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, and beaches to laze on and enjoy the sun. What more could you want in a Family holiday? Puerto Rico Map.
July 30, 2010
June 16, 2010
Gran Canaria Resorts – Maspalomas
Despite the fact that the 2 Gran Canaria resorts of Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles have now almost merged into one huge resort, Maspalomas still boasts something of an upmarket image. Perhaps this is due to a number of luxury hotels which were built in the resort or maybe due to the atmosphere created by the famous sand dunes, which give it a unique feel, whatever it is, Maspalomas stands out as something special. One of the finest resorts on Gran Canaria and in fact in the entire Canary islands group, Maspalomas is located in the popular southern region of Gran Canaria, where the constant sun and never ending sand provide the perfect holiday environment. The western boundary of the resort is marked by the prominent lighthouse, from here the promenade runs to the Barranco de Maspalomas, and is lined with an array of shops, restaurants and bars, from here the beach and dunes run eastwards to join the equally popular Playa del Ingles. Attractions which make Maspalomas popular with families include the Aqua Sur water park, the Holiday World amusement park, Camel Safaris on the sand dunes, the go-cart track and Ocean Park water park, for sports enthusiasts there are excellent water sports facilities and also a super golf course – Maspalomas campo de Golf. The climate is of course one of the major attractions, with Maspalomas weather being ideal for holidays all year round and particularly attractive during the winter months, with temperatures cooler and more suitable for young children, in the summer months it can get very hot. Maspalomas has a great range of hotels and holiday accommodation including the Riu Club Hotel Gran Canaria, the Maspalomas Princess Hotel and the Oasis Maspalomas Club bungalows. Maspalomas is situated about 30 kilometres from Las Palmas airport, a journey of around 30 minutes. Maspalomas Map.
June 14, 2010
Puerto Mogan Gran Canaria
A former little fishing port, the now desirable Puerto Mogan 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 developments as Puerto Rico 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.
May 20, 2010
Palmitos Park Gran Canaria
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 Puerto Rico, Playa del Ingles and San Agustin, for those not hiring a car.
May 17, 2010
Playa Taurito Gran Canaria
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 xpect? 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.
May 16, 2010
Timanfaya Lanzarote
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. Lanzarote Map.
May 11, 2010
La Caleta Tenerife
The former fishing village of Caleta has in recent years become a popular holiday destination. Situated in the south of the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, La Caleta is in the area known as the Costa Adeje. Though there has been quite a bit of development in the town the harbour area and seafront are mostly unspoilt, one of the most pleasant things to do is eat a fine fish dish in one of the excellent seafood restaurants. Caleta weather is perfect for holidays all year round and is especially pleasant during the winter months.
May 10, 2010
Mogan Gran Canaria
An inland town and municipality in the south west of Gran Canaria, Mogan is a charming residencial town which is situated about 12 km from the coast and the town’s seaside area Puerto de Mogan. The municipality comprises area of mountains and valleys with barren sections in the north and agricultural areas nearer to the coast. Reached from Puerto de Mogan via the GC-200 which is dotted with numerous small villages such as El Palmito, Los Navarros and Molino de Viento. Mogan and the southern areas of Gran Canaria experience a very dry climate with long hours of sunshine.
April 6, 2010
Corralejo Fuerteventura
Corralejo Fuerteventura
The best known and largest of Fuerteventura’s resorts, Corralejo is situated on the northernmost tip of the island, the least populated of the main Canary Islands off the coast of North West Africa. This former fishing village has developed into a considerable holiday resort offering the main requirements needed for the typical package beach style holiday in the shape of sandy beaches, sunny climate, quality hotels and good facilities. Fuerteventura and Corralejo in particular certainly has beaches and these stretch for many miles in each direction and include a huge area of sand dunes which now form a Natural Park. The superb weather conditions allow visitors to travel here right through the year, with plenty of sunshine whatever month you arrive. From the main beach you can look across the turquoise blue ocean to the neighbouring island of Los Lobos another Natural Park which you can also visit. The best way to arrive in Corralejo is by way of the ferry from Playa Blanca on the island of Lanzarote, but you could also fly into the airport at Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura’s capital. Corralejo Map.
March 11, 2010
Los Gigantes Tenerife
The well known Tenerife resort of Los Gigantes is situated in the west of the island near to the town of Puerto de Santiago. Getting its name from the huge steep cliffs beside which the resort stands, Los Gigantes has its own small black sand beach, some decent hotels and the usual holiday facilities expected of a package tour destination, the weather is a little cooler than the southern resorts. The coastline around Los Gigantes is quite spectacular with cliffs rising to around 800m in places, being at the southern end of the Teno mountains. Los Gigantes is an ideal spot for a more laid back peaceful holiday, being somewhat less crowded than the better known resorts of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas to the south, there is however still a good choice of bars and restaurants and plenty of entertainment on offer, especially in some of the bigger hotels. Los Gigantes can be reached from the TF-47 highway, it is approximately ninety kilometres from the nearest airport at Reina Sofia. Los Gigantes Map.
February 12, 2010
Golf del Sur and Amarilla Golf Tenerife
Located in southern Tenerife, in the district of San Miguel de Abona are two superb golf complexes known as Golf del Sur and the Amarilla Golf and Country Club. Running along the southern coastline the Amarilla Golf Resort has a superb 18 hole course enjoying panoramic views of the coastline, the San Miguel marina and the spectacular Pico del Teide volcano. Right beside Amarilla Golf you will find the 27 hole Golf del Sur with emerald fairways dotted with palms, cacti and tropical flora and bunkers made from black volcanic sand. The Amarilla Golf Resort also has a pitch and putt course for those less able golfers and for practise purposes. In Golf del Sur you will find the San Blas centre which boasts a great range of facilities including shops, bars and restaurants, a supermarket, chemist, bank and hairdressers. These two Tenerife golf courses enable visitors to enjoy a round of golf all year round, with the pleasant Tenerife weather providing ideal playing conditions even during the winter months. The south and south-west coast of Tenerife has some of the best known resorts on the island including Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas, Las Galletas, Costa del Silencio and Chayofa, all are within easy reach of these golf complexes and also handy for Tenerife south airport. Tenerife Map.
January 17, 2010
Lanzarote Resorts – Playa Blanca
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 Lanzarote weather, which is ideal for winter breaks away from the cold and damp of northern Europe.