The Island of Gran Canaria

It may surprise you to learn that Gran Canaria has so much more to offer the visitor than just sun and locally grown Bananas. Along with many Islands it has a history soaked in conquering heroes, cave dwellers and land development, and should be considered as the one of the most popular archipelagos of the Canary Islands.

This mini-continent has been entertaining travellers and tourists with its different climates and variety of landscapes in style for many years. It is true that while some people on the Island are bathing in the heat of the sun, there will be others who are wrapped up in winter coats admiring the sprinkling of snow on the ground.

Its daily climate throughout the year ranges from 20ºC to 30ºC, depending on the time of year that you visit, and during the winter months there are cooler nights, but anything below 10ºC is rarely felt along the southern coast. There is always some rainfall during the months November to February which helps to bring out the beauty of the plants on the Island, some which are indigenous to Gran Canaria itself.

Gran Canaria is home to a multitude of geographical areas, from mountain landscapes; desert sands; tropical forests etc; where else can you lie on golden sandy beaches on Monday; go mountaineering on Wednesday and by Friday be trying the traditional Canarian tapas in one of the many picturesque villages dotted around the Island.

Things to do and see…

History & Culture…

If you are interested in reflecting on how the Island has changed, then taking a day trip to one of the many beautiful villages around the Island should give you a treat. The lovely village of Agüimes has been restored and now invokes the peace, values and heart of the Canarian people. In the surrounding areas you can also find some of the best cave dwellings on the Island, delightfully preserved in the protected area of Guayadeque Ravine.

There are plenty of museums scattered around, but in Las Palmas you will find the Museo Canario, The Canarian Museum – where you can creep back in time to see the original settlers of the Island, the aborigines and Los Guanches of Tenerife.

There are also plenty of places to visit, and too numerous to mention here, however if you have time and are interested in the culture of Gran Canaria, try to see the following;

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Christopher Columbus’ house
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Museum of Arts
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Arucas Cathedral
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Pueblo Canario, in the gardens of Doramas Park

Further information can be obtained at the Canarian Tourist Office.

Shopping…

If you are staying in the South of the Island, there is a large shopping centre in Vecindario called ‘Commerical Atlantico’. This includes a shopping mall and one of the most popular brand supermarkets in Spain, ‘Carrefour’. Stepping out of the Mall, you can also experience Spanish life on the high streets of Vecindario, which has plenty of shops and bars and restaurants to choose from. Alternatively the areas of Maspalomas, Puerto Rico and Mogan, to name but a few all have a myriad of stores to tempt you, from designer labels to tourist t-shirts for the family back home.

Triana Street, near the Las Palmas district of Vegueta, is perfect for the browsing shopper. It has an abundance of modern and upmarket shops, and a wonderful ambience from the old historical city of pebbled and pedestrian streets.

The shopping area of Mesa y Lopez in the heart of Las Palmas has brand name stores, including the grand El Corte Ingles, and if you enjoy shopping cosmopolitan style this is the place for you.

Night Entertainment…

Playa del Ingles is most popular as a destination resort for European gay tourists, with plenty of night and day entertainment centred mainly in the Yumbo Centre.

There is also plenty of nightlife in the bustling area of Puerto Rico in the Centro Commercial, however if you are looking for some real all night partying head off into the capital Las Palmas, where the vibrant evening entertainment is a must for a night to remember.

For those of you that prefer a quieter life, there are also many bars scattered around the local areas that will happily serve you a cool glass of Sangria to watch the sun go down with, including those in Tauro, Playa Del Cura, Puerto Mogan, and Arguineguin. So whether strolling along a moonlit beach is your thing, or hard partying at a local club is more your style – Gran Canaria can cater for everyone.

Restaurants & Bars…

Gran Canaria has some of the most fantastic restaurants among the Islands, and prides itself on his speciality cuisine. If any of our members would like to personally recommend a restaurant that they have frequented, please feel free to let us know and we will place the listing below;

Lisa & Dave, South Yorks, UK

As regular visitors of Gran Canaria, we have always loved the restaurant of Guantanamo in the area of Tauro. The staff are always friendly, recognising us year after year, and always with a friendly smile for the children, and the food is also second to none. We can’t recommend them enough!

Beaches…

The Maspalomas Dunes have the most wonderful beaches, although can be a little more windier than those in the South – great for surfing!

The beaches of Puerto Rico and Playa Amadores are the main beaches in the south that are accessible by everyone, and are well maintained and clean.

Markets…

Any day on the Island you should be able to find a market, selling anything from leather bags; plants; sunglasses or local food. The locals will visit the markets for fresh fruit and vegetables, so don’t always assume that they are only frequented by tourists. The most popular markets are;

Tuesday – Arguineguin

Wednesday – Maspalomas

Thursday – Vecindario

Friday – Mogan

Saturday – Maspalomas

Sunday – Las Palmas

Transport…

The taxi service is exceptional, clean and safe on the Island of Gran Canaria. They charge reasonable rates and are noticeable by the white Mercedes that you see around town. Each municipal has its own designated taxi service, and are obliged to respect the other so even though you may see a taxi in your area always check the colours to see if they can pick up in your district.

Buses (Guagua’s) are also second to none, and an extensive system is run across the whole Island. They are run by GLOBAL and Guaguas Municipales and are regular, clean, modern and air conditioned. Prices are reasonable.

There are plans for a Railway network, to link the capital and the South of the Island which have been approved by the Canarian Government and local government – however at the moment the final decision lies with the Spanish Government with regards to the budget.

Disabled Facilities…

The Airport in Gran Canaria, one of the busiest in Spain has excellent facilities for those with disabilities in the terminal, and the local government is encouraging more expenditure in this area across the whole of the Island. Where some areas are yet to catch up, in general many beaches such as Las Canteras in Las Palmas, and the major beaches in the South have several wallboards down to the sea. Playa Amadores beach has its own wheelchair buggy to help, if it’s required, to get you down to the waters edge.

The majority of hotels and resorts are also friendly for wheelchair users, and the investment being pushed into the country, assures us that issues for wheelchair uses in GC are improving all the time.

Other Attractions…

Gran Canaria is filled with things to do with the children, or has plenty to offer those who wish to experience the new with the old…

Crocodilos Park – a locally run park with not just the odd crocodile or two to keep you entertained. Well worth the visit, and very reasonably priced for the family.

There is plenty of scuba diving in Gran Canaria, for those who have years of experience and for those who wishing to try it for the first time. Check out local promotion for the companies involved and listed.

Gran Canaria has several water parks; Aqualand and Atlantida and also homes the great Palomitas Park in the South of them Island, making a spectacular comeback since the fires of 2007 made such a drastic difference to the landscape. They are currently building a new spectacle for the Dolphin show which is planned for opening in August 2009.

For further information on these, and to check on all of the other daily and nightly attractions that Gran Canaria has to offer please checkout the Gran Canarian Tourism Board website on www.grancanaria.com