Review of Playa del Ingles

Situated on the edge of the Dunas de Maspalomas, the Gran Canaria seaside resort of Playa del Ingles is one of the best known spots on the island. Popular more for its climate and beach than for any historical or cultural worth, Playa del Ingles also has a vibrant nightlife scene and plenty of facilities for visitors to enjoy. During the daytime most holidaymakers head for the beach area, where aside from the sea, sand and sun, there are plenty of bars and restaurants to tempt the thirsty and hungry. The beach is excellent and was in fact man-made from sand shipped in from the Sahara Desert, there are also lots of water sports facilities for those who get bored with simply sunbathing. Playa del Ingles can be accessed from the GC1 and the GC500 and is approximately 30 km from the airport at Gando. Playa del Ingles Map.

Overview of the Bahia Principe Resort and Hotel Tenerife

Located at the southern end of Playa Paraiso (“Paradise Beach”) the popular Bahia Principe Tenerife Resort stands on a cliff overlooking the bay and enjoying spectacular views over the sea to the island of La Gomera. Situated on Tenerife’s renowned south-west coast close to the huge resort of Playa de las Americas the Principe Tenerife attracts thousands of visitors each year. The resort covers some 8,000 square metres and includes a number of swimming pools, gym, shopping and leisure centre, barbers and beauty salon, restaurants, snack bar, tennis court, squash court, Jacuzzi and much, much more. The Bahia Principe Tenerife has 220 well appointed luxury rooms with private bathroom and balcony. The region experiences a wonderful climate and Playa Paraiso weather is perfect for holidays throughout the year, being especially pleasant during the winter months as is most of the Canary Islands.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The largest city in the Canary Islands, Spain, is the historic city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Founded on the 24th June 1478 by the Spanish conquistadors, Las Palmas developed into a significant port and was well used by ships sailing around the African coast and also those visiting the New World of America. Used as a stopping off point for Christopher Columbus on the 1st of his American voyages, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria boasts a fantastic museum, named after the famous explorer, the Casa Colón contains models and artefacts relating to Columbus and his voyages. The fabulous Catedral de Santa Ana was begun in 1497 and took some four hundred year to finish, the Neo-Classical façade hides Gothic vaults. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is situated in the fertile north of the island and experiences a humid climate, which is not as searingly hot as the desert-like south of the island, making Las Palmas de Gran Canaria weather more pleasant in the summer months and still mild during the winter. Most visitors to Gran Canaria pass through Las Palmas in one way or another as both the airport for the island and the main port are located there. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Map.

Playa Taurito Gran Canaria - A Rare Gem

A rare gem on the south coast of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands of Spain, Playa Taurito, although a built for tourism resort, is in a secluded spot away from the mass tourism of such resorts as Puerto Rico and Maspalomas. Playa Taurito’s wonderful sand and shingle beach is sheltered by two surrounding cliffs, making it a perfect spot for a tranquil beach holiday, if you don’t like swimming in the clear blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, you can always try out the privately operated lido, which is one of the features of the resort. Boasting some first class hotels, the resort offers excellent accommodation facilities such as the 4 Star Princess Hotel Playa Taurito with its 2 swimming pools set in lavish tropical gardens. If you like a vibrant night life don’t go to Playa Taurito, while the hotels have some decent evening entertainment, for clubs and discos head for nearby Puerto Rico. What kind of climate can you expect? Well Playa Taurito weather is glorious for most of the year and is especially pleasant during the winter months, when a break in the sun is even more enjoyable. Playa Taurito is situated south of Puerto de Mogan on Gran Canaria’s south coast. Playa Taurito Map.

Tenerife Canary Islands

The largest and without doubt the best known of the Spanish Canary Islands, Tenerife has a population of around 850,000 (over one third live in Santa Cruz de Tenerife), and is an extremely popular holiday destination. Tenerife is split into 2 distinct areas by a large mountain range, the area to the north is lush and green with a rugged coastline, the area to the south is arid and sparsely vegetated with plenty of fine sandy beaches and most of the island’s popular resorts. In the centre is the highest mountain in Spain – the Pico del Teide (3,717 metres). Two areas of great beauty are the Orotava Valley and the Las Canadas National Park which are both worth a look if you are visiting the island. Some of Tenerife´s best known resorts lie on the west coast and include Los Cristianos, Los Gigantes, Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz, most of these within the municipalities of Arona and Adeje. The vast majority of visitors are attracted by the superb all year round climate, with Tenerife weather being particularly pleasant during the winter months (the best time to visit), the north of the island can experience a significantly different climate and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the island, in the north-east is often wetter and cooler.

