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Gran Canaria is an island of the Canary Islands. Located in the Atlantic Ocean about 93 miles off the northwestern coast of Africa and about 1350 km (~838 miles) from Europe.
This is is the second biggest Island of the Canary Islands after Tenerife.
On Gran Canaria you will see
the breath taking beaches . No wonder the entire island has been placed under protection as a biosphere reserve by
UNESCO. A number of extraordinary ecosystems on land and water are watched over by several national parks and the biodiversity spans from rare flowers to a spectacular underwater world home to sea turtles, mantas, dolphins, and millions of colorful fish. This is why Gran Canaria is great for water sport lovers especially if goes about diving.
There is a number if diving clubs which can take you to the best spots such as Playa de El Cabrón for instance.
While in Gran Canaria you should also try to see the countryside, which is no less magical than the coast area. The volcanic lands range from eerie moonscapes to fertile explosions of green and colour.
On the most fastinating landscapes is Roque Nublo, a 260 ft (80 m) monolith standing up against the sky. If you head to Juncalillo and Tejada you will see that the mountains here are largely used for agriculture purposes. The highest peak in this region is Pozo de las Nives, great for hiking. In this area you will also find quite impressive blue-black basalt rocks of Arucas.
You can’t leave Gran Canaria without stopping in the capital: Las Palmas. With its 800,000 citizens is considered as lively great metropolis. This was the resting place of Christopher Columbus, who used to stop here during his travels between the Old and the New World. By today all tourist head to his house Casa Colon, in the historic Vegueta district.
From the cooler north to the sunnier south of Gran Canaria this island has everything the most discerning traveller could ever wish for. Here you will find the great diversity of climate, no matter at which time of the year. You can skate for instance on real ice again in the shopping centre Las Arenas in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria during Christmas Time. It's becoming a christmas tradition: skating on ice on Gran Canaria!
Here flora and fauna has led to this island being dubbed "The Miniature Continent". Where else can one find acres of sand dunes with a backdrop of verdant mountains within easy reach of some of the best hotels, clubs, bars and cafés in Europe?
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