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guía turística de gran canaria del ministerio de economía.
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Gra
n Ca
naria
Spai
nCa
nary
Isla
nds
Portugal
France
Cantabrian Sea
United Kingdom
Ireland
Morocco
Mediterranean Sea
Madrid
Paris
Londres
Dublin
Lisbon
Ceuta
Rabat
Melilla
Contents
22 C all year round 2365 beach days a year 5
San Agustín 6Playa del Inglés 8Maspalomas 10
Excursions from the south 12Puerto Rico 15Mogán 16Las Canteras 19
Nature unlimited 21The Volcanoes 23Subtropical Lushness 23The desert 26The forest 28The Rock Spikes 30The Dams 31The Ravines 33
Villages, towns and cities 35Le north 35The central zone 38Le south 40
The city of Las Palmas 43City plan 45
Culture & entertainment 47Useful addresses and 48telephone numbers 48Map of Gran Canaria 48
Spain
Canary Islands
Gran Canaria
Atlantic Ocean
2
22 ºC all year round
The Canary Islands have beenknown since ancient times for themildness of the climate. Here itwas that the Classics placed theElysian Fields or Garden of theHesperides and, for manycenturies, the archipelago bore
the name “The FortunateIslands”. Homer, Hesiod, Plato,Pliny and Plutarch, all broughttidings -mythical or historical- ofsome islands where the clemencyof the winds was reputed to havesuccessfully banished, not onlythe seasons but also the climaticrigours of heat and cold.Indeed, the climate of theCanaries, often described as
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“eternal Spring”, registers anannual fluctuation of only 6-8ºCbetween the average maximumand minimum temperatures. Thisreduced range means that thetemperature is much the samethroughout the year. On thecoast -where the tourist resortsare situated- temperaturesrange from 18-20ºC in winter,and 24-26ºC in summer.
Within this climatic bonanza, therugged and broken nature ofthe island topography makes fora multitude of co-existingmicroclimates which determineits curious scenic variety, in termsof vegetation and relief. Hence,the north is characterised bybeing cooler and wetter, and ishome to a lush vegetationdecked in exuberant greenery.The south on the other hand,isolated from the trade winds bythe high mountain barrier, has aclimate that is warmer andsunnier. It is here, where most ofthe tourist beaches and resortsare located, the skies being clearalmost all year round, due to thefact that the clouds from thenorth are trapped by themountain watershed furtherinland.
Gran Canaria possesses all theclimatic blessings characteristicof the Canary Island group alongwith some peculiarities thatmake it a privileged touristdestination. With 236 kilometresof coastline, a diameter of 50kilometres and a maximumheight above sea-level of 1,950metres, the Island of GranCanaria (i.e., Grand Canary,whose name, by extension, isused to designate the
Agaete Valley
archipelago as a whole) displaysin its geography a synthesis ofthe scenic contrasts found on allthe islands. Situated as it is,between the islands of Tenerifeand Fuerteventura, Gran Canarialies astride the dividing lineseparating the two island-typesthat make up the Canary Islandgroup: on the one hand, thereare the western isles comprisingTenerife, La Palma, La Gomeraand El Hierro, marked by morepronounced contour lines andvariety, islands that are greenand, in a word, “Atlantic”; andon the other, Lanzarote andFuerteventura, characterised bya greater aridity, a lower reliefprofile and greater geologicalage, responsible for theformation of long sweepingbeaches.
The altogether special positionenjoyed by Gran Canaria enablesits 1,532 square kilometres ofdeeply folded surface area toplay host to both the greeneryand lushness of the westernislands as well as the tranquilsandy coasts of its easterncounterparts. Its renown in thisregard is such, that it hasbrought it recognition as a“continent in miniature”, sinceone would be hard put indeed
to find such a variety of differenttypes of scenery in a territory sosmall and so accessible.
In addition, Gran Canariapossesses top-flight touristfacilities, with a 150,000-plushotel and holiday-flat bed-capacity, and all the amenitiesand entertainment to beexpected of one of Europe’s toptourist destinations. It is anisland where the visitor does nothave to choose betweencountryside and beach; based atany of its seaside resorts he/shecan enjoy stupendous beaches,go hiking, indulge in “green”tourism amidst exotic and variednatural surroundings, or simplyget to know a people with avery special history andcharacter, a pot-pourri ofEurope, Africa and America.
And all this at the balmytemperature of 22º C.
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CHART OF AVERAGE TEMPERATURESSPRING (May)
20.6º CSUMMER (August)
24.2º CAUTUMN (November)
24º CWINTER (February)
19.5º C
365 beach days a year
Gran Canaria’s 236-kilometre-long shoreline means that thesea is a constant presence. Inthese latitudes, the Atlantic hasan intense blue and a singularwave formation, owing to theCanary Islands’ narrow coastalshelf. As a result of this, theaction of the sea has sculptedthe Canary coast, carving out
sheer cliffs of awesome heightand beauty. The Andén Verdecliffs, on the north-west coast,afford some of the mostspectacular examples of thiscombination of marine erosionand tectonic plate building.Running the length of this area,a “must” for those who are not
prone to fear of heights, is acorniche road which, from thetown of Agaete, climbs andwinds along the cliff face, untilfinally descending to the beachof San Nicolás, a village over 30kilometres away.
Along with its steeply risingshoreline, Gran Canaria canboast a great quantity ofbeaches of all types. In fact, dueto the island’s geological variety,a series of different beaches
account for some 50 kilometresof seaboard. This mustundoubtedly be one of GranCanaria’s most attractive facets: while enjoying sea and sun at any of its seventy beaches, onecan simultaneously delight in the
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Las Palmas. Alcaravaneras Beach
6
island’s exotic and varied scenery.Some beaches, such as the Playadel Inglés (literally, EnglishBeach) and Maspalomas Beach,with its 250 hectares of shiftingdunes and palm tree oasis, areinternationally known for theirunrivalled beauty.
While the latter are undeniablythe most attractive beach areason the island, throughout the
entire length of the Gran Canariacoast there are many morewhere one can laze in the sun.Of these, four have been singledout for special mention: theseare the resorts of San Agustín,
Puerto Rico, Mogán and Las Canteras. Like Playa del Inglésand Maspalomas, all areequipped with a wide range ofaccommodation, restaurants andattractions of every kind.
San Agustín
San Agustín is one of the leadingtourist centres lying on GranCanaria’s southern flank.
Although nowadays it tends toform part of the generalisedsprawl that spreads through thePlaya del Inglés and Maspalomasareas, it is nevertheless an entityin its own right, located aroundthe beaches of San Agustín andLas Burras. Of the three tourist
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resorts in the extreme south ofthe island, San Agustín is thenearest to the capital, LasPalmas, and the first to be seenon coming from the airport. Onspying the San Agustín resortarea from the top of the hill onarrival, one is rather taken abackby the unexpected subtropicallushness of its gardens, thatcome in sharp contrast to thedesert scenery crossed until then.
Tourism in this area ischaracterised by both the qualityand preponderance of first ratehotels, as opposed to the holidayflats and bungalows that markthe neighbouring Playa delInglés. Along its shrub- and
San Agustín Beach
Windsurfing
Gran Canaria is a superb spot forwindsurfing, since the naturallywarm air and water temperatureconditions are complemented bythe presence of the trade wind, awind that is ideal for this sportand blows mainly on the easternside of the island.San Agustín Beach and theneighbouring beaches of LasBurras and El Inglés provideunsurpassable sites for thisactivity. All three have board andequipment hire facilities, as wellas windsurfing schools providingtuition for beginners and otherlevels.Situated a few kilometres fromSan Agustín are the beaches ofPozo Izquierdo and Tarajalillo,areas exposed to stronger winds,more for the expert windsurfer,and with a tried and testedreputation for quality, havingbeen designated as the officialsite for several worldchampionships. In addition, thereis the “Bahía Feliz” residentialcomplex, given over almostentirely to windsurfing, with aplentiful range ofaccommodation on offer.