Tenerife Map.

Playa Blanca – A Lanzarote Resort

Located in the extreme south of Lanzarote in the Spanish Canary Islands, the town of Playa Blanca was formerly just a small fishing village. In recent years Playa Blanca has become one of the largest resorts on the island, but has not yet been too badly spoilt by this rise to notoriety. Boasting some fine sandy beaches, the one to the south at Playa de Papagayo of particular note, Playa Blanca is also the main ferry port for accessing the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura (where the beaches are even better). Playa Blanca has a decent range of shops, bars and restaurants and is ideal for family, beach style holidays. The main attractions for visitors to the resort are the traditional charm and the excellent Playa Blanca weather, which is ideal for winter breaks away from the cold and damp of northern Europe. Playa Blanca Map.

The Resort of Puerto Rico Gran Canaria

The Resort of Puerto Rico Gran Canaria - For the best family holidays on Gran Canaria in the Spanish Canary Islands, you need look little further than the resort of Puerto Rico. Though at times Puerto Rico receives some negative press, it has everything needed for a splendid family beach style holiday with 2 calm and safe swimming beaches, with all the usual facilities, sun loungers, parasols, lifeguards, toilets, beach bars, restaurants etc. Puerto Rico has some excellent water sports facilities including jet-skiing, swimming, fishing, scuba diving and windsurfing. Puerto Rico, similar to all the southern resorts of Gran Canaria, benefits from a terrific all year round climate, with the weather in Puerto Rico comprising wall-to-wall sunshine throughout the year (actually more pleasant during the traditional winter months). Night time entertainment is second to none on the islands with a huge choice of bars, restaurants and clubs in which to wine, dine and while away the evening hours, in the daytime there are boat trips to be enjoyed, coach trips to the island’s attractions such as Palmitos Park or Holiday World, nearby resorts such as Arguineguin or Puerto Mogan, and beaches to laze on and enjoy the sun. What more could you want in a Family holiday? Map of Puerto Rico.

Playa de las Canteras and Vegueta Las Palmas

Two entirely contrasting districts of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Playa de las Canteras and Vegueta also lie at opposing ends of this great city. Playa de las Canteras is the prime beach for the city and as such has all the modern facilities that such an attraction should have, its 4 kilometres of golden sand attracts visitors throughout the year, they come to enjoy the safe warm waters of this reef protected beach. On the other hand the ancient district of Vegueta was where the original city was founded in 1478, its narrow streets concealing attractions which take visitors back many centuries, head here to see interesting museums, the cathedral and steep yourself in the history of this historic city. Las Palmas Map.

The Inland Town of Aguimes Gran Canaria

One of the lesser known inland towns of Gran Canaria in the Spanish Canary Islands, Aguimes has a population of twenty two thousand and its skyline is dominated by the huge towers of its magnificent church the Iglesia de San Sebastion, a fine example of Neo-Classical architecture, constructed in the eighteenth century. Easy to reach from the coastal resorts of Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles, Aguimes is also close to Gran Canaria airport.

The Fishing Port of Puerto de Mogan

A former little fishing port, the now desirable Puerto de Mogan on Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Spain, has been developed into a charming holiday resort with a smallish man made beach and a lovely yacht marina, with a good selection of facilities. The small crescent shaped beach was made of sand from Africa and is quieter than most of its counterparts, definitely a Gran Canaria beach worth visiting. A mostly low-rise resort developed adjacent to the old fishing port, the holiday zone is attractive and pleasant and a world away from such ugly Gran Canaria developments as Puerto Rico, Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas. Puerto Mogan has its own little yellow submarine, in which tourists can watch the island’s fascinating marine life, it is a renowned area for tuna and marlin fishing and holds a Marlin fishing contest each year. Puerto Mogan is in the south of the island and is a Gran Canaria travel destination which enjoys a delightful climate with Puerto Mogan weather being just the job for holidays both summer and winter. Puerto Mogan Map.

