Gran Canaria - The Island
Most new arrivals to Gran Canaria are lured to the gilt-edged south where sandy bays, fishing harbours and bite-sized coves provide the coconut oiled crowd with a plethora of horizontal opportunities. Here, the rolling dunes of Maspalomas are the only natural icon among the buzzing man-made resorts of Playa del Ingles, and Playa de Maspalomas. Further along the coast, Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán also draw the bucket and spade brigade, the latter providing a scenic mooring spot for the yacht-erati.
Inland, dotted between flower-speckled meadows and narrow country roads, you’ll find villages like Fataga, Tamaraceite, and Teror. Here time drifts calmly by, save for the periodic village fiesta. But not the capital, Las Palmas. It’s not only the most populated metropolis of the archipelago but also the most cosmopolitan. The historical quarter displays a rich legacy sparkling with tales of daring incursions that have shaped the Gran Canaria of today.