Club Mistral Bahía FelizPlaya de Tarajalillo
928 77 40 25F2 Surfcenter DunkerbeckPlaza de Hibiscus, Águila Playa
928 76 29 58
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flower-lined streets rise some ofthe most important hotels on theisland, though accommodationfor all tastes and pockets isavailable.
San Agustín also offers a widechoice of restaurants andentertainment venues, amongwhich the Gran Canaria Casinoand Scala Music Hall & Theatredeserve special mention.
Playa del Inglés
The Playa del Inglés is the largestseaside resort area on GranCanaria, with all the services of asmall city: shopping malls,
Nightlife
A good part of the tourist appealof the Playa del Inglés lies in itslively nightlife. Along with LasPalmas, it is the most popularnightspot with the islandersthemselves, who come down“south” to enjoy an nightlifeambience of endless summer,with temperatures that make itunnecessary to wear a warmgarment of any kind even inwinter.
Yet, the vast majority of night-owls are tourists. The choice isinfinite: pubs, discotheques, bars,floor shows, bowling alleys...scattered about a number ofleisure and entertainmentcentres.
The main haunts are to be foundin and around the “Kasbah”,“Metro” and “Maspalomas”centres in the main downtowndistrict of Playa del Inglés. The“Cita” centre, located in anotherarea, caters to a somewhat moresophisticated clientele.
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restaurants, shows, aquapark,fun-fair, etc. Nonetheless, itsuccessfully manages to maintainan equilibrium between its built-up area and beach capacity,thanks to the size (length as wellas breadth) of the actual Playa delInglés beach. The preponderanceof bungalows and two-storeyhouses over high-rise buildings,together with the abundance oflandscaped areas, lend this city apeaceful and relaxed air.
The comprehensive range ofaccommodation available coversall manner of touristestablishments, from quiet small-sized holiday-home complexes toluxury hotels complete with allpossible services. Most propertyowners and hotels work with
tour operators, thus enablingbookings to be made at points oforigin through travel agencies.
The Playa del Inglés residentialarea lies parallel to the beach ofthe same name, stretching forthree kilometres lengthwise andalmost two kilometres inland atits widest point, terminating justwhere Maspalomas begins: bothplaces are really just two sides ofone and the same beach. From
any point on the seasidepromenade running from oneend of the Playa del Inglés to the
Playa del Inglés
10
other, one can contemplate theimmensity of the dunes, whichare particularly stunning at dusk.Without doubt, the best pointfrom which to admire them isthe belvedere that stands at theend of the Avenida de Tirajana;to get to it, simply follow thepedestrian precinct leading fromthe Plaza de Fuerteventura tothe beach.
Maspalomas
Maspalomas is the oldest andlongest-established of GranCanaria’s southern resort areas,and its beach is possibly the bestknown and most photographed
Golf
Golf enthusiasts have a course atthe Maspalomas Beach resortitself, a few yards in from thedunes. The Maspalomas GolfClub offers a 6,216-metre-long,18-hole, par-72 course. The othercourse on the island, theBandama Golf Club, is situated14 kilometres inland from LasPalmas and has 5,679 metres ofgreens and fairways, and a par71 for its 18 holes.
Club de golf Maspalomas928 35 10 50
Club de golf Bandama928 76 25 81
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in all of the islands. The smallcollection of select hotels is set inthe middle of a natural, nowofficially protected, area formedby a large grove of leafy Canarypalms and a small lagoon fed byunderground sea-water seepage.
The greenery of this naturalsetting, situated on the fringe ofgiant golden dunes, has longjustified its being dubbed the“Oasis of Maspalomas”. Theecosystem here is currently in aphase of recovery andrecuperation, particularly asregards the return of the flocksof waders, water fowl and otherbirds that formerly used thelagoon as a nesting site andmade it an important bird haven.
Maspalomas Beach begins overto the east, at the point wherePlaya del Inglés ends, in anunending sea of dunes; it thenextends northwards as far as thegolf course, and comes to an endfour kilometres to the west, atthe lighthouse. The width of thebeach -some two kilometres-and its hundreds of dunes allowone to lose oneself and not seeanother soul for miles, andthereby enjoy this veritabledesert in miniature to the full. Itis so spectacular in fact that it hasoften been used as a set formovies requiring a Saharanbackdrop.
Maspalomas
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Excursionsfrom the south
Trips inland
Organised tours: a number ofagencies offer organised toursinto the interior of the islandfrom the south. While themajority of these take in GranCanaria’s areas of greatest scenicinterest, the most popular runsare those visiting the towns andvillages in the southernmunicipal districts: Fataga, SanBartolomé and Santa Lucía.
These trips, which usually includea meal, are normally offered bythe same tour operator bookingthe accommodation.
Individually-arranged tours:hiring a car on Gran Canaria iseasy. There are many car rentalagencies and rates are relativelycheap. Given the size of theisland, the routes suggestedbelow are equally applicable toprivate travel. Other interesting
Mogán. Traditional architecture
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places accessible from the southare the Ayagaures, Arguineguínand Mogán ravines, which canalso be explored on foot.
Trips along the coast
Organised or individually-arranged: the best short trip isthat going from San Agustín,Playa del Inglés or Maspalomasto Mogán, via Arguineguín andPuerto Rico. Another standardchoice for a one-day outing is around-trip of the island.
Trips by sea
Trips out to sea can be arrangedon different vessels: the biggerocean-going yachts, smallersailing craft, launches andpowerboats, catamarans,submarines, etc. The best placesfor this are the harbours ofPuerto Rico and Mogán. One canalso privately rent vessels, crewedor not, as well as arrange for aday’s deep-sea fishing. Bookingscan be made from anyhotel/holiday flat or travelagency, or directly, by goingdown to the quayside.
Things to do with the kids
Aquaparks:
Aquasur: on the road toPalmitos Park. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 928 14 05 25Ocean Park: at the CampoInternacional. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 928 76 43 61
Go-Karts: 6 kilometres outsideSan Agustín, on the Las Palmasroad. 928 76 00 90
Fun-fair: Tuesday to Sunday,from 6 p.m. to midnight.
928 76 71 76
Miniature train: along Playa delInglés. At Avenida de Italia, 12.
Camel safari: adjoiningMaspalomas oasis.
928 77 20 58
Palmitos Park
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Sailing
Gran Canaria offers a wide rangeof possibilities for sailing,whether under canvas orpowered. Dotted about thecoast, its six marinas and yachtbasins provide something like2,500 berths for pleasure craft ofall types.
The excellent sailing conditionsoff Gran Canaria -benignweather and steady winds- areborne out by the number ofworld and olympic championswhich the island has produced inthe different sailing categories.Added to this, is its strategicposition on the transatlanticroute, being the intermediatepoint on the Gulf Stream as itflows westward from Europe toAmerica. This makes it anobligatory rest stage for thevarious international races, suchas the prestigious ARC (AtlanticRally for Cruisers).
