Gran Canaria: Camel Ride Safari w/ Optional Food & Transport

Gran Canaria’s Oasis of the 1,000 Palms offers more than a camel ride. You pass fruit trees, farm animals, old tools, and mountain scenery before sitting down to a generous tapas meal in a rustic setting. The ride itself lasts about an hour, which gives the experience more substance than a quick photo stop.

I especially like the friendly, small-scale feel of the park and the chance to see how papayas, mangoes, and guavas grow in this dry island valley. The optional hotel pickup also makes the outing easy. The main drawback is exposure to the sun: the camel route has little shade, and some visitors find the ride long in midday heat.

Key things to know before you book

• A 60-minute camel ride: The route follows a rocky path through the valley, with mountain views and a very different feel from the resort areas.
• More than camels: You can visit donkeys, baby camels, and other farm animals, then walk through tropical gardens.
• Tapas add real value: The optional meal includes drinks and local or homemade foods served beside antique Canary Island farm tools.
• Hotel pickup covers key resorts: Transport is available from Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Meloneras, San Agustín, and Bahia Feliz, or from a nearby meeting point.
• Prepare for sun and warmth: Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and light clothing in summer. Long sleeves help protect you from the sun.
• Not suitable for everyone: Pregnant women and people over 275 pounds, or 125 kilograms, cannot take part.

A camel safari in Gran Canaria’s dry mountain country

The park sits in Fataga, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. From the southern resort towns, the drive takes you away from hotel blocks and toward a narrow valley with palms, rocky slopes, and scattered farms.

That change of scene is one of the best reasons to book this outing. Gran Canaria is often sold through its beaches and resorts, but the island’s interior has a slower, more rural character. The Camel Safari Park gives you a simple way to reach it without renting a car or planning a separate mountain excursion.

The setting is called the Oasis of the 1,000 Palms. Its cultivated grounds cover about 10,000 square meters and date back more than 300 years. This is not a vast desert expedition. It is a working rural property in a green pocket of a dry ravine, with palms and fruit trees standing out against the rocky surroundings.

Depending on your option, a driver collects you at your hotel or at a nearby point. Pickup is offered in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Meloneras, San Agustín, and Bahia Feliz. Javier is one of the drivers named in the feedback, and the service is generally described as punctual and attentive.

Allow some flexibility in your schedule. The activity is sold as three hours, while the full program can take closer to four hours once driving, waiting, the garden visit, the ride, and food are included. One person reported waiting a long time for the return vehicle after lunch, while others found the hotel-to-hotel timing close to three hours.

Meeting the camels before you ride

The visit begins with an introduction to the camels and a safety briefing. This first contact matters, especially if you have never ridden one. Camels are tall when they stand and kneel in stages, so the beginning and end of the ride can feel more dramatic than the steady movement once you are under way.

You also have time to see and feed the camels. Feeding is not included in the basic price, and the food is an extra charge. That small cost is worth knowing in advance, since the chance to interact with the animals is a natural part of the visit, but it is not automatically covered.

The park also keeps donkeys and other farm animals. Children often get the most from this part because they can look at the animals at close range rather than simply pass them from a vehicle. Baby camels have also been seen at the park, and a colorful parrot is among the less expected characters you might meet.

The staff explain how the animals are cared for and handle them calmly. Several descriptions point to camels that look relaxed and well treated. You should still remember that this is an animal activity, not a petting zoo where every animal will want attention. Follow the guide’s instructions and let the handlers manage feeding and contact.

One hour on the camel route

The camel ride lasts about 60 minutes, though some accounts describe the actual riding time as closer to 50 minutes. The route leaves the garden and follows a rocky track through the valley, with palms and mountain slopes around you.

This is a scenic outing, but you should set your expectations correctly. You are not crossing open dunes in the Sahara. The path is within the Fataga area, and the attraction comes from the contrast between the dry ravine, the cultivated oasis, and the unusual sight of camels moving through the Canary Island countryside.

The ride can feel gentle and slightly theatrical. The camel’s rolling walk is unlike riding a horse, and the animal’s height gives you a fresh view of the valley. If you are nervous, the handlers are there to settle the camels and help you get used to the movement. One experienced ranchero was praised for his calm, careful way with the animals.

Some visitors may share a camel, depending on the arrangement on the day. If you prefer one camel per person, ask before booking rather than assuming. A point raised by one participant was concern about two people riding together, even though the camels were described as capable of carrying much more weight. The supplier sets a maximum participant weight of 275 pounds, or 125 kilograms.

Heat is the main practical issue. The canyon has little shade, and the midday session can be intense. Wear sunscreen before you arrive, bring sunglasses, and consider a hat or long-sleeved shirt. Light clothing works well in summer, but a warmer layer is useful in winter.

Comfortable shoes are required. The route is rocky rather than paved, and sandals with poor support could make the walk around the grounds less pleasant. Drones are not allowed.

Tropical gardens in the Valley of the Thousand Palms

The garden visit gives the experience a useful second half. Your guide leads you through plants and fruit trees that are easy to miss if you come only for the camel ride.

Papaya, mango, and guava are among the trees you can see. The garden shows how water and careful cultivation create a productive green space in an otherwise dry setting. It also helps explain why this valley has supported farming for generations.

You may have time to walk around at an unhurried pace, look at the plants, and speak with the people who run the property. This is where the excursion feels less like a standard ride and more like a visit to a family-run rural attraction.

The guides speak Spanish, English, and German. The commentary is adapted for mixed-language groups, and one account specifically praised a guide for explaining everything in each language represented in the group. If you want to know how the garden is maintained or how the camels are handled, ask questions as you go.

