The name ‘Gran Canaria’ is a perfect indicator of what you might expect from this beautiful holiday destination; translated as ‘great island’, Gran Canaria is a wonderful microcosm of Spanish life. Located in the Atlantic Ocean, between Africa and Europe, Gran Canaria has over 800,000 inhabitants, making it the second most populated of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife.
Records of life on this beautiful island begin around 500 BC with the arrival of the Canarii; these early inhabitants called their home ‘The Land of The Brave’, and they continued to live there for thousands of years until the Spanish conquests of the 15th Century brought an end to their reign. It was then that Gran Canaria, as we know it today, was born.
Gran Canaria is a volcanic island with a diameter of only 50 km but don’t let its modest size fool you, the island offers a deep well of culture and historical landmarks, in addition to a multitude of activities for holidaymakers to engage in.
One of the great attributes of the island, and one of the reasons why it’s possible to get cheap holidays to Gran Canaria for most of the year, is that the climate is so agreeable. Average temperatures in the summer months are around 26 degrees C, however, this only falls to an average of 20 degrees C in the winter months, making it an ideal year-round destination. It is relatively unheard of for temperatures to drop below 10 degrees C on the island, even during the coldest nights of mid-winter.
Although Gran Canaria has golden beaches and glorious year round temperatures, there are a surprising number of cheap hotels to stay in while you are there. Most holidaymakers make their way towards the south of the island, where there is generally less rain and better temperatures, as well as beautiful beach areas such as Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles and Meloneras. It’s from nearby Tarajalillo that you can take a flight around this stunning island. If you prefer terra firma why not take a trip to Puerto de Mogan, which is referred to by many as ‘little Venice’ due to the number of canals in this picturesque location.
Other attractions in this locality include an 80 metre high monolith called Roque Nublo and the enchanting area of Cenobio de Vlareon, which has a delightful array of coastal caves for the more intrepid explorers. If that’s a bit much for you, you can instead explore the more tranquil botanical gardens in Tafira Alta and La Aldea de San Nicolas.
The geographical beauty of the island is illustrated perfectly by landmarks such as El Dedo de Dios (God’s Finger), El Cura and La Rana (The Frog). All three are remarkable natural landmarks and must-see areas of the island.
After pounding the tourist trail, you’re going to be hungry by the end of the day. The beauty of Gran Canarian cuisine is that it borrows from both African and Spanish cultures to offer unique and delicious culinary delights. So, a cheap holiday to Gran Canaria will not only allow you to see some stunning sights but also please your palette!
The island’s cuisine is based around fresh fish, vegetables and fruit. You will obviously want to treat yourself to restaurant food at some stage, but there are also several delightful local markets selling an assortment of fresh produce, so it’s also possible to cater for yourself. Try the sea bream casserole along with some delicious ‘wrinkled’ potatoes (patatas arrugadas) and one of the many local sauces that accompany such dishes so beautifully.