Along with Mogán, Pasito Blancoand Las Palmas, Puerto Rico is theperfect port from which to setsail. All four harbours haveberths for pleasure craft, plus allnecessary ancillary services: fuel,electricity, running water, slipdocks, workshops, restaurants,supermarkets, etc.
Puerto Rico Marina531 berths. Max. draught: 11 m.
928 56 11 41
Mogán Marina225 berths. Max. draught: 10 m.
928 56 56 68
Las Palmas de Gran CanariaMarina840 berths. Max. draught: 5/8 m.
928 24 41 01.
Pasito Blanco Yacht Club830 berths. Max. draught: 5/8 m.
928 14 21 94
Other watersports available areoutboarding, water-skiing, para-skiing and scuba-diving. Thereare scuba-diving schools inPuerto Rico, Playa del Inglés, SanAgustín and Las Palmas.
Las Palmas Marina
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Nearby places of interest:
Palmitos Park: a botanical andbird park, nine kilometres fromMaspalomas. An unexpectedGarden of Eden of tropical andindigenous plants, with over1,200 exotic birds, a butterflyhouse and a parrot show. Open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Buses every half-hourfrom Playa del Inglés.
928 14 02 76
Mundo Aborigen (AboriginalWorld): Re-creation of a pre-Hispanic indigenous settlement.At the 6-kilometre mark on thePlaya del Inglés-Fataga road.Open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 928 17 22 95
Sioux City: Also known asCañón del Águila. Replica of anAmerican Far West town.Located 300 metres from ÁguilaBeach in San Agustín.Open Tuesday to Sunday. Showsat 12 noon and 6 p.m.
928 77 09 66
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a medium-sizedtourist town in the south-west ofthe island nestling in a lovelyvalley, where the town’sprofusely flowered buildings
Puerto Rico
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straggle up and along thehillside. From its very inception,Puerto Rico sought to distinguishits attractions from those of theother coastal resorts, devotingitself entirely to water sports andsailing.
The valley opens out to the sea ina pleasant and cosy man-madebeach, flanked by a marinawhere pleasure craft bob at theirmoorings. The quays lend theplace a seafaring character and,with their six hectares ofenclosed shelter, provide thevisitor with an area for leisurelymooching and relaxation by thesea. At the marina, thepossibilities for fun and
recreation are legion: boat trips,sailing, jet- and water-skiing,para-skiing, deep-sea fishing,eating out, etc.
A stay in Puerto Rico, mainly inholiday flats and homes, alsoholds out other attractions, suchas shopping malls, an aquapark,sports facilities and a hecticnightlife.
Mogán
Puerto de Mogán is one of themost attractive tourist resorts inthe Canaries, as it combines atypical fishing-villageatmosphere with a marina builtin the local style. In this seafaringvillage, the original-lookinghouses -traditional straight lines,
Puerto de Mogán
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Ocean-fresh fish
A good number of small boatsstill engage in inshore fishingalong the Gran Canaria coastline.Freshly caught fish can thereforebe enjoyed if one goes to theright places. To this end, it isimportant, though by no meansessential, that the place whereone goes to eat has a smallfishing harbour, since the day’scatch is fairly small and normallydistributed among therestaurants in the vicinity.
The most usual types of locallycaught fish are: cherne (grouper),sama (gold sea-bream), abae (awhite fish similar in taste togrouper), cabrilla (comber),morena (moray) and vieja (parrotfish). The lattermost is the mostprized; it is a shorefish withshellfish-like fine white flesh.Ways of preparing fish may vary,but in general it is cooked in theCanary style, i.e., fried or grilled,and preferably served with papasarrugadas (new, jacket potatoesboiled in sea- or highly saltedwater, then baked) and mojoverde de cilantro (a spicy sauceseasoned with garlic, coriander,oil, vinegar, salt and cumin).
Apart from Las Palmas, Puerto deMogán and Puerto de las Nieves,in Agaete, in the north-west ofthe island, are places where it iseasiest to find restaurants serving
fresh fish. Both localities boast agood number of specialist fishrestaurants, mostly situated onand around the quayside.
Besides the fish dishes, theremaining specialities of GranCanaria cuisine merit mention:potaje de berros (watercresssoup containing spare rib, corn,potatoes, and beans) served withball-shaped gofio corn bread;rancho (a stew of chickpeas,potatoes, pork, poultry and veal);roast leg of pork; carajacas (liverin marinade sauce); fried pork;the Guía and La Cumbre cheeses;and for dessert, bienmesabe(ground almonds and honey,usually eaten with ice-cream),suspiros (meringues) or frangollo(pancakes).
Hostería Cruz de Tejeda
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Shopping
For many years, tourists visitingLas Canteras divided their timebetween the beach and themany shops in the area. Theexistence of a free port in LasPalmas de Gran Canaria since1852 led to the growth of animportant commercial sector,which benefited from the lowlevies and continuous movementof merchandise coming from allparts of the world. As aconsequence, shops sprouted up,specialising, above all, in the saleof electronic consumer goods,imported clothing, cigarettes andcigars. These stores, the so-called“Indian shops” (mostlybelonging to Indian immigrantswho arrived in the first half ofthis century) have a reputationfor selling goods at bargainprices.
Following full integration intothe European Union, the freeport has now disappeared, andduty on imported goods is leviedat the top rate. Even so, most ofthese shops are still in business,since, although they are unableto offer prices quite asadvantageous as before, theycontinue to benefit from thespecial tax regime enjoyed by theCanaries, with rates appreciablylower than the rest of the E.U.,including mainland Spain.Accordingly, the items on offer
are still varied and competitivelypriced, and the famous “Indianshops” are still to be found onany of the streets between thebeach and Santa Catalina Park.
Las Palmas
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whitewashed walls, brightlypainted doors and windows- seem to cling to the cliffside.Beneath, sits the new town,constructed over a lacework ofcanals, overlooking a yacht-filledharbour and a charming seasidepromenade.
Fishing boats and pleasure craftalike are docked at the harbour,the latter category consistingmostly of 12-metre (or longer)ocean-going vessels, since thisport specialises in thetransoceanic sailor. Mogán Beachis situated a few hundred yardsfurther on, at the mouth of thegorge of the same name.Heading inland along this deep
valley by road, one gets to thetown of Mogán: a pleasant runwhich, in the space of a fewkilometres, reveals the swiftchange in scenery from thearidity of the coast to theverdant leafiness of the islandhinterland.
Las Canteras
Las Canteras is the main beachserving the capital, Las Palmas. Itsmore than three kilometres ofgolden sand stretch the length ofthe western side of the isthmuson which the city stands and
Aerial view of Las Palmas
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which joins the island with thegroup of volcanic cones, knownas “La Isleta”. Fifty years ago thiswhole area was still covered bysands like those of Maspalomas.Nowadays the isthmus of LasPalmas, just a few hundredsyards wide, is the site of the “ElPuerto” shopping centre, whichowes its name to the fact that itrose in the shadow of the city’sharbour, located on the easternside of the isthmus.
Las Canteras Beach is a favouritewith many islanders because ofits easy accessibility, its fine sandand placid waters. Thepromenade running from oneside of the beach to the other isone of Las Palmas’ most livelyareas and an ideal place to go fora stroll at any time of the day ornight. The sand is of superb
quality, and the water is likesome massive natural swimmingpool, due to a tongue of lavafrom one of the extinctvolcanoes on La Isleta that runsparallel to the coast a fewhundred yards out to sea. Thisnatural barrier, La Barra de LasCanteras, breaks the full force ofthe waves, calming thesenorthern waters and, at low tide,forming a kind of lagoon that isreplenished with the arrival ofthe next high tide.
