
Looking for a last minute trip to somewhere hot and sunny? Well, aren’t we all, especially with this bitterly cold winter. Luckily for Mancs in search of a getaway this February, they can book cheap flights to a beautiful island from Manchester for as little as £21 one way. Better still, you needn’t have to fly to the other side of the globe for some winter sun. Offering temperatures as high as 21ºC for this time of year, the Spanish island of Gran Canaria is calling your name and it’s just over a four hour flight from Manchester Airport.
How to get cheap flights from Manchester to Gran Canaria
According to Skyscanner, the months of February and March are the cheapest to fly to the third largest island of the Canary Islands. The flight comparison site showed flights from Manchester Airport to Gran Canaria starting from £21 each way, meaning you could bag a return for £42, if you don’t pay extra for more baggage allowance and seat allocations. The cheapest flights are mainly during the weekdays, with the weekends being the most expensive to travel on.
What to see and do on the island
Described as a ‘miniature continent’ and classed as a Biosphere Reserve, Gran Canaria is home to a diverse landscape ranging from beautiful beaches with azure blue seas to towering, rugged mountains. The island is great for those looking for a spot of relaxation due to its number of spas and wellness centres, as well as those after outdoor activities such as hiking, wind-surfing, kite-surfing, cycling, golf or diving.
The sunny spot boasts around 60 km of beaches along its 236 kilometres of coastline, all of which are stunning enough that you’ll want to dip your toes in. You can explore Playa de Maspalomas, which is known for its dunes and lighthouse, or chill out at the likes of Playa de Amadores, Playa de Mógan, Playa de Güigüí or Playa Anfi del Mar, to name a few.
For epic views of the island, hike up mountains such as Roque Nublo, the stratavolcano Pico de las Nieves, or Roque Bentayga, a holy rock and ceremonial site for the Guanches, the original people of the Canary Islands. And as a World Heritage Site be sure to explore Gran Canaria’s historical and archaeological spots such as Catedral Metropolitana de Santa Ana de Canarias, Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park, Cañada de los Gatos, Cenobio de Valerón caves, Castillo de la Luz and Bandama Caldera, a circular, 1,000-meter-wide volcanic crater.
Plus, February and March are not only the cheapest times to visit the island but quite possibly the best time to go. From February 8 to March 15, Las Palmas de Gran Canarias Carnival takes place, with its origins dating as far back as when the city of Las Palmas began.
So, what are you waiting for? Get booking that flight!