Villages

A grandiose dune landscape in the south, fruitful culture country in the north and in the centre a fissured mountain massif with rock needles, which control the primeval scenery as salient landmark, in addition this cosmopolitan giving metropolis and port Las Palmas - Gran Canary surprises by its variety and has by far more to offer than sun, beach and night live.

Agaete
In the most fruitful valley lies this place appropriate for the island, surrounded by sumptuous vegetation. In the 7 km long, inland pulling water-rich valley of Agaete prosper exotic fruits such as Mangos, Avocados and Papayas. On asphalted small roads you can explore this oasis-similar valley to to the end.

Puerto de las Nieves
The tiny port behind Agaete attracts day - trippers particularly on weekends. At the gravel beach protected by the mole a modest bath is possible. As attraction of the place is considered a rock needle rising up out of the sea, called the Dedo de Dios ("finger of God" unfortunately destroyed in a storm 2006). From here also the high-speed ferries leave to Tenerife.

Agüimes
Former feudal site of the canarian bishops. Here you find the caves of Temisas, as well as the nature park of Arinaga and the Barranco de Guayadeque. „The Castillo de Agüimes "is not a museum, but a discotheque with Live and Laser shows.

Arguineguin
To the west of Maspalomas is one of the few settlements, which already existed before the touristic development of the south coast. The small inviting fisher place expects you with international and national, cosy restaurants, a promenade and one, although small, beach. In the neighbouring place Patalavaca you find some luxury hotels skilfully built into the steep coast.

Arucas
Briefly behind the capital Las Palmas rises the volcano from Arucas. Here the historical town Arucas is, affectionately embedded in the full green of the landscape. At the conquest in the year 1478 of Gran Canary by the Spaniards, this place and its environment played an important key role. The townscape is towered above by the silhouette „of the Iglesia de San Juan ", a gothic church, which is called in the vernacular simply „Cathedral". Their very dark feature, due to the use of black basalt from convenient quarries, is remarkable. The building was begun briefly after the turn of the century; one worked inside to the last four towers still into the 70's. The cathedral with its art treasures represents the central starting point for each inspection program, whereby lies the Casa Cultura with its beautiful inner court organization, the museum Gourie and the interesting city park with plants from all world (China to Hawaii), in direct proximity. Other objects of interest are the volcano of Arucas, the garden of the Marquesa, as well as the rum fabric. This „Destileria Arehucas "invites for inspection at the local exit toward Firgas. The distilleries originate from the era of the sugar tubing cultures, which dominated in former times the coastal landscape. On the hundreds of thick-bulgy Oakwood barrels, filled with high-per cent contents, some prominent autograph is to be found (opened Mo-Fr 10.00 -14.30Uhr).

Fataga
Picturesque between the harsh cliffs placed mountain village. Date palms, tropical fruits and vegetable fields create the atmosphere of an oasis.

Galdar
In this place you find the "Cueva Pintada", a cave with polychrome geometrical paintings. The "Arbol Sagrado", an age-old tree equal beside the city hall of the city, was considered to the Guanches as sanctuary.

Guía
In the north of the island. Here is „the Cenobio de Valeron ", a group of caves, which are enclosed by petrified lava. They are considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites of the Canary Islands. Under a powerful basalt elbow a multi-level cave complex is hided; about 300 caves dug into the soft Tuff let the whole look like a honeycomb system. The speculations remain what for the construction served the Old-canarians: The interpretations reach from a granary up to a monastery school for sacred priests (opened: mo-za 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-17.00).

Ingenio
One of the oldest settlements on the Island. The pictorial place lived in former times on the sugar tubing cultivation. Today it is well-known for art-commercial manual work.

