Gran Canaria, Spain
The Canaries wouldn’t have been my first-choice holiday destination this year. Not because it’s not a stunning place to visit, but because it’s less than a year since we were last there. It’s also a place I’ve visited many times before. That said, a family invite with the chance to see our granddaughter on her first overseas holiday swayed our thinking.
Observations:
Two things stood out for me in Gran Canaria. Firstly, its unexpected Natural sand dunes, but also the island’s Picturesque towns:
1 – Natural sand dunes
My first observation of the island was the Maspalomas Dunes. A thousand-acre site which has been protected as a nature reserve since 1987.
Part of the wonder of these dunes is that they’re located in the most unexpected part of the globe. The backdrop of a rugged, anthracitic, volcanic landscape couldn’t be further from soft, golden sandy dunes. There’s a rich geological story to how these dunes ended up on a Canary Island – quite fascinating to learn that they’re the sole work of mother nature herself.
We spent a good hour walking across the dunes – during which I could have been mistaken for thinking I was striding across the Sahara desert in search of an oasis. It was warm, hazy and open to the elements – a pleasurable and stimulating jaunt nonetheless.
2 – Picturesque towns
Although we often think of the Canaries as newly inhabited islands, there’s actually more history lurking off the beaten track than you’d think.
During our stay we hired a car and set out on a day trip to visit the less commercialised side of the island and descended on a small town called Teror. The main street reminded us of a typical town in the Wild West. With the coloured facades, wooden shuttered doors and protruding balconies, we were braced for a potential shootout like the American frontier!
Ratings of our stay:
I’ve rated aspects of our stay and places we visited below.
Abora Interclub Atlantic Hotel
Arrival: We arrived at Abora Interclub Atlantic Hotel around round 10pm and was gutted that the restaurant had just closed. We were offered snacks from their ’24/7′ serving hatch, but a quick glance at the stagnant looking grub on offer was enough for us to realise we’d be heading to bed hungry!
There was a definite sense that this hotel was built for young families. Quite a novelty for us and one that made us feel a bit uneasy as we generally search for peace and quiet when we go away!
Complex: The hotel grounds were vast, with pools, park areas and things to do for little ones. The complex was broadly clean and suffice for our needs.
Pools: The hotel has three pools, a very large main pool for everyone, a small pool for tots and a private pool for adults who had upgraded – something we were glad to have done when we dropped our eyes on it.
Room: We opted for a deluxe room which was adequate for our needs, the view wasn’t fantastic overlooking the dining room roof but it was clean and comfortable.
Restaurants: The hotel’s main restaurant was large and felt more like a canteen. The food was adequate, although certainly nothing to write home about.
(Overall rating 80/100)
Stroll along San Agustin beach
The hotel is located approximately 50m above sea level, so to get to the beach there are two options – either a long 3km walk, snaking down the streets or a steep but snappy descent by steps to the beachfront. We tried both options and found the latter worked best for us. It’s a bit trickier to get to with a pushchair particularly on the return journey having to lift a pushchair up the many steps. But either method gets the heart racing so offers a good workout to start the day.
San Agustin beach was both rocky and sandy. We paddled in the sea and walked up towards an old military building made of volcanic rocks that was probably used as a lookout in times gone by. On a windy day the seafront can become hazardous as small grains of sharp sand are picked up by the gusts and lashed against your skin. Ultra exfoliation treatment!
Maspalomas
The hotel offers a free, daily bus trip to Maspalomas and back, and is worth taking advantage of. Maspalomas is a classier side of the island with an abundance of hi-spec hotels and shops overlooking the sea. We spent a few hours walking along the wide promenade, stopping off at a couple of bars and a nice restaurant to really take-in the views and appreciate this part of the island.
Maspalomas also hosts a working lighthouse which has been converted to a museum. Built in 1890, the 55m high structure is an iconic symbol of the town and popular tourist attraction.
(Overall rating 83/100)
Pico de las Nieves and Roque Nublo
Pico de las Nieves
We couldn’t wait to explore, so on day four we hired a car and headed to the highest point on the island, Pico de las Nieves. The ascent to the viewing deck was a thrill in itself – snaking up a very thin, winding road on the cliff edges in misty conditions needs high levels of concentration!
Once up there, the view is breathtaking and well worth the trip. We had a 360° view of the entire
Roque Nublo
We spotted Roque Nublo from Pico de las Nieves (80m rock, 1800m above sea level Monolithic volcanic, often said to be the symbol of Gran Canaria – it’s the third largest rock in the world.
(Overall rating 89/100)
Other observations:
Miscellaneous experiences or things that caught our attention.
Family time
This holiday was special as it was Len’s first and I got to see her paddling in the sea for the first time.
Summary:
Our week in Gran Canaria gave us a stack of those sentimental memories that last a lifetime. Being with our first grandchild on her first holiday abroad was special and unforgettable. Although we’re unlikely to return to Gran Canaria, we wouldn’t have missed this trip for the world. (Overall Holiday Rating 91/100)
Return to Home Page
Date of visit: 27 June 2022 to 2 July 2022