Gran Canaria
The four hour flight from the UK went very quickly and, on arrival, our private transfer took us straight to the Seaside Hotel Palm Beach in Maspalomas. There was a very warm welcome at the hotel and we had dinner by the pool. The food was beautiful and the service was excellent. Our rooms were very spacious, clean & bright and the balcony overlooked the pool.
We took a trip to the Bandama Crater, which is a volcanic crater in the centre of the island. The drive here was very scenic and I would recommend hiring a car so you can stop off and take in the magnificent views. In the afternoon we visited the old quarter of the Capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It has a lot of cultural heritage which can be found in the oldest quarter of the town called Vegueta where we stopped for lunch in a little family run tapas restaurant.
While on our trip, we also visited several other hotels. The Sheraton Salobre is a golfer’s paradise, and has fantastic spa facilities. Being remote I would recommend hiring a car to get around. The Cordial Mogan Playa and Hotel Gloria Amadores are great for families. The Gloria Palace Royal has beautiful views over Amadores Beach which is accessible by lift. Families and couples alike will enjoy this hotel.
In the mountains we visited Hotel Parador Cruz De Tejeda and had a fantastic lunch. The views from this hotel were just breath-taking and the spa is the place to unwind after a day’s walking or cycling. My favourite hotel was the Lopesan Baobab Resort which is magnificent with its warm colours and African theme throughout. The sub-tropical gardens are a real wow factor. If you’re looking for something smaller and a bit more personal, I would recommend the Grand Hotel which is very glamorous and best suited to couples. It has a great beachfront location in Maspalomas.
We visited Puerto Mogan which is also known as Little Venice, and is this is the prettiest part of the island. It’s a very calming place with water running under the arches and joining with the sea in the Marina. There are hotels and luxury apartments overlooking the golden sands imported from the Sahara.
Gran Canaria is a paradise for walking and cycling. We drove out to the areas of Fataga, San Bartolome and Tejeda, in the heart of the island. The roads are fantastic and car hire is highly recommended. We stopped a few times for some amazing views and to take in the different terrain. You can stay at the Parador Cruz de Tejeda and do some amazing cycling and walking routes.
I really enjoyed my time in Gran Canaria and I would highly recommend it for both activity and beach holidays. My ideal trip would be a couple of days in Las Palmas soaking up the history and eating in the little tapas restaurants, then into the mountains to do some walking and evening relaxation in the spa. It’s also perfect for those looking for a beach getaway! There is something for everyone in Gran Canaria and it’s only 4 hours way.