Gran Canaria Island
A "miniature continent": that is how Gran Canaria is described, with its incredible variety of landscapes and microclimates which make it unique. Apart from this, you will also be able to enjoy an exciting city life in the island, especially in its capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. This is a city that has one of the best climates in the world, and it is a cosmopolitan and dynamic centre, where you will find everything you can imagine.
Shopping centres and leisure zones; streets to wander along, perfect for shopping and sightseeing; museums, theatres, concert halls, and open air squares where big concerts are held; a pulsating nightlife with numerous nightclubs, bars and restaurants: all in all, a long list of activities typical of modern cities so that each day of your holiday is different, if that is what you want.
Having said that, Gran Canaria offers the visitor other types of activities. The western half of the island is a Biosphere Reserve, which makes it ideal for those visitors who prefer a quieter stay, more in contact with the natural settings to be found in its 33 protected areas. You choose: today you could enjoy one of its marvellous golden sandy beaches, or charming hidden coves of black sand; tomorrow would be perfect spent in the peace and silence of the countryside, surrounded by impressive palm trees, spectacular landscapes that spread out before you, or the verdant forests of the canary pine (a tree which is endemic to the Canary Islands), and which form a contrast with those places where the black volcanic rock stands out from the green vegetation. What's more, if you like country walks, you can enjoy yourself following one of the signposted "royal paths" that have been restored and which form part of the cultural and historical heritage of the island.
An oceanfull of beaches at a stone's throw
Gran Canaria is a miniature continent. An island close to Europe, with a wide range of beaches as diverse as the changing sceneries waiting to be discovered. Nearly 60 kilometres of beaches on 236 kilometres of coastline under a gentle sun that seems to have settled down here for good.
Gran Canaria boasts of its many different types of beaches, the magnet that has lured generations of travellers from all over the globe. Well-known and crowded, such as the long stretch of sand of Maspalomas, a huge line of yellow sand stretching from Playa del Inglés to the foot of the great Maspalomas lighthouse, after bordering a dune desert on the island's southern coastline.
The south of the island has yet another long series of beaches. Quiet family ones such as San Agustín, Amadores, and the small Puerto de Mogán. Or lively as the traditional tourist enclave of Puerto Rico, one of the spots with the best weather in the country.
A myriad of small beaches in southern Gran Canaria, all boasting of fine weather practically the whole year. Some are for tourists, with a wide range of services. Others are a true shelter for those in need of secluded spots.
The beaches on the north of the island fit this profile better, with small sea enclaves such as Agaete, the perfect getaway spot for those who wish to leave rush behind.
The capital city, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - also in the north - does not hide its special pride: the cosmopolitan Las Canteras Beach, an urban mile-long stretch of sand that fills the city with swimmers and surfers.
Gran Canaria offers all the services of a guaranteed destination with a long tradition, to which thousands of Europeans return each year. Come see a world of beaches concentrated within an island. Come whenever you like. Our fine weather rarely ever stops to take a break.
Bars, Restaurants and Nightlife
The nightlife of Gran Canaria is whatever you want it to be. There are all night clubs, foam parties, karaoke, casinos and cabarets. The island has one of the liveliest gay scenes in the whole of Europe.or you can dine under the stars in a traditional Canarian fishing village, far from the madding crowd.
The hottest nightspot on the island is Playa del Ingles in the south. Head for the Kasbah to take your pick of hundreds of bars, disco pubs and nightclubs. There are gay bars and clubs, cocktail bars, Irish bars, sports bars, café bars with live music and almost every other kind of bar imaginable.
Entrance to most nightclubs is free but you pay over the odds for your drinks. The bigger clubs don't get going until about 1am but then the party keeps going till dawn (so it's a good idea to copy the locals and take an afternoon siesta!). Two of the most popular clubs in town are Joy, for pop and commercial music, and Cream, for more hardcore dance music.
Harley Rock, near the Kasbah and Maspalomas Plaza, is a favourite haunt with international visitors. It's an American-style diner with "Tex-Mex" food (burgers, ribs, apple pie etc served till 3am), rock music and live shows. Entrance is free and there's a happy hour from midnight till 1am.
