Top 5 things to do in Gran Canaria

Submitted by Andy B on Tuesday, 22 December 2015 Page Views: 6128

FunCountry: Spain Region: Canary Isles
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**Cuatro Puertas** submitted by Themistokles : Site in Canary Isles Spain: Main room view of Cuatro Puertas (Vote or comment on this photo)

Are you considering spending your holidays in Gran Canaria? We have the top 5 reasons why you should, both for prehistoric sites to expolore, and general holiday fun. Gran Canaria is a great place to be all year round.

Being home to magnificent beaches, luxury resorts, rich history and great nightlife there are many reasons to spend your vacation time here.

Explore

The volcanic landscapes and rich history of the island makes your holiday in Gran Canaria a great opportunity to explore a multitude of unique settings, from cactus forests to rocky hiking trails, Gran Canaria can provide loads of fun for explorers.

The Cuevas del Rey is complex of several caves in an old volcanic complex. One of the most important mountains in this complex is the sanctuary of Roque Bentaiga, which was a sacred place for the ancient Canariens . The mountain itself is the remains of a basalt lava chimney, it stands nearly solitary surrounded by valleys, the so called Barrancos.

The most interesting caves have been enlarged by the ancient people to make complex constructions with many rooms. Some caves have been coloured in white, red and black, these are original and the best examples of coloured caves on the Canaries.

At the bottom of the pinnacle you can find a small but excellent information centre about the area and the culture of the ancient Canariens. A thirty minute footpath leads directly to the rock pinnacle and the sacred zone, the Almogaren. The whole area is surrounded by large caves, and a big rectangle has been carved out of the stone with a libation circle in the centre.

At La Guancha is an ancient settlement and cemetery close to the sea. The most interesting part is the biggest tumulus which was built like a cartwheel with two centres. It was excavated in 1935 and the skeletons of thirty pre-hispanic Canariens were retrieved. Nearby you can find the remains of ancient houses.

Sunbathe

Being an island in the endless waters of the Atlantic provides Grand Canaria with an amazing array of beaches. From quiet and stunning coves to long golden strips of sand, it really depends on your travel plan to visit as many as you can. Don’t forget sun protection whenever you decide to spend a day at the beach and you will be highly rewarded with some of the best experiences under the sun ever!

Watersports

Another all-time favourite is to test your limits in watersports on many of the Island’s shores. The seashore and beaches around the northern parts of the island are famed for their windy nature, so are a perfect place to kitesurf, surf or jet-ski if you feel brave enough. A definite must-visit during your holidays in Gran Canaria if you are the sporty type.

Go out

Being a popular place with loads of visitors all year round, the streets around Playa des Ingles have plenty of bars and clubs to cater for those who want to party during their holidays in Gran Canaria! You can have a relaxed night out or visit the famous Pacha and Mantrix nightclubs, and there are numerous small beach bars open till the early morning!

Eat Local

As a part of Spain, popular tapas bars and restaurants serving fresh fish are abundant. Give the fish and chips a rest and roam around the local towns to make your holiday in Gran Canaria a culinary experience second to none.

All in all the Canary Isles are a fantastic place for a winter break so why not have a look to book cheap holidays in Gran Canaria.

Find more ancient sites on the Megalithic Portal's map of the Canary Isles - Gran Canaria is the circular shaped island in the middle of the map.

This post was kindly sponsored by Purple Travel.

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