Gran Canaria Attractions – Palmitos Park

A huge 20,000 square metres in area and one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island of Gran Canaria, Palmitos Park reopened last summer after a years closure due to a forest fire which devastated the area. Situated about 15 km inland from the popular resorts of the southern coastline of the island, Palmitos Park is a botanical garden with a number of other attractions including and aviary with some 230 species of birds, an aquarium and a butterfly house. The attractive gardens have numerous species of palm tree and cactus on display, and all are set in a beautiful area of countryside, offering some wonderful panoramic views. A bus service operates from some of the seaside resorts of San Agustin, Puerto Rico and Playa del Ingles, for those not hiring a car.

The Canary Islands of El Hierro and La Gomera

The two smallest of the main Canary Islands are El Hierro and La Gomera, both largely unspoilt by tourism especially El Hierro which has very little accommodation available. La Gomera does attract a number of tourists from nearby Tenerife, most just visit for the day, other to explore the amazing Garonjay National Park which features one of the oldest natural forests in the world. El Hierro is the smallest of the islands at only 278 km2, it has hardly any beaches, and as such does not attract ‘package’ tourists, its coastline is steep and rocky apart from areas of coast close to the capital Valverde. La Gomera is slightly larger at 378 km2 a large portion of which is covered by the Parque Nacional de Garonjay, an area of mist shrouded forests, mountains and deep ravines. Visitors to La Gomera arrive at its port in the capital San Sebastion de la Gomera from Los Cristianos on the island of Tenerife.

The Canary Islands – Early History

One of the most popular winter holiday destinations for Europeans seeking some off peak sunshine is the Spanish Canary Islands, an archipelago of islands and islets located off the north-east coast of Africa. The Canary Islands have a long and interesting past and Canary Islands history is fascinating to discover. First settled some 5,000 years ago the earliest true civilisation occurred during the second century BC when a tribal culture known as the Guanches lived in caves and built primitive villages. The Guanches were still in occupation when the Romans arrived in 40 BC, as Juba II explored the region which was then called the Fortunate Islands. The present name was probably derived from the breed of dogs which lived on the islands and met the Roman explorers, they were large and fierce and no doubt left an impression on the arrivals. The islands, to all intents and purposes, disappeared from the map for over 1,000 years after the fall of the Roman Empire and were not set foot on again until the beginning of the 14th century when a Genoese captain called Lazarotto Malocello bumped into the island later named after him (Lanzarote) and took the news of its existence back to Europe. Later expeditions led to the eventual invasion by a small force under Jean de Bethencourt, he landed on Lanzarote and built a fort on Fuerteventura before running out of provisions and heading for the Spanish mainland to muster additional support from the Castillians.

Lanzarote’s Capital Arrecife

One of the largest cities in the Canary Islands, Arrecife became the capital of Lanzarote in 1852 and today has a population of 127,000, though this can increase considerably during the busy season, as Arrecife is a prime destination for tourists to this popular island. Arrecife is the location of Lanzarote’s International Airport, which I situated about 3 kilometres from the city centre in an area known locally as Guacimeta. Arrecife has a number of interesting places to visit and we shall start with El Charco (often called ‘The Puddle’), a lagoon near the centre of the city, which is a popular place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Some narrow little streets run from El Charco and from here you can reach the San Gines church sitting in an attractive square, which is also the site of many a fiesta and celebration, nearby is the fish market. Arrecife boasts 2 castles, constructed during the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries to defend the city against attacks by Barbary pirates, the Castillo de San Jose is now an art museum and the older Castillo San Gabriel also houses a small museum. The main shopping area is centred around the Calle Leon y Castillo precinct, located to the north of El Charco. Arrecife’s beach is known as Playa del Reducto and the promenade behind the beach can now be followed all the way to the busy resort of Puerto del Carmen. Arrecife enjoys a wonderful all year round climate, with the most pleasant weather experienced during the UK’s winter months. Map of Arrecife.