Canteras Beach
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Nature unlimited
Perhaps Gran Canaria’s mostsurprising feature is thespectacular variety of its scenery.Its accessible terrain affords asmany kinds of landscape aswould a whole continent,something that is undeniablyappealing to lovers ofspectacular views, flora, geologyor simply the joys of driving orwalking through the countryside.
The Island of Gran Canaria wasformed some fourteen millionyears ago in a series of volcaniceruptions of enormous violencewhich caused the giganticcircular cone that is the islandtoday to surge from the sea.Gran Canaria volcanism, whichembraces an extraordinaryvariety of processes, hastraditionally been the focus ofattention of scientists fromaround the world.
In conjunction with the rest ofthe archipelago, the island formsan area of natural interest that isunique on Earth. Its geologicalfeatures and the peculiarity of itsflora, marked by an extremelyhigh number of endemic speciesof a botanical rarity equivalentonly to the Galapagos orHawaiian islands, have, since thelast century, made it animportant Mecca for the Volcanic scenery
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naturalist. Several of themultifold species of Canary Islandflora and fauna areinternationally known, such asthe mythical and long-livingdrago (dragon tree or draecena),the Canary palm, present ingardens the world over, or thecanary, arguably the mostfamous songbird of them all.
In addition to the many natureroutes that one can do on GranCanaria by car, along windingroads that unveil a different typeof scenery with every passingkilometre, there is an infinitenumber of hiking trails on theisland which can be walkedwithout any fear of comingacross dangerous animal species,be they snakes -non-existent inthe Canaries- or poisonousinsects. For this express purpose,there is a network of caminos
reales (royal ways), the formertracks that once linked the islandtowns and which have now beencleared and re-opened to hikers.
To venture on foot through thehinterland, an area of abruptchanges, dramatic contours andplummeting ravines, oftenproduces the feeling of being inan unexplored territory, farremoved from the slightest hintof civilisation. This is due to thefact that innumerable mountainridges isolate one part of GranCanaria from the next, and that90% of the island’s population isconcentrated in 30% of theterritory, near and along thecoast.
Fataga
23
The Volcanoes
This island’s volcanic originconfers upon it certain scenicpeculiarities of great rarity. Themain distinguishing feature ofGran Canaria volcanism is thesuperimposition of modernstructures upon old, giving rise tomyriad forms of cones,depressions and volcanic lavaflows. The last-mentioned, riversof solidified lava, are present in a variety seen in no otherplace on Earth.
The island is geologically dividedinto two zones: the south-westernhalf, older and characterised byhaving undergone explosiveepisodes of immense force whichaccount for the singular shapes ofthe rock spikes, veritablegeological symbols of GranCanaria; and the north-easternhalf, younger and the site of moredefined volcanic shapes, such ascraters and black lava cones.
The former zone is outstandingfor the presence of two giganticbasin-shaped volcanicdepressions or calderas (caldera:cauldron): the Tirajana Caldera,caused by erosion, and theTejeda Caldera, 15 kilometres indiameter and born of the sinkingof a volcanic structure, which canbe seen in all its majesty from theCruz de Tejeda look-out point.Highlights in the other zone are
the Arucas, Gáldar, Guía, La Isletaand Bandama volcanic cones, aswell as the Pinos de Gáldar, LosMarteles, Pino Santo andBandama craters.
Subtropical Lushness
Very few places on Earth can layclaim to such a diversity of plantsas the Canaries. In fact, insofar asbiological species are concerned,the islands are considered to beone of the planet’s richest areas.Of the roughly 2,000 plant
species catalogued in theCanaries, 600 (that is to say,almost one third) are endemic,i.e., they do not exist in anyother part of the world. Theimportance of this figure takes on meaning if seen against theendemic species of, say, Englandand France, which number 15and 91 respectively.
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Excursionto Bandama
One of the most fascinating andspectacular volcanoes on theisland is that of Bandama. It isformed by a well-defined cone,574 metres high, and animpressive depression, measuring1,200 metres in diameter and 220in depth. This enormous caldera,the result of a violent explosion,is one of the biggest craters of itskind in the world.
The Bandama Caldera is easilyaccessible from Las Palmas, adistance of only 12 kilometres.To get there, catch bus no. 39 atthe Bus & Coach Station(estación de guaguas) or, iftravelling by car, follow the C-811, a road known locally asthe carretera del centro, to theturn-off at the 10-km mark. Afurther three-kilometre drivetakes one to the peak of the
volcano, from which excellentviews can be had of the calderaand the central part of theisland.
A short tour on foot can bemade along the lip of the calderaand/or down to the craterbottom. For the former, one hasto go behind the small golf-course hotel, visible from thepeak, to find the path that circlesthe crater wall. To see the craterinterior, there is a track that
begins to the left of the chapelin the hamlet at the edge of thecaldera. At the bottom is an oldpress where Malvasía wine(Malmsey) was formerly made.
Bandama
25
Canaries’ flora is very different tothat of its two nearestcontinents, Africa and Europe. Itsexotic nature can be traced tothe privileged position of theCanaries during the Ice Age ofthe Quaternary period, whenglaciation caused all thevegetation in Southern Europeand North Africa to disappear,leaving these islands as the onlyredoubt for plants which on thecontinental mainland are todaysolely found in fossil form. If“enormous” describes theirscientific value, no less can besaid of their beauty and variety.
The island’s northern reaches arethe most verdant, displaying allthe lushness of a subtropicalregion. Together with theindigenous plants, there is anabundance of exquisiteornamental species introducedfrom the tropics: bouganvillaea,hibiscus, coconut palms,strelitzia, etc. The Vaselleco,Teror and Moya areas are plainlythe most fertile. From Moya it is worth making a side-trip tothe Los Tiles ravine, wherespecies almost extinct on GranCanaria are being protected and repropagated.
The Desert
On crossing the mountainwatershed from north to south, atotally different landscape opens
The Viera y ClavijoBotanical Gardens
Seven kilometres from LasPalmas are the interesting Vieray Clavijo Botanical Gardens. Onthe C-811 (carretera del centro),a sign at the 7-kilometre markpoints the way through a vale ofpalms. The Gardens cover aconsiderable area and, inaddition to their scientificinterest, possess great scenicvalue in that they cling to thesides of a stunning ravine. Theplants on show are all endemicto the Macaronesian botanicalregion (the Azores, Madeira andCape Verde), of which theCanary archipelago is the mostprolific representative. A strollthrough these well-tendedbotanical gardens is a highlyagreeable and recommendable
introduction to Nature on GranCanaria. Entrance is free ofcharge and the gardens are opendaily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ( 928 35 36 04).
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up before one’s eyes: arid, rocky,rugged and broken. If the dayhas been overcast in the north,the clouds will be seen to stay onthis flank, leaving the southernskies free of northern humidity.
The landscape in the south ofGran Canaria, in areas huggingthe coast, is one of semi-desert,very much akin to that inneighbouring Africa. It is in thesesouthern parts where one canappreciate exactly what theisland would be like without the
sea breeze. Its latitude is in factthe same as that of the SaharaDesert, and some of its scenerynot very unlike it, such as thedate-palm oases, the small “erg”(sand desert) which form theMaspalomas dunes, or theAmurga desert massif, whosedesolate beauty dominates theentire southern coast of theisland.
