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Las Palmas

Las Palmas is located in Spain, in Gran Canaria and a highly appealing holiday destination thanks to its year-round summer weather.

Fascinating sights and year-round summer weather

Las Palmas is located in Spain, in Gran Canaria and a highly appealing holiday destination thanks to its year-round summer weather.

If you are considering whether to spend a day away from your luxury cruise ship, the fact that a climate study found Las Palmas to have the ‘best climate in the world’ should help you decide! How to spend your day off ship?

If you’re travelling with children, this is one destination you won’t want to miss, as Las Palmas truly boasts a dizzying array of attractions.

You can ensure that youngsters have some great vacation memories to take back home; there are no less than three swimming and water parks (Aqualand, Ocean Land and Aqua Park) or try HolidayWorld, an immense leisure and funfair complex, Reptilania (reptile park), Palmito’s Park (tropical gardens, birds of prey and flamingos), Parque de los Cocodilos (zoological park), the Science and Technology Museum or Sioux City (Western theme park)!

For calmer delights, passengers may wish to explore the district of Vegueta, with its splendid 17th century Palacio Regental and the Canary Island museum. Art buffs and design aficionados will appreciate the Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderno, not just for its collection of avant-garde artworks, but its impressive interior design.

Sun worshippers can head for Las Palmas’ two great beaches – Las Canteras and Las Alcaravaneras.

The area around Las Palmas is also packed with fascinating sights, so browse our program of excursion packages to ensure you benefit from the best deals around.

 		Cruise to Las Palmas - Spain - Ocean Voyages - MSC Cruises

Directions


The Santa Catalina terminal is the most important port for cruise ships. City and regional busses leave from the bus station right in front of the terminal. There is also a taxi service but with a 10-minute walk you can get to the most interesting areas of Las Palmas. Regular shuttle busses operate every few minutes from the port gates to the city market.

Port average temperature

Las Palmas has a Subtropical climate, with warm dry summers and moderately warm winters. Its average annual temperature is 20 °C : 23 °C during the day and 17 °C at night. In the coldest month the typically temperature ranges from 18 to 21 °C during the day, 14 to 15 °C at night, the average sea temperature is 18–19 °C. In the warmest months the typically temperature ranges from 25 to 29 °C during the day, above 20 °C at night, the average sea temperature is 23 °C. Average number of days per year above 32 °C is only 3-4.

Average morning relative humidity: 74%, evening relative humidity: 60%. Sunshine hours is till 2,776 per year, from 186 in December and January to 310 in July.Average precipitation days per year is only 33, precipitation per year is only 13.3 cm. According to a study carried out by Thomas Whitmore, director of research on climatology at Syracuse University (USA), the city of Las Palmas enjoys "the best climate in the world".

The temperate figures shown are based on monthly average weather conditions for the selected port. Weather data is not real-time, and sometimes no data is shown for a specific date, month or port in general.

LAS PALMASMonths
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high °C20.62121.822.123.124.726.527.127.125.823.821.8
Average low °C14.714.915.415.71718.720.421.221.219.717.915.7
 LPM01GC - GARDEN TOUR (4 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Nearly 43% of the territory of Gran Canaria is protected and the flora of the Canary Islands is unique in the world ; this excursion will give us the possibility to become acquainted with the flora of the island. We will leave the port and will reach Doramas Park, lovely urban park located near to the port. We will then proceed to Tafira to visit the “Jardín Viera and Clavijo”, the largest botanical garden in Spain. The botanical garden has about 2.000 plant species in the archipelago and the garden has a program whose aim is to educate the population on the preservation and protection of our natural resources. Our excursion will continue to Arucas and then to the “Jardín de la Marquesa” to admire its extensive collection of Canarian and tropical plants and banana groves. Return to the ship.

