A classic VW buggy turns scenery into a thrill. In Gran Canaria, you’ll ride in real 70s machinery with a guide who mixes driving skills with great stops, from sea-road viewpoints to canyon pauses.

I love the coast-horizon views, including a distant look at the Maspalomas lighthouse and the area tied to the Apollo 11-era imagery. I also love the small-group feel (up to 4 people), plus the fact that coffee/tea, soda/pop, and bottled water are built in.

One possible drawback: the buggies are manual, so if you don’t drive a stick shift, plan on sharing or swapping while the group stays safe and happy.

6 Key Highlights Worth Booking

• Real 1970s VW buggies: you get the authentic look and feel, not a modern imitation
• Up to 4 people: more time actually at the wheel and less waiting around
• Included drink stops: coffee/tea, soda/pop, bottled water, and a refreshment break in the canyon
• Sea-road viewpoints: you’ll see Arguineguín’s coast and the horizon early, when the light is best
• Mogán windmill stop + seaside return: a classic Gran Canaria ending with coastline driving
• Free photo collection on Facebook (70’sbuggy): you don’t have to rush for every single shot

A 70s VW Buggy Ride Is More Than Transportation

Gran Canaria is easy to drive, but it’s hard to experience at speed and angle. A real 1970s VW buggy changes that. You sit low, the road feels close, and the island hits you through the open-air ride.

What makes this tour practical is that it’s not just sightseeing from a bus window. You’re in an actual vintage vehicle with a guide-instructor mindset, and the route is designed to give you repeated payoffs: views, photo moments, and short breaks.

Also, the small group size (max 4 travelers) matters. Fewer people means you’re less likely to spend the day watching someone else drive while you wait your turn.

Price and What $169.31 Actually Buys for Up to 4

The price is $169.31 per group, up to 4 people. That’s the kind of number that can feel steep until you do the math: if you fill all seats, you’re closer to a mid-range per-person activity, not a private-car-only price.

You also get real value in the details that add up fast on vacation. Coffee/tea, soda/pop, bottled water, and all fees and taxes are included. Plus you’re on private transportation using the buggies, not just “a guided walk to a view.”

It’s also worth noting how flexible the timing can feel in practice. The tour is listed around 2 hours 30 minutes, but you may end up closer to 3 hours once you include mountain driving pace and photo/drink pauses. I’d plan for that.

Where You Start: Sunset Beach Meloneras Meets a Vintage-Car Day

The meeting point is at Sunset Beach Meloneras Playa, C. Mar Blanco, 6, 35100 San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Las Palmas, Spain). The tour ends back at the same meeting point, so you’re not trying to solve transportation at the end of a fun but tiring drive.

Pickup is offered, and that’s a big plus if you’re staying away from the south-coast hub. If you’re on a cruise, I strongly recommend you confirm pickup timing clearly before the day starts. One traveler had a messy experience around port timing, and even when it gets corrected, it can still scramble your schedule.

Good news: you don’t need to rely on cash or a desktop printout. It’s a mobile ticket.

Learning to Drive the Manual Buggy (So You Feel Confident, Fast)

This is the big practical point: buggies here can be manual. One review specifically notes that they’re not automatic, and that the group had to adapt when not everyone could drive stick.

If you can drive a manual car, you’re set up for a smoother day. You’ll likely spend more of the tour actually driving instead of swapping.

If you can’t drive stick, don’t panic. But do go in with eyes open. Ask ahead how driver swaps work, and be ready for the possibility that not every buggy in the fleet is equally available in every moment. That’s not about making excuses for anyone; it’s about keeping your day stress-free.

Either way, expect the guide to manage positioning and pace. The best part of driving a buggy on these roads is control. The less you fight the vehicle, the more you can enjoy the scenery and the “snaking” feeling of mountain roads.

Stop 1: Arguineguín Viewpoint and the Apollo 11 Connection

You start with a road by the sea and arrive at a viewpoint overlooking Arguineguín and the coastline. This first stop is about orientation. You’re up high enough to see horizon lines clearly, and that makes the rest of the driving feel more meaningful.

What I like here is the mix of present and past. You get a clear distant look at Maspalomas lighthouse. And the guide context adds extra interest: the area is described as linked to a former NASA space center that served in the first image of the Apollo 11 expedition.

Even if you’re not a space buff, this stop works because it sets the geography. You start to recognize what you’ll later connect with canyon and seaside roads.

Practical tip: bring sun protection even if the beach areas feel mild. You’ll be outside and moving, and that early sea air doesn’t always mean cooler temperatures.

Stop 2: Cercados de Espinos Canyon Village and Drink Break

Next you head into the heart of the canyon for Cercados de Espinos. This is a smaller, more Canarian-feeling pause. The tour includes a drink stop here, and that matters because the road to and through the canyon can heat you up.

The drive between views is part of the point. You’ll get multiple short stops on the way to enjoy mountain and canyon outlooks without it turning into a long hike. It’s “see, breathe, drink, shoot photos, keep going.”

I also like that this stop is designed for people who want breaks but don’t want to lose the momentum of a driving tour. You get just enough down time to reset your eyes and hands.

If you’re traveling with kids, this kind of stop rhythm helps. It’s not endless driving with no breaks, and it’s not a walking tour where everyone checks out.

