Gran Canaria is the third largest of the seven Canary Islands, located at the gateway to West Africa and surrounded by the deep blue waters of the Atlantic. A miniature continent with many different climates and landscapes set within a relatively confined space.

Las Palmas is the capital of the island and metropolis of the Canary archipelago, a city situated within a peaceful rural island.

In 1492, on his first journey to the New World, Christopher Columbus landed in Las Palmas and spent a night in the residence of the Spanish military governor, which was subsequently named after the famous explorer, the Casa De Colon.

Arucas is a small town in the north whose former wealth was created by banana and sugar cane plantations and is known for its rum distillery that originated in 1884. It contained the Canary Islands’ first large, steam-powered sugar factory and is now one of Europe’s most important rum distilleries.

In the extreme south of the island are the Dunas De Maspalomas, a gigantic dune area that stretches for several miles, plus the freshwater La Charca Oasis which in 1987 was designated as a conservation area.

The indigenous people of the Canaries lived at various levels in the mysterious Cenobio De Valeron, nearly three hundred caves that lie beneath a natural basalt archway and located in soft volcanic tuff rock.

Fascinating nature, island culture and a rich colonial past have made Gran Canaria into a sunny paradise with many fascinating and colourful faces.