The south’s scant annual rainfallnot only favours the touristsector, but also a curious native
27
xerophile vegetation, of whichcardón (cacti) and tabaiba(sapium jamaicense) are theoutstanding examples.
The Forests
Of the approximately 600identified Canaries’ plant species,32 correspond to trees. Their
Güigüí
Güigüí (pronounced “wi-wee”)means something very special tothe islanders. It is a mountainousmassif on the island’s west coastwhich, owing to its sheertopography, has managed toremain unspoilt. Over a numberof years, this desert bastion hasbecome a nigh mythical symbolof the desire to conserve awilderness area on Gran Canaria.The existence of two attractivesandy beaches on its coast hasdoubtless played an importantrole in its mythification as aplace for excursions. Yet despitethis, in its interior the Güigüímassif still preserves all theharsh unspoilt beauty of theGran Canaria semidesert, with itsexotic vegetation and themystery of its relativeinaccessibility.
Maspalomas. Dunes
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botanical importance stems fromtheir condition as authenticliving fossils, constituting all thatis left of the great forest thatmantled the Mediterraneanbasin during the Tertiary period.Probably nowhere else on Earthis there a forest-covering likethat of the Canaries, which sofaithfully represents the flora of20 million years ago.
It is still possible to find examplesof the seven typical Canaryforest-types: tamarisks, palmgroves, stands of juniper, broomand heather thicket, laurel forestand pinewoods. Of the ancientlaurel forest that once coveredthe whole northern part of theisland, only small protected areas
A stroll in Tamadaba
The Tamadaba pinewood is notonly the best conserved, but italso offers one of the mostbeautiful panoramas to be seenon Gran Canaria. This pinewoodstands at a height of 1,300metres on a coastal plateau, at apoint where the shoreline risesin a series of truly imposingcrags that fall away almostvertically to the sea far below.
For a walk through Tamadaba,start by car from the nearbytown of Artenara. At the 8-kilometre mark, take the right-hand fork -the only onepermitted- in order to circle thepinewood. About fourkilometres on, turn right in thedirection of the camp area.When this track peters out,continue on foot, keeping to theleft of the campsite, and makingfor a flattish area. Here, carefullyapproach the edge of the cliffface, from which one gets anabsolutely spectacular view ofthe Risco Faneque and the Islandof Tenerife. Continuing a fewhundred metres northwardsalong the edge, one comes outon the very tip of the outcrop,with the ocean visible andaudible over three thousand feetbelow.
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remain, such as the Los Tiles deMoya ravine.The pinewoods are by far themost widespread of all the islandforest varieties. Their distributioncoincides with the largestprotected areas on Gran Canaria,all of which are officiallydesignated “Nature Parks”. Theprincipal park areas are:Pilancones, Inagua, Ojeda and
Pajonales, in the south-west;Llanos de la Pez, in the peaks;and Tamadaba, the mostverdant, in the north-west. Anyof these is perfect for hikingpurposes.
The Canary Island pine, a treeindigenous to these islands, can
grow to a height of more than60 metres. Its singularity lies in itslarge needle clusters, grouped inthrees, and in its ability, acquiredover thousands of years ofvolcanic activity, to bloom anewafter being burnt. Curiously, itsonly living relative grows in theHimalayas.
The Rock Spikes
The rock spikes are, possibly, thesingle most representativelandmark of Gran Canariascenery. These enormous blocks of volcanic rock that project and
Tamadaba
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protrude from the Gran Canariapeaks, bestow a singular beautyon the landscape as a whole. Theomnipresence of the rocks, asone gazes towards the mountainsummits from many spots aroundthe island, explains why thesemonoliths were regarded assacred mountains by the pre-Hispanic inhabitants. Nowadaysthey continue to retain profoundsentimental value for the locals,who see them as symbols parexcellence of their island. The blocks are in reality the
remains of huge plates ofvolcanic agglutinate left exposedby weathering and erosion. Theorigin of these sheets goes back some four million years, to oneof the most violent eruptiveprocesses in the volcanic historyof the Canaries.
A hike to the Nublo
The starting point for this shorthike is the col known asDegollada de la Goleta (1,578metres). To get here, one musthave a vehicle: two kilometresbefore reaching the town ofAyacata (coming from thenorth), look out for a placewhere the road drops sharplyaway, with the Nublo in plainview on the right. Park the carand climb westwards along theclearly signposted, central path.This makes a beeline for themassy base of the spike, whichcan be spotted in the distance.Something like fifty minutes willbring one out at the base of theNublo without any difficulty.From this point, the bouldersoars another fifty metres -negotiable only by rockclimbing- to attain its full heightof 1,830 metres. The views ofthe Tejeda caldera are excellent.
A longer variant, for those whodo not have a car at theirdisposal, is to start from LaCulata de Tejeda, at a height of1,225 metres (bus no. 29 fromthe Las Palmas Bus & CoachStation), and thence ascend the bed of the ravine to theDegollada de la Goleta by awell-marked path. This stretchadds an extra fifty minutes each way.
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The best known are “RoqueNublo” and “Bentaiga”, and thebest viewing spots are Cruz deTejeda, Pozo de las Nieves, andthe picturesque towns ofArtenara and Tejeda. From anyof these points, and preferably atsundown, the sight of thesenatural monuments isoverwhelming. They have neverbeen better described than byMiguel de Unamuno, who, afterseeing them, coined the phrase,“petrified storm”.
The Dams
Among the elements that go tomake up this island’s scenery,there is one which, because it isnot natural, endows GranCanaria with a personality
distinct from any other island inthe archipelago...the dams. Themany dams and artificial lakes onGran Canaria were built to takeadvantage of the island’s deeplyindented and incisedtopography, which sluicesseawards the entire run-off fromthe scant rain of substance thatfalls during the year. So swift isthis process that it wouldotherwise allow no time forcollection.In this land of plunging ravinesand sharply uneven terrain, the
dams assume some very peculiarshapes indeed, always hangingfrom the most unlikely crags andappearing where least expected.Nowadays, some -the larger andmore easily accessible ones- are
Rock spike known as Roque Nublo
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A tour of the dams
One of Gran Canaria’s mostbeautiful and solitary roadroutes is the so-called ruta de laspresas. In addition to asuccession of impressive dams,on this route the visitor willdiscover some of the wildest andmost spectacular scenery on theisland.
To do this tour, one has to startfrom the town of Artenarawhere one takes the road to theTamadaba pinewood. Threekilometres after leaving thetown, turn down a branch roadto the left, bound for Acusa andSan Nicolás. From here onwards,and for the next 25 kilometres,the road descends steep slopesas it winds through a vast
canyon, until entering thenarrow defile which takes it asfar as San Nicolás. The route isisolated, as there are no townsafter Acusa, and it is notrecommended for those who donot feel easy at the thought ofmountain driving. Once in SanNicolás de Tolentino, it is wellworth carrying on for a furthersix kilometres to Puerto de laAldea, a charming pebble beachwhere one can sit down to ameal of fresh fish. The best thingfrom here is to take the coastroad northwards, if heading forLas Palmas, or southwards, ifreturning to Maspalomas.
Chira Dam
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leisure areas. Prominent amongthis latter sort are the Chira andCueva de las Niñas Dams,although there are many othersof comparable or even greaterbeauty, e.g., the Los Pérez,Hornos, El Mulato, Soria,Ayagaures, Tirajana, Parralillo,Siberio Dams, among others. Allare worth a trip.
