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Resort Guides
Arguineguin
Arguineguin is a small village and fishing port in the south west of the island. It is ideal for those looking for a beach-based holiday with a laid-back Spanish atmosphere in one of the sunniest parts of the island. Early birds will see the local fishing boats bringing in the days catch which is later served in the excellent local restaurants. Still a working fishing port, Arguineguin has gradually expanded to become a very busy tourist resort, yet, this little town has managed to preserve its original rather pleasant core with several good fish restaurants and some lively fishermen's bars at the harbour, making a visit worthwhile. Here, the busiest day in the week is Tuesday, when Arguineguin hosts one of the biggest markets of the region. There is a nice coastal promenade connecting Arguineguin with the beautiful beaches and coves at Patalavaca.
Transfer approximately 45 mins and 25GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Las Canteras
Las Canteras was Gran Canaria's very first tourist resort, with lots of hotels, offices, shops, restaurants, bars and one of the best urban beaches in Spain. Las Canteras is a suburb of the capital of the island Las Palmas. It has an excellent beach with 4 km of golden sand in a sheltered bay. At night the whole area is busy with pavement cafes, restaurants and bars offering a cosmopolitan style holiday. Nearby El Confitel beach is popular with windsurfers and water sports enthusiasts.
Transfer approximately 30 mins and 25GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Las Palmas
Las Palmas is the capital of the island offering excellent shopping with many designer stores. Nightlife varies from pavement cafes to nightclubs with a wide variety of restaurants and bars. Las Palmas stretches from the old historical quarter in the south, centred on Vegueta which has a restored cathedral, small ancient churches and museums, along a network of long boulevards towards the lively Santa Catalina, where you will find the wide restaurant lined beachfront promenade of Las Canteras Beach and the majority of accommodation. The Santa Park is a large, cobbled, sun drenched square, which is a popular meeting place, with its pavement cafes and regular cultural events. The main place for shopping in Las Palmas is Las Arenas and La Ballena which are two hypermarkets. Las Arenas has famous brand named shops of all styles and La Ballena is home to more traditional shops and international shops on both sides of the street. For more shopping you can go to the North of the City to Siete Palmas which is another centre with plenty of shops. Las Palmas is probably the best place on the island for an all day shopping trip.
Transfer approximately 25 mins and 15GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Maspalomas
Maspalomas caters well for families as the resort has 2 water parks and a fun fair. Located 2 kilometres west of Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas is suitable for quieter family holidays. The resort is famous for its sweeping sand dunes moulded by winds carrying Saharan sands across the sea from Africa. The dunescapes are peaceful expanses and are particularly pretty at sunset. They are also ideal for private sunbathing and camel trekking. Enjoy meal times in the relaxed surroundings of Maspalomas - there are many eateries to choose from. For a change of scene, and even more variety, pop along the coast to nearby Playa del Inglés. Maspalomas is much quieter than its vibrant neighbour down the coast, Playa del Ingles, which is where the lively nights are. Playa del Ingles is only 5 minutes away by taxi. There is an 18 hole golf course and numerous water sports as well as the Faro 2 shopping centre for designer bargains.
Transfer approximately 20 mins and 22GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Meloneras
Meloneras is a new tourist area offering high quality accommodation in a peaceful area. Meloneras is west of Maspalomas in the south of the island; there are 2 beaches nearby, Meloneras and Las Mujeres. Maspalomas sand dunes are a 1.2 km walk along the sea front promenade which also takes you past the lighthouse and Varadero shopping centre. There is also a golf course which is 2 km away. Nightlife is quite low key offering a handful of bars near the beach. A short taxi ride to Maspalomas or Playa del Ingles will take you into the heart of the action, with clubs, discos and bars.