The Prickly Pear of Guatiza

A northeastern Canarian community in the Teguise municipality of Lanzarote, Guatiza has a population of around 800 and is well known for its cactus garden and cactus plantations. The cactus garden is located in an old volcanic hollow and was designed by Lanzarote architect César Manrique, it contains over 1,500 species of cactus. The large cactus plantations are grown to attract the cochineal beetle which lives on the prickly pear cactus, and the resulting cochineal has been an important product for the village for many centuries. The old village of Guatiza was sacked several times by the Moors and was moved to a safer location. Guatiza is situated 2 kilometres from the coast about nine kilometres north of Costa Teguise and Tahiche.

Lanzarote Attractions – Jameos del Agua

Another of the major tourist attractions on the island of Lanzarote, the Jameos del Agua caves are located in the north of the island around twenty seven kilometres north of the capital Arrecife. Skillfully transformed during the 1960’s by Lanzarote architect Cesar Manrique, the caves now feature a restaurant and a concert area with 600 seats, where superb acoustics provide an ideal venue. The Jameos del Agua caves were formed by volcanic activity of which there has been plenty on Lanzarote, one of the caves contains a lake, which was formed as water entered during the lava flow. Jameos del Agua can be reached from the Orzola to Arrecife road.

The Volcanic Timanfaya National Park

One of the most visited locations on the Canary Island of Lanzarote, the Timanfaya National Park is a volcanic delight, some 51km2 in area in the southwest of the island. Formed when a huge eruption took place in the 18th century, Timanfaya still has molten lava bubbling away four metres under the surface. When visiting you will be able to see water instantly turned to steam by the intense heat, brushwood immediately engulfed in flames, and in the El Diablo (The Devil) restaurant you can eat a barbeque grilled over the heat of the lava. Trips to the Timanfaya National Park (Parque Nacional de Timanfaya) are organised from all the major resorts on the island.

Pulsating Puerto del Carmen

Located in the municipality of Tias, Lanzarote, the seaside resort of Puerto del Carmen was formerly just a small fishing village with an attractive harbour. With the growth of the Canary Islands tourist industry in the 1970’s, Puerto del Carmen developed into the largest resort on the island and now attracts many thousands of visitors, who come to enjoy the fine sandy beaches, wonderful seafood restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Perfect for Christmas and winter holidays and breaks, the off-season Puerto del Carmen weather is more pleasant than the hot temperatures experienced during the traditional summer season. From the harbour it is possible to take a trip in a glass-bottomed boat or even a trip to one of the neighbouring islands such as Fuerteventura, the harbour is also where the best restaurants are located, especially if you are looking for seafood, your meal will be so fresh it will be jumping off the plate! For the best beaches you cannot beat Puerto del Carmen, the main beach right beside the town is as good as any n the island, and to the east of the harbour there are an additional 12 km of fantastic beaches. For water sports enthusiasts there are plenty of facilities for windsurfing and scuba diving plus other popular activities. Puerto del Carmen Map.

Handsome Haria a Lanzarote Town

Considered by many, the most attractive town on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Haria is situated in the “Valley of One Thousand Palms”, and is most noticeable for its greenness laid against the bleak volcanic vistas of most of the island. Most of the palm trees were planted during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when it was a custom to plant a palm tree each time a new baby was born, one for a girl and two for a buy. Haria’s most pleasant square is the shady Plaza de Leon y Castillo, site of a craft market on most Saturdays. Lanzarote’s most famous citizen César Manrique, for a while lived just outside the town after getting too much unwanted pubic attention in his previous abode. The name Haria is also given over to a sizable municipality covering the northern section of Lanzarote. Haria Map.

The Pretty Town of Yaiza Lanzarote

Heading from Playa Blanca towards the Parque Nacional de Tinamfaya, you will pass through the pretty town of Yaiza one of the most attractive on the island of Lanzarote in the Spanish Canary islands. Nestling at the foot of the Montañas del Fuego mountains, Yaiza is the main town for the municipality which covers south-western Lanzarote. Partly destroyed by the great volcanic eruption during the 1730’s, Yaiza’s inhabitants mostly left the town and headed further south for the village of Femes, the population not fully recovering until the 20th century. Notable places to visit in the town include the beautiful 18th century church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, built on the site of an earlier chapel with its colourful altarpiece. Yaiza is a peaceful place to stop for a drink or maybe a meal in one of the fine restaurants, there are also some excellent gift shops where you can purchase a souvenir or two from your visit. Yaiza Map.