The Port of Mogan – The Venice of Gran Canaria.
A small, quiet resort 20 minutes drive (14 kms) from Puerto Rico. The harbour area is surrounded by a complex of picturesque apartments adorned with flowers, and streets that are separated by miniature canals and bridges that give this quaint resort its distinguishing charm.

The Port of Mogan, from which local commercial fishing boats sail and land their catch, is a beautiful place and easily accessible from all our properties. You can use the local bus services or take a ferry from the harbour in Puerto Rico.

Mogan, the port, is a fishing village and many of the local restaurants that line the harbour front have fresh locally caught fish on the menu. Mogan is worth a visit even if you only browse around the extensive street market that is held on Friday mornings. You can shop for bargains and take some excellent holiday photographs all at the same time. There is a Yellow Submarine underwater experience which sails from the port area almost every hour. This is a genuine submarine and it descends several metres to allow passengers to observe underwater life and a ship-wreck. A complimentary bus service connects to a number of places in the south of the island.On a clear day, the snow-capped mountain of Teide on the island of Tenerife is clearly visible.
Beyond the town of Mogan on the road to San Nicholas, there is a large cactus park worth viewing.

Amadores Beach (Playa de Amadores)
This beautiful beach has been created within the last 4 years. It is very well designed with the extensive use of flowers and flowering shrubs. The beach has easy access and ample parking.

The toilet / changing facilities are of a high standard and the whole area is very well maintained.

Fronting the beach are a wide range of restaurants and bars to suit most tastes, along with a variety of local shops, small supermarket, etc.

The sea is clean and suitable for all ages.

Playa de Amadores is around 1 km walk, along the recently completed costal walkway, from Puerto Rico Harbour. Tauro valley is a 1.3km walk from the Amadores beach.

The Dunes of Maspalomas (Las Dunas de Maspalomas)
These dunes cover an area of 328 hectares and are a protected nature reserve. In appearance, they are almost an extension to the Sahara desert but without the sandstorms or rapidly moving sands and are an important ecological area of natural beauty with picturesque rising hillocks of up to 33 feet in height. The sand is unlike the quartz grains found in the Sahara but is composed of finely ground down shells of sea creatures. The dunes are expanding by around 1 metre a year in the direction of the Maspalomas lighthouse. At certain times of the day, camel safaris can be seen crossing the dunes.

Adjacent to the dunes is a large freshwater lake with a tidal influence (La Charca de Maspalomas) and a palm grove. The lake is being increasing used by migratory birds and more than 20 different varieties have been observed feeding in lake area.

The western bank of the Charca is home to some of the larger specimens of Canarian lizards. These are quite tame and are easily observed or photographed.

Mundo Aborigen
This open air museum or archaeological park is set in over 100,000 sq.mts. It is located 6 kms from Playa del Inglés on the road to the attractive village of Fataga.

A Guanche stone-age village has been created to demonstrate how life was lived, on the island, before the arrival of the Spanish in the 15th century. All the exhibits are described in English, among other languages. There are occasional shows to demonstrate the accomplishments of the Guanche nation, before they were almost wiped out by the Spanish soldiers and their accompanying European diseases in the 15th century. Many of the Guanche artefacts are to be found in the Museo Canario in Las Palmas city.

Directions to reach there are as follows: take the GC1 in the direction of the airport, take the exit signposted Maspalomas. Come down the slip road and stay on the right hand side, take the slip road going off signposted to San Fernando. Join the main road, and you then come to an elongated roundabout with the site of the Wednesday market on the right. Go all the way around this roundabout to head back in the direction you came. Go straight on across 4 roundabouts and at the 5th which has large cactuses on it you will see Fataga signposted to the left. Turn left and continue on this road until you come to Mundo Aborigen on the left hand side.

A little further along the road to Fataga is the Camel Safari Park where visitors can book camel rides.

