Who doesn't love to get pampered? Especially on holiday, where your default position becomes a horizontal one. So, if you're looking for a relaxing time whilst on Gran Canaria, here's our rundown, in no particular order, of the island's top 10 wellness and spa facilities.
Spa Krabí Valle Taurito
Gran Canaria resorts don't get much more laidback than Taurito. Cut off from the rest of the south-west, there's not much to do in the area other than chill. And one of the best locations in the area to adopt the supine pose is the Spa Krabí at the Hotel Paradise Valle Taurito.
Popular treatments include massages and wraps. Try the aloe-vera ones which draw on the therapeutic properties of Gran Canaria's wonder herb. Although other treatments originate from Thailand rather than the Canary Islands, including the Ayuverda and Kombi massages.
Spa Center Agua Vital
It comes as little surprise to discover that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's classiest spa, the Spa Center Agua Vital, is located in the capital's swankiest hotel, the Hotel Santa Catalina. The spa's home to a heated indoor swimming pool, complete with jets, along with a jacuzzi, sauna, and Turkish bath. There are also a range of body and facial treatments available.
Like most spas on Gran Canaria, the Spa Center Agua Vital's adult only. This means 16+. The spa's opening hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am-11:00pm, 10:00am-8:00pm on Saturdays, and 10:00am to 6:00pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
Vital Suites Spa Centre
Disconnect at your leisure at a magical Maspalomas spa whose entrance fee's €20. For this, you can lounge in a heated Talasso pool or get even steamier in a Finnish sauna or Turkish bath. There's also a free daily Reiki session if you're interested in trying out this Japanese system of natural healing.
The Vital Suites Spa Centre's open every day from 11:00am to 7:00pm. More specific health and beauty treatments include mud wraps and deep-tissue massages. Prices start at €9 for eyebrow shaping and go all the way up to €130 for a two-hour Luxus anti-aging treatment.
Spa Corallium
If 3,500 square metres of inner spa isn't enough for you, you can always venture into the connected pool outside. The Corralium is located in Meloneras, the exclusive area that's home to more five-star hotels than anywhere else on the island. Part of the Lopesan Costa Meloneras resort, it's open to non-guests who are aged 18 and above.
From the 4°C of the Ice World to the 90°C of the African Sauna, visitors can enjoy a global tour of spa experiences. These include the Himalayan Salt Cave. Perhaps the most famous facility, though, is the Zodiac Relax Room aka The Womb Room.
Vital Wellness Center
The spa of the Hotel Eugenia Victoria's the pick of all the wellness centres Playa del Inglés has to offer. Like the Spa Corallium, it reimagines the spa as theme park. So you can go from the extreme of shivering in the snow cabin to literally floating in the warm, salty waters of the Dead Sea pool.
Ordinarily adult-only, parents can bring their children along to the Vital Wellness Center for some, though not all, of the morning. However, the Mon Amie UV bed with collagen stimulation's a strictly 18+ attraction. One question remains: just where are you going to start your world tour?
Thalasso Gloria Palace San Agustín
Ever since the canarii, the Berber-descending people who occupied the island before the 15th-century Spanish invasion, the residents of Gran Canaria have recognized the health benefits of the Atlantic Ocean's saltwater. The north coast's Bañaderos owes its name to the fact that it was a popular destination with the daughters of the ruling canarii families. However, it wasn't until the opening of the Thalasso Gloria Palace San Agustín in 1998, that a wellness centre opened using seawater in its major treatments.
Gloria Palace San Agustín's thalasso is not only the biggest on Gran Canaria; it's also the largest in the whole of Europe. There's more than 7,000 square metres to explore at your leisure. This 15+ spa's open daily, from 10:00am to 9:00pm.
Despacio Spa Centre
The five-star H10 Playa Meloneras Playa's one of H10's spa hotels. Despacio is Spanish for slowly. You'll certainly want to take your time soaking up the benefits of the hydrotherapy at this well-appointed spa centre, located in the island's poshest resort, Meloneras.
There are hydromassage beds to recline on and an ice fountain to brave. This forms part of the Dynamic Circuit. For external guests this costs €30, with other treatments rising to €235 for a combined facial, manicure, massage, and pedicure.
Seaside Palm Beach Spa Wellness
Relax in luxurious surroundings in the heart of Maspalomas. You'll find this plush spa wellness centre in the grounds of the Seaside Palm Beach, the island's first Design Hotel. Although the Canary Islands are largely associated with bucket-and-spade tourism, this is Gran Canaria at its most glamorous.
The Seaside Palm Beach Spa Wellness is rightly famous for its massages, which include a volcanic-stone massage. However, the one you see pictured's Pantai Luar. This treatment hails from the Far East and sees heated cotton bags, stuffed with medicinal herbs, employed as part of a deep-tissue massage.
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia Spa
You wouldn't think it possible, but theSeaside Grand Hotel Residencia Spa is even more elegant than its sister establishment. However, it's not that surprising really as the Grand Hotel Residencia is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. What's more, this is where rock stars stay when they play the island, with Bruce Springsteen a recent guest.
Enjoy a spot of R&R in an area that was renovated, and indeed, expanded in 2012. No expense has been spared on the opulent design of the spa's seven treatment rooms. Visit to discover the beauty and health treatments beloved of (rock) royalty.
The great outdoors
Holidaying on a budget? Save your centimes by exploring Gran Canaria's free outdoor spas. On the north coast of the island, you'll find plenty of piscinas naturales, saltwater swimming pools, constructed next to the major beaches and resorts.
There's a stunningly-situated one at the aforementioned Bañaderos whose coastal area's known as El Puertillo. A 10-minute drive from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, head along to the new promenade from the main beach to reach the swimming pool. Alternatively, explore behind the resort to discover charcos (rockpools) where, when the Atlantic enters, it looks and feels just like being in a jacuzzi.