The Ravines
The ravines are the one featureof the landscape that mostintensely shapes life on GranCanaria. Millions of years ofpowerful erosion have gougedand scoured the island’s manyravines, gorges and gullies whichradiate out in all directions fromthe mountain heights down tothe coast. This relief pattern, ofcontinuous changes in slopedirection and pronounceddifferences in level, makes the
relative distance between anytwo points infinitely longer thanwould normally be expected onan island of these dimensions.
For centuries, this phenomenonhas isolated islanders living inone part of the island from theirfellows in another, to such anextent in fact, that untilrelatively recently, it was easierfor many townspeople to get tothe capital of another island(Santa Cruz de Tenerife) by shipthan to Las Palmas, overland.These shifts in slope directionalso serve to create a series ofmicroclimates in different areasof the island, and so, by the sametoken, the ravines have likewisebeen the determining force asregards plant life, favouringmultiple and varied types ofvegetation.
Typical Canary Island scenary
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Exploring the AgaeteValley andGuayadeque Ravine
Agaete and Guayadeque are twoof the most stunning ravines onthe island. Each lies in a differentarea, with the result that theyoffer two different sorts ofvegetation and humanpopulation.
The Agaete valley begins at thewhitewashed town of the samename in the north-west of theisland and ascends rapidlyinland. In a short space of timethe landscape changes fromcoastal aridity to the intensegreen of tropical fruitplantations, until finally climbingon and up to the level of thepinewoods. The road comes toan end in the spa of Los
Berrazales, overlooking splendidviews of the craggy heights ofTamadaba.
The Guayadeque ravine comeswithin the municipal boundariesof Agüimes, to the east. Fromthis town, with its long-standinghandicraft tradition, take thefork leading to the canyon-likecourse of the ravine. If at allpossible, the ascent along thisvalley presents even greatercontrasts than that of Agaete,and the views are similarly ofgreat beauty. The vegetationhereabouts is essentiallyxerophile, and the inhabitantspeculiar in that they aretroglodyte, living in caves, anaspect inherited from their pre-Hispanic forebears, of whommany vestiges still remain in the area.
Agaete
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Villages,towns and cities
The north
Itinerary: Arucas • Teror •Valleseco • Moya • Guía •Gáldar • Agaete • Puerto de las Nieves.
Being the most fertile area, thenorth of the island has also beenthe most densely populated sincethe time of first humanhabitation. An itinerary throughthis locality, one with a longfarming tradition, will take thevisitor to some of Gran Canaria’smost gracious and distinguishedtowns, amidst a leafy landscape ofbanana palms and orchards.
To set out on the first leg, leaveLas Palmas by the northbound C-810 and make for the historic cityof Arucas, third in importance onGran Canaria. Arucas grew anddeveloped in the early part of thecentury thanks to then buoyantbanana plantations, of which itstill preserves sizeable tracts thatring the town with their rustlinggreenery. Outstanding sights inthe town are the massive Neo-Gothic Basilica of San Juan (St.John’s) and the Gourié Mansion(municipal museum). On theoutskirts, the Montaña de Arucassugar-loaf volcano commandingexcellent views of the north coast,
also deserves a visit. Continue onfor another 15 kilometres toTeror, possibly the loveliest townon Gran Canaria, where a visitshould be paid to the Church ofNuestra Señora del Pino (Our Ladyof the Pine), the island’s PatronSaint. The imposingly beautifulsurroundings, a magnificentexample of traditional Canaries’architecture, house the interestingCasa de los Patronos de la Virgenmuseum.
From Teror the route now takes usto Valleseco, six kilometres away,through the most verdant part ofthe island, with a short stop toadmire the view from the Balcón
Arucas. Church of San Juan (St. John’s)
de Zamora. Keep on headinginland as far as the Pinos deGáldar caldera, a volcano thatdominates the whole of the northof Gran Canaria, and thenimmediately descend to Moya, tovisit the Los Tiles ravine. From thisremaining stronghold of theretreating laurel forest, drive onfor 13 kilometres to Guía, a townfamous for its delicious cheese andfor the remarkable pre-Hispaniccave in its environs, reputed tohave been a convent of
sorts and therefore called theCenobio de Valerón.
The city of Gáldar, the erstwhileGuanche (indigenous) capital, liesthree kilometres from Guía at thefoot of a bald volcano. Standing inthe City Hall quadrangle is acenturies-old dragon tree and inthe main square, the historicChurch of Santiago de losCaballeros (St. James of theKnights). Not far off is the CuevaPintada archaeological site, with
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the best examples of Canaryindigenous rock paintings. In thesurrounding area are two moreimportant sites: the GuanchaNecropolis and El Agujero.
Proceed along the C-810 for tenkilometres to Agaete, awhitewashed town ensconced in a
lush valley, worth exploring by thesimple expedient of following theroad to Los Berrazales. Back onthe coast, a two-kilometre detourleads to the port of Agaete orPuerto de Las Nieves, a smallfishing village where fine fish is tobe had. Sights to see here includethe Chapel and its famous 16th-century Flemish triptych, andlooking seawards, the volcanicneedle known as the Dedo deDios (Finger of God), the awesomeFaneque and Tirma cliffsides, andthe harbour, from which ferriessail daily to the capital of Tenerife.To return to Las Palmas, rejoin theC-810 and follow the coast for 38kilometres.
Teror. Courtyard of the AgustínManrique House-cum-Museum
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The central zone
Itinerary: Tafira Alta • El Monte • Santa Brígida •San Mateo • Cueva Grande •Ayacata • Tejeda • Artenara •Cruz de Tejeda.
This itinerary makes use of theislands’ most popularthoroughfare, the carretera delcentro, to explore the interiortowns and the highlands. It is apanoramic tour that traverses themore mountainous districts,revealing the rich variety of GranCanaria scenery.
Heading out of Palmas on the C-811, a nine-kilometre drive bringsone to the outlying localities ofTafira Alta and El Monte,traditional residential areas withflowering gardens. Nearby arethe Botanical Gardens and the
Bandama crater. Proceedinginland through resplendentcountryside, one soon comes toSanta Brígida, encircled by palmgroves, where the town church isworth seeing. Seven kilometresaway, at 950 metres above sea-level, is San Mateo, set amidst afertile plain planted with
San Mateo. Cho Zacarías Museum
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Tafira AltaEl Monte
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San FelipeCosta
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Verdejo
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Cruz de Tejeda
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Santa Brígida
Vega de San Mateo
Telde
Guía
Moya
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Punta del Roque
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orchards. This farming town hassome beautiful examples ofCanaries’ handicraft on display inthe Cho Zacarías museum.
Leaving San Mateo behind, theroad begins to rise sharplytowards the peak area. Just over akilometre distant, a fork to rightwill bring one out at MontañaCabreja, a look-out pointcommanding fine views. Afterrejoining the main road, branchoff to Cueva Grande, and asteep climb of a few kilometresleads to an intersection where,those wanting to reach thehighest point on the island, the
Pozo de las Nieves (1,950 metres),will have to make a detour ofthree kilometres to the left. Backat the crossroads, take the roadwhich travels eight kilometres toAyacata, via Llanos de la Pez andthe Roque Nublo spike. This small
village, at the foot of enormousmountain rockfaces, is renownedfor its almond blossom.
