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

Gran Canaria’s Oasis of the 1,000 Palms is not the vast Sahara-style setting some people picture. It is a peaceful 10,000-square-meter farm oasis tucked into the ravine of Fataga, where camels walk past fruit trees, donkeys, and mountain walls. The camel ride lasts about an hour, giving you enough time to enjoy the novelty without turning the whole day into a saddle test.

I like the mix of animals and gardens, since this is more than a quick camel photo stop. I also like the optional tapas meal, served among antique Canarian farm tools and made with ingredients from the reserve. The main thing to consider is the heat: the route has little shade, and a midday ride can feel long in full sun. The ride and total timing can also stretch beyond the advertised three hours if transport or pickup is delayed.

Key points to know before you book

• Ride through a 300-year-old oasis: The camel route passes through the Valley of the Thousand Palms in the Fataga area.
• Expect more than camels: You can see and interact with donkeys, baby camels, a parrot, and other farm animals.
• The gardens are part of the experience: Your guide shows you tropical plants and fruit trees including papaya, mango, and guava.
• Tapas adds real value: The optional meal includes drinks and local-style dishes in a museum-like farm setting.
• Transport is useful: Hotel pickup and drop-off are offered in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Meloneras, San Agustín, and Bahia Feliz, or from a nearby meeting point.
• Prepare for strong sun: Wear comfortable shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and light clothing in summer. Long sleeves and trousers can help protect you from the sun.

A camel ride in the Valley of the Thousand Palms

The appeal here is the setting. Camel Safari Park La Baranda sits in the Fataga nature reserve, away from the hotel strips of southern Gran Canaria. The approach itself can be pleasant, with a mountain drive from the resort areas and changing views as the road climbs through the island’s dry interior.

Once you arrive, the activity begins with a safety briefing and an introduction to the camels. You can visit the animals before riding, and camel feeding is available for an extra charge. Feeding is not included in the basic price, so bring that expectation with you rather than assuming it is part of the tour.

The camel ride lasts 60 minutes, although some descriptions and experiences put the actual riding time closer to 50 minutes. You’ll sit on a camel as it follows a guided route through the oasis and into the rocky valley between the mountains. This is not a fast ride. The pace is steady, and the point is to look around, take photographs, and enjoy the oddness of crossing a Canarian ravine by camel.

The ride can be exciting at first, especially when the camel gets up or lowers itself. If you are nervous, the handlers help make the process less intimidating. The camels are described as calm and well cared for, and the staff explain how they look after them. Still, this is an animal ride, so you should be comfortable sitting high above the ground and following the guide’s instructions.

You may share a camel with another person. That arrangement is common in the experience, but it is worth considering if you have concerns about comfort, balance, or the animal’s welfare. Some people feel more comfortable with one rider per camel, while others find the shared seating perfectly manageable.

What makes the oasis different from a standard camel excursion

Many camel rides near holiday resorts are short loops designed mainly for photographs. La Baranda offers a little more context. The oasis was constructed more than 300 years ago, and its location in a ravine gives the outing a strong sense of place.

The gardens are not simply decoration around the camel yard. The guide leads you among tropical plants and fruit trees, with papaya, mango, and guava named as examples. In a dry part of Gran Canaria, these irrigated gardens show how a productive farm can exist in an otherwise arid mountain setting.

The reserve covers around 10,000 square meters, so you have room to walk around after the ride. You can see farm animals and, when permitted, feed or interact with them. Donkeys and camels are central to the visit, while a lively parrot has also become a memorable part of the animal collection.

This makes the activity especially appealing for families. Younger children get animals and a camel ride, while adults have gardens, mountain views, and the old farm setting to enjoy. The experience is not a full wildlife park and should not be booked as one. Its charm comes from the small-scale farm atmosphere.

The ride, the heat, and what to wear

The most important practical point is sun protection. Parts of the route are exposed, and summer temperatures in southern Gran Canaria can be strong. A midday departure may be uncomfortable if you arrive in shorts and a sleeveless top with no hat or sunscreen.

I would wear comfortable closed shoes, light clothing, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen. Long sleeves and long trousers are sensible if you burn easily. In winter, the advice changes: bring warmer clothing, since the mountain setting can feel cooler than Maspalomas.

A hat is useful, but make sure it is secure. You will be sitting on a moving animal, and the ride follows a rough, rocky path rather than a smooth pavement. Comfortable shoes matter more than fashionable ones.

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or anyone over 275 pounds, or 125 kilograms. That weight limit is important to check before booking. The tour does not list a special accessibility arrangement, so contact the provider ahead of time if you need specific assistance.

Drones are not allowed. Photos and videos are also not included, and professional or souvenir photographs may cost extra. If you want your own pictures, bring a phone or camera, but keep it secure during the ride.

A closer look at the farm and tropical gardens

The garden walk gives the outing a slower rhythm. Instead of mounting the camels immediately and leaving, you have time to look at the reserve, see how the plants grow, and learn about the farm from the guide.

The exact presentation may vary by group and guide. The guides speak Spanish, English, and German, and the multilingual approach is useful when people from different countries share the same outing. One particularly well-liked driver is Javier, who has been praised for being friendly and helpful during the transfer.

The owner sometimes leads the tour of the fruit trees and animals. His approach is described as amusing and personal, which suits this small family-style operation better than a formal museum talk would. You can ask about the camels, the farm, and the produce grown on site.

This is also where the experience feels most authentic. You are not just passing through a desert-themed attraction. You are visiting a working rural property with fruit trees, animals, old tools, and homemade products. Mango and guava jam may be available to buy, though purchases are not part of the tour price.

