Gran Canaria Excursions - a Tailor-Made Luxury Experience

Often dubbed “a miniature continent”, Gran Canaria is an island of contrasts, from the golden Maspalomas dunes and serene beaches of the south to the rugged, dramatic north coast and pine-covered slopes of its mountainous interior. With almost half of its territory declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2005, Gran Canaria is popular with visitors seeking the balmy temperatures of the island’s eternal spring. This is where scenic beauty meets cultural richness, offering endless opportunities for exploration.

The guests of Grand Hotel Residencia can embark on private, highly personalised Gran Canaria excursions, exploring the island’s sacred mountains and ancient trails, tasting artisanal wine, island-grown coffee and hand-made cheese, visiting vibrant local markets and archeological wonders. These private tours in Gran Canaria are led by Marc Llorens, a Gran Canaria travel guide and an expert in local history, gastronomy and wine.  

Meet Your Personal Guide: Marc Llorens 

With a background in journalism and a strong passion for storytelling, Marc Llorens is the founder and guide at Personal Tour — a company that offers private excursions in Gran Canaria. A Certified Official Tour Guide of Gran Canaria, Marc is also a partner of the Gran Canaria Wine Route, the first and so far the only Spanish wine route outside the Iberian Peninsula. Established in 2021, Ruta del Vino is a network of vineyards, restaurants and bodegas, as well as tourist guides, who, like Marc, offer their guests an exclusive introduction to the Gran Canarian wine landscape. Fluent in English, French and Italian, Marc has his schedule almost exclusively open to Grand Hotel Residencia clients as a priority.   

How the Private Excursions Work 

“This is not mass tourism. This is Gran Canaria, privately discovered”, Marc says about his Gran Canaria tours. Highly personalised and flexible, Marc’s tours in Gran Canaria are tailored entirely to the guests’ pace and interests. Every detail is carefully designed to match the guests’ needs and preferences, from the starting time and the duration of the tour to the level of activity — from panoramic drives and gentle strolls to more demanding walks — and the amount of time spent at each location. “We stop whenever our guests feel like it: for a coffee, a photo or simply to soak in the view,” Marc says. “For lunch, I always present my personal recommendations — from hearty Canarian cuisine to lighter bites — and we pick restaurants together with the guests.” As for the tours themselves, Marc offers a plethora of suggestions and options, though the final itinerary is always highly customised and designed with the specific guests in mind. 

Historical & Cultural Tours 

Each tour is crafted around at least one of the three main pillars: nature, gastronomy and wine, history and culture. The historical itineraries explore Gran Canaria’s fascinating past, taking guests on leisurely strolls through Las Palmas’ old quarters, oozing with tales of pirates, traders and explorers. There are lessons in traditional Canarian architecture in one of the island’s best-preserved historic villages of Agüimes, or the mesmerising experience of dining in a local cave restaurant in the Guayadeque Canyon, known for its unique cave dwellings dating back to the pre-Hispanic inhabitants of the island. A new “Canary Sack” tour, based in Vegueta — Las Palmas old town — tells the story of the once-thriving sugar and wine trades, Canarian wines famously lauded by Shakespear and prized across Europe in the 16th and 17th century. 

 Nature & Charming Villages 

Jagged natural beauty and picturesque villages can be explored on tours of the island’s north, lush and noticeably cooler, grown with bananas and dotted with charming settlements, like the colourful villages of Teror and Arucas. Marc guides his guests through the breathtaking landscapes of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the centre of the island, across the rocky mountains, tranquil valleys and ancient pine forests. Some of his tours explore the off-the-beaten-path western coast, Gran Canaria’s most remote and wildest region, filled with multicoloured rock formations, “los Azulejos”, and volcanic coffee plantations — one of few in Europe. 

Gourmet & Wine Routes 

Unforgettable culinary journeys await the food and wine lovers, from intimate, home-cooked winery lunches to market tours and vertical wine tastings led by passionate local winegrowers. Lastly, Gran Canaria’s stunning cliffs and hidden coves can be explored from the water, with luxury, private sailing trips that offer a change of perspective and the freedom to stop and swim in the turquoise sea. And all of this is just the starting point — each experience will be personalised to the guests’ individual needs. 

Duration, Prices & Booking Information 

Private tour guide Gran Canaria prices range between €300 to €500 for a group of up to four guests, with optional gourmet experiences available as supplements. All tours include private transportation and can be booked directly through the hotel’s reception.  

For Marc, these are more than just excursions — it’s an opportunity to share his knowledge and passion with those who wish to immerse themselves in Gran Canaria’s history, flavours and beauty. These exclusive experiences are crafted especially for the guests of Grand Hotel Residencia, always offering a meticulously balanced mixture of comfort, authenticity and cultural richness.