Stop 3: Province of Soria Scenery Pause

Province of Soria is a shorter scenic stop (about 15 minutes) with stunning views. You’re not there for a museum visit or a long guided lecture. You’re there to look.

This portion is valuable because it gives the trip a “middle peak” moment. Earlier you’re getting coast context. Later you’ll shift toward Mogan and the seaside descent. The Soria stop is the in-between that keeps the day from feeling like one continuous road with no changes.

In practice, these 10–15 minute pauses are where good photos happen—if you’re patient for a clean shot and you don’t crowd others.

Bring a light layer if you get chilly easily. Mountain air can feel different once you’re higher up, even when it’s warm in the low areas.

Stop 4: Mogán Village Windmill and the Seaside Return

Then you cross through the village of Mogan. There’s a stop to see a windmill, which gives you a classic rural island detail you won’t get from just beach hopping.

After that, you go back down toward the seaside. This final leg is the reward portion of the day. You’ve already “earned” it with the mountain curves and elevation changes, and now the roads let you enjoy the coast again with more speed and less strain.

In my view, this stop order is smart. It starts with big horizon views, transitions into canyon terrain, then finishes with a cultural nod (windmill) and a payoff that feels like relief and freedom: seaside driving.

If you’re the type who likes a good photo finish, this is where you’ll want your phone charged and your hands steady for the last round of shots.

The Guides: Philippe and Simon Set the Tone

A buggy tour lives or dies by the people running it. Here, the energy seems to come from Philippe and Simon, who show up as the faces and the car-talk backbone of the experience.

One theme that keeps appearing is their enthusiasm for classic cars and their way of turning driving into a story. You’re not just handed a vehicle and sent off. You get instruction, humor, and that petrolhead vibe that makes the route feel personal.

Guides also show up as helpful troubleshooters. One traveler described a moment where the buggy ran out of fuel halfway up the mountain, and the guide handled it so the ride stayed fun and the group could get back. That’s the kind of real-world competence you want when you choose a vintage vehicle day.

I also appreciate the social side mentioned by multiple groups. You can chat about cars, life, and the island, without it turning into awkward forced small talk.

What’s Included (and Why It Helps)

You’ll get coffee and/or tea, soda/pop, and bottled water. Those sound basic, but on a hot day of open-air driving, they prevent the “we should’ve planned snacks” regret.

The tour also includes private transportation and all fees and taxes, so you’re not doing surprise add-ons mid-experience. There are admission tickets listed for stops as free, which suggests the paid part of the day stays focused on guiding and vehicle time rather than constant ticket counters.

And then there’s the photo perk: all photos are free to collect on the 70’sbuggy Facebook page. That’s a practical move. Instead of burning battery and juggling cameras while you drive, you can enjoy the ride and still get visuals afterward.

Weather, Timing, and How to Not Have a Bad Day

This activity requires good weather. That’s important in Gran Canaria, because mountain roads plus open-air vehicles can be less comfortable in wind or heavy cloud.

Timing is another thing to watch. Even though the tour is listed around 2 hours 30 minutes, the experience can run longer once you factor in real driving pace, stop timing, and group flow. If you’re catching a flight or have a hard dinner reservation, give yourself buffer time.

If you’re coming from a cruise, treat pickup as a coordination task, not a given. Confirm where and when to meet, and keep a backup plan for getting to the meeting point if there’s any delay. One reported mix-up didn’t ruin the entire day, but it did create extra stress and cost.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and When to Pass)

This is a great match if you want a classic-car style experience with a scenic route and a small group. It’s also ideal for couples, friends, and families who like roads, views, and hands-on fun rather than a quick stop-and-go bus tour.

I’d steer you toward this tour if:

• you like vintage vehicles and want to drive, not just watch
• you enjoy viewpoints and short stops more than long walks
• you can drive a manual, or you’re okay with swapping

I’d think twice if:

• you require an automatic car and can’t drive manual at all
• you’re on a strict timeline with no slack
• you’re expecting off-road chaos, because the focus is scenic driving and organized pauses, not reckless terrain

Final Verdict: Should You Book 70’sbuggy in Gran Canaria?

Yes, I’d book it if you’re excited by the idea of a real 1970s VW buggy day and you’re comfortable with a small-group adventure. The combination of iconic Gran Canaria viewpoints (coast, canyon, Mogan), classic-car driving, and a guide team that keeps the mood high is hard to beat for the price when the group fills up.

But book with two smart cautions: confirm how the manual driving works for your group, and plan extra buffer time for mountain-road pacing. If you do that, you’ll end up with the kind of day you remember because you felt the road.

FAQ

How long is the buggy tour?

It’s listed at about 2 hours 30 minutes.

How many people are in a group?

The maximum group size is 4 travelers.

Is pickup offered, and where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered. The listed meeting point is Sunset Beach Meloneras Playa, C. Mar Blanco, 6, 35100 San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Las Palmas, Spain, and the tour ends back there.

What drinks are included?

Coffee and/or tea, soda/pop, and bottled water are included.

Are photos included?

Yes. The tour operator offers free access to the excursion photos via their Facebook page (70’sbuggy).

Is the tour in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

Are the buggies automatic?

A review mentions the buggies are manual (no automatic).

Does the tour depend on weather?

Yes. It requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather you’re offered a different date or a full refund.