Gran Canaira
All You Need To Know

"Hide away amid the Maspolomas sand dunes or explore Gran Canaria's lush and mountainous interior. The nightlife here sizzles with excitement too."

The volcanic activity that created the Canary Islands has left behind a magnificent legacy. Perhaps the most scenic of the Canarian archipelago, Gran Canaria boasts a stunning mountainous interior where rugged ravines and gaping gulleys become more fertile and lush with altitude. Winding roads snake up mountainsides to pretty whitewashed villages surrounded by spiky cacti. In contrast, bright and breezy coastal resorts bustle with life and excitement and play host to a superb selection of shops, restaurants and bars as well as long stretches of golden, sandy beaches where you can bask beneath the sub-tropical sun.

Gran Canaria's main tourist areas lie on the island's south coast. Here bays curve and melt into one another forming what seems to be an endless golden beach. The wind-sculpted sand dunes at Maspalomas are almost a mile wide and stretch for as far as the eye can see. The undulating dunes provide numerous quiet spots so you can spend a tranquil day in the sun while children will be in their element in this natural playground.

Beaches

Most people come here for the beaches. Nature has conspired to create an idyll that unfailingly tempts sun worshippers back to its sublime shores year after year. The long stretch of golden sand that characterises the south coast is the main attraction. You can choose between basking on the popular beaches of Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico or finding your own secluded spot amongst the dunes of Maspalomas. As you'd expect from a major resort, there are a plethora of watersports to choose from.

Shopping

Las Palmas is undoubtedly the best place to shop. Here you will find all the shops you'd expect in a large city from chic boutiques to souvenir stalls. Playa del Ingles has less range but you won't be short of tourist trinkets. There is also a large shopping centre called Yumbo Centre where you can buy everything from electrical goods to the latest beach trends and fashions.

Nightlife

Playa del Ingles is the Canary Islands ' party capital. Once the sun sinks below the horizon, the resort's promenades and streets come alive with music and the sound of clinking glasses and funky beats. The island's capital, Las Palmas , also plays host to a lively hotspot. Playa de las Canteras is the capitals clubbing zone where you'll find bars and discos.

Sightseeing

At the centre of this mountainous island stands the soaring volcanic peak of Pico de las Nievas whose rocky slopes quickly give way to verdant pine forests and lush banana plantations. Pretty whitewashed villages cling dramatically to rocky escarpments and provide an authentic flavour of true Canarian life.

For connoisseurs of art and culture, the cosmopolitan city of Las Palmas holds all the cards. The Casa de Colon, once the home of the famous navigator Christopher Columbus, is a fantastic example of Canarian architecture with fine wooden balconies overlooking two patios. The Museo Canario is the city's main museum and concentrates on the islands pre-conquest history. If museums aren't your thing you can simply enjoy the beauty of the old town and a series of promenades that hug the coastline and make for some fine walks. For a classic example of a Canarian village, Fataga, untouched by tourism, is a short journey inland from the south coast.

Local Specialities

Gran Canaria's large resorts and towns offer all varieties of international food. Local Canarian cuisine is based around the sea life of the Atlantic and the indigenous 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, broad beans and flavoured with fresh cumin. To finish off your meal why not try 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.

Money Matters

There are €1.50 to the £1.00 as at 7th September 2005. Banking hours are Monday-Friday 08.30-14.00. Major credit cards are accepted at most shops, hotels and restaurants.

Dress Code

In most hotels and apartments gentlemen are required to wear long trousers to dinner.

Please Note

Most hotels and apartments ask customers to vacate their rooms between 10am and 12 midday. For late afternoon and evening flights, late checkout rooms may be available. Please see Your Holiday, Your Choice options on accommodation pages.