The Barranco de Guayadeque
It is one of the most attractive and impressive scenic areas of Gran Canaria. This enchanting canyon like valley runs for several kilometres starting beyond Agüimes, which is a few kilometres southwest of the airport. Much of the Barranco de Guayadeque has been classified as a nature reserve. Some of the islands rarest plants, including over 80 endemic species of flora, are to be found there.

In previous times, the Barranco de Guayadeque was the home to the largest Guanche population and many of the homes/caves lining the Barranco are still being used today especially near the top of the valley. Today, the indigenous population of the valley is probably around 60 people The Tagoror restaurant is a series of caves and is also located near the top of the valley and is widely used by the local people because the quality of the Canarian food is excellent and inexpensive. We recommend you visit the valley on weekdays, as weekends tend to be rather crowded with the local Canarian people enjoying the valley or having picnics with their families or visiting the restaurants for lunch.

As you drive up the valley, many interesting features are to be seen and found: - Cave houses, a cave church, cave stores, numerous cafes/restaurants, and many other points of interest.

Visiting the Guayadeque Valley, which is only 28 kms northeast of Playa del Inglés and possibly having lunch at the renowned Central restaurant or one of the others in the valley makes a very interesting day out.

The City of Las Palmas
Las Palmas, which is the 7th largest city of Spain, is 80 kms from the south of the island. Driving time is around 1 hour from Puerto Rico, mainly along the GC1 motorway.

The historical part of Las Palmas (The Vegueta district) has much to offer in terms of heritage with fine museums and historical places to visit. The Christopher Columbus house (Casa de Colon) is probably one of the most popular because of his association with the house before he set sail to discover the Americas. The house has been turned into a museum (Casa Museo de Colon) to commemorate his achievements and contains many exhibits dealing with the four journeys he made to the New World. There are 12 exhibition rooms in the museum of which 4 are devoted exclusively to Christopher Columbus.
The city also boasts a fine Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Ana), which is behind the Casa de Colon. The Museo Canario is also located in the same area and is the finest museum in the archipelago.

By far the easiest way to travel to the city and explore the many sites is to take the Express No.091 direct hourly bus service from the south - €5 each way. A journey time of exactly 1 hour and then a taxi (€3) for the short ride to the centre of the historical area. The start of the Vegueta district is only around 15 minutes walk from the bus station. It is almost an extension of Triana.

Triana pedestrian shopping street is also within a few minutes walking distance of the bus station and has many interesting shops, restaurants, and stores to choose any gifts or mementoes you would like to purchase. Triana, which has been a shopping area for over 50 years, is widely used by the people of Las Palmas and is a popular meeting place with old and young alike.
Overall, Las Palmas makes an interesting change to the south of the island and is well worth a full day’s trip to explore the numerous historical sites and shops. The city also has a very good concert orchestra and boasts an excellent new concert hall.
The above places of interest are just a small sample of what is available to be experienced and enjoyed on the Island of Gran Canaria. A “continent in miniature” is certainly a suitable way of describing this beautiful Island in the Sun.

Water Park, Puerto Rico

This water park is easily accessed from Tauro, you proceed back to the motorway and head in the direction of the airport, at the first roundabout turn right and go through the tunnel towards Puerto Rico. At the next roundabout turn right again in the direction of Puerto Rico. Past the petrol station on the left, and you will see Greek type columns on your right hand side. The entrance to the car park is besides these, the car park is free. Prices for entrance are €21.50 for adults and €15.50 for children. There are additional charges to pay for lockers, sunbeds and umbrellas as well, but the food and drinks are reasonably priced once inside. You are allowed to take your own food and drink into the park as well if you wish. This is suitable for children of all ages, as well as adults with a variety of slides and pools, including an area of slides and pool for the youngest of children. On a Tuesday evening there is also an Arabian Show which includes a sumptuous dinner as well, adults and older children only. This water park is the quieter of the two water parks, and there are few queues if any even in the summer.

