Buggy Tour Gran Canaria

The best part of this Gran Canaria buggy tour is the change of scenery. You leave the resort strip behind and climb through mountain roads toward the Ayagaures Pedro Gonzales viewpoint, then trade smooth pavement for dust, gravel, bamboo, palms, and prickly pears. It feels like a proper outing rather than a quick spin around a beach car park.

I like two things in particular: the chance to swap drivers at stops, and the lively guiding from people such as Sebastian and Carmelo, better known as Speedy Gonzales. The main catch is important: most of the two-hour tour is on paved roads, with only a short off-road section, so this suits scenic driving more than serious off-roading.

Key points at a glance

• 800cc buggies: You drive your own vehicle, provided at least one person in your group has a Class B car license.
• Mountain views first: The route climbs toward Ayagaures and the Pedro Gonzales viewpoint for photos.
• Short, dusty off-road section: Expect fun gravel and dirt driving, but not hours of rough trails.
• Energetic guides: Sebastian and Carmelo, nicknamed Speedy Gonzales, help keep the convoy organized and entertaining.
• Resort pickup: Pickup and return are included in several southern resort areas, with different arrangements for some locations.
• Video and photos available: The photography service can give you a useful record of the outing, if you want one.

What this Gran Canaria buggy tour is really like

At $90.70 per person, this is best understood as a scenic mountain excursion with a driving element, not as a full-scale off-road challenge. You get about two hours behind the wheel of an 800cc buggy, plus the convenience of pickup in selected resort areas.

The route takes you through the interior of Gran Canaria, where the island looks very different from Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, or the other coastal resorts. You pass mountain roads, dry slopes, palms, prickly pears, and the Ayagaures reservoir area. That change of setting is the main value.

I also like that the activity lets you see parts of the island that are awkward to reach by a standard coach tour. You are not simply sitting behind a window. You are driving, stopping for views, and sharing the road with a convoy of other buggies.

The tradeoff is the off-road time. Several people arrive expecting a long stretch of rough tracks and are surprised by how brief it is. The dirt section can be dusty and enjoyable, but it may amount to a few loops or short runs while the group moves through the available area. If you want hardcore terrain, this is not the right product. If you want mountain scenery, a little engine noise, and a controlled burst of dirt driving, it makes more sense.

Leaving El Tablero for the Ayagaures hills

The tour begins at Buggy Pirates Outdoor Center on C. Puntarenas in El Tablero. The advertised start time is 9:00 am, though your exact pickup time depends on where you are staying.

Before setting off, you receive instructions on driving the buggies and complete the required paperwork. This part can take longer when the group is large, especially with license checks and disclaimers, but it matters. The tour runs as a guided convoy rather than a free-for-all, which keeps the pace manageable and makes the route easier to follow.

At least one person in your party must hold a valid Class B car license. That is not a minor detail. Without a qualifying driver, you cannot begin the excursion. If you are traveling as a couple or with friends, you can use the stops to change drivers, giving everyone with the proper license a chance at the wheel.

Once you leave the center, the first stretch is on paved mountain roads. This is where I would set your expectations properly. You are not immediately thrown into a rocky course. Instead, you climb through the hills toward the Ayagaures area, with the buggy giving you a more open and active view than a regular car.

The road portion is also the longer part of the tour. It includes winding roads and wide views across the island’s dry interior. For many people, this turns out to be the most enjoyable driving of the morning. It gives you time to settle into the buggy and enjoy the scenery without the jolts and dust of the dirt section.

The Pedro Gonzales viewpoint and reservoir road

The climb to the Ayagaures Pedro Gonzales viewpoint is the scenic high point of the route. The tour pauses here for photographs, so you are not expected to admire the view while trying to steer around a bend.

This stop gives the outing a useful rhythm: drive, pause, take in the view, and continue. If you are riding with someone else, it is one of the sensible places to swap drivers. The viewpoint is also a good chance to take your own photos before the dusty section begins.

From there, the route descends toward the reservoir. The setting changes again as you move through areas with bamboo, palm trees, and prickly pears. This mix of plant life helps explain why a short drive inland can feel so different from the dry resort coast.

You should not expect a long series of formal sightseeing stops. This is a driving tour, and the scenery is experienced mainly from the road. Still, the route gives you a look at a wilder side of Gran Canaria without requiring a full day away from your resort.

The paved roads are generally the safer and calmer part for anyone who is not used to driving on the right. The convoy format, guide vehicles, and relatively light traffic described by participants can make the route feel approachable, including for UK drivers adjusting to local road habits. You still need to drive attentively and follow the guide’s instructions.

The dusty off-road section

The off-road part comes later and provides the tour’s biggest burst of fun. Expect dirt, gravel, loose stones, and plenty of dust. You may finish with dust on your clothes, shoes, bags, and face, so old clothing and a bandana or face covering are smart choices.

The section is not a long network of remote trails. It is a limited area where the buggies make several passes or loops. Some people find this just enough to add excitement without making the trip rough or tiring. Others find it too short, especially if they booked because the phrase buggy tour suggested extensive off-road driving.

That difference in expectation is the key issue with this experience. The dirt driving is real, and it can be a blast, but it does not dominate the outing. The main tour is a scenic road trip with a short off-road finale.

Flying stones are possible when the convoy is moving through the dirt area, so keep a little distance from the buggy ahead and protect your eyes. The dust also means you should not wear anything you would hate to wash. The center has washing facilities to help clean off after the ride.

For families, children can participate when accompanied by an adult and measuring at least 1.35 meters in height. The activity also allows people with reduced mobility to participate upon request, so it is worth raising that need before booking rather than assuming the standard setup will work.

