Home to verdant forests, looming mountains, white-sand beaches and sand-dune fields, Gran Canaria – the third largest of Spain’s Canary Islands – has deservedly earned its reputation as a ‘continent in miniature’. And with year-round sunshine and over 80 beaches along its coastline, it’s no wonder that Agatha Christie once said it is ‘the ideal place to spend the winter’.
Diverse landscapes and warm weather aside, Gran Canaria also holds its own for charming villages and cultural festivals. Puerto de Mogán is a picturesque port and fishing village on the southwest coast where houses feature rooftop terraces bursting with bougainvillea and birds-of-paradise flowers and a network of canals and bridges have led it to be called ‘Little
Venice’. Each year carnival is celebrated across the island with a wide calendar of events culminating in a drag queen gala, fireworks and a main parade.