Water Park (Aqualand) Maspalomas

Price Adults €24 and children €17. Aqualand has an amazing thirty three different slides that will keep even the fittest gasping for breath between rides. Definitely one of the most popular and most unusual is the Tornado ride; with its huge curves and a funnel exit, it has been compared to the experience of being flushed down a toilet! It can be found to the north of Maspalomas, and driving directions are as follows:

Sioux City

Price Adults €18 Children €12. This theme park is made up as a real Wild West town, with saloon, restaurant, jail etc. It is fun to walk around, and even better to enjoy the shows, when they re-enact a wild west shoot out between the robbers stealing from a safe, and getting caught by the sherrif. There is also a display of bareback horseriding as well. Food and drink available in the restaurant on site at reasonable prices, plus the inevitable gift shop with cap guns (make bangs) etc for cowboy and Indian games back home.

 Cocodrilo Parque (Crocodile Park)

The Parque de los Cocodrilos, Gran Canaria’s only zoological park, was opened to the public in 1988. Before that it was privately run by the Balser family, people who had capably restored to health many crocodiles, chimpanzees, monkeys and birds that had been previously abused.  Today Cocodrilo Park, in Villa de Aguimes, has more than 300 crocodiles, an aquarium with tropical fish, a spider house with tarantulas and a parrot house, too.  The crocodiles are the main attraction here, there is an exhibition illustrating their development from eggs to adults.  The species hail from Florida, the Nile, and many other locales.  The best time to view them is during the feeding times, noon, 2pm, because they are at their most active.  The other show offered is the parrot show that takes place at 11am, 1pm, 3pm. Some other exotic animals that are popular are the Bengal tigers, jaguars, camels, and the pygmy goats.

Cactus Park

A very popular tourist attraction near Tocodomán in San Nicolás de Tolentino is Cactualdea, a cactus park with 1200 different types of cacti of all different shapes and sizes.  The cacti have been brought in from all over the world, as Mexico, Madagascar, Guatemala and Bolivia. The thousands of cacti are growing intermingled with palm trees, dragon trees and aloe plants.  The plants are spread over a 15,000 square meter property. There is also a model Guanche Cave here is great fun to explore and a restaurant that offers typical Canarian foods.  Another interesting site to see here is a large amphitheatre that was once used for Canarian wrestling matches.  Other events that take place in the amphitheatre are people telling folklore, milking animals, and a few local Canarian games. A wine cellar that has over 250 types of local wines to be sampled is quite popular with the adult visitors to Cactualdea.  There is a greenhouse where you can buy many types of cactus plants, all of which meet the sanitary requirements allowing them to be transported to other countries.  If a visit here is something you are interested the opening hours are from 10am to 6pm everyday.

Reptilandia Park

Reptilandia Park, located in Galdár, has over 150 different species of reptiles in outdoor terrariums, as well as three indoor exhibition rooms. They are open from 11am to 5:30pm everyday except for Christmas and New Years.  Some of the animals that can be found her include snakes, lizards, frogs, iguanas, tortoises, turtles, crocodiles and alligators. There are also some tarantulas and scorpions, plus monkeys, lemurs and parrots. Some of the smallest and most endangered monkeys in the world can be found here. The two main attractions are a 7 meter long Chinese python and a Komodo dragon, the largest type of lizard in the world.  The Komodo dragon can reach weights of up to 100kg, and Reptilandia Park is the only place in Spain that this species can be seen.  You can watch the Komodo dragon and the snakes being fed at 3pm every afternoon. 

Palmitos Park

Palmitos Park is back, complete with renovations and new installations and an ambitious project ahead. Species from every continent, the most exotic flora and the most spectacular shows in unique surroundings await you in this Gran Canaria icon. Discover now the new Palmitos Park! The birds of prey and parrot shows are back, primates, reptiles and exotic birds, the most attractive flora and the sensation of being somewhere magical, the exhibitions during the day are birds of prey, parrot show and flight of exotic birds.

Gates open: From 10 am to 6 pm (admission until 5pm). 

Exhibitions (daily):

• Parrots: 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30 hours
• Birds of Prey: 12:00 and 14:00 hours
• Exotic Birds: 13:00 and 15:00 hours

Price: Adults: €22,00, Children (3 to 12): €16,50, Children under 3: no charge