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Water Parks

AQUALAND MASPALOMAS is the largest water park in the Canary Islands. The park is located at a tropical oasis in the south of the island, not far from Maspalomas. The park is open all year round thanks to the constant balmy temperature of the island. In an area of 90,000 m2, the park includes 13 attractions and 33 water slides. The star attraction is the Tornado.
http://www.aqualand.es/grancanaria/

Palmitos Park

PALMITOS PARK is a subtropical oasis located only 10 km away from Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés in Southern Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). Its botanical and zoological gardens, featuring thousands of palm trees and plants and hundreds of exotic birds, tens of mammals, thousands of fishes and reptiles; are second to none the world over. Its bird exhibitions and large number of combined attractions, including the aquarium, the new interactive enclosure and the Primates Island, are a unique experience.
150 bird species! 1000 palm trees! 15000 plants!
http://www.palmitospark.es/palmitos/

Sand Dunes of Maspalomas

Maspalomas is the oldest tourist town in the south coast of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. Maspalomas is part of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.

These beautiful dunes are a must on any visit.
There is a 68 m tall lighthouse El Faro de las Palomas at the southern point from where the 12-km long beach and dunes, a nature reserve since 1897, lead to Playa del Inglés.

Gran Canaria Beaches

Most resorts are centred around the beaches of Gran Canaria. These offer a range of complexes, nightlife, shopping and eating out places. For further a field remote beaches… hire that jeep and get out and explore.

The beaches of Maspalomas are second to none, and offer endless expanses of white sand and sparkling seas.

With the celebrated Playa del Ingles offering a surfing, para-sailing, and scuba diving paradise, and the wild, windswept dunes behind the beach an awesome stretch of stark beauty. The quiet pristine sands of Playa de Maspalomas offer peaceful retreat from the bustling crowds, as well as the rocky Playa de la Mujer, and Playa de la Meloneras. The Playa de las Alcaravaneras is 1000 metres of golden sand bordering the harbour area of Las Palmas, and is popular with the locals.

Get Out and Explore:

Both Hertz and Avis have an online reservation system where you can check their current rates, availability and book a car online. Around the resort of Puerto Rico & Maspalomas there are about twenty different car hire companies to choose from and double that and more in Playa del Ingles.

Of course you'll need your driving licence if you want to hire a car, along with your passport. Most companies require the driver to be 21 years old or more with a clean license and at least one years driving experience. If the police stop you and you haven't got your passport you'll receive an on-the-spot fine of €400! So don't forget to keep that with you wherever you go in the car. All driving licences are valid here, European or not.

There's often a "hidden extra" charge called SCWD or "Super Collision Waiver Damage" so make sure the insurance you have covers absolutely everything.

Parking anywhere around the resorts is easy to find and often free. If you want to park in the very center of a resort you'll probably find blue lines/markings which means "pay and display" so look for the ticket machine.

The motorway ("GC1") on the east side of the island will take you easily and quickly to Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Las Palmas and the airport. It has also been extended to cover the north coast of the island. The roads on the west side and those through the centre of the island are minor roads, narrow and windy in parts, so plan longer journey times there. These are also the most scenic routes around the island. Highly recommended is a drive into the mountains towards the village of Tejeda and its national park. Located on Gran Canaria's highest mountain, Cruz de Tejeda (2,000m) The best route into or from the mountains is either from the west, passing through the town of Mogán and from the south where you join the road to San Bartolome de Tirajana at Maspalomas.

Be careful if you plan on driving through the mountains in early March, as this is when the world championship motor rally event is held. If you don't find life dangerous on the roads at this time, you'll certainly find it busy! Ask for further details, maps and advice when hiring your car.

There really is a lot to see all around the island. Small as it is, the roads can be narrow and windy so it can take a good 3 days of day-trips to see all of the island, though I highly recommend it. Car hire can often work out to be a much better alternative to seing the island than the holiday "excursions" you are offered by your holidays rep. As well as working out less expensive, you're free to stop off where you want, when you want and for as long as you want.

Note - Getting here from the airport is pretty easy if your car hire starts up there. Leave the airport following the blue signs the say "Sur" (south). This brings you on to the GC1 motorway.

San Agustin (first) Playa del Ingles (second) and Maspalomas (third) & Puerto Rico (fourth) have clear exits marked.

Recommended day trips by car

Firgas

Firgas is famed locally for it's natural mineral water. Nearby is the "Azuaje Ravine", the waters of which are believed to have curable properties and many other natural springs in this area have brought about the construction of the islands main bottling plant for mineral water.

Aguimes

ion 17,500) San Sebastian Church in Aguimes houses various works of art including paintings and sculptures and is one of the most well maintained structures of worship on the island, having being completed in 1952 (construction began in the late 18th century!), and the designs are based on the Cathedral of Las Palmas. Located not far from the caves of Guayadeque and adjacent to "Barranco de Balos". It's at this barranco (valley) that you can find the sacred Guanche site called "Lomo de los Leteros". The Basalt slope there is inscribed with pre-hispanic, geometric designs and sketches of human figures.

 
(Puerto Rico (motorway) - Telde - Valsequillo - San Mateo - Teror - Firgas - Arucas then back via motorway to Las Palmas & Puerto Rico)

Puerto Rico - Mogan Village - San Nicolas de Tolentino - Agaete - Galdar - Guia - Firgas (then back via motorway to Las Palmas & Puerto Rico)

Travelling to Tejeda (a "must") in the centre/mountains takes a full day whichever route you take! Try and include Artenara and/or Pinos de Galdar.

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