Gran Canaria

GRAN CANARIA

Maspalomas is on the southern costa of Gran Canaria, about an hour`s drive from the airport at Las Palmas. It`s a fairly comfortable drive on a good road so you can arrive at your destination feeling fairly relaxed.This is not the case if you choose to stay on the mountainous west side of the island where the roads are winding, slow, and tiresome in the extreme.

Much to my delight we stayed at the Green Golf apartments adjacent to the Golf Club de Maspalomas which proved to be quite handy for early morning practice at their driving range.The chalet accommodation was excellent and the facilities and pools at Green Golf were very good.

Greengolf apartments overlook golfcourse

Their situation was also very convenient for all local spots of interest. Within walking distance is the Faro 11 centro commercial, which has the full range of shops of all descriptions together with amusement arcades and good selection of decent restaurants. It is constructed in a fascinating spiral walkway design working its way up to three storeys with tables and chairs outside the restaurants on the outer walkway overlooking the neighbouring Maspalomas district

Close by is the amusement park Holiday World which is ideal for young and old people alike with its good selection of fairground rides including an impressively large Ferris wheel. Try the superb Chinese restaurant on the roof of main building, they were the friendliest hosts you will ever meet, and the food was excellent too. Also nearby is the Oceano Parque Acuatico offering a variety of water slides and pools to keep you cool on those hot summer days.

A slightly longer walk away, about 2km, is the spectacular stretch of 400 hectares of sand dunes of Maspalomas. This mini wonder of the world separates the elegant Maspalomas resort of luxury hotels and villas from the more downmarket but popular resort of Playa del Ingles. The dunes are a natural protected area and habitat for a number of rare plant species some of which are unique to the Canaries. If you walk into the middle of these dunes you could imagine being in the deserts of Africa, so take care and plenty of water and hats!

On the west side of the dunes, there is La Charca, a sea-water lake and home to birds migrating from Europe to Africa. Next to this is El Oasis, the luxury hotel area close to the imposing Faro de Maspalomas, the 70 metre lighthouse which acts as a major marine resource at this southerm tip of the island. Walk back up the road from El Faro, and there is a new development of interesting chic shops and businesses.Turn left and you are soon into the Melonaras district with an excellent selection of restaurants and further designer shops and the comprehensive Faro 2 shopping mall. In an evening there is usually some good live music at one or two of the bars in this area. When it’s time to go home, the taxis are plentiful and cheap.

When you are feeling brave enough to withstand a more raucous atmosphere, Playa del Ingles is just a three euro taxi ride away. The beach is phenomenal, 3km. long and one of the most famous in Europe. You will find any activity here you could ever want: sailing, wind-surfing, skiing, jet-ski, scuba-diving and many more. Alternatively just soak up the sun knowing that there is an infinite choice of bars, cafes and restaurants within easy reach.The Paseo Maritimo which runs parallel to the beach, is a long covered stretch of walkway with a great selection of eateries, pubs, and shops of every kind. It`s tacky but great fun.

In the evening, or for a change from the beach, there is the Paseo Costa Canaria, which is a super promenade running from the Playa de las Burras in the east to the Maspalomas sand dunes in the west. Have a nosey at some of the luxury villas along the way and the wonderful tropical flowers so much a feature of this part of the world.

If you are really brave you can run the gauntlet of some of the traders in the various centro commerciales in the town itself. You will find a vast array shops and goods of all kinds with traders who will harangue you with offers you can`t refuse. Don`t even enter these shopping centres if you are not ready for some fairly direct banter from the shopkeepers, especially the guys in the electronic and camera shops! There are also some good restaurants in this area, we found a particulary excellent steak establishment, El Gaucho, in the Metro centro commercial.

Further afield, there is more entertainment to be found just a few kilometres inland from Maspalomas. We spent a day at Palmitos Parque, which houses over 200 different species of birds, but that`s just for starters.There is a wonderful butterfly house; an enormous aquarium in a natural setting with tropical fish; a spectacular orchid house; a parrot show and an exciting birds of prey show. All these wonders unfold as you just wander through the well laid out natural valley and admire the sights and sounds of the varied palm grove.

.Nearer to Maspalomas, there is Aquasur, the biggest water park on the island with lots of slides, wave pool, a slow river, and children`s pools. Ideal for a hot day out with the family. Nearby for older children (and dads) there is a go-karting venue with a well laid out track and authentic bends with chicanes to test your racing skills. Don`t worry about paying lots for very little driving time, they seem to let you have as much time as you can stand, it`s hard work.

In Maspalomas itself, there is of course the Oceano Parque Acuatico, which also has many slides, some specifically for children, wave pool, lake and play rooms

If you can stand the bus journey (the road is tortuous in parts), it`s worth a visit to Puerto de Mogan.This is a very pretty port about an hour west of Maspalomas. It is a bustling little fishing village but with a few good restaurants to cater for the influx of tourists. Next to the port itself is a picturesque development of small villas covered with bougainvillea and hibiscus. It has the feeling of a mini Venice with its small quiet waterways between the houses and its traffic free environment. There is the ever present central plaza where you can sip a drink in the sunshine or shade and watch a very pleasant world go by. The original little fishing port has now become a haven for luxury boats and yachts. There is even a small beach of imported golden sand to cater for children.

Quiz on Gran Canaria

1 What group of islands does Gran Canaria belong?

2 What is the capital of the island?

3 Where on the island is Maspalomas?

4 What can you see at Palmitos Parque?

5 Where is Playa del Ingles?

6 What is La Charca?

7 Which small port is regarded as a `Mini Venice?

8 How long is the beach at Playa del Ingles?

9 What water theme parks are there in Gran Canaria?

10 Where in Gran Canaria could you imagine you are in a desert in Africa?

Concurso en Gran Canaria

1 ¿Gran Canaria se pertenecen a que grupo de islas?

2 ¿Cuál es la capital de la isla?

3 ¿Donde en la isla es maspalomas?

4 ¿Qué se puede ver en el Parque Palmitos

5¿Donde esta Playa del Ingles?

6¿Que es La Charca?

7¿Que pequeño puerto es considerado como un 'mini-venecia?

8¿Que largo tiene la playa de Playa del Ingles?

9 ¿que parques acuáticos temáticos hay en Gran Canaria?

10¿Donde en Gran Canaria podría imaginer esta en un desierto de África?

Other interesting facts about Gran Canaria:-

1The name of the Canary Islands is derived from the Latin `Insula Canaria`, meaning island of the dogs.
2 Morocco and Spain are still disputing the international boundary of the Canary Islands.
3 There are thirteen national parks in Spain, and four of them are in the Canaries.
4 Golf is a favourite sport on the Canaries, and there are 15 excellent courses.
5 La Palma, the most northerly of the islands is known as `la isla bonita` meaning pretty island, owing to its phenomenal beauty.
6 The two capital cities of the islands are Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
7 There is a theory that it wasn`t the Spanish who discovered the islands, but the Portuguese, as early as 1336.

Other great Canary Islands like Gran Canaria