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GRAN CANARIA Province

There are many reasons to choose Gran Canaria as your holiday destination, at any time of year. Its privileged climate and beaches are just a few of them. On this island you will also find extraordinary natural heritage and a wonderful setting for water sports.

The variety of landscapes on Gran Canaria is stunning. There is an incredible choice on its 236 kilometres of coast. From the peaceful coves of the south of the island to more popular tourist areas such as Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and San Bartolomé de Tirajana, home to the famous Playa del Inglés beach, along with unique spots like Maspalomas beach with its dunes and the broad, untouched sands of Güi-Güi.

Gran Canaria is a great option for lovers of water sports. There is a host of possibilities: scuba diving, surfing, sailing and, of course, windsurfing - the island is considered one of the best places in the world for this sport. In fact, it often hosts major international windsurfing competitions.

Gran Canaria's natural surroundings are another of its attractions. 46 percent of its surface area has the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation.

There is a broad network of tracks and trails to be found on the island. You can explore the different nature reserves on foot or by bike, and even see whales and dolphins in their natural habitat - these animals can often be found in waters off the south of the island.

Access to the island by air and sea is via the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (the airport is just 18 kilometres from the city). A good way to explore the island is to hire a car - the maximum distance between any two points is only 47.5 kilometres.

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The Canary Islands - Canaries, Spain:
Tenerife - Gran Canaria - La Palma
Fuerteventura - Lanzarote - La Gomera - El Hierro

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Gran Canaria, Biosphere Reserve. A miniature continent

The Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve was designated by UNESCO in 2005. It takes in 46 percent of island's surface area, as well as an extensive marine area off the southwest coast.

Gran Canaria's huge diversity of landscapes is the reason why it has come to be known as the "miniature continent": from canyons and mountainous peaks, to beaches, forests and cliffs. Almost half of the island's 1,560 square kilometres fall within the Biosphere Reserve area in the southwest of the island.

It includes: the municipalities of Aldea de San Nicolás, Artenara and Tejeda; all the territory of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Agaete and Mogán, located at more than 300 metres above sea level; the marine area and a small part of the San Mateo Plain, in the centre of the island, which also falls within the El Nublo Nature Reserve.

The area takes in nature reserves such as Inagua, Tamadaba and Pilancones, along with the huge Tejada Basin depression. Its mountains provide a water catchment area that drains into canyons and cultivated valleys, running down to the coast.

In general terms, there are three different types of ecosystem: one is arid and semi-arid, with vegetation of spurges; another is sub-humid, where mention should be made of forests of Canary Island pine (a species unique to this area); the third is transitional humid, with fayal-brezal (fir and heath) vegetation and vestiges of laurisilva forest. There is also great biodiversity on the coast, with loggerhead turtles and cetaceans such as bottlenose and Risso's dolphins.