Transfer approximately 35 mins and 25GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Patalavaca
Patalavaca is a quiet place 10 minutes from Puerto Rico and has been built for tourists wanting a relaxing holiday close to the hustle and bustle of a larger and busier resort with lots of amenities. Patalavaca has a rocky beach with parasols and sunloungers and is serviced by a small number of daytime cafés and beach bars. There is a man made sand beach 5 minutes away with water sports, restaurants and a range of gift shops. Part of the resort has a hill-top location where you can see beautiful sunsets, and on a clear day you can see Mount Teide on neighbouring Tenerife. Patalavaca is linked by a daytime bus service allowing you freedom to explore independently. For those venturing out in the evening taxis are available. There is a selection of restaurants in Patalavaca itself ranging from Chinese, Italian and International to local Canarian tapas. A small number of bars are also spread around the resort.
Transfer approximately 45 mins and 25GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Playa de Mogan
Puerto de Mogan is one of the prettiest resorts in the Canaries. It offers year-round sunshine and low-rise buildings with gardens full of flowers. The pedestrianised quayside at the marina is packed with shops, bars and restaurants serving local fresh fish. There is also a fantastic sandy beach. The south-facing, semicircular beach is safe for bathing and is well protected from the Atlantic wind and currents. The older part of the town is a maze of alleys and steps leading up the hillsides. It is known as the Venice of the Canaries.
Transfer approximately 1 hour and 35GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Playa de Taurito
A secluded, tranquil resort on the south-west coast of Gran Canaria, Playa Taurito enjoys fantastic views over the Atlantic ocean and the surrounding dramatic cliffs and dark volcanic sand. By day the small beach or the pools are the place to go. By night it is a quiet resort with most entertainment focused on the hotels. A busier resort is Puerto Rico which is 10 minutes away by taxi.
Transfer approximately 1 hour and 35GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Playa del Cura
Playa Del Cura is a tranquil and peaceful resort situated on a hill side in the south-west of the island about a 5minute drive from Puerto Rico. The livelier coastal resorts of Puerto Rico and Playa del Ingles can be accessed easily by the local bus service or by taxi. The resort has a small shingle beach with sunloungers and parasols. Facilities along the sea front are limited, you will need to bring food and drink if you wish to spend a day at the beach. Beaches with more to offer are available either at Puerto Rico or at Anfi a few miles from Playa del Cura. This resort is ideal for those looking for a quiet, relaxed holiday amongst stunning scenery. Most accommodation is built into the hillsides and offers wonderful view out to the Atlantic. Playa del Cura has an Exchange Bureau, a small bank and a supermarket. There are also gift shops for souvenirs and postcards. Restaurants in Playa del Cura include Canarian, Chinese and Italian and are reasonably priced. There are only a few bars in Playa del Cura.
Transfer approximately 40 mins and 32GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Playa del Ingles
Playa Del Ingles is the liveliest resort in Gran Canaria. The exciting nightlife of the Kasbah and Yumbo centres attract mainly groups and young couples. There are plenty of great shops and restaurants to choose from and acres of golden sand on the beach. The beach at Playa del Inglés is backed by a busy promenade, in a prime position for that lunchtime snack or sunset cocktail! It is reached by steps and roads, several hotels lay on regular courtesy buses. Wander along to the mile wide expanse of the Oasis of Maspalomas with its towering dunes, which sweep gently into the sea. The resort stretches on into the neighbouring town of Maspalomas which has a golf course and 2 water parks. Everyone, even families, can find a quiet nook to have something to eat here. The choice of cuisine is vast and there is something to suit everyone. Couples and groups of friends flock to Playa del Inglés, keen to enjoy the invariably sunny skies, sandy beaches and buzzing nightlife. Conveniently located approximately 30km from the airport, this resort offers a host of amenities to satisfy even the most discerning of visitor.
Transfer approximately 20 mins and 18GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has a gently shelving beach with water sports at the marina. Tennis, squash, minigolf, a bowling alley and a water park can all be found here, making this a great place for a family holiday. The resort is popular with couples and young people. Nightlife is centered around the commercial centre full of shops, restaurants and a few clubs. The accommodation is built into the hillside and offers spectacular views over the gardens in the valley. Puerto Rico has a wide range of restaurants that serve a variety of international and traditional menus. Whatever your tastes or purses, you'll find something to suit you in the resort.
