Guest Blog – Gran Canaria Holiday
Early start
We (Frans and Lisetta) left our home in Winschoten in the north of the Netherlands early Monday morning, November 3rd, at 01.30, bound for Schiphol Airport. Once at Schiphol we boarded one of the first flights to Gran Canaria.
Just a few hours later, at 10.00, we met Frederieke and David at the car rental counter at Gran Canaria Airport and picked up our car, a Citroën DS3. Once they had picked up the keys to their Dacia Sandero rental car, we drove in tandem to the marina of Pasito Blanco where Yuma was moored.
Arrival at Yuma in Pasito Blanco.
After such a short night, we were extremely tired, but given that we were only able to get into our holiday rental around 1500, we had to stay awake for a little while longer.
We all made it, at the same place at the same time! No mean feat when a sailboat is involved.
Our bungalow was at Caybeach Princess in Maspalomas, just down the road from Pasito Blanco. That evening, we enjoyed a delicious meal at a Greek restaurant after which we crashed immediately. It had been a very long day.
Things to do on Gran Canaria
The next couple of days, Frederieke, David and the two of us, enjoyed outings around the island of Gran Canaria, for example to the Hacienda La ReKompensa banana plantation in Arucas and a coffee plantation nearby.
Frederieke and David learning what else they could do with their bananas back in Australia.
Lisetta and I also visited the beautiful cactus garden Cactualdea, where they had a magnificent collection of cacti, large and small. The road from Maspalomas to the garden was quite an experience in itself, with many tight hairpin bends.
The Cactualdea cactus garden.
In the evenings, the four of us went out for dinner a few times which, of course, often included the delicious Canarian wrinkled potatoes (papas arrugadas) with Mojo sauces, both red and green.
Papas arrugadas. Yum!
We also hosted Frederieke and David for dinner at our bungalow, and they hosted us in return on Yuma.
Making dinner at home. This was followed by a few games of Hitster – great fun!
In the capital, Las Palmas, we visited Christopher Columbus’ house and the marina where many sailboats were preparing for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) 2025. As part of the ARC and ARC+, more than 180 sailing boats cross the Atlantic Ocean together.
Columbus (left) stopped at Gran Canaria during his first voyage to the Americas. He would not have had the luxury of being guided by the Maspalomas lighthouse (right).
Walking through the old parts of Las Palmas.
Sailing, dolphins and flying fish
On Sunday November 9th, the weather was finally calm enough for a day of sailing together on Yuma in search of dolphins.
Heading out to try and see dolphins.
After a few hours of (motor)sailing, we got to see dolphins and flying fish! The waves were quite high, and Lisetta spent most of the return trip at the helm expertly bringing Yuma back into the harbour.
The spot where we got to see dolphins.
It was a wonderful experience to be out on the ocean on Yuma for about six hours and to see how Frederieke and David were attuned to each other on the boat. For us, it also was a completely different experience compared to the cold and wet few hours we had on Yuma sailing along the Reitdiep canal in April 2024! This time we sailed in shorts and t-shirts!
A nice day on the water.
On land, we also enjoyed the island’s beautiful nature in the vast dunes of Maspalomas and the picturesque and touristy town of Mogan.
Puerto de Mogán.
Back to the Netherlands
On our last day, we visited Frederieke and David in the marina where Yuma was being hauled out of the water for some final maintenance.
Checking out Yuma before departing for the Netherlands.
After a wonderful holiday, we flew back to the cold Netherlands on Tuesday evening, November 11th, a wonderful experience richer.
Wat een mooie ervaring! Ik denk dat wij ook wel een zonnige Yuma ervaring verdienen na een snijdend koude tocht op Yuma van Leeuwarden naar Harlingen.
Je kunt kiezen uit verschillende warme bestemmingen, Brazilië, Frans Polynesië, etc, we zijn nog wel even onderweg 😄.
Love the lizard island cameo Frederieke!
Haha, yes, well spotted 😎! Lizard Island gear travels everywhere with me.