Is Gran Canaria Safe in January 2026?

Gran Canarias resort areas, particularly Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles, have a well-documented concentration of timeshare and holiday club promoters. They hand out scratch cards that always reveal prizes and require a presentation attendance to claim them. The presentations involve rotating salespeople and aggressive tactics designed to pressure tourists into signing contracts worth thousands of euros.

How to avoid: Ignore all scratch card offers and free gift pitches in resort areas. If you have already attended and signed, you have 14 days to cancel under EU consumer law. Contact Citizens Advice or your national consumer authority for guidance.

Restaurants targeting tourists in Playa del Ingles and Puerto Mogan routinely place unrequested bread, olives, and dips on the table and charge a cubierto per person. The English-language menu displayed outside often does not show these charges, and tourists only discover them when the bill arrives. Some establishments charge 3 to 5 euros per person as a cover charge regardless of what is consumed.

How to avoid: Ask the waiter about cubierto and cover charges before ordering. Remove any unrequested items from the table and confirm you will not be charged for them. Review the Spanish-language menu if available as it may show charges omitted from tourist menus.

Car rental companies operating at Gran Canaria Airport and in Playa del Ingles are among the most frequently reported in Spain for disputed damage claims. Common scenarios include claiming roof or bumper damage tourists are unaware of, applying unclear excess waiver fees, and retaining deposits for weeks. Budget comparison sites sometimes list operators with a pattern of such complaints.

How to avoid: Photograph and video every surface of the rental car before driving and when returning. Use a credit card that provides car hire excess cover. Read the full excess waiver terms and insist on a written confirmation of zero excess.

Some taxi drivers at Gran Canaria Airport take tourists on unnecessarily long routes to Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, and Puerto Rico, padding fares by 20 to 50 percent. Others quote a flat rate verbally that is significantly above the official metered fare for the zone. Licensed taxis must display a tariff card inside the vehicle.

How to avoid: Always confirm the fare before departure or insist on the meter. Ask to see the official tariff card displayed in the cab. The official fare from Gran Canaria Airport to Maspalomas is approximately 35 to 45 euros during daytime hours.

Unlicensed private drivers approach arrivals outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) offering rides to Playa del Inglés or Maspalomas at flat rates that appear competitive. Once underway, the driver claims the agreed price was a "per person" rate, or adds charges for luggage, highway tolls, and night supplements that were never disclosed. Some drivers use rigged meters.

How to avoid: Use only official yellow taxis from the licensed rank outside arrivals — the rank is clearly marked. Official taxi fares from the airport to Playa del Inglés are approximately €35–40 on the meter. Agree the metered fare before departure and confirm there is no per-person surcharge. Global shuttle and bus line 66 are reliable and far cheaper alternatives.