Las Palmas
Las Palmas is a cosmopolite, alive and modern city. With its relatively high number of inhabitants it is the largest city of the Canary Islands. There are many objects of interest, by which only some are to be emphasized here: The Vegueta (old part of town) captivates by its classical and colonial architectural style, by magnificent houses with typically canarian balconies and maintained inner courts. In Vegueta you will find, from the cultural and historical point of view, the most important buildings of the city: the cathedral, the city hall, the bishop palace, the Santa Ana place, the literature association... All artistic architectural styles occurring on the Canary Islands are to be seen in Vegueta. The castle „Castillo de la Luz" stands in the Juan Rejon road. It was established in the 16th Century as defence against the attacks of the pirates. Inside different exhibitions take place. „The Parque Santa Catalina "welcomes you with pleasant restaurants, with terraces, artists and dealers. Naturally still the landmark of Las Palmas: „the Playa de Las Canteras ", a yellow sand beach of several kilometres length and with crystal-clear water. The Las Canteras promenade offers cafes, terraces and small shops as well as seats and lanterns.

Maspalomas
The soundful name goes back to a small brackish water lagoon at the exit of a valley, on whose banks a large pigeon colony nested in past. Today there are some luxury hotels at this „Lago de Maspalomas", like the Hotel Palm Beach. Adjacent rises „the Dunas de Maspalomas" meanwhile placed under nature protection. In this oversized sand box, which obtain the impression, being in the Sahara, beautiful walks can be undertaken - a part of the beach are proven as FKK zone.

Playa del Inglés
This pure hotel city is developed on the drawing board including large shopping centres. Main capital of the place is the 3 km long fine sandy "beach of the Englishmen", where nowadays Germans enjoy as well. Dozens of discotheques, music Pubs and play halls find particularly a younger public, which wants to divert preferably at night.

Puerto de Mogán
20 years ago Puerto de Mogan was not even attached to the telephone and road system. In the meantime however the separated fishers spot changed itself to a presenting object of canarian tourism. The pride of the place is a half in the water built holiday settlement with yachting port, Channels and bridges. They create a venetian atmosphere (only the Gondoliers are missing). Wrought-iron verandas decorate the in good taste arranged houses, in the auto-free lanes flower colourful Bougainville.

Puerto Rico
Is after Playa del Ingles/Maspalomas the second largest holiday's place of Gran Canary. "The rich port" represents a retort city par excellence. Over the artificially up-poured were built apartment complexes into the rocky slope, all in all largely enough to accommodate 30.000 holidays' guests. In the high season each square meter is occupied by sun worshippers. Moles protect against the crushers of the Atlantic, which makes the beach particularly attractive for children. Puerto Rico created a name as water-sport centre. Sailors, sport fishers and sea anglers come fully to their expense.

San Bartolomé de Tirajana
The administrative capital of the region Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas lies at the end of a valley exiting to the central massif. Beautifully to be seen are the many fruit trees, which cover the landscape.
A speciality of the place is the Guindillo, a sour cherry liquor.

Tejeda
Is an important traffic junction of the island on nearly 1500 m height with wonderful views. Here you find the Roque Nublo monolith, as well as the Rock Mountains of the eponymous nature park.

Teror
This small town presents itself as the jewel of the north. The closed front of the community centres from that 16th and 17th century shines with beautiful oriels and wood balconies are worth visited. The head restraint-in-paved road heads exactly to the "Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pino". The magnificent church was established in the middle of the 18th century, after 1718 an explosion had destroyed their ancestor up to the tower, because in the vestry was gun powders stored. The statue of the virgin to the Pine, the patron saint of Gran Canary, remained intact and each year on the 8th of September the largest pilgrimage of the island is held in her honour. The church square is every Sunday the scene of a multicoloured weekly market, which attracts thousands of people.

Vega de San Mateo
A typical mountain village in the middle of an agriculturally intensively used region. In a canarian farmhouse a folkloristic private museum „cho Zacarias" is accommodated (opened: mo-za 9.30-13.00). Diagonally opposite the Basilica is the "Casa Museo de los Padrones", where the splendid environment of an aristocracy clan, the Manriques de Lara, is displayed; however the restored canarian manor-house with a wonderful inner court is worth the entrance (opened: mo-za 11.00-18.30, so 10.30-14.00).