GRAN CANARIA TOURIST RESORTS

One of the largest tourist areas in Gran Canaria, San Agustín, has a large variety of hotels, apartments, restaurants and bars.  It shares an 8km long beach with the neighboring resorts of Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas.  It is smaller than its neighbors and has bit more of a laid back feel to it. 

This is the largest resort on Gran Canaria and is especially popular with the 18-30’s crowd in the summer because of its vibrant nightlife, although it is very popular with families all year round.  The main beach is 1km long, which is a part of the larger beach that the resort shares with Maspalomas and San Agustín.  If you want to do some shopping this is the place to do it because everything is duty free and there are so many different shops to chose from.

As the capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas is an excellent place to visit.  There is so much to do here, both during the day and at night.  There are museums, the shopping centre El Corte Ingles and beaches like Las Canteras to keep busy during the day.  At night there are numerous bars, restaurants and clubs to enjoy. If you want to mingle with the locals there are many tapas bars to eat, drink and socialize in. 

This area is where the sand dunes of Maspalomas are located; they are the most recognizable feature of Gran Canaria.  The dunes are a mini desert on Gran Canaria.  A fun way to explore this part of the island is by camel.  They are very sturdy animals that can carry two people at a time with no difficulty.  It is a way to travel that is unique as well as tremendously enjoyable. 

This village is in the northwest corner of Gran Canaria, and is distinct because it is a tourist area in the north.  Almost all other tourist places are located in the south.  It has many excellent beaches, with quite a few being for nudists.  The reason for Agaete’s huge popularity is because it is sunny almost all the time due to the fact that the landscape is such that rain clouds almost never form.

Puerto Rico used to be a small fishing village and is now a very well known family-oriented resort.  There is a great beach as well as golf courses, a water park and a shopping centre.  There are many water sports offered here, from water skiing to sailing, dolphin watching to diving, and big game fishing to windsurfing.  The resort is known as the sunniest spot on Gran Canaria because of how rarely there are clouds. 

A small town located close to Puerto Rico, Arguineguín has been recently expanded to become a popular resort with Germans and Norwegians.  Still a working fishing port, it has preserved its origins very well through its lovely fish restaurants and fisherman’s bars.  Tuesday is when it is busiest because it is the day when Arguineguín holds one of the largest markets around.  It is very easy to get around to other areas from here with the numerous ferries that go to Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán. 

Patalavaca, an up and coming resort, is located between Arguineguín and Puerto Rico.  It is up on a hill and it has lovely views of Mount Teide on the neighboring island of Tenerife.  There is a great beach with volcanic sand and a harbor as well.  It is a very calm and quiet resort, but if you fancy a bit of night life the Playa del Ingles is only 7km away and Puerto Rico a mere 3km.

Built on the cliffs on the southern coast, Playa del Cura is a very peaceful place to stay.  It is much more laid back than its neighbor Puerto Rico.  Both of the beaches in the resort have dark volcanic sand and the water is quite calm.  The coastline tends to be a bit rocky, which makes it a popular place for those who like to take exploratory walks.

The resort Costa Melonaras is just a few minutes from Las Meloneras beach.  With beautiful turquoise water it is no surprise that Las Meloneras is one of the most popular beaches in the south.  There is a shopping center within walking distance from the hotel and the golf course is only 2km away

Just to the west of Puerto Rico, Tauro is very relaxed village.  There is a beach and restaurants as well as an 9 and 18 hole golf course.  The beach has volcanic sand and very tranquil waters. There is marina being built and new world class developments.  Tauro is not very well known yet, but in a short time it will be the new it place to vacation in Gran Canaria

The sands of Playa Taurito are naturally black and the beach is the perfect place to spend the day lounging about because it is very well sheltered.  There are many hotels just nearby as well as apartments.  The hotel areas are open to the public and feature a mini golf course.  The resort is actually built up onto the cliffs, almost like a piece of elaborate artwork

Bahia Feliz is one of the best places to windsurf on Gran Canaria.  There is a wind surfing school just off the beach where anyone can learn.  It is a great place to go for a fun vacation for families. 

Set on the hillside above Maspalomas, Sonnenland has a mixture of tourist and local Spaniards.  The best hotel in town is the Hotel Dunas Mirador Maspalomas.  There are water parks and the cowboy town, Sioux City, located near by.  There is also a new 18 hole golf course very close to town.

In Puerto de Mogán there numerous canals, so many so that the town is sometimes called Little Venice.  There is a large market every Friday on the fisherman’s wharf.  Next to the wharf there is a well protected beach that is great for kids.