Travel to Gran Canaria

Travel to Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the third largest of the Canary Islands, situated off the coast of the Western Sahara in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a captivating island that is a delightful mixture of lush forest and desert-like dunes, mountains and oceans, volcanic craters and striking flora and fauna. The pleasant weather and amazing beauty of this island have made it a very popular tourist destination. Gran Canaria has spectacular beaches, but there is also something here for everyone to enjoy, regardless of age.

Transportation to Gran Canaria

The international airport here is the fifth busiest in Spain and very convenient to get to from most parts of the world. The airport has good facilities including restaurants, banks, ATMs, car rental agencies and many other facilities that international tourists would expect.

There are metered taxis available at the airport to get travellers to the city. Taxis are the most expensive mode of travel in Gran Canaria, but also the most efficient. Frequent bus services are available from the airport to the Old Town as well as the New Town at hourly intervals. If travellers prefer not to fly, they can get to Gran Canaria by ferry from Cadiz, Spain or other major ports in European cities. There are also international bus and train services from many parts of Europe to major cities in Spain that allow passengers to connect to other means of transportation to get to Gran Canaria.

What to see

Visitors to Gran Canaria will not get bored because there are many places to visit and things to do including visiting the water parks that are mostly located in the south; Aquasur, Ocean Park and Aqua Park. Additionally, there are also about eight amusement parks with various themes including a Wild West theme, Crocodile Park and a reconstruction of an old Canary village.

Tourists will also enjoy spending time at the museums and visiting architectural buildings. The shady Botanical Gardens are very beautiful and offer respite from the sun. There are also sand dunes, next to the Maspalomas Beach; small coves; mountains and forests to explore.

Daytrips

Travellers may wish to spend a day at another one of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura. There are many places to visit here including historical sites, volcanoes and museums, but the biggest lure would be the stunning beaches. Fuerteventuras capital, Puerto Rosario, is a quaint small town that has many interesting shops to browse and several good restaurants, where you can try some authentic Spanish cuisine.

Activities and leisure

For lovers of water sports, this is a haven, as Gran Canaria is the perfect place to enjoy these activitiesunder the warm sun. Windsurfing, parasailing, jet-skiing and waterskiing, sailing, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing are all easily available. Perhaps the highlight of a trip here could be a diving trip to explore the shipwrecks and marine reserves. Land activities include trekking, walking, cycling, golfing and much more.

Gran Canaria is also home to several casinos and the nightlife here is exciting and vibrant. For something different, pamper yourself with a day at one of Gran Canarias well-known spas and choose from a wide range of treatments including algae wraps, hydrotherapy, mud baths, massages andTurkish baths. Most of the spas only use natural waters that are rich in minerals and are said to have healing qualities.

Safety issues

Gran Canaria is a safe place to visit, but tourists are reminded to be aware of their surroundings and careful of their belongings because there have been a few cases of pick-pocketing here. To truly enjoy a holiday, we recommend that you purchase a comprehensive insurance policy that will give you peace of mind. We suggest that the policy covers health and medical benefits as well as loss of property and delayed flights.

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