Gran Canaria Weather, climate and geography

Weather and climate

Best time to visit

As with all the Canary Islands, the climate of Gran Canaria is as near perfect as you're likely to find anywhere in the world. Winter temperatures very rarely dip below 16°C (61°F) in winter and only occasionally rise higher than 32°C (90°F) in summer. The coolest month is January, with average daytime temperatures of 18°C (64°F). The warmest is August with an average daytime temperature of 26°C (79°F). The north of the island is slightly cooler and less arid than the south.

Required clothing

Lightweight, plus some wind protection according to the season and a warm jacket for the occasional chilly evening in winter.

Geography

Gran Canaria is the most southerly of the seven Canary Islands and lies in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 217km (135 miles) off the border between Morocco and Western Sahara, and 1,150km (715 miles) from the Iberian Peninsula. The highest point on Gran Canaria is Pico de las Nieves at 1,949m (6,394ft).

Gran Canaria is made up of 21 municipalities with the capital, Las Palmas located in the North of the island. Las Palmas is the largest city in all of the Canary Islands.