Page 548 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

546  SP AIN ’ S ISLANDS

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the most popular of the Canary Islands,
with over 3 million holiday-makers visiting it each year.
The island offers a surprising range of scenery, climate,
resorts and attractions within its compact bounds. Winding
roads follow the steep, ruggedly beautiful terrain which
rises to a symmetrical cone at the centre of the island.
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria’s capital and port, is the largest
city in the Canaries, and Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés, in
the south, is one of the biggest resorts in Spain. Both
tourist meccas are packed with high-rise hotels and villa
complexes, but not far away there is some marvellous
scenery to discover.
Holiday-makers on the golden sands of
Puerto Rico beach
w Puerto de Mogán
turn. Puerto Rico is an over-
Las Palmas. * 1,500. n Centro
Comercial de Puerto Rico, Fase 2, developed resort, but has one
Puerto Rico, 928 56 11 38. ( Fri. of the more attractive beaches
_ Virgen del Carmen (Jul). on the island, a firm crescent of
∑ grancanaria.com imported sand supplemented
by lidos and excellent water-
Situated at the end of the sports facilities. It is a great
verdant valley of Mogán, this place to learn sailing, diving
is one of Gran Canaria’s most and windsurfing, or just to
appealing developments – an soak up the ultraviolet – Puerto
idyll to many visitors after the Rico enjoys the best sunshine
brash Playa del Inglés. Based record in the whole of Spain.
around a small fishing port, it
consists of a village-like complex
of pretty, white, creeper-covered r Maspalomas
houses and a similarly designed Las Palmas. * 33,000. @ n Centro
hotel built around a marina. Sun-worshippers in Puerto Rico Comercial Anexo II 20, Playa del Inglés,
Boutiques, bars and restaurants 928 76 84 09. ( Wed & Sat. _
add an ambience without any of e Puerto Rico Santiago (25 Jul), San Bartolomé
the accompanying rowdiness. Las Palmas. * 1,800. n Centro (24 Aug). ∑ grancanaria.com
The sandy beach, sheltered Comercial de Puerto Rico, Fase 2, 928 56
between the cliffs, is scarcely 11 38. _ María de Auxiliadora (May), When the motorway from Las
big enough for all visitors; a San Antonio (13 Jun), Carmen (16 Jul). Palmas Airport first tips you into
car is recommended to reach this bewildering mega-resort, it
more facilities at Maspalomas. The barren cliffs west of seems like a homogeneous blur,
Ferries provide a leisurely way Maspalomas now sprout but gradually three separate com-
to get to nearby resorts. apartment complexes at every munities emerge. San Agustín,
the furthest east, is sedate
compared with the others. It
has a series of beaches of dark
sand, attractively sheltered by
low cliffs and landscaped
promenades, and a casino.
The next exit off the coastal
highway leads to Playa del
Inglés, the largest and liveliest
resort, a triangle of land jutting
into a huge belt of golden sand.
Developed from the end of the
1950s, the area is built up with
giant blocks of flats linked by a
maze of roads. Many hotels lack
sea views, though most have
spacious grounds with swimming
Floral arches decorating a street of apartments in Puerto de Mogán pools. At night the area pulsates
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p575 and pp604–5

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm