Places to See and Things to Do in Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is tantamount of what you might expect from a perfect holiday destination; translated as “great island”, Gran Canaria is an amazing microcosm of Spanish life. Located somewhere the Atlantic Ocean, between Africa and Europe, Gran Canaria has an 800,000-people population, making it the second most populated of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife.
Written history of this sunny island were discovered around 500 BC with the arrival of the Canarii; these first people called their home “The Land of The Brave”, and they lived there for thousands of years until the Spanish conquistadors of the 15th Century ended their reign. It was then that Gran Canaria, as we know it today, was established
Gran Canaria is a volcanic island with a diameter of only 50 km but don’t let its small size fool you. Gran Canaria has a deep well of culture and historical landmarks, in addition to a plethora of activities for holidaymakers to engage in.
One of the great aspects of the island, and one of the reasons it’s possible to acquire cheap holidays to Gran Canaria for most of the year, is that the climate is so agreeable. Average temperatures in the summer months reach around 26 degrees C, however, this only falls to an average of 20 degrees C in the cold months, making it a perfect all-year destination. It is quite unheard of for temperatures to drop below 10 degrees C on the island, even during the coldest nights of the dead of winter.
Even though Gran Canaria has golden beaches and glorious all-year temperatures, there are a great variety of cheap hotels to stay in while you are vacationing there. Most holidaymakers make their way towards the south of the island, where there is generally less rain and warmer temperatures, as well as pristine beach areas such as Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles and Meloneras. From nearby Tarajalillo, you can take a plane to fly around this amazing island. If you prefer terra firma, why not take a trip to Puerto de Mogan, which is referred to by many as “little Venice” due to the number of canals in this charming location.
Other attractions in the local area include an 80-metre high monolith called Roque Nublo and the stunning area of Cenobio de Vlareon, which has a great collection of coastal caves for the more intrepid explorers. If that is a bit much for you, you can instead visit the more tranquil botanical gardens in Tafira Alta and La Aldea de San Nicolas.
The geographical richness of the island is illustrated excellently by landmarks such as El Dedo de Dios (God’s Finger), El Cura and La Rana (The Frog). All three are amazing natural landmarks and must-see areas of the Gran Canaria.
After pounding the tourist trail, you’re probably going to be hungry by the day’s end. The beauty of Gran Canarian cuisine is that it has common elements from both African and Spanish cultures to offer unique and delicious culinary delights. So, a reasonably priced trip to Gran Canaria will not only allow you to visit some stunning sights but also satisfy your appetite.
Gran Canaria’s cuisine is based around fresh fish, vegetables and fruit. You will definitely want to treat yourself to restaurant food at some stage, but there are also several delightful local markets selling an assortment of fresh produce, so it’s also possible to cater for yourself. Try the sea bream casserole along with some sumptuous “wrinkled” potatoes (patatas arrugadas) and one of the many local sauces that are drizzled to such dishes so beautifully.