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Your holiday in Gran Canaria
Huge rolling dunes dominate Gran Canaria’s popular southern coastline. The shelving sands create the perfect environment for safe family fun, and bubbly beach-front bars appeal to visitors of all ages. Experience the big city bustle of the capital Las Palmas and its sophisticated shopping, soak up the sun on endless sandy beaches, indulge in some watersports or tour this tiny, delightful island at your leisure.
Outdoor pursuits
Gran Canaria caters well for villa holiday visitors with numerous sport and leisure activities. Golf on the island is popular and you can enjoy a round at either Salobre Golf Resort or at Anfi Golf. Take a big game fishing trip, or go cruising around the coast on a glass bottom boat – stopping off for a swim, snorkel or banana boat ride before you reach the shore. Whale and dolphin watching are also popular activities along Gran Canaria’s coast. Why not explore the island’s mountainous interior by foot on a guided nature trail on your villa holiday, or take a jeep safari through untouched rocky retreats and traverse the dunes on a guided camel tour.
Hints of history
There are numerous cultural scenes in Gran Canaria’s architecturally rich capital Las Palmas. The historic cobblestone streets lead to the Gothic neo-classical cathedral; Columbus House, and the Canary Island Museum with its exhibitions of pre-Spanish inhabitants of the island. Smaller towns such as Telde and Teror typify the colonial past, and many old villages can be found scattered throughout the island - famous today for their crafts and embroidery. Gran Canaria boasts several religious and historical centres, housing a wide array of artefacts depicting Canary Island life over the ages.
On the beach
With beaches to suit all tastes, Gran Canaria is an oasis of sun-drenched golden sand. Most of the beaches are found at the southern end of this Canary Island, where the climate is warm and dry all year round. In the larger villa holiday resorts, you’ll find soft, fine sand, fantastic watersports and beachside facilities. At Maspalomas in particular the beaches offer endless expanses of white sand and sparkling seas. Once you have rounded the south west corner, the Gran Canaria coastline becomes rocky and lined with secluded bays offering spectacular views.
Retail therapy
Las Palmas is without doubt Gran Canaria’s largest commercial centre. All the major retail chain and franchise stores can be found in this cosmopolitan city centre. Local markets sell fresh produce, linen, leather and handcrafted goods such as wicker baskets. For quality souvenirs made on Gran Canaria look out for FEDAC shops – public-funded outlets where local artists sell their wares. Gift shops and boutiques are plentiful throughout the island, and many goods are duty free. Cigars from the Canary Islands are also world famous.
James recommends
- Visit the Dunes of Maspalomas for private sun worshipping or to have a real desert experience.
- Take a boat trip to Puerto de Mogán- and have lunch at the charming marina on the south west coast.
- Spend a capital day in Las Palmas – head for the historic Vegueta area for delightful squares, the cathedral and fascinating museums.
- Take a guided walk along the ‘Caminos Reales’ the well-maintained paths in the mountainous centre of the island.
- Look and listen for dolphins and whales in a glass bottomed boat with underwater microphones.
- Try the fantastic 18 Golf Courses at the popular Salobre Golf Resort, these are challenging 18-hole, course's designed by Roland Faure and Ron Kirby.
Temperature chart for the Gran Canaria holiday season
