What's the Weather Like in Gran Canaria in December?
Is Gran Canaria Good In December?
Gran Canaria, is a great place to visit in December if you're in search of some winter sun. Despite this month being one of the coldest of the year December here is much warmer than many other holiday destinations in Europe and boasts lots of sunshine.
What's Gran Canaria Like At Christmas?
Gran Canaria boasts an average of six hours of sunshine each day in December which means that over Christmas you can expect a mixture of overcast and sunny spells, but still with plenty of sunbathing opportunities.
On Christmas Day 2018 the average temperature for the day was 20°C and sunny, and in 2017 it was 17°C and also sunny. And with average sea temperature at 21°C, the water is warm enough for swimming.
How Hot Is Gran Canaria In December?
In December the average temperature for the island is 19°C, created by average highs of 22°C during the warmest part of the day and average lows of 16°C.
How Wet Is Gran Canaria In December?
Even though it is classed as a winter month, December sees only 31mm of precipitation which is divided between 5 wet days.
How Humid Is Gran Canaria In December?
Even though Gran Canaria has a sub-tropical climate, the weather is very rarely humid. This means that temperatures rarely feel hotter than they are - even in the middle of the day temperatures should never feel over-powering.
How Windy Is Gran Canaria In December?
Typical wind speeds on Gran Canaria range between light and fresh breezes, rarely becoming strong winds.
Gran Canaria Hotels in December
Lopesan Villa Del Con
is a luxurious resort located in Maspalomas in the south of Gran Canaria. Situated right on the seafront, just 300m away from Meloneras beach, this five-star hotel is beautifully decorated with traditional Canarian architecture, a reception set inside a replica of a local church, a central square with gourmet restaurant, well-maintained gardens and traditional wooden Canarian balconies. The resort is so complete and well-decorated that it feels like a town!
Here guests can choose between double rooms, junior suites, senior suites, superior suites and royal suites, all of which are decorated in a sophisticated Canarian style with satellite TV and WiFi access.
The two main highlights include a huge swimming pool surrounded by a beach-like sunbathing terrace and the Thalasso Centre Corallium Villa del Conde beauty and wellness centre located on the seafront. The hotel is also a haven for foodies with three restaurants, one pool bar, four bar lounges and two buffet restaurants.
Seaside Sandy Beach
For something less extravagant, consider the four-star Seaside Sandy Beach. Situated in the heart of all the action, just 200m away from the beach at Playa del Ingles, this hotel boasts one main swimming pool heated all-year-round, one children's pool and one baby pool, all of which are surrounded by two sunbathing terraces, so water babies will never be left wanting.
To keep fit on holiday there's a gym with indoor and outdoor spaces and sea views, one tennis court and loads of recreational games. After a few hours of sport, you can relax in the spa centre which boasts saunas, baths, Jacuzzi, rest areas and nudist sunbathing zones.
Don't worry about the children they'll be entertained by the staff at the kids club. When it comes to dining, there's the main restaurant which serves regional and international dishes for breakfast lunch and dinner, the pool bar which offers snacks, drinks and a daily tea party, and the salon bar where cocktails are served along with live shows and music.
Here guests can choose between standard rooms, junior suites and family rooms, each of which is decorated in warm earthy colours with bright accents and comes equipped with air conditioning, free WiFi access, satellite TV and tea/coffee making facilities.
Miriam Apartments
If you'd rather stay in a quieter part of the island, consider Miriam Apartments. Situated in Puerto Rico in the holiday resort of Mogan, this complex is just a ten-minute walk from the golden sandy beach of Amadores and is surrounded by a wealth of international bars, restaurants, cafes, minimarkets and shops.
The nearest golf course is also just 3km away. Brightly-decorated standard apartments are the only type of accommodation available, each of which is comprised of a lounge, kitchen with fridge, kettle and microwave, bedroom with two single beds, bathroom and terrace or balcony.
The highlight of the resort is the outdoor swimming pool which is surrounded by a sunbathing terrace and small bar which serves a buffet for breakfast in the morning and drinks and snacks throughout the rest of the day. Although onsite facilities are limited to the pool and bar, you'll find plenty to see and do in the local area of Mogan.
Beaches in Gran Canaria for December
Maspalomas Beach
is one of the most popular beaches in the south of Gran Canaria, made up of fine golden sand and shallow, clean water perfectly safe for swimming in. This beach is so large that it's divided into four sections: the first is for families with children, the second and fourth are for nudist sunbathers and the third is for the gay community.
You'll find all the facilities that you would expect from a busy beach, here sun loungers and parasols available to hire, showers, toilets and kiosks every 100m selling drinks and snacks. For something more filling, there are loads of bars and restaurants along the promenade which lines the beach. The promenade is also peppered with water sport kiosks which you can visit to arrange snorkelling and scuba diving trips.
Playa del Ingles Beach
Playa del Ingles Beach is another incredibly popular beach in the south of Gran Canaria. Also offering soft golden sand and calm, blue waters, this beach is well-maintained and stretches on for about 3km, so you'll always be able to find your perfect sunbathing spot. Thanks to the shore's straight shape, the force of the sea currents is largely reduced, which means the sea is almost always safe enough for everyone to swim in.
The linear shape also allows the sea to sweep the sand clean of seaweed, so the beach always appears clean and well-kept. There are sun loungers and shades available to rent, showers, food and drink kiosks and wheelchair-access. When the wind gets up and waves develop, take advantage and try your hand at wind surfing or kite surfing. Jet skiing and water skiing are popular water sports which can be enjoyed when the sea is calm.
Bars and Restaurants
Restaurante La Tapita - Los Jose's
For one of the finest tapas restaurants on the island, try Restaurante La Tapita Los Jose's. This is a spectacular choice that is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late into the night. Located in Maspalomas, this small eatery doesn't even have a menu.
Instead, when you stop in, a waiter will tell you what delicious options are available that day. It gives a hint at the value this restaurant places on locality and seasonality of their ingredients.
Things to do in Gran Canaria in December
Trip Gran Canaria
If you would like to get out of your resort and explore other parts of the island, Trip Gran Canaria can help you organise that. This company arranges tours to explore the historical, cultural and culinary treasures of the island that few people get to enjoy.
Often overlooked in favour of beaches and aquatic adventures, this company fills in a much-needed void and caters to people of all languages and nationalities. Some of the most popular tours include combined wine tasting and vineyard visits, guided walks around cities in the north of the island and visits to local farmers' markets.
Submarine Adventure
Although the sea is generally warm enough for swimming in throughout December, some visitors might find it a bit cold. If you're one of them, you can still catch a glimpse of the marine life which hides under the water's surface by signing up for a submarine ride with Submarine Adventure, based in Mogan.
The submarine dives to a depth of 25m and has a ratio of one seat and one window per person, so you'll never have to fight for the best view. On board you'll have the chance to see everything from turtles and scorpionfish to sting rays and moray eels all without getting your hair wet!
El Faro de Maspalomas
If the weather is a bit cloudy and you're near Maspalomas, make a trip to the hundred-year-old lighthouse. Known locally as El Faro de Maspalomas, this lighthouse was built in 1861 and took 28 years to complete. It stands at 56m tall, making it the tallest masonry lighthouse in the Canary Islands. Since its construction, it's seen the growth and development of thriving tourist industry swell around it.
