Holidays to Gran Canaria are a rewarding experience twelve months a year thanks to its idyllic summer temperatures and warm sunny winters, not to mention the fact that the picturesque island has all the ingredients for the perfect holiday recipe: crystal-clear turquoise waters and stretches of golden beaches, varied natural beauty, excellent cuisine and local wine, and a wide choice of resorts with in-house entertainment.
The third largest and most populous of the Canary Islands ideally nestled off the African coast in the Atlantic Ocean between Tenerife and Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria also offers endless opportunities for swimming, sunbathing and water sports, along with great restaurant scene and a famously thriving nightlife. Parts of Gran Canaria have been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and it’s no surprise why this magic getaway is such a big hit with holidaymakers from all corners of the world.
Best Gran Canaria Beaches
With 230 kilometers of beautiful coastline and some of the most majestic beaches in Europe that range from big ones to small ones to sandy ones and rocky ones, beach holidays in Gran Canaria are all about fun-packed holiday in the sunshine galore. The biggest, most popular and commercial beaches on the island are Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Amadores, Puerto Rico, San Agustin, Mogan Taurito, all promising a holiday that will long stay in your memories.
Backed by a strip of chic hotels and open-air restaurants, Maspalomas is a beach with a bit of a legend, as it has a rolling landscape of sand dunes, as if blown over from the Sahara Desert. It’s an ideal family-friendly getaway with every conceivable activity available both below and above water. Some of the best-known Maspalomas beach resorts include Águila, Las Burras, San Augustín and Playa del Inglés, all with ultramodern facilities and amenities to appeal even the most demanding travelers. The sand dunes of Maspalomas are also a favorite zone for nudists, so do bear in mind when strolling along. The beach is busy throughout the year and comes with all the facilities you may wish for.
Gran Canaria’s largest holiday resort, Playa del Ingles is yet another great venue for awe-inspiring beach holidays. It’s a place to get lost in plenty of action, spectacular scenery and romance. Sharing the same beach with Maspalomas and San Agustin, Playa del Ingles features a fabulous promenade, which is a host to many bars and restaurants. A short distance away from the beach (a bus or taxi ride away) visitors will find numerous attractions with some of the best being Aqualand Water Park, Palmitos Park and Mundo Aborigen. As to accommodation, Playa del Ingles has no shortage of high rise apartments, quiet bungalow complexes and up market hotels.
Activities in Gran Canaria
The variety of sports available in Gran Canaria is closely linked to the mildness of the island’s subtropical climate. There are no extreme temperature variations, which makes it possible to practice practically any type of outdoor sport any time of the year: sailing, big game fishing, scuba diving, paragliding parachute, hiking, Nordic walking, biking, climbing, horse riding and tennis and even more, much more. Along with a wealth of sporting activities, Gran Canara also boasts numerous cultural events and festivals all year round, including international music, dance, theatre and cinema festivals, plus the many colorful carnivals.
Guests can also indulge in hop-on and hop-off tours to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, get acquainted with its amazing sights and attractions aboard your tour!