SunkatCan you tan in Gran Canaria in winter?
Gran Canaria's south coast is one of the most reliable winter-sun spots in Europe. Here is how strong the UV is each month, and how fast each skin type burns.
Short answer: yes. On a clear day Gran Canaria's midday UV is about 5 in November, 4 in December, 5 in January and 7 in February, roughly what London gets between late April and May. Fair skin can start to redden after about 41 minutes at a December midday, and the sun is much stronger from April to September, when the UV index reaches 13.
UV index in Gran Canaria by month
Clear-sky UV index at midday near Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, with how long fair (type II) and medium (type III) skin take to start reddening without sunscreen at that peak. Peak months for Gran Canaria visitors are highlighted: November 5, December 4, January 5, February 7, March 9.
| Month | Midday UV clear sky | Fair skin first redness | Medium skin first redness | Typical cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 moderate | 33 min | 40 min | 40% |
| February | 7 high | 23 min | 28 min | 36% |
| March | 9 very high | 18 min | 22 min | 48% |
| April | 12 extreme | 13 min | 16 min | 42% |
| May | 13 extreme | 12 min | 15 min | 44% |
| June | 13 extreme | 12 min | 15 min | 31% |
| July | 13 extreme | 12 min | 15 min | 4% |
| August | 12 extreme | 13 min | 16 min | 16% |
| September | 10 very high | 16 min | 20 min | 39% |
| October | 8 very high | 20 min | 25 min | 44% |
| November | 5 moderate | 33 min | 40 min | 42% |
| December | 4 moderate | 41 min | 50 min | 43% |
Midday UV is modelled from the sun's height and typical ozone for Gran Canaria (Madronich 2007), rounded. Haze and cloud make many real days 1 to 2 points lower. Cloud cover is the median for each month in 2023 to 2025 (Open-Meteo). Over the year the clear-sky peak runs from 4 to 13.
North clouds, south sun
Gran Canaria is round and mountainous, so the trade-wind cloud piles up on the north side around Las Palmas while the south around Maspalomas stays clear. The UV index is the same; the difference is how often cloud gets in the way.
The Maspalomas dunes are pale sand, which reflects about 15% of UV back up (WHO), so you get a little more than the index says while walking or lying on them.
Summer
From April to September the clear-sky midday UV is 10 to 13, so fair skin can start to redden in under 20 minutes around midday.
Frequently asked
Can you tan in Gran Canaria in winter?
Yes. On a clear day the midday UV is about 4 in December and 5 in January, enough for a gradual tan and for fair skin to burn after about 41 minutes.
Where is the sunniest part of Gran Canaria?
The south coast: Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Puerto Rico and Mogán. The north around Las Palmas gets more trade-wind cloud.
Going to Gran Canaria? Take your burn limit with you
Sunkat reads the live UV wherever you land and times each side for your skin type. Free on iPhone and Android.
