When going to the Canary Islands, where you decide to stay depends on how you feel about the weather.
No not the chilly blast of late-February in Britain, but the weather on the islands – particularly across an island. On the two largest islands, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the north-easterly trade winds coupled with the mountainous interior mean that southern resorts like Playa de las Americas and Maspalomas are usually slightly warmer and less windy than northern towns like Puerto de la Cruz and Las Palmas. There you go, winter sunseeker, time to take off those gloves and let your fingers do the booking.
But of course, life is never that simple. Because where you will base yourself for those precious days or weeks away will also depend on how you feel about the resort itself. On Gran Canaria, the warmer south offers sun, sand (lots of it in the sand dunes of Maspalomas), sea and of course, err,…Playa dos Ingles, party magnet for thirsty kids from across Northern Europe with youthful mischief in mind.
That’s perfectly fine. But if you would like a bit more history and authenticity – sorry, any history and authenticity, unless you’re researching the boom in Spanish tourism in the 60s and 70s – dig out that extra layer and come north. Las Palmas is not only the largest city on Gran Canaria, it’s one of the largest in the whole Spanish nation, a vibrant, living cosmopolis that includes a beautiful old town alongside all you’d expect of a great city. In other words, rather more material to blog about.
Of course I hope to see more of this fascinating island than just Las Palmas and I’m hoping to share as much of it with you as possible. But next up, we’ll introduce the big city. So wrap up… actually, don’t overdo it – even up here in the north it’s mild and spring-like in February.
orwellianTwo 