The 9th LPA Estación: Rooftop Jazz, Tuk-Tuk Tours and Hidden Corners of Las Palmas

Imagine starting your morning with a meditation breakfast in a grand hotel, spending the afternoon kayaking off Las Canteras beach, and ending the day with a bolero concert on a rooftop as the sun sinks behind the harbour. That is not a holiday fantasy — it is a typical day during LPA Estación, the multi-day urban programme that has been quietly transforming how people experience Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Created by Turismo LPA, the city’s tourism board, the festival is built on a simple but powerful idea: that the capital is not just a gateway to the island’s beaches and mountains, but a destination in its own right. Over eleven days, the ninth edition will scatter guided routes, live music, museum visits, sea activities and family workshops across the city’s neighbourhoods, parks, hotels and coastline. The goal, as the organisers put it, is to invite everyone to “hacer turismo en su propia ciudad” — to do tourism in their own city — and to rediscover the singular character of a place that is far more than its famous urban beach.

A city-wide stage: from Vegueta’s temples to the rooftops of Santa Catalina

One of the festival’s defining features is its geography. LPA Estación does not confine itself to a single venue or district. Instead, it deliberately spreads across the urban fabric, turning the entire city into a cultural route. In the historic quarter of Vegueta, you can join a guided walk through its emblematic temples or follow the trail of English merchants who left their mark on the port city. Over in the fishing barrio of San Cristóbal, families crack clues in a gymkhana that brings the neighbourhood’s maritime past to life.

Then there are the rooftops. A string of city hotels — among them the Reina Isabel, Santa Catalina, Occidental Las Palmas, Cordial Malteses and Design Plus Bex — open their terraces as cultural stages. These are not just places to sleep; during LPA Estación they become vantage points for acoustic jazz sessions, crooner concerts, salsa nights and DJ sets, often paired with brunches or wine tastings. The programme turns the city’s hospitality infrastructure into a series of intimate venues, each with a view that makes you see Las Palmas from a fresh angle.

What you can actually do: a taste of the programme

The ninth edition offers 34 activities, and while the full confirmed list will be published when bookings open, the recurring strands give a clear picture of what to expect. Heritage routes are a cornerstone: expect walks that trace the city’s defensive fortresses, its viewpoints (“a vista de pájaro”), and even traces of mythology hidden in its streets. A football-themed route dedicated to the Unión Deportiva Las Palmas adds a distinctly local flavour, while cinema and literature buffs can join itineraries inspired by Agatha Christie or the city’s role as a film set.

On the water, the options are just as varied. From Las Canteras beach, you can join kayak, snorkel, surf or bodyboard sessions — some by day, others under the stars. Sunset sailing trips depart from the Bahía de Las Palmas, offering views of the traditional Vela Latina Canaria boats from the sea. For those who prefer dry land, guided hikes in the Caldera de Bandama volcano crater combine nature with the origins of local wine.

Music runs through the entire programme. Beyond the rooftop concerts, you might catch a soul session in a hotel lounge, a monologue in a creative space, or a workshop led by choreographer Daniel Abreu, a winner of the Premio Nacional de Danza. Gastronomy, too, gets its moment: cooking workshops, cocktail masterclasses and a session on Tuno Indio — a traditional Canarian prickly pear product — at the Orden del Cachorro Canario.

For families: animals, circus skills and a “piraguardería”

LPA Estación takes families seriously. One of the most charming routes is “La ciudad escondida: en busca de sus animales” in Parque Doramas, where children hunt for the hidden creatures of the city’s green heart. At the Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo, kids can take part in “Bajo la sombra de los dragos”, an activity set among the dragon trees of Spain’s largest botanical garden.

Down by the coast, the family “piraguardería” in Alcaravaneras mixes kayaking with play sessions — a clever blend of sport and childcare that gives parents a breather. Circus school days, bike routes and environmental awareness activities at El Confital round out a programme that makes the city feel like an adventure playground for all ages.

Practicalities: booking, prices and getting around

The festival’s accessibility is part of its appeal. While exact prices for the ninth edition have not yet been confirmed, previous summer editions have kept costs low, with many outdoor routes and family activities being free and others starting at around 5 €. The pattern is consistent: LPA Estación is designed to be affordable, not exclusive.

Booking is essential and opens at 10:00 h on Thursday, 30 July, via the official LPAvisit and LPAestacion websites. Places are allocated on a first-come basis, and with around 1,200 to 1,300 spots across the programme, popular activities can disappear quickly. To help participants move between venues, Guaguas Municipales provides free two-trip public transport vouchers — a small but thoughtful touch that encourages people to explore neighbourhoods they might otherwise skip.