Price per person $46.00 Adults $32.00 Children

   


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 LPM02GC - LAS PALMAS & BANDAMA (4 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Leave the vessel and reach “Pueblo Canario”, an complex made of a collection of houses inspired by the Canary traditional architecture and designed by the famous artist . The centre of the complex is a square surrounded by shops of local crafts. We will then continue to the oldest quarter of Las Palmas, called “Vegueta”, a maze of narrow, cobblestones streets, passing by “Plaza Santa Ana” with its bronze statues in honour of the dogs which gave the Canary Islands their name. We will admire the Cathedral from outside and we will visit the “Museo Canario”, mainly devoted to the island’s pre-hispanic culture. The second part of the excursion will take us to the residential area of “Tafira” until reaching the vast volcanic crater of “Bandama”, an extinct volcano rising nearly 580 metres above sea level. Enjoy panoramic views before making a photo stop at “Altavista” with its magnificent panorama over Las Palmas, Las Canteras Beach and the port. Return to the port.

Price per person $56.00 Adults $39.00 Children

   


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 LPM03GC - MOGAN, THE LITTLE VENICE OF GRAN CANARIA (5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Your excursion to the so-called “Venice of the Canaries” kicks off with panoramic views of 17 km of coastline, dunes and beaches from Maspalomas, Gran Canaria’s oldest tourist resort in the south of the island. The Maspalomas Dunes have been declared a protected nature area as they are a habitat for many rare plant species, some of which are only found in the Canaries. The coach then continues down a scenic route along the south-western coastline to reach the picturesque fishing village of Puerto de Mogán. An extensive network of canal-like sea channels and numerous bridges that link the marina with the fishing harbour have earned the popular resort its nickname of “Little Venice”. You will have some time to visit the town, see some typical Canarian sailing boats and explore the marina with its shops, yachts and local restaurants before you return to the ship.

Price per person $51.00 Adults $36.00 Children

   


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 LPM04GC - GRAN CANARIA (full day, lunch included) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Limited Availability  Lunch or dinner included  Lying in the Atlantic Ocean, the volcanic island of Gran Canaria boasts a huge variety of landscapes and microclimates that characterise its great natural beauty and have made it a highly popular tourist destination. This excursion gives you a chance to discover the island, with photo stops made along the way and a visit to the town of Teror in the north of Gran Canaria. Next to its lovely natural setting, the town also features an important history with an array of monuments nestling amongst its attractive colonial architecture, such as the 18th-century Basilica that stands on the “Plaza del Pino” and was built to venerate a 15th-century carved image of the Virgin Mary. In addition, Teror continues to celebrate its popular folk traditions and is also known as a place of religious significance. Lunch is included in the tour.

Price per person $79.00 Adults $55.00 Children

   


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 LPM05GC - PANORAMIC TOUR OF GRAN CANARIA (4.5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Limited Availability  This excursion will begin with a transfer to the “Crater de Bandama” an extinct volcano rising nearly 580 metres above sea level to enjoy panoramic views. Next stop will be a transfer to “Teror” located in the mid-mountain range of the north of Gran Canaria. Here we will learn about the history of the town and admire some of the many important monuments. The town is a traditional Canarian village of white houses and wooden balconies. Admire the Basilica of the “Virgen del Pino”, the island’s patron saint. Proceed to Arucas, an agricultural centre, and then to Altavista. Return to the port.

Price per person $51.00 Adults $36.00 Children

   


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 LPM06GC - GUAYADEQUE (5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Limited Availability  Snack  For a fascinating glimpse of history, join this tour on a modern coach for a scenic trip to the pre-Hispanic settlement at Barranco de Guayadeque. With its steep, verdant slopes, this is one of the most spectacular valleys on the island and is home to more than 80 native plant species including cacti, palms and pines. Lying secluded at the rocky heart of these valleys are a series of caves that date back to pre-historic times and were used to house the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands, a people known as the Guanches. These “casas cuevas” – or cave houses – have yielded a plethora of archaeological artefacts and are of immense historical importance. A stop will be made at the island’s largest cave restaurant for some tapas and local Canarian wine. You can enjoy more views of Gran Canaria’s varied countryside during your return trip to the port.

Price per person $51.00 Adults $36.00 Children

   


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The excursions in the program above are intended to provide MSC Guests with an idea of the different tours that can be arranged in each port of call; this program is merely a guide and confirmation of each excursion and its description and prices will be made during your cruise. Full information can be found in the onboard Tour Magazine.