Gran Canaria Island: where is it located, photo and description, weather, attractions, tourist reviews

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

If you consider yourself an avid traveler, you probably dreamed of visiting the Canary Islands. The most popular place in the archipelago is the island of Gran Canaria. Infrastructure is well developed in its tourist centers. Numerous tourists come here for the beach holiday and vibrant nightlife. The resorts of the island specialize in water activities, sea excursions, windsurfing and other activities. You definitely won't be bored here.

Description and geographic location

Where is Gran Canaria? The island is located in the south of the Canary archipelago. It is the third largest. It owes its appearance to volcanoes. That is why the largest of them is a local landmark and a hallmark of the island. Nieves rises above the ocean, its top is covered with a white cap in the cool months,which makes it possible for the locals to remember the existence of snow.

Gran Canaria has the largest population in the archipelago. Very often it is called a continent in miniature, because there are many interesting things on its territory. Before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, the Guanches lived here. Then Gran Caria turned into a colony. And over time, it became a remote, but very attractive province of Spain.

Its capital is the city of Las Palmas. It is a multinational, very fun and noisy place, famous for its annual carnivals and cultural festivals. The capital is located in the northeast of the island. It is considered one of the largest cities in Spain. In the south of the island there are mainly resorts, which are the basis of the economy, and in the center there are mountainous areas with the remains of an ancient pine forest.

How to get there?

On the island of Gran Canaria there is an airport that receives flights from different cities of the world. Unfortunately, there is no direct communication from Russia. Therefore, you will have to get to the island with transfers. Most often, tourists choose Tenerife Airport. However, this is not the only option.

Climate of the region

All tourists, without exception, are interested in the question of what the weather is like on the island of Gran Canaria. It is worth saying that the territory of the region is divided by mountain ranges into two climatic zones. Each of them is dominated by its own winds, on which the weather depends. The northern part of the island is under the influence of the trade winds, which bringfog and cold. It rains more often here and it never gets hot.

The southern part of the island is warmed by African winds. Climatic features have also influenced the local flora. In the northern regions, lush vegetation prevails, but the southern regions are more like steppes. Sometimes there are even dust storms. Throughout the year, the island has approximately the same weather. There is no pronounced change of seasons here.

For recreation, tourists prefer the southern part of the island of Gran Canaria. The water off its coast is suitable for swimming throughout the year. Its temperature is always within + 19 … + 23 ° С. In summer, the air temperature fluctuates around +24 … +28 ° С. In winter, the weather is not cold. The thermometer column does not fall below +20 … +22 ° С. Warm clothing is not required on the island. You can take a windbreaker with you only if you plan to visit the sights of the island of Gran Canaria in its northern part. The main advantage of this amazing place is the complete absence of parasitic insects. Even mosquitoes are very rare here.

Active Leisure

The island of Gran Canaria (photo is given in the article) is incredibly attractive for beach lovers. Paradise will appeal to those who love water activities. There are a lot of them here.

The largest and most popular beach is "Maspalomas", which captures the territory of several resorts at once. Here tourists can enjoy the goldensand, crystal clear waters, well-equipped coastline and a wide range of entertainment. If you want to enjoy peace and tranquility, it is better to go to the north coast, which can delight you with the beauty of tropical forests and beautiful bays. Rest here is chosen by supporters of ecological tourism. According to reviews, the island of Gran Canaria is famous for its natural attractions.

Tamadaba Park

One of the main attractions of the island of Gran Canaria is the Tamadaba National Park. Its territory reaches 7500 hectares. The park is located in the northeast of the island near the town of Agaete. In 1987, Tamadaba acquired the status of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. On its territory grow unique plants, shrubs and other plants that are not found anywhere else on the planet. No less unique are the animals living in the protected park. Of greatest interest to tourists are the famous Canarian pines, the needles of which reach a length of 30 cm.

Not only the flora and fauna of the park is interesting, but also the most beautiful views of the ocean and surroundings that open from the heights. Numerous paths for walks of guests on bicycles and on foot are laid on the territory of the object. Those who wish can also stay here in tents for a few days.

Botanical Garden

Among the sights of the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) you should pay attention to the botanical garden. They are very proud of the locals. The unique place is called "Viera and Clavijo". Itappeared in 1952 thanks to the efforts of the Swedish botanist Eric Sventenius. On the mountain slopes near Las Palmas, he laid the future oasis in which he wanted to grow plants that grow throughout the archipelago.

Currently, the garden covers 27 hectares. Beautiful paths are laid on its territory, along which visitors can walk and admire flowers, shrubs and trees. The main attraction of the garden is the laurel forest with rare trees. No less attractive are Canary pines, alleys with dragon trees, as well as an unusual garden of giant cacti. Also here you can see the remains of the sanctuary of the Guanches.

Maspalomas Dunes

Of the interesting places on the island of Gran Canaria (Spain), which are worth seeing, the dunes of Maspalomas deserve special attention. This unusual place is located in the south of the island. The miniature desert covers an area of about 403 hectares. It is included in the national park of the same name. The desert dunes are inhabited by insects and animals that are characteristic of Africa. There are also endemics here that are not found anywhere else in the world.

