Gran Canaria Marco Polo Holiday Map (Marco Polo Holiday Maps)

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If you get bored with the harbor here, you can stroll on the coastal promenade that connects the village with gorgeous coves and beaches found at Patalavaca. For those who love quiet places with local charm, this is where to stay in Gran Canaria.

Just a little distance on foot from the marina is the Atlantida water park. This theme park delivers both thrilling rides and exciting water slides. Its location adjacent to the Puerto Rico Shopping Center helps it to be even more popular with visiting families. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital of the island, is the biggest city of the Canary Islands and the ninth of Spain. The central point of the place are the dunes, with kilometers of golden sand to enjoy a private day on the beach. You can read more in our article about the Maspalomas Sand Dunes, but this is a favorite place for birdwatchers as well, so it should not be missed even if you are not staying in this part of the island. For individuals who prefer higher-end resorts that are both sophisticated and chic, Gran Canaria offers Meloneras. This resort town is ideally situated near the party resorts of Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, but it is more upscale.Nature is a huge draw on Gran Canaria. One quarter of the coast is covered in sandy beaches. These are continuously covered in a delightful energy-giving sunshine. The UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve covers a one of a kind Macaronesian flora, volcanic vistas, and vast pine forests. Until the conquest, Gran Canaria had extensive forests, but then suffered extensive deforestation [17] as a result of continuous logging, land divisions and other intensive uses. This reduced the forest cover to just 56,000 hectares (140,000 acres), [17] making the island the most deforested of the Canary Islands. [18] However, in the twentieth century reforestation of the ridge of the island was begun, recovering some of the lost forest mass. Much of the summit of the island is forested mostly due to reforestation. [17] Governance [ edit ] Municipalities of Gran Canaria Firstly, the summer months of June to August can get extremely hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching over 30 degrees Celsius. This can be uncomfortable for some visitors, especially if they plan to engage in outdoor activities during the day. The city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital of the Canary Islands, along with Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The city is very modern and vibrant and full of life, so you will see some buildings with edgy architecture, along with typical Canarian buildings, a mix of styles that is very representative of the city's way of life.

The summer months of June through to September are typically hot and dry, with temperatures averaging around 28°C. You can expect plenty of sunshine and blue skies, but also be prepared for occasional heatwaves and high humidity levels. The name Islas Canarias is likely derived from the Latin name Canariae Insulae, meani The town of Agüimes, on the eastern part of the island, has been carefully restored and its town centre, centered on its old church and a peaceful square, now evokes the quiet living of a traditional Canarian town. The district also has some of the best preserved cave dwellings, in the protected area of the Guayadeque ravine, where even the church has been built into the mountainside and visitors can find a number of popular cave restaurants. The district also includes the most renowned scuba diving area on the island: the marine reserve at the playa de El Cabrón just outside the town of Arinaga.Inter-urban bus services across the island are operated by the Global bus company. [27] [28] Global was created in 2000 after the merger of two bus companies, Utinsa (which operated in the north of the island) and Salcai (the bus operator for the south). [29] Local bus services in Las Palmas are run by the municipal bus company, Guaguas Municipales de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. [30] Airport [ edit ] You can also sign up for day rides to sample the cycling routes of the Playa del Ingles area. They do offer discounts if you book for three or more. 2. Cycle Gran Canaria However, it’s worth knowing that the regions of Gran Canaria the routes here take you through are pretty sparsely populated, especially when you’re away from the coast or the hub of roads that meet near the top of Pico de las Nieves. Unlike the Alps, there aren’t lots of mountain villages with small shops, restaurants and petrol stations that could help you out if you ran out of water/food. For visitors outside Europe, the best bet is to fly to Madrid or Barcelona and get a connecting flight. How big is Gran Canaria? While there are only five full route guides above, be aware that you can easily use these as a starting point to mix and match your routes depending on where you’re staying and how far you want to go.