature during the cold season when the south is still warm and sunny compared to the north.

Facilities at Presa de Las Ninas

• Surveillance
• Tables
• Parking
• Bathrooms
• Water
• Barbecues
• Caravan Parking

This is one of the most popular picnic places in Gran Canaria, since it is located in a pine forest at the altitude of 900 m, close to the Cueva de las Niñas dam.

The recreational area Presa de Las Ninas is located inside  Nublo Rural Park, which means that there are several connections to the Gran Canaria's network of hiking trails, which can take you to see places like Roque Nublo or Ayacata.

• Capacity: 432 people, 28 caravans

4. Tamadaba (Agaete)

This picnic area is located inside Tamadaba Natural Park and offers great views of the western coast of Gran Canaria.

Facilities at Tamadaba Recreational Area

• Surveillance
• Tables
• Parking
• Bathrooms
• Water
• Barbecues

Temperatures can be very low in winter and the area can receive a lot of precipitation during the cold season, which is why this place is usually more popular during the spring and summer seasons.

• Capacity: 400 people

5. San José del Álamo (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)

This recreational area is located in the vicinity of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and it is easily accessible by bus from the capital, from San Telmo bus station.

This is a huge space, with a capacity of over 1000 people and it is a very popular place among the residents of Las Palmas, especially during the weekends. 

Facilities at San Jose del Alamo picnic area

• Surveillance
• Tables
• Parking
• Bathrooms
• Water
• Barbecues
• Caravan Parking

The recreational area of San Jose del Alamo is located within the space known as Protected Landscape of Pino Santo, at an altitude of 400 m and it has been operational since 1998. 

• Capacity: 1150 people

See where the BBQ & picnic areas in Gran Canaria are located: