• UK
• Europe
• Central America
• Caribbean
• Africa
• Turkey
• Global Destinations
• OFFERS
• Flights
• Blog
• Travel Insurance
• Accommodation

Gran Canaria.
With its endless sandy beaches, dramatic mountainous interior, desert like dunes and acres of lush green vegetation, Gran Canaria is the most scenic of the Canary Islands. Although smaller than both Tenerife and Fuerteventura it is, nonetheless, home to half the entire population of the archipelago. Its superb climate and diversity of natural features has helped make it one of the most popular year-round holiday destinations in the world.

Gran Canaria’s most popular resort is Playa del Ingles with its frantic nightlife and four miles of beach. Here you can join a camel train through the Sahara like sand dunes, go shopping in the colossal Yumbo Centrum or drink and dance the night away in some of the very best nightclubs and discos in the Canaries. A few miles to the west is Puerto Rico, a more family orientated resort. Situated within a narrow valley leading to the sea it is an attractive resort with gleaming white apartments built into the hillsides. The gently shelving man made beach is popular with locals and visitors alike and offers a comprehensive range of superb water sports. There’s also a great choice of family activities including tennis, mini golf, tenpin bowling and a fabulous water park. The immense and enduring popularity of Grand Canaria comes as no surprise. As far as sunshine breaks go, you simply can’t go wrong.

Although most visitors to the island head straight to the main resort areas, it is well worth paying a visit to the capital Las Palmas. This is the only place in the Canary Islands that actually has the true feel of a city. A thriving, bustling metropolis it attracts an exciting and eclectic crowd, typical of major sea ports the world over. Popular with tourists who fancy a day away from the beach there is much to see and do.

Mount Tejeda.
Located in the centre of the island at and altitude of nearly 2,000m is Tejeda. Lushly forested, with reservoirs and a superb alpine climate a journey up the mountain makes an excellent day trip. The titular village has survived the ravages of modern tourism and retained its traditional appearance and way of life, with the lace and weaving trade also thriving. You can hike, take a jeep or ride a donkey; anyway you explore the area will be rewarding the scenery is so breathtaking. And before returning to your hotel take time to replenish yourself at one of the villages two traditional Canarian restaurants.

Cenobio de Valeron Caves at Guia.
The Cenobio de Valeron Caves consists of rows of somewhere between 200-300 round and rectangular chambers dug out of volcanic rock with stone or animal bone tools for use as granaries. Connected by steps and passages and were, according to documents from the Spanish conquest, once flanked by towers. Because of preservation and safety issues the chambers themselves are now off limits but it is still possible to see the extent of this amazing feet of human engineering from a rail staircase built to accommodate visitors.

Scuba Diving off the South Coast.
The superb weather, crystal clear waters and guaranteed water temperature of 20-25degrees centigrade makes scuba diving off the south coast of Gran Canaria an absolute must for fans of the sport. The richness of the marine life is only matched by the variety of the dives available – the Wrecks of Las Palmas and Mogan, hair-raising wall dives and the reefs of Pasito Blanco. Expect to come face to face with Groupers, Moray Eals, Tuna, Octopus, Barracuda and much more.

Seafood at Puerto de las Nieves.
Formerly a fishing village Puerto de las Nieves is a wonderfully relaxing antidote to the bustle of Las Palmas and its companion resorts. As you would expect the harbour front has several excellent seafood restaurants offering traditionally prepared Canarian cuisine – Parrot fish with salted potatoes and mojo sauce (a kind of salsa) or locally caught fish split in two roasted and served with a fresh salad of bananas, avocados, tomatoes and lettuce - whilst enjoying some truly exhilarating views across the cliffs of the west coast.

Tracks of the Guanches.
The original inhabitants of Gran Canaria, the Guanches were described as tall white skinned (sometimes blue eyed and blond). There existence has proved a mystery to historians but they have left their signature all over the island. In the Cueva Pintada at Galdar there are wall multicoloured geometrical paintings. At Telde you’ll find Montana Sagrada or ‘Holy Mountain’ once sacred to the race as well as several caves once inhabited by the Guanches and close to San Bartolome de Tirajana is the Guanches’ Necropolis of Artenara.