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Gran Canaria
Sweeping sand dunes. Neon-lit nightlife. And a surprisingly beautiful interior. Gran Canaria's got holidays all sewn up.
Thomson Destinations
reviews Video tour & customer on.co.uk thoms
The mere mention of Gran Canaria summons up visions of sun, fun and sands. And for good reason. The south coast of this sun-shaped island is fringed with great beaches. When you're packing your suitcase you'll need little more than your cossie, suncream and shades. Think huge swathes of golden sands and Lawrence of Arabia-like dunes. And all along the coast, the sands come with something else in tow - big, buzzing holiday resorts. Take Playa del Ingles. This rip-roaring resort is a favourite with Brits thanks to its winning formula of beach, malls and bars. Up next is Maspalomas. Next door to Playa del Ingles, this lower-key resort has sophisticated eateries, emerald fairways and Saharan-style sand dunes. And then there's Puerto Rico - a family magnet with a horseshoe bay, sleek marina and waterpark. There are less hedonistic spots along this pleasure-seeking coast. In pretty Puerto Mogan, you'll find whitewashed Canarian houses lining miniature canals. And in Amadores, snow-white sands perfect for getting away from it all. Things to see and do Las Palmas Gran Canaria's culture-crammed capital is a must-do trip. Founded in 1478, it's where Columbus sailed from to the Americas and its old quarter bulges with historic monuments. Wander around its wedding-cake Santa Ana Cathedral before trekking up its towers for incredible views. Explore the museum of Casa de Colon, where Columbus rested between trips and which still stores his sailing charts. Meander around the Museo Canaria to see its grisly skulls and mummies. Then hang out in the mansion-lined streets, shopping at smart boutiques and stopping at pavement cafes for tapas. Hiking & walking Camera ready? Boots on? You're set to explore Gran Canaria's picturebook interior. Hike its highest mountain, the Pico de las Nievas, to wow over cloud-pushing peaks, towering pines and surreally shaped basalt pinnacles. Wander the trails through the Tamadaba pine forest. Roam the rim of the breath-stopping Caldera de Bandama, a bowl-shaped volcanic crater with a lone farm cupped in its centre. And don't miss Teror, a picture-postcard Canarian village that's all whitewashed houses, ornate balconies and leafy squares. Maspalomas Dunes It wouldn't be right to come here without experiencing this natural wonder. Slap bang on the shores of Maspalomas, these dunes cover a humungous 400 hectares and are made of powdery, orange-gold sands. Romp around them, slide down their slopes - some are 10 metres high - or bury yourself in a hollow to sunbathe, picnic or gape at the Saharan-like scenery. Alternatively, join a camel safari and pad across them Laurence of Arabia style. Then go twitching around the next-door charco' - a freshwater lagoon where countless sea birds stop-off during their migration from Europe to Africa. Waterparks Rushing rapids. Soaring slides. And more curly chutes than the kids can handle. At Gran Canaria's waterparks, family fun comes thick and fast. For the biggest thrills, hightail it to Maspalomas' Aqua Sur with its lazy river and chemistry-set tubes. Puerto Rico's Aqua Park boasts the island's longest slide, whilst the Ocean Park in Campo International sports a wicked wave pool and slides galore. Mundo Aborigen, Fataga This cute open-air museum is great for inquisitive kids. Overlooking the huge Barranco de Fataga, it's a miniature Madame Tussaud's with life-size figurines depicting the everyday life of the island's original Guanche tribes. Follow the marked paths and you'll see how these ancient people milled flour, worked the fields, did away with law-breakers and even performed operations. The views over the gorge are cracking, too.
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Punta Sardina
Punta de Galdar
Punta de la Vieja
Galdar Arucas
LAS PALMAS
Monte Coello
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Agaete Teror
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Atlant
Punta de la Aldea
1771
Tejeda San Nicolas de Tolentino
Punta de la Soga
1426 1949 Pozo de las Nieves
Telde
Presa de Soria
Ingenio
Santa Lucia Sardina
Punta de Gando
Morgan
Gran Canaria
Puerto Mogan Playa Taurito Punta de Tenefe Playa del Cura Playa de Amadores Bahia Feliz Puerto Rico Playa del Ingles San Agustin Arguineguin Maspalomas GRAN CANARIA Meloneras
8 km
© TUI 2005
Beaches Beaches don't come much bigger or better than those in Gran Canaria. Pure and simple. Mother Nature definitely set her sights on the south coast when it came to doling them out. And many come just a flip-flop away from restaurants, shops and refreshment stops. For sheer size and oomph, Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas take the trophies. At Playa del Ingles, the sands seem to run forever. Zooming off into the distance like a golden conveyor belt, they take an endless row of amusements, bars and eateries right along with them. Follow the sands south and they merge into Maspalomas beach - easily up there with the island's best. This stellar stretch extends for six long kilometres and slowly morphs into Maspalomas' magnificent sand dunes. Like big, plumped-up pillows of sand, they're the ultimate spot for some serious sunning and snoozing. Another beach favourite is Puerto Mogan. Sheltered by cliffs, it's a real bobby dazzler, with a half-moon of sands lapped by crystal-clear
waters. Puerto Rico and Playa Taurito are the same, with wide expanses of cashmere-soft sands shelving into sparkling seas. And the story goes on. In San Agustin, grab your towel and doze on the dark sand beach, dipping into the refreshing waves and beachside cafés when you need time out. And in Bahia Feliz, you'll find a lovely main beach and pebbly coves brushed by the kind of cooling breezes windsurfers dream about. For show-stopping beauty though, it's hard to beat Amadores. Carpeted in silky white sands, its man-made beach has got the Caribbean written all over it.
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London Gran Canaria
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170
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