We all know that Ibiza, Gran Canaria and Sitges are the holy trinity of Spain’s LGBTI holiday destinations. Look at what most gay tour operators offer and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was all Spain consisted of. Bustling beaches, a club on every corner and mornings spent nursing a hangover. And then there’s Barcelona.
We’ve all been there and loved every minute. But what if you want a break from the bars a real getaway? Is there an alternative? We packed our bags and cycled across Spain to find out.
Cycling Catalonia
Putting Barcelona, the regional capital, firmly to one side, we opted for the Undiscovered Southern Catalonia (or Catalunya) package and began our eight-day route in the seaside town of LAmpolla [above], near Spains famous Ebro Delta. The Delta is hugely important to Spain. Not only is it the country’s second biggest rice provider but it also hosts over half of Europe’s bird species throughout the year from sparrows to flamingos.
Catalonia Gay Travel Resources
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Gran Canaria is a notorious gay destination in Europe, specifically in Playa del Ingles in the South. The island has always been a beacon of tolerance whilst in the olden days, mainland Spain used to have an extremely hostile conservative attitude led by the Catholic Church. The Canary Islands were a popular place to exile people who broke social rules and thought differently.
During the harsh, repressive Franco years, Gran Canaria was too far away from the mainland to bother with, so they turned a blind eye to homosexuality there. From the 1960s, tourism really started to take off, attracting more and more foreigners and therefore even more tolerant attitudes.
Today, the island is a playground for the gay boys, particularly in the famous Yumbo Centre a shopping mall in Playa del Ingles full of mainly gay bars, clubs and boutique Clone Zone type shops. Theres so many gay hangouts in Yumbo Centre to choose from, we’ve sifted through some of our favourites in our gay guide to the best gay bars, clubs and events in Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria has long been a gay destination for the gay boys. The Yumbo Centre is made up of gay bars, clubs and shops and forms the base of the gay scene on the island.
There’s a variety of excellent gay friendly and exclusively gay accommodation in Gran Canaria, whether it’s bungalows, resorts or boutique hotels. Here’s our 5 unique gay hotels to stay in Gran Canaria we discovered:
#1 GAY PASO CHICO
Gay Paso Chico is a male only gay hotel in Playa del Ingles and the ideal place to stay with a group of friends or for solo travellers who want to party and be based near Yumbo Centre. It’s also walking distance to the sand dunes and the famous gay beach at Kiosk #7.
The Canary Islands are renowned for the many pride events, carnivals and orgies of colour that take place throughout the year. Some of the most colourful of all include Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas in Gran Canaria in February, offering up the sort of atmosphere that can rival Rio along with some mind blowing drag queen competitions.
We love our carnival party fun atmosphere and after the Lou Queernaval in Nice, we were keen to discover more, but Spanish style.
THE CARNIVAL OF LAS PALMAS
Drag queen fever has taken over the world, especially since THAT iconic Miley Cyrus VMA performance. The Drag Queen show at the Las Palmas Carnival in Gran Canaria includes spectacular performances from drag queens drenched in glitter, OTT lipstick, fabulous platform heels and some of the best lip syncs you’ll ever see.
When we told our friends we were going to Gran Canaria for a summer break, the reaction went along the lines of…
“You’d better return with plenty of STDs otherwise it NEVER happened!”
OR:
“Oh yeah Gran Canaria… one of my mates came back absolutely RUINED – literally: he got pissed with a few blokes he met in the sand dunes and ended up spending the entire night there!”
Gran Canaria certainly has a fierce reputation and is hugely popular with the gay boy party crowd.
And for good reason: Maspaloma Pride is one of Europe’s largest annual gay events. The beach near the sand dunes of Playa del Ingles is THE place to hang out during the day and then it’s on to the infamous Yumbo Centre in the evening – a shopping mall gay playground filled with bars, clubs and Clone Zone type shops.
However, there is a completely different side to the island, begging to be discovered. Most will base themselves in Playa del Ingles and not make it past Yumbo or the sand dunes. So here’s our 5 things you didn’t know about Gran Canaria to inspire you to venture out beyond the pink Playa Del Ingles bubble.
With its year-round temperate weather, there’s never a bad time to visit the gayest Canary Island of them all: Gran Canaria. Known around the world for its rugged landscape and the friendliness of its locals, the destination – which covers a landmass of just 1,560km squared – is most famed for its paradise-like beaches.
Here, we look at five of the best – from the gay beach on the doorstep of the island’s most buzzing town, Maspalomas, to the secluded nude beaches favoured by locals…
Playa de Montana Arena
Its name translates to ‘Sand Mountain’ because of the large mound overlooking it, offering unrivalled privacy and isolation. It draws a varied crowd and is favoured by many local LGTBIs living in the south. About half the people who go to this beach sunbathe in the nude.
If you are looking for a destination that delivers some quality beach time and great weather, then it’s hard to beat Spain’s Costa del Sol.
The term Costa del Sol refers to the stretch of coastline surrounding the city of Malaga – this region is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations.
The weather and the beaches are the key attractions, and there has been extensive development along the coastline to cater for the influx of international tourism.
The Balearic Islands of Spain, located in the western Mediterranean Sea, have been in the crosshairs of many rulers, from the Vandals of 461 AD to the Byzantine Empire to the Kingdom of Aragon. Many landmarks, like the imposing Gothic Cathedral in Mallorca and the salt marshes in Ibiza, are reminders of their ancient history and architectural wonders built on the beautiful islands.
In addition to exploring the relics of past centuries, Mallorca and Ibiza both offer a plethora of excursions for outdoors enthusiasts. From boat rides through caves to tanning on gay-friendly beaches the Balearic Islands are a destination for every type of traveler.
The Pueblo Espanol is one of several sights to see in Mallorca. Photo: Adrienne Jordan
Start your journey by visiting the largest island of the archipelago, Mallorca. Perhaps the most recognizable landmark in the capital of Palma de Mallorca is the magnificent La Seu Gothic cathedral. Built from sandstone walls and lined with flying buttresses that seem to rise out of the sea, La Seu was created during the rule of King James I of Aragon in 1229, with construction finishing four centuries later in 1601. It sits within the old city of Palma atop the former citadel of the Roman city, between the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and the episcopal palace. It also overlooks the Parc de la Mar, where couples stop for a romantic bite and teenage locals host rap battles in Spanish.
We love Spain. Let’s face it, every gay man will come here at some stage of their life (or wish they did). After 18 months travelling in Asia, it was a refreshing change to visit a country that welcomes gays, like REALLY welcomes us! Spain was recently voted by a Gallup poll as the most gay friendly country in the world.
Whether you’re touching down in the south of the country on flights to Malaga or travelling on to Madrid or Granada, you will be welcomed here with open arms.