Transfer approximately 45 mins and 30GBP from Las Palmas airport.
San Augustin
San Augustin is a sophisticated and unspoilt resort next to Playa del Ingles. It is more upmarket than its lively neighbour and offers a sandy beach backed by low cliffs, a casino and a health and beauty thalassotherapy centre. Ideal for those looking for a relaxing break it has a commercial centre for shopping and numerous restaurants to choose from. It is a small beach resort in a relaxed atmosphere, best for those wanting to enjoy the relaxing holiday atmosphere of a quieter resort with the choice of lively alternatives nearby. Playa del Ingles with its vibrant nightlife is only 1.5km away and is easily reached by taxi or on foot along the coastal promenade. San Augustin has a good choice of restaurants and bars, some local shops and great water sports, especially windsurfing and is famous for its charming character. Once a sleepy fishing village, it has grown into a recognised beach resort, offering a great choice of facilities and forming the perfect environment for enjoying a relaxed, peaceful holiday.
Transfer approximately 15 mins and 17GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Sonnenland
Sonnenland is a town in the south of Gran Canaria, set on a hillside above Maspalomas. It is an extension of Maspalomas just 2.5km from the lively nightlife of Playa del Ingles, yet within easy reach of the magnificent sand dunes. There are a wide range of hotels with amazing pools and beautiful streets to stroll through. There are varied shops with everything you need to have a comfortable holiday time. From Sonnenland you can combine nearby beaches Playa del Ingles, Playa de Palomas or Playa Meloneras as they are so close together. Also close to Sonnenland is the famous Maspalomas Dunes, a spectacular protected natural area of fine golden sand that crosses almost 3 km of beach and palm trees.
Transfer approximately 25 mins and 20GBP from Las Palmas airport.
Weather in Gran Canaria
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Beaches
Gran Canaria has an abundant of attractions and sightseeing places for you to visit whilst vacating there. Depending whether you are planning an active holiday or relaxing beach holiday, Gran Canaria has something for everyone!!!
If you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday or to visit the beach during your active holiday then look no further, Gran Canaria has a variety of beaches for you to enjoy, they are exquisite, almost 60km of the 236km of the coastal line around the island are beaches of various descriptions and some are completely unique!
At the impressive Maspalomas beach, you can find 250 hectares of sand dunes that are right next to the sea, some find it the most beautiful beach on the island! Maspalomas beach is divided into four sections, the first section being the best for the children and families, the second and the fourth are normally designated nudist beaches and the third is popular for the gay community. Along the beach there are lots of things to do that will keep you entertained, including the usual sports and leisure facilities, plenty of beach bars and restaurants, shops and if that's not enough close by are some of Gran Canaria's best water parks and theme parks!
Playa del Ingles has a beautiful beach. It is a broad expanse of sandy beach, awarded the prestigious Blue Flag, and stretches from San Agustín to Maspalomas. The entrance to the main Playa del Ingles beach is via steps with the water sports area close by. Las Canteras is the jewel of Las Palmas city. Running for over 3 km it is a golden sand beach with a parallel lava reef, known as La Barra, it protects the bay from the ocean and makes it a very safe beach to swim at. Another resort with a lovely beach is Puerto de Mogan.
With beaches for all tastes and preferences, Gran Canaria is a golden sand paradise! Smaller or bigger, with more or less privacy, there is a huge choice for everyone!
Top Attractions of the Area
Arucas - The delightful town of Arucas sits beneath a dormant volcano on the northern coast of Gran Canaria, and is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit. The neat town is dominated by the majestic Church of San Juan Bautista, carved in stone by local workers. The town is also the centre of sugar and rum production on the island and visitors are welcome at the Fabrica y Museo del Ron to witness how sugar cane is turned into rum. It is possible to take a short walk out of the town to the Montana de Arucas viewpoint for a panoramic look at the northern coastline.
Caldera de Bandama - Located 10km from the city centre in the neighbouring municipality of Santa Brigida, Caldera Bandama is the crater of a volcano in all its majesty. It is around 1km in diameter, with a 10km perimeter and an average depth of 200 metres. However, the importance of Bandama, a place where grapes were once grown and wine produced in the last century, is due not only to its landscape and plants but also to its archaeology, as inside the crater, there are various caves used by the original Islanders as homes.
Museo Canario - The main museum in Las Palmas is well worth a visit, boasting the world's largest collection of Cro-Magnon skulls and a few mummies. The museum also gives a comprehensive overview of the life and times of Gran Canaria's original inhabitants, the fair-haired light-skinned Guanche people, who were conquered by the Spanish in the 15th century.
Palmitos Park - Gran Canaria's most popular family attraction is a subtropical oasis in a verdant valley of palm trees, featuring more than 200 species of birds, including the tiny hummingbirds, toucans, peacocks, hornbills, cranes, flamingos and macaws among other attractions such as an aquarium, a butterfly house, a cacti garden and an orchid house.
Parque de los Crocodilo - This Crocodile Park is home to more than 300 crocodiles and alligators from all over the world. Visitors shouldn't miss the crocodiles' feeding time. The other half of the park is a zoo, which has sections on monkeys and chimpanzees, tigers, jaguars, camels and much more. There is a restaurant in the centre of the park where visitors can see a show where parrots perform various tricks, including doing a jigsaw puzzle and roller skating!
Pueblo Canario - The whitewashed Pueblo Canario was the pet project of Canarian artist Nestor Martin-Fernandez de la Torre, who conceived and oversaw the creation of this idealised representation of a typical island village in Dorames Park, Las Palmas. Buildings surround a square where performances of traditional folk music and dance take place every Sunday morning. The village also contains the Museo Nestor, in which is housed a collection of the artist's modernist paintings. The village also contains a Bodegon (wine bar) serving local dishes.
Reptilandia - Those with a soft spot for reptiles should visit Reptilandia, situated a little off the beaten tack, near Agaete in the northwest of the island. It includes a collection of snakes, tortoises, turtles and lizards - the Komodo Dragon here is believed to be the largest lizard in the world. There are also sections on spiders and monkeys.
Sioux City - Ride back in time and get the feel of the 'roaring Wild West'! Meet mythical warriors like White Herb and cowboys such as Doc Holiday or get caught in a bank hold up or a sudden shoot-out between cold-blooded cowpokes and the lawmen of Sioux City… This is a recreation of the American Wild West with gunfights, rustic barbecues, saloon gals, sheriffs and can-can girls… and to make the feel complete the air around you is filled with country & western music. Covering a surface of 320.000 sq. meters, this park is a replica of a Wild West town with its typical houses, a church, a ranch, a bank and a saloon. And of course, where you see cowboys there also must be Indians… So don't miss the Indian reservation! For the kiddies (as if that wasn't already enough) there is a small zoo with some cute animals.
Shopping
Popular souvenirs include local handicrafts like baskets made out of banana leaves, pottery, embroidery, felt hats and miniature versions of the famous Canary wooden balconies. For the best quality at reasonable prices look for the outlets of FEDAC - Federación para la Etnografía y el Desarrollo de la Artesanía Canaria - in Las Palmas and Playa del Inglés and at the weekly markets taking place in several towns around the island.
The city of Las Palmas is without any doubt Gran Canaria's largest commercial centre. Here you will find all the major chain and franchise stores, on Spanish and international level. The city's biggest shopping centres are Las Arenas, La Ballena, also known as 'zona comercial', where two branches of the famous El Corte Inglés chain are located. Calle Mayor de Triana is in the heart of the old Triana district, with a medley of shops, ranging from tiny fabric stores to old-fashioned tobacconists and international franchise outlets. El Muelle, at the Muelle Santa Catalina, is the newest shopping mall with a wide range of shops, restaurants, cafés, cinemas and discos.
The shopping centres of Playa del Inglés - of which the best known are probably Yumbo and Kasbah, but the biggest is Cita - are busy seven days a week, but the emphasis here is on price rather than quality. These shopping centers are usually huge buildings, where you can find almost everything - clothes, electronic goods, jewellery, perfumes as well as lots of animated bars, restaurants and clubs. The supermarkets all along the south coast also sell a wide range of local and imported food and drink.
Getting Around
A hire car is the most comfortable and convenient means of getting around Gran Canaria, giving you the freedom to come and go as you please. However, if you prefer to let others do the driving, then the island's bus service provides fairly extensive coverage and at a reasonable cost. Taxis are also reasonably priced and are readily available in all of the major locations. The hop on, hop off tourist bus service provides a cheap and easy way of seeing the island's capital city.
Bus
Bus services provide the cheapest way of getting around the island and cover a large proportion of its significant destinations as well as some of the smaller villages. Buses are easily identified by their distinctive green colour and all are clearly marked with their service number and destination. Frequent and reliable services run between Puerto Rico, Las Palmas, Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas.
Car Hire
One of the best ways to discover the island is to rent a car, driving around and finding your favourite places. As with most things on Gran Canaria, car hire is a very competitive market. There are many car rental companies and they all seem to offer more or less the same.
Taxis
Metered taxis are readily available across the island and are generally cheap, although unscrupulous taxi drivers may try to rip off unwitting tourists by claiming not to have any change for large bills. You may wish to approach your hotel to book a taxi for you, since hotels generally have arrangements with local drivers/companies or can at least recommend a reputable service to you.
Tour Buses
A tourist bus operated by the Gran Canaria Tourist Board covers all the most significant parts of Las Palmas and provides information in English during travel. Services commencing at 09:30, leaving from the Santa Catalina Park and running at intervals of 30 minutes until the last service of the day at 17:45. Travellers can get on and off the bus as many times as they wish during the day for a single price and travel cards can be bought from 'Guagas Municipales' kiosks around the city.
Nightlife
Nightlife in Gran Canaria is lively, noisy and fun! It does start late and goes on all night with most bars opening until 02.00 am and discos and clubs usually until 06.00 am. Very little happens before midnight. Like anywhere else, discos, clubs and bars fall in and out of favour very rapidly, so things may be changed when you come to Gran Canaria. But if you are staying in Las Palmas, the place to go is Plaza de España in the Mesa y Lopéz district, which is always lively until the early hours. Here you will find the old Heineken, where many locals start their evening. Then there is also the Cuasquias, the El Coto - for those who love the music of the 60s, La Floridita and the 'Rum Museum', La Ronería, which only opens in the evening from 21.00 to 02.00 hrs and serves all kinds of rum based drinks.
Even more action is happening all along the south coast, you won't get bored there! There are hundreds of bars, clubs and discos for all different tastes, especially in Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. Just head for the big shopping centres and choose what's best for you. On your way to the main nightlife areas you will always encounter people on the street handing out flyers.
There are bars found on almost every street. At night time a different section of the city wakes up, the bars spill on to the sidewalks, and the pubs and discos open their doors. It's time to get down! In the capital you could check out hot spots like La Marquesina, Donde López or Miau, whereas around Playa del Inglés, on the southern side of the island, some of the more popular places are La Bamba, Space and Joy. Prices are usually quite reasonable and you couldn't ask for greater diversity; it all depends on the atmosphere you're looking for and the music you like. Disco, rock, pop, Spanish folk, salsa, chic, gay, relaxed -- it's all here for the taking.
If you prefer it quieter and you would like to tempt your luck, there are two casinos in Gran Canaria, the Casino Las Palmas situated inside the Hotel Santa Catalina in the city of Las Palmas, and the Gran Canaria Casino, which you will find in the Hotel Meliá Tamarindos in San Agustín.
Eating Out
A great choice of friendly bars and restaurants ensure that all year round tourists have plenty of options when it comes to eating out.
Gran Canaria's large resorts and towns offer a wide range of international cuisine - everything from Chinese restaurants to fast food American-style burger bars. Local Canarian cuisine, however, is based around the sea life of the Atlantic and the island's fruit and vegetables. Try arroz con verduras, a sumptuous combination of rice with chopped peppers, sweetcorn and tomatoes or potaje de berros, a hearty soup made from watercress, pork, corn on the cob, potatoes, broadbeans and flavoured with fresh cumin. To finish off your meal why not sample the delights of a bienmesabe, a mixture of honey, almond cream, eggs and rum. Otherwise you can indulge all your fruity desires with some fresh mango, banana or papaya.
Visitors to Gran Canaria are treated to dishes made with local ingredients prepared by chefs from all over the world, assuring flavours that are both native to the islands and yet never boring.
The Canaries are blessed with an incredible variety of fish and seafood, and you'll get to taste it prepared in a thousand different ways! The special climate means that fruits and vegetables, as well as the most exotic of tropical fruits can be grown here. The famous potatoes of the islands, which we call papas, come in more than twenty different varieties, some of which can be harvested three times a year. Other local produce includes different kinds of cheese, mangos, tomatoes, avocados and eggplants and, most famous of all, the super-sweet Canarian banana
Restaurants which specialize in European cuisine, such as Casa Romántica, in Las Palmas, or Aubergine, in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, or in Andalusian food such as El Boquerón de Plata, in the capital, compete with other places such as Tapasia, which takes you on a culinary adventure throughout Asia, or Candombe, the place to get Brazilian barbecue. Don't miss the chance to try delicious, traditional island dishes of the islands offered in restaurants like Casa Enrique, or Canarian seafood at Tagoror or El Jardín Canario. Fried fish, vegetable stews with watercress (exquisite!), Canarian parboil, papas arrugadas (wrinkly potatoes served with a special Canarian sauce) and ropa vieja (shredded meat) and deserts such as bienmesabe or ice-cream made with roasted corn meal, are just some of the delights you can sample during your time on Gran Canaria.
Sports
With the best weather conditions for all kinds of outdoor sports all year round, there is nothing that you can't do on this island! Whatever your favourite sport, you will find the opportunity to do it on Gran Canaria. There are a variety of water sports including, scuba diving, sailing, windsurfing, body boarding, surfing, deep-sea fishing and Jet and Water skiing. There are other sports as well such as, golf, walking and hiking, horse riding, cycling, rock climbing, karting and camel safaris. There are also air sports, which include skydiving, parachuting, hang-gliding, paragliding and flying.
For the Family
Gran Canaria offers plenty to keep children entertained from aqua parks to camel rides. There are a number of attractions that children and parents will enjoy, especially the 3 water parks. Here are a few of ideas.
Camel Rides
One of the most popular activities in the south of the island is a ride around the Maspalomas Dunes on the back of a camel. The trip usually lasts for around half an hour - the camels generally carry two passengers and walk behind one another.
Holiday World
Holiday World boasts a traditional fun fair featuring numerous exciting attractions such as a classic 27 meters high Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, a laser drome, shooting stalls, seal and parrot shows and many more things to entertain the kids. It also comprises a leisure centre including a bowling alley, amusement arcades, a 'wellness centre' with a health spa and a high-tech gym, various cafés and restaurants as well as two night clubs (one of which is a salsa club), which attracts huge crowds at the weekends.
Water Park
There are 3 Water parks in Gran Canaria, two in Maspalomas and a small one in Puerto Rico. The main water park is called Aquasur. It is one of the perfect places for a family day out. With 130,000 sq. meters the biggest water park in Gran Canaria opens from 10.00 in the morning and provides fun for each and every member of the family with the most amazing aquatic entertainments. Located near Maspalomas, this water park is opened all year round. Its pools alone cover an area of 5,300 sq. meters and it boasts 33 slides and 13 fun attractions such as Surf Beach, Congo River, Crazy Race, Kamikaze, Rapids, Winder, Aquamania, Twister, the exotic mini-park Polinesia, children and adults swimming pools, mini-golf ... just to name some of them. Mamut and Adrenalina are two new super attractions, which were only recently opened. They have self-service restaurants, a pizzeria, coffee bars, shops, changing rooms, extensive garden areas and free parking.
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