Anden Verde
The Anden Verde, or ‘Green Platform’, is a winding road, which is cut deep into the Islands Northwest coast. Along this road there is a small car park, where there is a lookout point. It is a dramatic point that overlooks the southwest cliffs. Well worth a visit.
Barranco de Guayadeque
The Barranco de Guayadeque used to be a green and fertile land, and the aboriginal people made caves in this land of abundance. These days, house caves, burial caves and animal shelters can still be found, dotted over the landscape. The area around Barranco de Guayadeque is now a designated nature reserve, and many species of flora and fauna are to be found.
Casa de Colon
The Casa de Colon used to be the Governors Residence, but it now houses an exhibition that denotes the age of exploration. The Casa de Colon was built in 1478, just after Juan Rejon founded the city of Las Palmas. It has been restored and refurbished several times over the centuries, but all of these changes add character to the building.
Cenobio de Valeron
The Cenobio de Valeron is a network of approximately 300 caves, and is one of the best, if not the most important, archaeological sites in Spain. Although it is no longer possible to access much of the complex, due to the safety aspects and the preservation works, it is still worth a visit, just to see how inhabitants lived in the Stone Age.
Dunas de Maspalomas
The Dunes of Maspalomas cover over 328 hectares, and reach 10m in height in some places. The dunes are made of crushed seashells and are classed as a place of outstanding beauty, looking somewhat like the Sahara Desert at times.
Jardin Botanico Canario
The Botanical Gardens in the Guiniguarda Barranco are jam-packed with Gran Canarian flora. The gardens were opened in 1952, and offer visitors the chance to see many species of endemic plants. The Cactus Gardens house some of the planets most rarest Cacti in the world.
Playa de las Canteras
The Playa de las Canteras beach is in Las Palmas. This beach stretches for 3km, flanked by the beautiful warm, shallow sea one side, and hotels, shops and businesses on the other. It is a busy beach and attracts many tourists during the summer months. The weather is a little cooler at this side of the island, and many local people prefer to relax here.
Puerto de Mogan
Puerto de Morgan is a resort in the Southwest of the island, and was once referred to as ‘Little Venice’. With its low-rise buildings, it still retains the atmosphere of a small fishing village. Back in the 1980’s, prettily painted apartments were built to accommodate the tourists, streets were pedestrianised and bridges were built over canals, hence the Venetian link.
Teror
Known as the spiritual heart of the island, Teror is a beautiful well-preserved town. Teror boasts the Cathedral of Our Lady, where, according to legend, the Virgin appeared to the first Bishop of Gran Canaria, Juan Frias, back in 1492. Teror is used as a place of pilgrimage for the locals, at any time of the year, but more so during September, when the Fiesta of the Saint is held there on September the 8th
Vegueta
Vegueta is the oldest part of Las Palmas and holds most of the history of the Gran Canaries. Vegueta boasts the Cathedral of Santa Ana, and it was near to here that Christopher Columbus stayed. The Vegueta has many small ‘squares’ or plazas, and these are lined with traditionally decorated mansions.
