Tuesday, 10 February 2015 11:15

What's On In Gran Canaria In April

El Pajar holds its annual fiesta in April El Pajar holds its annual fiesta in April

UPDATED 03/04/2017: Gran Canaria in April smells of sweat and cheese (and sunscreen, of course) thanks to the Guia cheese festival and the Mogán triathlon. You can also visit a couple of local fiestas close to the resorts. 

 

Guía cheese festival (part one)

Held on the last weekend of the month this is sleepy Guía's chance to shine. The weekend event is a massive celebration of cheese and local traditions. Head over for tastings, cheese contests and anything else you can imagine that is remotely connected to cheese. Don't worry if you miss the April weekend, there's anther one on the first weekend of May.

Rally Islands Canarias (May 2017)

This was held in March 2016 but is in May 2017 (so ignore this until next month): Petrolheads invade Gran Canaria every year for the Canary Islands Rally. It's an all-tarmac affair held up in the highlands and lots of roads get cut off as it roars past. Between stages, there're lots of auto events in Santa Catalina in Las Palmas.

Triathlon in Mogán

The Challenge Gran Canaria triathlon starts on Amadores beach with the swim. The cycling goes in a loop between Puerto de Mogán and Anfi del Mar and the run and the run is a long loop between Amadores and Puerto Rico resort. Expect traffic disruption on the day of the race and maybe also the evening before while the organizers get everything in place. The 217 Challenge Gran Canaria triathlon is on April 21. 

Romerias

Little El Pajar village, right next to the Arguineguín cement factory, puts on a great show of local music and dancing at the beginning of April. The seaside village's romeria is a local, traditional affair and gets few foreign visitors.

Ayagaures town, right up the Ayagaures valley behind Aqualand, celebrates its annual romeria at the end of April. Again it's a local party with singing dancing and a BBQ on the Sunday. Exact dates vary.

Fiesta de los Aborigenes

On April 29 1483 the Canarii chief Bentehui and the Faycan of Telde, the last holdouts against the Spanish conquistadores, chose to throw themselves off the top of the vast natural fortress at Fortaleza Grande in Santa Lucia rather than surrender. It was the last act of defiance after a 5-year battle against the Catholic invaders. Nowadays, Canarians celebrate Bentejui's act with a procession and traditional music and dancing at the site. 

The Fortaleza is worth a visit on any day thanks to its place in Gran Canaria's history and the superb views.

Easter processions

Easter 2017 is in April so every church in Gran Canaria brings their icons out in procession during easter. In Las Palmas old town, you get the hooded figures so typical of southern Spain. These celebrations are religious rather than recreational so please dress appropriately and keep your selfie sticks out of the way. 

The Procession de las Mantillas is eye-catching because women wear traditional white headscarves called mantillas and because the city's two most famous religious icons are moved from the Basílica de Canarias to the Cathedral. It starts at 11am on Good Friday. 

The Canary Islands Diocese has this full list of Easter events for Gran Canaria.

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  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

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