The guides make a difference

The people leading the convoy are a large part of the experience. Sebastian is repeatedly singled out for his friendly, helpful approach, while Carmelo, known as Speedy Gonzales, brings comic energy and moves around the group on a moped.

That personality matters on a convoy tour. There are pauses for instructions, paperwork, photos, and regrouping. Without an upbeat team, those practical moments could feel slow. The guides help keep the atmosphere light while still making the driving feel organized.

The staff also use music, jokes, and a spirited welcome to get the group ready. Some guides speak several languages, which can make the safety briefing and basic instructions easier to follow.

Do not mistake the fun tone for a lack of structure. The tour is not an open race. You follow the group, stay within the route, and drive according to the guide’s directions. That is good news if you want an activity that feels adventurous but still controlled.

Photography is another part of the team’s work. A guide or photographer captures action shots during the drive, including the dusty section. You can purchase the video and photos separately. The available footage has included a long edited video and a large batch of still images, though the exact package should be confirmed when you book.

Group size, pace, and comfort

The listed maximum is 18 participants, but the number of buggies on a particular departure can affect how the outing feels. Some groups describe a convoy of around 10 to 15 buggies. Larger departures can create more waiting in the off-road area because the available dirt space is limited.

A bigger group has one advantage: more social energy and a lively atmosphere. It also has clear drawbacks. You may spend more time waiting for vehicles to complete a loop, and the dirt portion can feel less personal.

The tour is about two hours, which is a useful length. It is long enough to reach the mountain scenery and include a dirt section, but short enough to fit into a holiday morning. I would allow extra time around the activity if you are using pickup, since the collection and return schedule depends on your hotel area.

The buggies themselves are 800cc vehicles. You drive your own buggy, rather than simply riding as a passenger in a larger off-road vehicle. That gives the outing a stronger sense of participation, even though you remain in a guided group.

Pickup details that can affect the value

Pickup and return are guaranteed in Bahia Feliz, Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustin, Sonnenland, and Meloneras. You need to provide your hotel details when booking so the operator can set the collection time.

Pickup is also available from Salobre, Arguineguin, Patalavaca, Puerto Rico, Playa de los Amadores, Playa del Cura, Taurito, and Playa de Mogán. The return arrangement is different for those areas: you are taken to a suitable nearby bus or taxi stop rather than returned directly to the same resort.

There is no pickup service in Las Palmas or from the port. That can change the value of the $90.70 price if you are staying in the capital or arriving by cruise ship, since you must make your own way to the starting point.

For someone based in the southern resorts, included transport is a real benefit. You avoid arranging a taxi to El Tablero and can treat the activity as a fairly simple half-day plan. For other locations, calculate the extra transport cost before deciding.

Is $90.70 good value?

I think the price is reasonable if you value the combination of transport, a two-hour activity, mountain scenery, and your own buggy. You are paying for more than the off-road section. The road route and access to the Ayagaures area are a major part of what you receive.

The price looks less attractive if your only goal is extended dirt driving. In that case, the short off-road section may leave you wishing you had booked a more technical outing.

The optional photo and video service is useful if you want a record without trying to hold your phone while driving. It is an extra cost, so I would decide in advance how much you care about action photos. The staff’s ability to capture the convoy can be a nice part of the memory, but it is not needed to enjoy the tour.

At 95 percent recommended and an average rating of 4.8 from 914 reviews, the experience has a strong record. I would still pay more attention to the recurring practical point than to the headline score: this is a scenic buggy drive with limited off-road time.

Who should book it

I would recommend this to couples, friends, families with qualifying adult drivers, and anyone who wants to add an active morning to a beach holiday. It works especially well if you want to see the island’s interior without committing to a full-day tour.

You should also like driving in a convoy and sharing the outing with a group. The guides set the pace, and the route is planned for a mixed range of abilities. That makes it accessible, but it also means you will not be racing or choosing your own trail.

I would be cautious about booking if you want technical driving, steep rough tracks, or a long off-road course. The dirt section is short and contained. You may enjoy it, but it should be treated as one part of the tour rather than its main event.

Wear old clothes, closed footwear, and something to cover your mouth and nose. Bring a sense of humor, since the guides are part of the show, and be ready for dust once the convoy reaches the dirt.

Should you book the Buggy Pirates tour?

Book it if you want mountain views, hands-on driving, cheerful guides, and a short burst of dusty off-road fun. Sebastian and Speedy Gonzales add plenty of personality, and the Ayagaures route gives you a welcome break from the resort strip.

Skip it if your priority is serious off-road driving. The strongest value here comes from the full package: pickup in selected areas, a guided 800cc buggy, paved mountain roads, a viewpoint stop, reservoir scenery, and a compact dirt section.

For most visitors staying in southern Gran Canaria, this is a practical and enjoyable way to see more of the island in a morning. Just book it for the scenic drive and overall adventure, not for two hours of rough trails.

FAQ

How long is the Gran Canaria buggy tour?

The activity lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Buggy Pirates Outdoor Center, C. Puntarenas, 16, 35109 El Tablero, Las Palmas, Spain. The activity ends back at the meeting point unless your return transport is arranged to a nearby bus or taxi stop.

What driving license do I need?

At least one person in your group must have a Class B car driver’s license to begin the excursion.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup and return are guaranteed in Bahia Feliz, Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustin, Sonnenland, and Meloneras. Pickup is also available from Salobre, Arguineguin, Patalavaca, Puerto Rico, Playa de los Amadores, Playa del Cura, Taurito, and Playa de Mogán, but return to those areas is not included. There is no pickup service in Las Palmas or from the port.

Can children join the tour?

Children accompanied by an adult can participate from a height of 1.35 meters onward.

Is the tour mainly on-road or off-road?

Most of the route is on paved mountain roads. The tour also includes a shorter dirt and gravel section with off-road driving.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.