Gran Canaria is the "Miniature Continent" because of the variety of its changing climate and landscapes.

In fact it's a Holiday Island with many differences.

At its centre there is a mountainous region with an Alpine climate on the higher slopes. The North West is much greener whilst the South is desert-like the famous Sand Dunes of Masapolmas are here.

Mountains and cliffs hug the Western Coast whilst the East Side is a lot flatter and warmer. It's here you'll find the majority of tourists resorts all the way north to the capital Las Palmas, where almost half the population live.

Christopher Columbus first stopped here on his way back from The Americas so visit the Hermitage of San Antonio Abad where he prayed.

The Island is a rather special place as far as UNESCO is concerned because it has put nearly a third of it under its protection as a biosphere reserve. This ensures, that over 33 of Gran Canaria's natural beauty spots, including the Parque Rural del Nubio, the pine forest of Pinar de Tamadaba and the fabulous Las Dunas de Masapalomas are all safe from erosion at the hands of unscrupulous developers.