Gran Canaria: Atlantic Ocean’s Eden

Gran Canaria is synonymous of what you might expect from a beautiful holiday destination; translated as “great island”, Gran Canaria is a beautiful microcosm of Spanish life. Located in the Atlantic Ocean, between Africa and Europe, Gran Canaria has over 800,000 residents, making it the second most populated of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife.

Records of life on this sunny island began around 500 BC with the arrival of the Canarii; these first inhabitants called their home “The Land of The Brave”, and they lived there for thousands of years until the Spanish conquistadors of the 15th Century ended their reign. It was then that Gran Canaria, as we know it today, was established.

Gran Canaria is a volcanic island with a diameter of just around 50 km but don’t let its modest size give you false perceptions. The island is blessed with a rich treasure trove of culture and historical landmarks, in addition to a multitude of activities for holidaymakers to engage in.

One of the best attributes of the place, and one of the reasons it’s possible to get cheap holidays to Gran Canaria for most of the year, is its pleasant climate. Average temperatures in the summer months reach around 26 degrees C, however, this only goes down to an average just around 20 degrees C in the cold months, making it a perfect all-year destination. It is relatively rare of for temperatures to drop below 10 degrees C on the island, even during the coldest nights of mid-winter.

Even though Gran Canaria has sun-bathed beaches and glorious all-year temperatures, there are a surprising number of cheap hotels to stay in while you are vacationing there. Most visitors make their way towards the south of the island, where there is usually less rain and better temperatures, as well as white-sand beach areas such as Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles and Meloneras. From Tarajalillo, you can take a flight around this striking island. If you prefer traveling on the ground, why not take a trip to Puerto de Mogan, which is referred to by many as “little Venice” due to the number of canals in this beautiful location.

Other attractions in this locality include an 80-metre high monolith called Roque Nublo and the enchanting area of Cenobio de Vlareon, which has a delightful collection of coastal caves for the more adventurous explorers. If that is too much for you, you can instead explore the more peaceful botanical gardens in Tafira Alta and La Aldea de San Nicolas.

The geographical richness of the island is illustrated perfectly by landmarks such as El Dedo de Dios (God’s Finger), El Cura and La Rana (The Frog). All three are remarkable natural landmarks and must-visit places of the island.

After pounding the tourist trail, you’re going to be hungry by the day’s end. The great thing about Gran Canarian cuisine is that it has common elements from both African and Spanish cultures to offer unique and delectable culinary delights. Thus, a cheap holiday to Gran Canaria will not only enable you to visit some excellent sights but also please your taste buds.

The island’s cuisine is based around fresh fish, vegetables and fruit. You will obviously want to treat yourself to restaurant food at some stage, but there are also several nice local eateries selling an assortment of fresh produce, so it’s also possible to cater for yourself. Try the sea bream casserole along with some sumptuous “wrinkled” potatoes (patatas arrugadas) and one of the many local sauces that are drizzled to such dishes so beautifully.