SPAIN: Gran Canaria
"Hide away amid the Maspolomas sand dunes or explore Gran Canaria's lush and mountainous interior. The nightlife here sizzles with excitement too."
The volcanic activity that created the Canary Islands has left behind a magnificent legacy. Perhaps the most scenic of the Canarian archipelago, Gran Canaria boasts a stunning mountainous interior where rugged ravines and gaping gullies become more fertile and lush with altitude. Winding roads snake up mountainsides to pretty whitewashed villages surrounded by spiky cacti. In contrast, bright and breezy coastal resorts bustle with life and excitement and play host to a superb selection of shops, restaurants and bars as well as long stretches of golden, sandy beaches where you can bask beneath the sub-tropical sun. Welcome to the delights of Gran Canaria!
Maspalomas
Located 2 kilometres west of Playa Del Ingles, Maspalomas is suitable for quieter, family holidays. The resort is famous for its sweeping sand dunes moulded by winds carrying Saharan sands across the sea from Africa. The dunescapes are peaceful expanses and are particularly pretty at sunset. While Maspalomas is a quiet place, it does give its name to a superb beach with seemingly endless golden sands stretching to Playa Del Ingles.
Meloneras
Bordering Maspalomas in the south of the island, Meloneras is a quiet, upmarket resort and will appeal to those who want to totally relax and get away from it all. Nestling above the beach, it boasts breathtaking views and a paved promenade, lined with an excellent choice of bars and restaurants, running the full length of the shoreline from the Varadero commercial centre to the Maspalomas sand dunes.
Playa del Ingles
Couples and groups of friends flock to Playa del Ingles, keen to enjoy the invariably sunny skies, sandy beaches and buzzing nightlife. Conveniently located approximately 30km from the airport, this resort offers a host of amenities to satisfy even the most discerning of visitor. The beach at Playa del Ingles is backed by a busy promenade, in a prime position for that lunchtime snack or sunset cocktail!
Mogan
In total contrast to lively Playa Del Ingles and Maspalomas, the picturesque town of Puerto Mogan is ideal for those seeking peace and quiet. Set at the tip of the Mogan Valley, on the foot of a rocky outcrop looking out to sea, Puerto Mogan is based around a pretty yacht-filled marina. The old town is a cluster of quaint, typically Mediterranean houses and whitewashed cottages, which climb up a steep hillside. Aptly named 'Little Venice', a canal runs through the resort, spanned by a criss-cross of enchanting footbridges, while the harbour-front simmers with quayside restaurants and bars.
Beaches
Most people come to Gran Canaria for the beaches. Nature conspired to create an idyll that tempts sun-worshippers back to its sublime shores year after year. The long stretch of golden sand that characterises the south coast is the main attraction. Here bays curve and melt into one another forming what seems to be an endless beach that stretches for as far as the eye can see. You can choose between basking on the popular beaches of Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico or finding your own secluded spot amongst the wind-sculpted sand dunes of Maspalomas. As you'd expect from a major resort, there's a plethora of watersports to choose from.
Eating out
Gran Canaria's large resorts and towns offer a wide range of international cuisine – everything from Chinese restaurants to fast food Americanstyle burger bars. Local Canarian cuisine, however, is based around the sea life of the Atlantic and the island's indigenous fruit and vegetables.
Nightlife
Playa del Ingles is the Gran Canaria's party capital. There's no rest for the wicked here – they come to Playa del Ingles to have fun…and lots of it! With every type of disco and nightclub under the sun, you can bop to a different beat every night. Behind the beach, a lively promenade warms up early in the evening where partygoers kick off the evening with a wide variety of cocktails.
Shopping
Playa del Ingles, meanwhile, offers less range but you won't be short of tourist trinkets. There is also a large shopping centre called Yumbo Centre where you can buy everything from electrical goods to the latest beach trends and fashions. For traditional goods head inland to the whitewashed villages that pepper the countryside where you'll find locals selling unusual, decorated pottery, good quality lace, crochet and embroidery.