Adding the tapas meal at La Baranda

The tapas option is the strongest extra. It turns a short animal excursion into a fuller half-day outing and gives you a chance to sit down after the ride.

The meal is served in a museum-like room decorated with antique farm implements from the Canary Islands. That setting adds useful local flavor. You get a glimpse of older rural life rather than eating in a generic tourist café.

The exact food can vary, but dishes described in the experience include items such as chicken paella, potatoes, olives, cheese, and other small plates. Drinks are included with the tapas option, while extra drinks cost more. The food is generally filling without being too heavy for a warm day, though individual tastes will differ.

I like this add-on for families and couples who want lunch included in the plan. It also makes the price easier to justify. The basic camel ride is a pleasant novelty, but the garden visit, animal time, transport, and meal create a more rounded experience.

There are a couple of caveats. The food is homemade and local in spirit, not a polished restaurant tasting menu. Some dishes may appeal to you more than others. Staff may also offer additional drinks, photographs, camel food, or products for sale. You can simply decide what you want and decline the rest.

Hotel pickup through southern Gran Canaria

Pickup and drop-off are available if you choose that package. The service covers hotels in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Meloneras, San Agustín, and Bahia Feliz, or a nearby pickup point.

This option is practical because La Baranda is outside the main resort area. The drive may take around 30 minutes from Playa del Inglés, with longer total times depending on your hotel and the day’s route. The mountain road offers attractive views, but it is not a quick city transfer.

Drivers have received praise for being punctual and careful. That matters if you are planning the activity around another booking or an airport departure. One person used the tour before a flight, and the staff worked to get them back to the hotel on time. I would still leave a generous buffer before any flight, since pickup schedules and waiting times can vary.

A small warning: confirm the exact meeting point. There is more than one camel ride along the road, and stopping at the wrong place can cause confusion. Check your pickup instructions carefully and do not assume every camel attraction in the area is the same business.

Transport can also add waiting time at the end. One person waited about an hour after the meal for the return ride, and another reported a wait of two hours. These delays do not seem to be the usual experience, but they are possible. If you choose the transfer option, do not schedule another activity immediately afterward.

Is $50 a good price?

At about $50 per person, the basic price is reasonable for a one-hour camel ride plus the garden and animal visit. The value improves if you care about the setting and want more than a quick photo opportunity.

The optional tapas and drinks make the package more attractive. Hotel transport is also useful if you do not have a rental car. You are paying for several separate elements: the ride, the guided property visit, animal interaction, transport if selected, and lunch if selected.

Extra charges can affect the final cost. Camel feeding, photographs, videos, additional drinks, and products such as homemade jam are not included. Feeding the animals for a fee may feel less appealing if you expect animal interaction to be part of the admission, so ask about prices before committing.

I would compare the package price with what you would pay for a meal and taxi separately. For many people staying in the southern resorts, the convenience of pickup and the tapas meal make this a good-value half-day. If you only want to ride a camel and do not care about lunch or the farm, the basic outing may be enough.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the experience to families, first-time camel riders, couples, and anyone looking for something different from beaches and resort pools. Children have plenty to see, and the guides have been praised for being playful and kind with young children.

It also suits you if you like small farms, local food, and informal tours. The setting is peaceful, and the mountain drive gives you a break from the tourist center. The staff are friendly and willing to talk about the animals and the challenges of caring for them.

You may want to skip it if you dislike animal rides, struggle with heat, or expect dramatic desert scenery. The valley is attractive, but it is a rocky mountain setting with tropical gardens, not endless dunes. The tour can also feel tourist-oriented, especially when photographs, animal food, drinks, and products are offered for sale.

Older visitors and anyone with mobility concerns should ask about the boarding process before booking. The supplied information does not give a detailed accessibility policy. The ride itself requires sitting on a camel for close to an hour, and the route is uneven.

Booking is flexible: you can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Starting times depend on availability, so check the schedule before building your day around it.

Should you book the camel safari?

Book it if you want a relaxed, unusual outing with a strong family appeal. The best version includes hotel transport, the garden and animal visit, the camel ride, and tapas afterward. That combination gives you a taste of rural Gran Canaria rather than just a short ride beside a resort.

Prepare properly for the sun, confirm your pickup point, and leave spare time after the tour. If you do that, La Baranda offers good value and a memorable change of pace. I would choose the tapas package for the fuller experience, but the ride-only option works if you want to keep the day shorter and cheaper.

FAQ

How long does the camel safari last?

The activity is advertised as lasting three hours. Some descriptions refer to a four-hour program, and transport or waiting can make the total hotel-to-hotel time longer. The camel ride itself lasts 60 minutes.

Where does the camel ride take place?

The ride takes place at Camel Safari Park La Baranda in the Fataga nature reserve, in the Valley of the Thousand Palms near San Bartolomé de Tirajana.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included only if you choose 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 do the guides speak?

The guides and instructors speak Spanish, English, and German.

Is tapas included in the standard price?

Tapas and drinks are included only if you select the tapas option. Extra drinks are not included, and the food selection can vary.

Can I feed the camels and other animals?

Camel feeding is not included in the activity price. Animal food may be available to purchase separately, and you can visit and interact with the farm animals during the tour.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Light clothing is recommended in summer, while warmer clothing is better in winter. Long sleeves, trousers, and a hat are useful in strong sun.

Who cannot take part in the camel ride?

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

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you book without paying immediately.