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Gran Canaria Holidays

Gran Canaria is the third largest of the Canary islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the coast of Africa. The island is a popular holiday destination for many people who live in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe not least because of the frequent and inexpensive flights and wide variety of accommodation, attractions and activities with plenty of sun and sand.

Weather

The weather in Gran Canaria is just one of the reasons so many people choose it for their next break in the sun. Average temperatures in Gran Canaria are between 19 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius in the warmest months. While the weather is warm, it is a pleasant heat instead of being overly hot which some people find difficult to get accustomed to on a holiday. No matter what time you plan on visiting the island, you can pretty much bank on the weather being good.

Attractions

Apart from the miles of golden sand beaches that fringe the coastline of Gran Canaria, holiday makers can enjoy many other natural attractions on this beautiful island. Of course, the famous Maspalomas sand dunes are a must-see and the breathtaking mountain vistas lend themselves to many outdoor activities and sports. The waves and water conditions round Gran Canaria make it a mecca for surfers and body-boarders and the island is known as second only to Hawaii for windsurfing.

There are a plethora of fabulous restaurants, cantinas, bars, night clubs and eateries to choose from that offer a blend of local culinary delights and a dash of the extraordinary. Those who decide to sample the local cuisine while on their Gran Canaria holidays are rarely disappointed with the island's unique blend of fresh meats, seafood, fresh farm produce and wine.

Activities

As previously mentioned, Gran Canaria is a magnet for water-sport enthusiasts. Each year the freestyle and waves events of the Windsurfing World Championships are held at Pozo Izquierdo beach while the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers leaves from Las Palmas and local sailing clubs have spawned several Olympic champions.

The north coast is the best location for surfing and body surfingwith waves that can reach up to 5 metres high. Bring your own boogie board or hire any equipment you need from one of numerous surfing centres.

Scuba diving is of course also a popular activity in Gran Canaria. Off the east coast the Playa del Cabrón marine reserve offers a stunning view of life under water and there are two wreck dive sites in Gran Canaria. Whether you are a novice or experienced diver the variety of dive sites will offer you an unforgettable experience.

There are many other sport activities that you can enjoy on the island as well, including parachuting from one of the mountain peaks in the north, horseriding, rock climbing, golf and hiking.

Gran Canaria offers several theme parks like Palmitos Park, a large bird park, Reptilandia Park and Cocodrilos Park, you could opt for a camel safari or take a tourist flight around the island from an Aeroclub located in Tarajalillo.

For those feeling less energetic the many beach resort communities offer relaxed surroundings where you can wine, dine and have a lot of fun.

Other attractions of Gran Canaria include , , the monolith Roque Nublo, some of the 290 caves located at Cenobio de Valeron, the Jardin Canario and Cactualdea botanical gardens.

The capital city, Las Palmas, is located on the north end of the island and maintains a vibrant city life with the beach in the heart of the city.

Flights

There are many options for flights heading to Gran Canaria from the UK. The majority of the main airports in the UK and Ireland offer flights to Gran Canaria. Scheduled flights are available from British Airways and Aer Lingus. There is also a wide range of chartered airlines covering the route including XL, MyTravel and Thomsonfly.

The cost of flights is one of the key reasons that so many people choose Gran Canaria as their next holiday destination. Not only is the weather fabulous, but the flights are short and inexpensive.

Accommodation

Of course, accommodations while on the island of Gran Canaria are also important. You will be pleased to know that there is an incredible variety of hotels and motels on the island, mixed in with a variety of resort communities. Depending on the style of your trip and how much money you want to spend on your accommodations, you can choose from a budget self-catering apartment or condo to luxury five star hotels along one of the many beaches. The choice is yours, there are many hotels available and rooms come as inexpensive as you want them too and are readily available, even during the peak tourism seasons.

History

Gran Canaria was originally named Tamarán and is the third largest of the Canary Islands. The island has an area of 592 square miles and is nearly circular in shape. Known as the ‘continent in miniature’, Gran Canaria has a mountainous center with an alpine region where peaks hit 6,400 feet and have a cooler, alpine climate. The north west of the island is much greener and cooler compared to the arid and nearly desert like conditions in the south. The Canary Islands are all volcanic in origin and Lanzarote still has an active volcano that hasn’t erupted since the 18th Century.

The sub-tropical climate of Gran Canaria allows bananas, sugarcane, tobacco, dates, coffee and oranges to grow readily on the island. The fishing industry in Gran Canaria also thrives year round.

Originally, the Gaunche and the Canarios were the inhabitants of the islands, which were followed by many others, including the Romans in 40 BC, the Arabs in 999 and many more through the 13th and 14th centuries. Las Palmas was established on June 24, 1478 as the capital city of Gran Canaria.

The rich history of the area, combined with the warm weather makes Gran Canaria a wonderful holiday destination for many tourists from around the world.

 

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