The property also displays antique Canary Island farm implements. These tools give the meal area a small museum quality and add context to the farm setting. They are not a substitute for a full cultural museum, but they make the lunch stop more interesting than a plain restaurant table.

The optional tapas meal and homemade flavors

The tapas option is one of the strongest reasons to pay more than the basic ride price. The food is served after the camel ride in a rustic, museum-like space, and drinks are included with the meal.

Exact dishes can vary, but descriptions include chicken paella, potatoes, olives, cheese, and other small plates. Some foods are produced or prepared at the reserve, and homemade mango and guava jam may be available to buy. The meal is not presented as a formal restaurant tasting menu. Think of it as a generous local spread after an outdoor activity.

The setting adds to the appeal. Antique farm equipment and the surrounding garden make the meal feel connected to the place rather than detached from it. If you want a simple taste of island produce and homemade cooking, this is more satisfying than finishing the excursion with a packaged snack.

A few cautions are worth keeping in mind. Extra drinks are not included, and some refreshments can be purchased separately. The staff may also offer photos, videos, camel food, or homemade products for sale. None of these extras are compulsory, but carry a little spending money if you like souvenirs or animal feeding.

The pace after lunch can be relaxed, sometimes too relaxed for a tight schedule. A return vehicle may not leave immediately after you finish eating, so do not book this on a day when you need to reach the airport at a precise time. One participant did make a flight after the activity because the guides helped with the timing, but it is safer to leave plenty of room.

How the $50 price compares

At about $50 per person, the basic experience is fairly priced for a 60-minute camel ride plus the garden and animal visits. The value improves if your alternative is paying separately for transport, a rural drive, and lunch.

The tapas and hotel transfer option is the better choice for many people. Transport from the southern resorts removes the need to find the park, and the meal adds a substantial part of the day. Families in particular may find the package convenient because children get animals, a ride, scenery, and food in one outing.

The price does not cover photographs, videos, extra drinks, or camel feeding. If you want the professional camel portrait often offered at the end, plan for an additional payment. Ask about add-on prices before agreeing, especially if you are traveling with children who will want to feed every animal.

The experience is not a bargain if you want a long wilderness ride or a serious cultural tour. The camel route stays within a managed park area, and the surroundings are attractive rather than untouched. For a half-day change from the resort, however, the combination is solid.

Who will enjoy it most

I would recommend this for families, first-time camel riders, couples wanting an unusual morning, and anyone who prefers a gentle rural outing over a demanding hike. Children get plenty of variety, while adults can enjoy the drive into Fataga, the garden, and the homemade food.

The activity also suits people who like seeing how attractions are run. You can ask about the animals, fruit trees, farming tools, and daily care of the camels. It feels more personal than a large coach excursion, although it still has some commercial elements.

You should think twice if you dislike heat, have difficulty mounting an animal, or want guaranteed shade. Pregnant women cannot participate, and the 125-kilogram weight limit is firm. The rocky route may also be less comfortable for anyone who needs fully level ground.

This is not the right pick for a strict schedule. The listed duration is three hours, but the full day can stretch toward four hours, especially with transfers or waiting. It is best placed on a day with no flight, major reservation, or tightly timed evening plan.

Practical tips for a smoother visit

• Apply sunscreen before pickup, not after you reach the park.
• Wear trousers or longer shorts if you want more protection from the sun and saddle.
• Bring sunglasses and a hat, but keep loose items secure during the ride.
• Choose the tapas option if you want transport and a full meal without arranging them yourself.
• Ask about the return pickup time before sitting down to eat.
• Bring extra money for camel food, photos, videos, or drinks.
• Confirm your pickup point carefully. There is more than one camel attraction along the road.
• Do not bring a drone.
• Tell the staff about any mobility concern before the ride begins. The team has shown care with participants who needed extra attention.
• If you want one camel per rider, ask about the arrangement before booking.

Should you book the Camel Safari Park?

Book it if you want a relaxed, unusual half-day that combines animals, mountain scenery, tropical plants, and local food. The tapas and transfer package offers the best overall value, particularly from the southern resort towns.

Skip it if you expect dramatic desert dunes, a private animal encounter, or a tightly controlled schedule. The sun can be hard, the ride may feel tourist-oriented, and optional purchases are part of the setup.

For most visitors staying in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Meloneras, San Agustín, or Bahia Feliz, this is a worthwhile change of pace. Prepare for heat, allow extra time, and treat the camel ride as one part of a broader farm-and-valley visit rather than the entire attraction.

FAQ

How long does the camel safari take?

The activity is advertised as three hours, though the full program can take closer to four hours when transport, the garden visit, animal time, the ride, and tapas are included.

How long is the camel ride?

The included camel ride lasts 60 minutes. Some participants describe the actual riding time as about 50 minutes.

Where does the camel ride take place?

It takes place at Camel Safari Park La Baranda in the Oasis of the 1,000 Palms, in Fataga’s Valley of the Thousand Palms near San Bartolomé de Tirajana.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included only with the transport option. Service is available from hotels in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Meloneras, San Agustín, and Bahia Feliz, or from a nearby location.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guides provide service in Spanish, English, and German.

Is food included?

Tapas with drinks are included only when you select the food option. Extra drinks are not included.

What food might be served?

The meal can include items such as chicken paella, potatoes, olives, cheese, and other local or homemade foods. Exact dishes can vary.

Can I feed the camels?

Camel feeding is not included in the standard activity. Food for the camels may be available for an additional charge.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Light clothing is recommended in summer, while warmer clothing is useful in winter. A long-sleeved shirt can help protect you from strong sun.

Who cannot take part?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people weighing more than 275 pounds, or 125 kilograms.