Tourism in Gran Canaria

Tourism in Gran Canaria is mainly based around its beaches and water sports. The southern part of the island has developed mostly around these areas along with nightlife, shopping malls and them parks.

The tourist flocking to the south have brought with them great wealth to the area much more than the original banana plantation owners could ever of imagined. The first charter plane to arrive in Gran Canaria was back in 1957 when 54 passengers arrived from Sweden. But this was not followed immediately by a flood of tourists. It was not until late in the sixties that tourism started to shape the island destiny.

The latest tourist figures show that eleven million visitors came to Gran Canaria in one year. The north of the island is more connected still to business and the hosting of conferences and seminars. The cosmopolitan city of Las Palmas is also here and is now home to one of Europe's most important harbour along with its beaches to the north east of the city they still account for a stable income from tourism.

Gran Canaria Water Parks

Aquasur
Aquasur Water Park is one of the perfect places to have a family day out. This is the largest Water Park in Gran Canaria covering a area of 130,000 square meters. The park is located near Maspalomas and is open all year round there are over 33 different water slides to choose from as well as 13 other water attractions. Some of the Parks favourites are the Crazy River, Twister, Congo River, and the Kamikaze.

The Water Park also has a mini golf, self-service restaurants, pizzeria, coffee bars and gift shops. The spring of 2005 saw the opening of two new rides Mamut and Adrenalina. The park is open daily from 10.00 and closes promptly at 18.00 hrs through out the year.

Aqua Park
Puerto Rico is mostly known for its beautiful gentle sloping sandy beaches that are favourites with families. But the aqua park in Puerto Rico has gone through and is still improving its facilities in the park today and is worth a trip with the family. The park is located just behind the commercial centre and just a short walk from the main tourist areas. Aqua Park can boast having the longest and fastest water slide out of all the water parks on the island. The park also has a kindergarten, restaurant and coffee bar the park offers a great alternative to the beach for a fun day. Aqua Park is open everyday from 10.00 till 17.30 hours in the winter and 10.00 till 18.30 in the summer.

Ocean Park
Ocean Park is the smallest Water Park on the south coast of Gran Canaria. It is located only a short distance away from Holiday World in Maspalomas. The park has thirteen different slides to choose from as well as several swimming pools including a large wave pool. Although this park is not as large as its rivals there is still enough for the family to have a great day out. The park is well served by buses to and from the park operating about every 20 minutes. Opening times are from 10.00 till 18.00 are they like everyone to leave promptly as at all the water parks.

Gran Canaria Theme Parks

Holiday World
The Holiday World Park has been through a complete makeover recently. The new park since its reopening has been very popular with tourist and locals with weekends being especially busy.

Holiday world now has a traditional fun fair with Ferris wheel, roller coaster, laser dome, shooting stalls and many more child attractions. The park also incorporates a leisure centre with a bowling alley, amusement arcades, and health centre. The park operates two major nightclubs one that is a salsa club that is very popular at weekends with everyone. Holiday world is open to the public from 18.00 till 24.00 for fun rides and the disco stays open till the early morning.

Sioux City
This is a Wild West re creation theme park with gunfights, sheriffs, and can can girls. Sioux City allows you to ride back in time and meet Indian warriors like White Herb or Gunfighters such as Doc Holiday. You even get the chance to be caught up in bank robbery shoot out. Sioux City covers a area of 320,000 square metres and is based around the construction of a real wild west town. There are plenty of attractions during the day such as Duel until death, bank robbery, saloon fight, Indian rain dance and Mexican acrobats. The park also incorporates a small Zoo for the children to see. Sioux City is open from 10.00 till 17.00 throughout the year but is not open on Mondays.

Palmitos Park
This is Gran Canaria's most popular family attraction the subtropical park with its collection of more than 200 birds is a major reason. There are many must see displays at the park the birds of prey show are very popular with adult's and children alike. With eagles, owls and a assortment of falcons swooping in over the audiences head in a spectacular show.

The parrot show is another attraction not to be missed. Here you can see a wide range of parrots performing a variety of amazing tricks such as riding bicycles, painting, and even counting to ten.

Other than bird shows you could visit the orchid house were you could see the biggest collection of orchids in the whole of the Canary Islands. Cactus can be seen all over Gran Canaria and in the Palmitos Park they have a fine collection of outstanding cacti species for you to see.

The butterfly house is the biggest in Europe with hundreds of exotic species all flying and breading freely. The Aquarium features a wide range of tropical fish as well as the largest collection of coral fish in Europe. Palmitos park has more than 1,000 palm trees and over 15,000 plants within its grounds that give this park a truly tropical feeling. The park is open to the public from 09.300 till 18.00 every day and a visit is strongly recommended if you are planning a trip to Gran Canaria.