The Island of Gran Canaria
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Gran Canaria is often described as a 'Miniature Continent' because of the diversity of its landscapes and climates - the combination of
long golden beaches and white sand dunes contrasted with green ravines and picturesque villages make for a very complete holiday experience.
The island's main resorts are centred around Maspalomas at the warmer southern section of the island. |
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For visitors who get captured by the marvellous beaches
and dunes, there's an Aeroclub in Tarajalillo from where you take air tours of the whole island.
The area is famous for its magnificent beaches, dunes and lagoons. Tourist favourites include the lighthouse and the town of Playa del Inglés, which with its
restaurants, bars and nightlife is becoming an increasingly popular destination for gay tourism.
Other attractions include Puerto de Mogán - a picturesque village known as Little Venice because of its canals - Cocodrilos Park, the 80-metre monolith
Roque Nublo, the laberynth of caves at Cenobio de Valerón with about 290 caves, the Cueva Pintada archeological park and
the Jardin Canario botanical gardens.
In the north of the island, you find the vibrant capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria known from its Carnaval and its fabulous Las Canteras city centre beach.
It was Christopher Columbus's first stop on his way back from the Americas and the Hermitage of San Antonio Abad - where Columbus gave thanks to God -
and the Casa de Colón are important attractions. Others include the Museo Canario, the Cathedral and the Plaza del Espíritu Santo.
One of the best ways to explore the less accessible island is to go on a jeep safari and you can also go on a wide variety of marine excursions, including
deep sea fishing, sailing, glass-bottomed boats and a submarine.
And if you're feeling like Lawrence of Arabia, you can always go on a camel ride in the Maspaloma dunes!
Football on Gran Canaria
The island's main side is UD Las Palmas - they have spent long periods in the Primera Liga even finishing runners-up in the late sixties
but currently play in Segunda.
There are also three Gran Canaria clubs playing in Group 2 of Segunda B - Universidad LPGC, La Palmas Atlético and Vecindario.
There's also a very lively semi-professional and amateur scene with many clubs competing in Tercera and Federación Interinsular Las Palmas
competitions against clubs from other islands.
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