Nearby Sunset Boulevard, in Plaza Maspalomas, has entertainment and live music every night with DJs playing the latest music - good for pasta dishes, pizzas and freshly grilled meat.
If you're into R&B, soul, blues, reggae and rock n' roll you'd be hard pushed to find better live music than at Alabama's next to the Hippodrome.
If you're staying in Puerto Rico, Snoopy's Bar is one of liveliest nightspots - a late night party pub frequented by the young and trendy. Barbacoa Puerto Rico, with seating for 300, puts on three free shows a night - everything from international vocalists and Elvis and Cher soundalikes to crude comedians.
Gamblers can try their luck at one of the island's three casinos, in San Agustin, Meloneras and Las Palmas.
When it comes to eating out, you'll be spoilt for choice. You'll find everything from British bangers and mash to international flavours from Russia, Argentina, India, China, Italy, the Middle East.
If you prefer to sample the local fare, there are many excellent restaurants serving traditional Canarian food - from cheap and cheerful cafes to the most upmarket venues. Fresh fish specialties include the locally caught "sama" and small fried fish served with lemon called "longorones". Baby goat stew and Canarian new potatoes with spicy sauce are among other common local dishes.
During your visit at Gran Canaria you have to try the "most famous dishes"
Papas arrugadas con salsa mojo
Canarian wrinkly potatoes (Spanish: Papas arrugadas) is a traditional dish eaten in the Canary Islands.
The dish is made from small new potatoes which are cleaned (but not peeled), then boiled in water (originally in seawater, but it is more usual that salt is added to the water in the boiling process) and then baked in their skins until they become shrivelled. Alternatively, in some recipes, after cooking in salted water most of the water is discarded and the small amount that remains is boiled away until the potatoes become dry. This leaves them with a characteristic dry salt crust on their skins.
The potatoes have to be the smallest the cook can find; if not, the potatoes will miss their supposed flavor and they will not absorb all the sauce.
They are considered one of the most unusual dishes in all Spanish cuisine, and a very exotic (and usually delicious) dish, especially for tourists or even Spaniards who aren't born in the Canary Islands.
The papas arrugadas are considered the "main dish" or the "star dish" of the Canary Islands cuisine and are usually served with a pepper sauce, called Mojo, or as an accompaniment to meat dishes.
Mojo" is the name, or abbreviated name, of several types of hot sauce that originated in the Canary Islands. It is predominantly either a red (most common) or green sauce. The basic recipe consists of olive oil, large amounts of garlic, paprika or chili powder, and cumin. Flavorings such as vinegar, lemon, orange or lime juice may be added. Mojo is also commonly served with fresh bread rolls at the beginning of a meal.
Streetmarkets in Gran Canaria
There are two types of street markets on the island: firstly, there are the markets in the southern towns, which are clearly aimed at the tourism market with the sale of gifts and souvenirs, and, secondly, the markets of the interior, which are genuine centres for the provisioning of the local inhabitants. Many of the latter markets have a tradition of farmers, stockbreeders, cheese makers and confectioners who go to the markets every week to sell their products.
The most famous streetmarkets are as follows:
Las Palmas
every Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the "Parque San Telmo"
Maspalomas
every Wednesday and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Market-Place of San Fernando
Arguineguin
every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Market-Place nearby the beach of Arguineguin
Puerto de Mogan
at the harbour every Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Vecindario
at the Plaza de San Rafael every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
San Mateo
every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Teror
around the church every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Transfer services
| Airport - Puerto Rico |
| Airport - Amadores |
| Airport - Maspalomas |
| Airport - - Las Palmas |
| [+] More transfer services in Gran Canaria ... |
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Videos about Gran Canaria
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Links
| Turismo de Canarias | GranCanaria.com |
| www.gran-canaria-info.com | www.spain-grancanaria.com |
| www.laguiadegrancanaria.com | www.ecoturismocanarias.com/canarias/es/islas.asp |
Mapa of Gran Canaria
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