Gran Canaria Travel Guide

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Gran Canaria
Puerto Morgan © canaryforum
The third largest but most developed of the seven islands in the Spanish-administered Canary archipelago, Gran Canaria has been billed as a 'miniature continent' because of the variety of climates and landscapes that it offers, from the big city bustle of the capital, Las Palmas, to the serenity of its lush woodlands.

The Canaries lie in the Atlantic Ocean, about 125 miles (200km) from the African coast and almost 800 miles (1,250km) from the closest European port of Cadiz. Gran Canaria is almost circular, with a diameter of about 32 miles (50km), and is characterised by deep ravines that radiate out from the centre down to the coast. The north of the island is humid, boasting green valleys and volcanic craters, while the south is arid and desert-like, with vast stretches of beach.

The capital, Las Palmas, lies on the northeast tip of the island, between two long beaches, Las Caletas and Alcaravaneras. The interior of Gran Canaria has steep highlands dotted with small villages, sporting white houses with red roofs, banana plantations and orchards bursting with tropical fruits. Tourists generally favour the southern coastline, flocking to the well-known beaches of Playa del Inglés or Maspalomas, where the sea washes soft sands and empty dunes stretch for miles.



Resorts

See our separate guides to the following Gran Canaria holiday resorts: Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas, Puerto Mogan, Puerto Rico, Playa del Cura and Las Palmas


Attractions

Aqualand Maspalomas © aqualand

Aqualand Gran Canaria

Aqualand is a must for all families visiting Gran Canaria, especially those with children. A range of slides, pools and rides will keep the kids busy all day long and older children will love the Kamikaze and Tornado rides, while younger tots can...  see full details



Arucas © Bheatcoker

Arucas

The delightful town of Arucas sits beneath a dormant volcano on the northern coast of Gran Canaria, and is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit. The neat town is dominated by the majestic Church of San Juan Bautista, carved...  see full details



Casa de Colon © pano_pilou

Casa de Colon

Christopher Columbus is believed to have stayed for different periods in the Casa de Colon, in the historical quarter of Vegueta in Las Palmas, on his way to the Americas. The house now serves as a museum displaying relics of early transatlantic voyages...  see full details



Go-Karting track © grancanaria.grankarting

Go-Karting Club

Children will love nothing more than a spot of go-karting and racing their family round the track. Children under five years old can try the Tiny Tots small pitch where they can enjoy battery-operated Mini Formulas and Mini-Motos; older kids can enjoy the junior...  see full details



Holiday World © Holiday World Funpark

Holiday World

Featuring a wide variety of activities, Holiday World is a funpark which caters specifically to children on holiday in Gran Canaria. They can enjoy rides such as bumper cars, a Ferris-wheel, roller coasters and a pirate ship, as well as games such as...  see full details



Museo Canario skull © Xosé Castro

Museo Canario

The main museum in Las Palmas is well worth a visit, boasting the world's largest collection of Cro-Magnon skulls and a few mummies. The museum also gives a comprehensive overview of the life and times of Gran Canaria's original inhabitants, the fair-haired and light-skinned...  see full details



Palmitos Park © Wouterhagens

Palmitos Park

A colourful and entertaining look at nature is presented at Palmitos Park, situated four miles (6km) inland from Arguineguin on the south coast. The park is a subtropical oasis containing thousands of birds, fish, trees, plants and particularly orchids. The orchid house is the...  see full details



Crocodiles © http2007

Parque de los Cocodrilo

This Crocodile Park is home to more than 300 crocodiles and alligators from all over the world. Visitors shouldn't miss the crocodiles' feeding times, which occur daily at 12pm, 2pm and 4.15pm. The other half of the park is a zoo, which has...  see full details



Pueblo Canario Museo Nestor © Mataparda

Pueblo Canario

The whitewashed Pueblo Canario was the pet project of Canarian artist Nestor Martin-Fernandez de la Torre, who conceived and oversaw the creation of this idealised representation of a typical island village in Dorames Park, Las Palmas. Buildings surround a square where performances of traditional...  see full details



Loggerhead Turtle © coda

Reptilandia

Those with a soft spot for reptiles should visit Reptilandia, situated a little off the beaten track, near Agaete in the northwest of the island. It includes a collection of snakes, tortoises, turtles and lizards - the Komodo Dragon here is believed to be...  see full details



Sioux City © Gran Canaria Net

Sioux City

One of the most popular days out in Gran Canaria, Sioux City was built originally as a stage set for an American western film in 1972, but developed into a Wild West theme park complete with cowboys, Indians, Mexicans and of course a...  see full details


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