Hotels in North Gran Canaria

North Gran Canaria

North Gran Canaria takes in the capital and the green northern and north-western coast, from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria through Arucas, Firgas, Moya, Santa María de Guía and Gáldar to Agaete and La Aldea de San Nicolás. The trade winds bring more cloud and rain here than in the south, which explains the banana plantations, remnants of laurel forest such as Los Tilos de Moya and the island's greenest valleys. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the main base, with the historic Vegueta and Triana quarters, the Casa de Colón and Las Canteras, a city beach of about three kilometres sheltered by a reef. Arucas is known for its neo-Gothic church of San Juan Bautista and the Arehucas rum distillery founded in 1884, while Firgas, the "Villa del Agua", is famous for its mineral water and tiled cascade. Gáldar was the seat of the aboriginal kings and today houses the Cueva Pintada museum and archaeological park, and neighbouring Santa María de Guía produces the protected Flor de Guía cheese. Agaete combines the harbour of Puerto de las Nieves, the natural rock pools of Las Salinas and the coffee plantations of the Valle de Agaete, the only coffee grown in Europe. From Puerto de las Nieves, ferries cross to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in about 80 minutes. On the west coast, La Aldea de San Nicolás is a farming valley bordered by the Tamadaba, Inagua and Güigüí nature reserves. The GC-2 motorway follows the north coast for about 35 km from Las Palmas to Agaete, and new tunnels on the GC-200 are shortening the road onwards to La Aldea. The north suits travellers who prefer city life, culture, local food and hiking to beach resorts, with city hotels, rural houses and small coastal hotels to choose from.