Gran Canaria Holidays in 2013

Gran Canaria is part of the Spanish Canary Islands and the traditional food of the island is Spanish style tapas, the specialities will be slightly different to mainland Spain and will vary from town to town but ask for the specials and you can’t go too wrong. If you are after burgers or pizzas there are plenty of restaurants providing all sorts of international cuisine.

The Puerto Mogan market is a large a bustling market held on Fridays in the town and is a great place to pick up souvenirs. Yellow Submarine glass bottom boat is a great way to spend an afternoon and a great way to see the world beneath the waves if you don’t fancy getting wet. Casa de Colon is the house where Christopher Columbus reportedly stayed in between voyages. Cactualdea cactus garden has over 1000 types of cactus in its gardens, a must for gardeners.

Aqualand, Maspalomas is the islands largest water park situated outside the popular resort. Ocean Park is a smaller water park near Maspalomas. Puerto Rico’s water park is called Atlantida and boasts the fastest and wettest rides on the island. Palmitos Park is a nature park with over species of birds and a dolphin show. Cocodrilo Park is a zoological park famous for its crocodiles.

Playa del Ingles is one of the most famous beaches on the island, known for its great expanse of golden sand and blue waters and Playa Taurito is a beautiful beach surrounded by cliff and has calm sheltered waters that are perfect for swimming and relaxing.

Las Palmas is the capital of Gran Canaria in the north-east of the island; it is a very modern city with plenty of shops and boutiques. Las Palmas market is a great way to experience shopping and there are plenty of stall where you can pick up a bargain as well as some souvenirs. Puerto Rico is a popular resort on the island and there a number of shops along the promenade which runs along the shore.

Tapas are the traditional Spanish style cuisine that is available at most of the local cafes and restaurants. There are plenty of restaurants that specialise in fresh fish and seafood that often overlook the sea providing spectacular evening and night time views.

Las Canteras beach, although popular with surfers is also great for snorkelling in the quieter parts that aren’t as affected by the waves. There are many great spots for diving in Gran Canaria and there are plenty of diving centres and schools as well as diving operators who hire out equipment.

There are many cyclilng trails in Gran Canaria; Ayaguares Pocket is a 40 km loop trail that rises 550m and has a wonderful slow descent. Santa Lucia is a more gruelling trail that runs for just under 70km that gives a spectacular view of the Gran Canyon. Pico de las Nieves is a trail that is not for the faint hearted. This is a mountainous track best suited for the experienced rider.

Walking around the vineyards situated on the volcanic hillsides is a great way to experience the rugged landscape of the island. The Venegueras National Park is another great example of the wonderful scenery that is to be found in this magical volcanic island.