GRAN CANARIA Palmas Degrancanaria

GRAN CANARIA Palmas deGranCanaria. cosmopolitancapitalofLas ofthecolourful, towns, aswellbygettingundertheskin Culturesports. vultures canbesimilarlysatiated bythemuseums,churches andhistoric Canaria andwater horsetrekking theadrenalin cankeep pumping,withscopeforhiking, built holidayresorts. there’s Fortunately, noneedtohangaround.Foractive travellers Gran with white sandybeachesand,more famously(anddepressingly), agarishtiaraofpurpose- consuming, bybus. at theentire islandinjustthree daysorso,whilethetripisequallyfeasible, ifmore time- in landscape,thegoodnewsisthat,withyourownwheels,youcangetareasonable look few visitorsever discovering therichesofnaturalhinterland. Consideringthisdiversity all toofrequently, theperceptionofGranCanaria isoneofmassbeach-fronttourism,with of themountainsmore resembles theTibetan highlandsthanarelatively smallisland.Alas, to explore. south.This isararedesert Canary Islandwhere youfeel thatthere are stillsecret places ation ofterrain, ranging tothemountainousinterior fromthegreen and andleafynorth half thepopulation.Itlives uptoitsclichéasacontinentinminiature, withadramaticvari- Gran Canaria isthethird-largest islandintheCanaries archipelagobutaccountsforalmost Canaria Gran 58 © LonelyPlanetPublications „ The flipsidetoallthat bucolicmountainousterrain isaruggedcoastlineinterspersed To gleanasenseofthisimpenetrablequality,headtothecentre where thesheerdrama

„ „ „ „ „ HIGHLIGHTS TELEPHONE CODE: 928 Wandertheancientstreets of Hoponaboat rideat Getduginto lunchatacave restaurant in Drinkintheincredible viewsat Ponderthepastel-painted buildingsinlovely ( p68 ), afascinatingcapital-city picturesque harbour ( p89 ), withitsbridges,waterways and ravine ( p76) the dramatic of theisland Tejeda 15th-century village Agüimes ( p78 ), positionedatthevery centre ( p76 ), anaestheticallyrestored Barranco de Guayadeque Puerto deMogán Vegueta „ Cruz de barrio POPULATION: 802,498

„ AREA : 1560 SQ KM Mogán Puerto de Tejeda Cruz de Guayadeque Barranco de Agüimes Vegueta GRAN CANARIA 59

Spirit Spirit ; p68 ), in ), in p68 ; 4 ( Airport Arinaga Las Rosas O C E A N La Isleta Roque Negro GC-1 A T L A N T I C Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Puerto de la Luz GC-1 5 Ingenio Telde Isleta (239m) 4 Bandama Juan Caldera de Grande Casa/Museo de Colón Casa/Museo Agüimes Tafira Arucas Vecindario

Barranco de Temisas Montaña de El Doctoral Guayadeque Santa Brígida Arucas La Atalaya Vega de Teror Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología Elder de la Ciencia y la Museo Taidia San Agustín San Mateo Firgas Pozo de las Nieves (1949m) Amurga (1131m) Playa del Inglés 3 ; p89 ), the whole place resembles a family-themed a family-themed place resembles ), the whole p89 ; San Fernando Santa Lucía de Tirajana 2 Fataga ( Moya Ayacata Pasito Bea Tejeda Valleseco Maspalomas Santa María de Guía de Tirajana Artenara San Bartolomé Pasito Blanco Pico del Viento (837m) Taurito Taurito (1803m) Roque Nublo Roque (1404m) Gáldar Bentayga Los Berrazales 1 Guirre (932m) Arguineguín Sardina Agaete (1444m) Tamadaba (1471m) 2 las Monjas Montaña de Mogán Aldea de Puerto Rico ; p83 ), where you can choose from camel rides, zoos, water parks, Wild West parks, Wild West can choose from camel rides, zoos, water you ), where p83 ; San Nicolás 3 ( Taurito (892m) Los Azulejos GRAN CANARIA •• Itinerary 1 Mogarenes ; p89 ). Further west in west ). Further p89 ; 1 ( Puerto de Mogán Artejévez ; p71 ) science museum, also in the island’s capital. island’s capital. ) science museum, also in the p71 ; 00 10 km 6 miles 5 of the Sea Gran Canaria is a kiddie is a or theme-parkedGran Canaria of natural, manufactured wonderland with plenty stuff the most obvious attraction, the southern resorts and those in come beaches are The to do. Rico In Puerto dolphin spotting with you can go of boat rides. with all variety complete ITINERARY ITINERARY 1 CANARIA KIDS’ GRAN park with several pools (and pool tables) plus all variety of amusements geared towards kids geared all variety of amusements pools (and pool tables) plus park with several prolific in these parts, parks are particularly Theme grown-ups. and accommodating around Playa del Inglés shows and a few more things besides. On a more highbrow note, even the most museum-jaded museum-jaded the most even highbrow note, On a more things besides. more shows and a few at the by the model galleons tot cannot fail to be impressed Las Palmas, with its colourful how-the-hell-does-it-work hands-on, For a more Columbus history. Las Palmas, the school trips at the superb experience, tag after ( lonelyplanet.com