The diversity of flora is fully determined by the behavior of moving dunes. On the territory of the reserve there is a lagoon with sea birds and palm trees, which is a coastal oasis. Here you can see unique Canarian lizards, which have become a symbol of the reserve. You can walk along the dunes on the back of a camel or on foot.

Columbus House Museum

One of the most visited places by touristson about. Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, photo is given in the article) is the city of Las Palmas. On its territory there are attractions, among which it is worth paying attention to the house-museum of Columbus. The historical monument is a three-story building in the style of colonial architecture of the fifteenth century. This building underwent a major reconstruction once in 1777. In fact, the house was never owned by Columbus. The building served as the residence of the governor of the island, who kindly provided apartments for the great traveler.

In the courtyard of the building is the Museum of the Age of Discovery. It has been working since 1952 and tells about the history of sea voyages of different times. The museum has five exhibits. Some of them tell about the development of navigation before and after Columbus. In twelve halls you can see real marine exhibits and high-quality reconstructions. In one of the rooms you can admire a three-dimensional model of Gran Canaria. The local halls also display the rarest paintings provided by the Prado Museum. The museum is very interesting to visit. According to tourists, its exposition helps to learn a lot about the history of the island, about navigation and discoveries from different eras.

Palmitos Park

The park is located in the south of the island and is considered the largest themed oasis. It is simultaneously a thematic reserve, an open zoo and an entertainment complex. Its territory is 20 hectares, it grows more than 15thousand tropical plants, live about 150 species of animals and birds. On the territory of the park there are thematic exhibitions of insects, animals and fish. Here you can watch shows with the participation of four-legged artists. Tourists especially like the performance of parrots in the open air. In addition, guests have the opportunity to watch shows with dolphins, as well as swim with them.

Hotels

As you understand, there are a lot of hotels on the island of Gran Canaria. You can opt for the cheapest hostel or opt for a five-star complex. It is worth noting that the coast of the island is strewn with small resort villages. Three largest regions can be distinguished on Gran Canaria, in which the largest number of hotels is concentrated: Mogan, Maspalomas, Meloneras.

IFA Dunamar Hotel is one of the first hotels to appear on the island. Therefore, it may surprise someone with a slightly old-fashioned design. But in the lobby on the first floor of the hotel you can admire the turtles. The hotel belongs to a chain of hotel complexes. It is located next to the beach, thanks to which the windows offer stunning views.

Ifa Beach Hotel is a three-star hotel, which is a nine-story building. The hotel has 200 rooms, but please note that it does not accept guests with children. The facility is for adult guests only. There are several pools and a relaxation area on the territory, but you will have to walk a little to the sea. It is worth saying that local hotels offer a variety ofnutrition programs, including the "all inclusive" concept. But that doesn't mean you can't just rent a room. You can eat wherever you want.

Ifa Interclub Atlantic is a large complex consisting of many smaller buildings. The territory of the hotel is equipped with a park where you can walk. In addition, there are sports grounds, discos, tennis courts, a swimming pool and even animators to entertain guests.

Housing on the island is represented only by hotels and inns. Here, too, there are private properties that local residents willingly rent to tourists. Which housing option to choose is up to you. Please note that the cost of rooms in hotels of the same category may be different. This means that rooms and other services will differ in such establishments.

Most often guests choose hotels with three or four stars. But this does not mean that there are no fashionable establishments on the island. If you wish, you can stay in one of the five-star complexes.

Gran Canaria Island: reviews of tourists

The admiring reviews of numerous travelers make us recommend Gran Canaria for a beach holiday. According to tourists, the island can be safely called a real paradise. When planning a trip, take a closer look at which resort has warmer weather at this time, and the winds are less strong. Gran Canaria is a famous gathering place for kite surfers, as the local winds are ideal for gliding on the sea surface. The island attracts visitors with a variety of landscapes. There are many interesting places to visit here.look. Therefore, you are guaranteed a fun holiday, and not monotonous lying on the coast.

Tourists note that the island has very low prices for clothes, fruits and food. Particularly pleased with the sales period. The entertainment industry is incredibly developed in Gran Canaria, so it is impossible to get bored here. In addition to standard hotels with rooms, on the island you can rent apartments with a kitchen to cook on your own.

Tourists definitely recommend visiting local attractions. Don't be surprised if you see naked people on the beaches. Nudists are quite normal here. Yes, and local clubs often organize same-sex parties. But this does not mean that Gran Canaria is not suitable for families. It is quite comfortable to relax here for people of any age.

Instead of afterword

Tourists who have visited the island are always very satisfied with their vacation. The beautiful sandy beaches of the resorts will not leave anyone indifferent. A huge advantage of the resort is that you can relax on it at any time of the year. Even if the water in the ocean seems cool to you, the hotels have heated pools. Gran Canaria is an amazing place. On one island you can see places with a variety of landscapes. If you are interested in natural beauties, be sure to take a sightseeing tour of the island, during which you will learn a lot of new and interesting things about Gran Canaria.