Las Palmas Gran Canaria

LAS PALMAS – GRAN CANARIA
On arrival into Las Palmas airport, most passengers tend to transfer to the South side of the island to the resorts of Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Puerto Rico and Salobre.
However, as the capital of the island, Las Palmas, is the centre for cultural activity. Founded in 1478, this was an important port for passing ships and visitors included Christopher Columbus. Today there is a lot to see and do here. Stroll through beautiful parks, discover wonderful historic buildings, stop for coffee in pretty cobbled plazas and relax on the beach. The city is also host to a wealth of festivals and events throughout the year ranging from the jazz festival (July – August) to world class sailing events.
A transfer of approximately 40 minutes takes you to the four star Hotel Reina Isabel, which is an older hotel of great charm and style situated on the sea front at Las Palmas. The entrance to the hotel is on a busy street, but as you walk into the large hotel lobby the hustle and bustle is forgotten. At the rear of the hotel you will find a terrace bar serving light meals. From here you can look out onto the beach of Las Canteras, which is literally across the promenade running adjacent to the beach. The hotel provides some sunbeds and umbrellas free for guests. If you get bored with the beach and the sea, you can take a dip in the lovely heatable pool on the roof, or have a work-out in the well equipped little gym on the top floor. The hotel is also host to ‘La Parilla’, which is one of the best A La Carte restaurants on the island.
The beach of Las Canteras stretches one and a half miles to the west along a boulevard busy with bars, restaurants, shops and hotels. For a nice lunch a leisurely stroll brings you to a fantastic restaurant on the headland. It is quite dramatic to sit having lunch whilst the waves crash against the rocks! Plenty of the smartly dressed locals frequent this restaurant (always a good sign) and is a great place to people watch!
Almost directly opposite the Santa Catalina quay in the port is the Santa Catalina Park, busy enough during the day with its open air cafes and shops but coming into its own in the evening. Here is also where you will find the elegant, colonial style, five star Hotel Santa Catalina. Originally it was built as a place for officers from British ships to stay on their way to Africa. Since then names such as Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie and Price Charles have all signed the guestbook. Situated in the park and residential area of Ciudad Jardin, you are close to the historical centre and not far from Las Canteras beach.
The majority of the historical sights in Las Palmas are easily accessible, but should you like to travel outside Las Palmas and do not wish to hire a car, then a good idea is to ask your hotel concierge to arrange a taxi driver for the day, negotiate a good price and away you go!
The town of Agaete at the mouth of the Barranco de Agaete is the centre of the most fertile area of the island, growing papaya, coffee, mango and avocados. Half a mile west, is the little port of Puerto de las Nieves, which is well known for fish restaurants and the extraordinary rock formation on its coast, the Dedo de Dios (Finger of God).
Arucas is the third largest town on the island, set in lush hills of banana and sugar cane plantations. The town itself is dominated by the hugh black church of San Juan Bautista, a neo-Gothic building begun in 1909 and finished in the1970’s. For more independent travellers, La Hacienda, can be found in Arucas. This rural hotel is set in the middle of a working banana plantation and has been carefully and sympathetically restored by its owner, the Marquis of Arucas. You can take leisurely walks in the surrounding countryside, which is good for mountain biking too.
A twin-centre holiday would be a great idea on Gran Canaria. For the first week take in the culture of Las Palmas and then transfer to Maspalomas in the south of the island.
Please pop in for more details, or on other destinations-we will make you a coffee and while you relax we will do some quotes. Alternatively email [email protected] or ring 01925 269400 for quotes.