The next stage is to head forTejeda and Artenara, along aroad affording superb views ofthe Tejeda caldera and theBentaiga Rock. In Artenara, thehighest town on Gran Canaria, besure to visit the curious Shrine ofOur Lady of the Cave (Santuariode la Virgen de la Cuevita). Fromhere it is a 12-kilometre climb toCruz de Tejeda, situated at astrategic panoramic point. It isworth making a short stop to takein the pleasant terrace of the Cruz
de Tejeda Hostería, and enjoysome of the typical localspecialities. With one’s batteriessuitably recharged, the return tripto Las Palmas follows the C-811 in a continuous downhill drive of 34 kilometres.
Tejeda
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The south
Itinerary: Telde • Ingenio •Agüimes • Temisas • Santa Lucía • San Bartolomé •Fataga • Arteara
The southern part, throughwhich this route guides thetraveller, is somewhatreminiscent of Africa. Thegreater aridity of its terrain keptthe region thinly populated untilthe recent tourist boom. Foryears it was the “forgotten
district”, a backwater whencompared to the morecosmopolitan and “Atlantic”north.
San Bartolomé
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ValsequilloCueva Grande
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The starting point for thisitinerary is the city of Telde, thesecond largest town on theisland after Las Palmas. Preservedin this historic city, which was thecapital of one of the two pre-Hispanic Kingdoms of GranCanaria, are two of the best andoldest examples of Canaries’architecture: the San Juan andSan Francisco Quarters. In theformer, the outstanding featureis the Church of San JuanBautista (St. John the Baptist),dating from the 15th century.The San Francisco Quarter as awhole is one of the island’s gems,
its original 16th-century layoutsurviving almost fully intact.
The next town en route isIngenio, 13 kilometres fromTelde. Its name alludes to itscondition as a sugar refinery incenturies past. Nowadayshowever, this town is renownedfor its handicrafts, particularly itsembroidery -the famed “caladocanario”- which can be admiredin the Museo de Piedra. Threekilometres on is the town ofAgüimes, entry point to the
Temisas
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Guayadeque ravine, a site ofgreat scenic and archaeologicalinterest, due to the many pre-Hispanic grottoes to be foundthere.
A winding road takes one theten kilometres from Agüimes tothe village of Temisas, doubtlessone of Gran Canaria’s mostexotic corners, whence itcontinues for another ninekilometres to Santa Lucía. Herea pleasant surprise is in store:well-tended whitewashedbuildings emerge from a sea ofpalm fronds and a greatprofusion of flowers fill thesurroundings with their colour.The Museum of GuancheCulture, a private collection ofindigenous remains, is a sureguarantee of an interesting visit.
The next destination is SanBartolomé de Tirajana, a goodspot from which to see themagnificent walls of the Tirajanacaldera and the volcanic spike ofRisco Blanco. One now takes theroad in the direction ofMaspalomas, through thesplendid Fataga ravine, as itdescends between toweringwalls dotted with hundreds ofpalm trees. Fataga and Arteara,both ringed by palm groves ofgreat beauty, are the last townsto be passed before reaching thecoast, 24 kilometres after leavingSan Bartolomé. To return, onehas to drive the 52 kilometres ofhighway that separateMaspalomas from Las Palmas.
Fataga
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The city of Las Palmas
The city of Las Palmas de GranCanaria is the biggest in thearchipelago, with a populationof 375,000. It was founded on24th June 1478 at the expressinstance of Queen Isabel, theCatholic monarch. Its presentimportance stems from thedevelopment of its harbour,Puerto de la Luz (Light),following its designation as afree port towards the middle ofthe last century, making it intoone of the most important portson the Atlantic. Thenceforth,the city began to acquirecommercial pre-eminence,
favoured above all by its tradelinks with Great Britain. It isfrom this era that Las Palmas’lovely Modernist buildings date.
The second urban expansiontook place in the seventies,when Swedish touristsdiscovered the beauties of LasCanteras Beach. Thecosmopolitan, beach-lovingSanta Catalina Park area and theold colonial Vegueta and TrianaQuarters are the two oppositepoles of a city that lies open tothe sea along seven kilometresof shoreline.
The old colonial Vegueta
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Las Palmas Cathedral (1):Begun in 1497 in Late Gothic style,continued and completed inNeoclassical style. Not to be missedare the high altar and thetreasures exhibited in its“Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art”(Closed lunchtime).
928 31 49 89). Plaza de Santa Ana (2):Opposite the Cathedral. The oldCity Hall building and Modernistfaçades are the outstandingfeatures. The bronze dogs are thecity symbol. Plaza del Espíritu Santo (3):Behind the City Hall. Delightfulbuildings and an exquisite chapel.Canary Island Museum (4):Adjoining the Plaza del EspírituSanto. It brings together thelargest collection of remains of theCanaries’ indigenous Guanchecivilisation, with galleries of greatarchaeological and anthropologicalvalue. A “must” (opening times:Monday to Friday, 10 a m. - 5 p.m.;Saturdays and Sundays until 2 p.m.
928 31 56 00).
City plan of Las Palmas1 Las Palmas Cathedral2 Plaza de Santa Ana3 Plaza del Espíritu Santo4 Canary Island Museum5 Church of Santo Domingo 6 Casa de Colón (Columbus’ house)7 Plaza de San Antonio Abad8 Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno
(Atlantic Modern Art Centre)9 Pérez Galdós House-cum-Museum
10 Tourist Board11 Pueblo Canario12 Néstor Museum13 Casino14 “Insular” Stadium15 Santa Catalina Park16 La Luz Castle
Vegueta: The old city
The Vegueta Quarter, the truecore of Las Palmas, preserves allthe charm of its 15th- and 16th-century colonial architecture,with its cobbled streets andexquisite courtyards andbalconies. It is here that thesights of most interest in LasPalmas are to be found, itsloveliest buildings, corners andmuseums, all set around theChapel where Columbus is saidto have prayed immediately priorto setting sail for the New World.
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Iglesia de Santo Domingo (St. Dominic’s) (5): Behind themuseum. 18th-centuryarchitecture. Casa de Colón(Columbus’ House) (6): Behindthe Cathedral. Former 15th-century governor’s residencewhere Columbus is reputed tohave stayed. Interesting museumof the discovery of America andthe New World’s links with the city
(opening times: Monday to Friday,9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. -3 p.m. 928 31 23 84).Plaza de San Antonio Abad (St. Anthony’s) (7): Alongsidethe Casa de Colón. Legend has itthat Columbus prayed in thechapel here. Centro Atlántico deArte Moderno (AtlanticModern Art Centre) (8): Oncalle de Los Balcones (calle; street),behind the Cathedral. Collectionsof contemporary art housed in abeautiful 18th-century building(opening times: Tuesday toSaturday, 10 a m. - 9 p.m.;Sundays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
928 1 18 24). Pérez GaldósHouse-cum-Museum (9): Thewriter’s birthplace in the nearbycommercial Triana district.Personal belongings and library(opening times: 9 a m. - 1 p.m.
928 6 69 76).
Casa de Colón (Columbus’ House)
Atlantic Modern Art Centre
47
Culture and entertainment
Principal Festivities
Carnival: February. The island’sbiggest and best attended event.The main festivities are held inLas Palmas de Gran Canaria, inthe Santa Catalina Park area.El Pino: 8th September. Feastday in honour of the island’sPatron Saint, in Teror. Pilgrimageon foot from all parts of theisland and a romería (pilgrimagefiesta) in the streets of Teror. La Rama: 4th August. Curiouscelebration harking back to pre-Hispanic times, in Agaete.Devotees descend from the hillsto the sea, bearing branches asan offering to bring rain.
