The Airport is found along the middle east coast of the Island approximately 20 minutes up the motorway from the city of Las Palmas and 45 minutes down the motorway from Puerto Rico, The best way to get to the airport from Las Palmas is to use the Islands principal north south motorway the GC-1 all the way along this road the airport is well signposted, and taxis are available along the strip out side of the terminal building. However by far the best way to see the entire Island is to hire a car; hiring a car will allow you miles more freedom and you can explore some of the more beautiful beaches at your own pace. Hire cars at very reasonable rates can be found; there are almost 2000 parking spaces at the airport so companies find it very easy to locate their companies directly inside the terminal and you won’t have far to walk.
Gran Canaria is bigger than you might expect the land mass actually covers 538 square miles! For anyone who thought there isn’t a need to have a hire car, this figure might persuade you otherwise. The Island is round in shape but towers out of the sea to the peak of Pozo de la Nieves, which towers to 1949 meters, from this central point of the island there are deep ravines which radiate outwards towards the coast. This landscape is perfect for exploring and makes Gran Canaria the most interesting and prettiest of the Canary Islands.
When visiting the Island many people opt to hire a small jeep or four wheel drive vehicle.
This gives you much more flexibility when you are touring around as some roads are little more than tracks. Gran Canaria’s landscapes are split in two, both are worth visiting, in the north and west there is the wetter type more luscious looking scenes, whilst in the south of the Island places look much more arid and desert like.
Starting here in the south works well, start a trip by visiting the amazing Maspalomas dunes also known locally as the Maspalomas Costa Canaria; here you will find an unbelievable landscape, seventeen kilometers of huge dunes stretch out in front of you. The dunes are still growing and expanding day by day slowly swallowing trees and encroaching on hotels. The beaches stretch right along the coast line with sandy safe and shallow bathing areas. This is a great destination for anyone who is planning on spending most of their time on the beautiful beaches of Gran Canaria.
When you visit Gran Canaria ensure you visit the capital city Las Palmas. It was founded in 1478 by Juan Rejon and it is now the busiest city on the Island and the most important port. The city extends roughly 6 miles along the coast between Guiniguada Ravine and the Isleta Peninsular which forms a natural breakwater to the harbour.
Las Palmas has three distinct districts, the Old part of town, Puerto de la Luz and Ciudad Jardin. This town for centuries has been a stopping point from travelers, passengers and cargo ships on the route from Europe to Africa you can find some interesting historic monuments and buildings and do some good holiday shopping.
Another good stop is El Oasis not far from Maspalomas this area has ultra chic hotels and benefits from a rare sea water lagoon called La Charca. Fringed by palm trees this place is frequented by millions of migrating birds either on their way to or back from Africa. Close to the Oasis is the Faro de Maspalomas, this lighthouse was built in 1886 and is a scary 65 meters tall. For years it has stood guiding ships away from the shallow waters and dangerous sand bars.
Hiring a car in Gran Canaria will show you a side of the island you might otherwise have missed. If you are a frequent visitor to Gran Canaria a car can also open your eyes to many new places and things to see. If you’re travelling with children I would recommend taking a day trip to the Aquasur water park. The biggest on the island it has flumes slides and a variety of pools, even the adults of your group will enjoy relaxing in the sun by one of the many bars.
To ensure you get the cheapest deal when you are visiting Gran Canaria book your hire car as far in advance as possible before you leave the UK. The best way to get a wide range of offers and prices is to use a comparison search engine. You can then pick the cheapest and most comprehensive offer from over 25 car hire companies after simply entering you details and requirements just once. |
