Where can you escape to in the first week of January for a quality but inexpensive break where you will enjoy sunshine and summer temperatures without long haul flights? The answer is the Canary Isles and in particular Gran Canaria.
The island of Gran Canaria is situated in the Atlantic Ocean some 200km off the African coast. Gran Canaria is a volcanic island which benefits from the warm winds blown across from the Sahara ensuring that winter temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius in the day and in the summer creeping up to a warm but acceptable 25 degrees celsius. It does rain during the the winter months but those rainstorms never last long and the warm breezes that come in off the ocean soon dry the Island up again.
The capital is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the north which has a busy city atmosphere and is known for its annual carnival. In the centre of the town is Las Canteras beach, there is a cathedral, the Museum Canario and the Plaza del Espiritu Santo. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was a stopping place for Christopher Columbus and tourists can visit the Hermitage of San Antonio Abad where the explorer prayed.
The south and east of the Island is a fairly flat landscape with many wonderful clean and unspoilt beaches to enjoy. To the west the terrain is a little more mountainous and rocky, making walking excursions more challenging. Most tourists stay in the south of the island which tends to have more sunshine and less rain than the north due to the protection it is given by the mountain ranges that flank it. The main resort is Playa del Ingles and is a lively town situated on the south coast next to the famous Maspolomas beach and its 250 hectares of sand dunes. This area stretches along the coastline and includes other tourist towns such as St Augustin and Sonnenland and a little further along is Puerto de Mogan also referred to as “Little Venice” due to the number of canals in the own.
Other attractions on Gran Canaria include Cocodrilos Park, over 200 caves at Cenobio de Valeron and Cueva Pintada one of the best archaeological parks in the Canary Islands. There are also botanical gardens at Tafira Alto, the Jardin Botanico Canario which is separated into a number of smaller gardens growing an enormous variety of rare and interesting plants.
Gran Canaria is a fantastic destination for many sports enthusiasts who come to train in warm conditions away from the European winter and is popular with many professional sportsmen and women who set up camp here in the winter months to prepare for their season ahead. Triathletes, swimmers, sailors and cyclists, both road and mountain biking, all benefit from the temperate conditions on the island. However you do not need to be a professional to enjoy the great facilities as everyone can take advantage of the many walks and trails and the network of good roads around the island.
You can if you wish just make the most of the climate and have a “do nothing” break enjoying the tranquility of the island, the good food and the calm surroundings. If watching is more your line of activity then there are many carnivals and celebrations as the island is split into 21 municipalities and they all like to put on their own celebrations throughout the year, usually including colourful street parties and carnivals.
So whatever the time of year, whether you want activity, nightlife or just a relaxing break (or all three) then, with its guarantee of superb weather, Gran Canaria makes a fantastic choice of destination.