Cultural events
Canaries International MusicFestival: (January and February)One of Europe’s most importantclassical music festivals, featuringleading performing artists andorchestras. Venue: the PérezGaldós Theatre in Las Palmas.Opera Festival: (February-March) Organised by the CanaryFriends of the Opera.
928 37 01 25
International“Nacionalidades” Theatre andDance Festival: (March-April)
Organised by the SOCAEM - 928 27 75 30
“Atlántica”: (January) MusicConcert Festival at MaspalomasBeach. 928 72 34 44
The Centro Insular de Cultura(Island Cultural Centre) organisesscores of cultural activitiesthroughout the year: cinema,theatre, video, courses,
workshops, discussion groups,etc. Calle Pérez Galdós, 53 -
928 37 10 23/ 11
The CAAM (Centro Atlántico deArte Moderno) schedules majorcontemporary art exhibitionswithin its annual programme ofevents. Calle Los Balcones, 11 -
928 31 18 24
Traditional folk dance
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USEFUL INFORMATION
Island hoppingAccess from Gran Canaria to theremaining islands in the archipelago iseasy, whether by plane, ferry or jet-foil.Plane: Binter ( 928 44 01 00) runsdaily flights to all the islands (to La Palmaand El Hierro via Tenerife) except La Gomera, which has no airport. Ferry: Trasmediterránea ( 928 26 56 50) operates a daily ferryservice from Puerto de Las Palmas to theseven islands in the group. Fred Olsen ( 928 23 46 11) offers four dailysailings from Puerto de Agaete to SantaCruz de Tenerife.Jet-Foil: Five crossings daily to Santa Cruzde Tenerife and one daily to Morro Jable,Fuerteventura ( 928 27 38 84).
TransportHow to get there: Regular daily flightsconnect the island with principal citiesaround Spain and the rest of Europe(Gran Canaria Airport, 928 57 90 00).Buses link the airport with Las Palmasevery 20 minutes.
How to get around the island: By bus (guagua, pronounced “wa-wa”).Island transport is divided up betweentwo companies: UTINSA ( 928 36 01 79) in the north, andSALCAI ( 928 38 11 10) in the south.From the Las Palmas Bus and CoachStation (Estación de Guaguas) oppositeSan Telmo Park, buses can be caught toany point on the island.By taxi: some taxis offer island trips atspecial excursion rates.By rental car: there is an abundance ofcar hire agencies, many with offices atthe airport, offering cars at relativelycheap rates.
Times and currencyTime: The Canaries are on Greenwichtime, i.e., the same as Great Britain andan hour behind the rest of WesternEurope.
Opening times: In general, shops in theCanaries open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. andagain from 4 to 8 p.m.
Currency: The Peseta. Money willusually be exchanged by all banks, open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
USEFUL ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONENUMBERS
International Dialling Code: 34
TURESPAÑA TOURIST INFORMATION 901 300 600
Regional Tourist and TransportAuthorityPlaza de los Derechos Humanos. Edificiode Usos Múltiples (6th and 7th floors),35003 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
928 38 42 48, fax 928 36 95 39
Gran Canaria Tourist Board: León yCastilla, 17, Las Palmas. 928 36 22 22e-mail: [email protected]
Tourist Information Offices:Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: SantaCatalina Park. 928 26 46 23Maspalomas: Island Tourist Centre:Yumbo Shopping Mall. 928 76 25 91
Palacio de Congresos (ConventionCentre): (Las Palmas) 6 halls. Venue withmaximum seating capacity: 800 persons.
928 41 17 00 / 928 41 60 20Fax 928 41 17 10
TRANSPORTAirport. 928 57 90 00Bus and Coach Station: Avenida RafaelCabrera. 928 36 01 79Taxis: 928 46 22 12Ferry: Dársena exterior (outer dock).
928 46 32 40Jet-foil: 928 27 38 84Road Traffic: Road & Highwayinformation. 900 12 35 05Guardia Civil (Traffic Dept.),
928 32 04 00
COMMUNICATIONSPost & Telegraphs. 928 36 13 20
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERSRed Cross (Cruz Roja): 928 22 22 22Hospital Emergencies: 061National Police: 091Municipal Police: 092Public Information Service: 010
PARADORS (State-run hotels)Central booking office. Calle Requena, 3. Madrid 28013.
91 516 66 66, fax 91 516 66 57.Hostería Cruz de Tejeda. Cruz de Tejeda, 928 66 60 50, fax 928 66 60 51Fuerteventura: Playa Blanca, 45,
928 85 11 50, fax 928 85 11 58
SPANISH TOURIST INFORMATIONOFFICES ABROAD
Canada. Toronto. Tourist Office of Spain2 Bloor Street West Suite 3402TORONTO, Ontario M4W 3E2
1416/ 961 31 31, fax 1416/ 961 19 92e-mail: [email protected]
Great Britain. LondonSpanish Tourist OfficeManchester Square, 22-23 LONDON W1M 5AP
44207/ 486 80 77, fax 44207/ 486 80 34e-mail: [email protected]
Japan. Tokyo. Tourist Office of SpainDaini Toranomon Denki Bldg.4F. 3-1-10Toranomon. Minato-Ku. TOKIO-105
813/ 34 32 61 41, fax 813/ 34 32 61 44e-mail: [email protected]
Russia. Moscow Spanish Tourist OfficeTverskaya – 16/2 Business Center“Galeria Aktor” 6º floor. MOSCÚ 103009
7095 / 935 83 99, fax 7095 / 935 83 96e-mail: [email protected]
Singapore. Singapore Spanish Tourist Office541Orchard Road. Liat Tower # 09-04238881 SINGAPORE
657/ 37 30 08, fax 657/ 37 31 73e-mail: [email protected]
United States of AmericaLos Angeles. Tourist Office of Spain8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960 BEVERLY HILLS, CAL 90211
1323/ 658 71 95, fax 1323/ 658 10 61e-mail: [email protected]
Chicago. Tourist Office of SpainWater Tower Place, suite 915 East 845, North Michigan AvenueCHICAGO, ILL 60-611
1312/ 642 19 92, fax 1312/ 642 98 17e-mail: [email protected]
Miami. Tourist Office of Spain1221 Brickell AvenueMIAMI, Florida 33131
1305/ 358 19 92, fax 1305/ 358 82 23e-mail: [email protected]
New York. Tourist Office of Spain666 Fifth Avenue 35 th floorNEW YORK, N.Y. 10103
1212/ 265 88 22, fax 1212/ 265 88 64www.okspain.orge-mail:[email protected]
EMBASSIES IN MADRID
Canada: Nuñez de Balboa, 3591 431 43 00, fax 91 431 23 67
Great Britain: Fernando El Santo, 1691 319 02 00, fax 91 308 10 33
Japan: Serrano, 10991 590 76 00, fax 91 590 13 21
Russia: Velazquez, 15591 562 22 64, fax 91 562 97 12
United States of America: Serrano, 7591 587 22 00, fax 91 587 23 03
Text:Hugo Palacios
Translation:Michael D. Benedict
Photographs:Turespaña Photographic Archives
Layout and design:Florencio García
Published by: © Turespaña
Secretaría de Estado de Comercio yTurismo
Ministerio de Economía
Printed by:
D. L.:
NIPO:Printed in Spain
Second Edition
Gra
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naria
Spai
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MINISTERIO DE ECONOMÍA
SECRETARÍA DEESTADO DE COMERCIO Y TURISMOSECRETARÍA GENERAL DE TURISMO
TURESPAÑA
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
European Regional Development Fund
Cana
ry Is
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