car hire Las Palmas

The capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is located about 200 kilometres off the northwestern shores of Africa. On his way to America in 1492, Christopher Columbus visited Las Palmas shortly after its founding in 1478. The opening of the Puerto de la Luz port in the 19th century brought formidable expansion to the city, in terms of both inhabitants and visitors. Las Palmas now enjoys a cosmopolitan reputation, thanks to the diverse activity around the harbour and the boom in international tourism. African, Chinese, Russian, and Middle Eastern merchants and traders all frequent the port, and Las Palmas is home to large Indian and Korean communities.

Playa de las Alcaravaneras and Playa de las Canteras are the elite beaches in Las Palmas. Attracting more of a local crowd than the resort-heavy Playa de las Canteras, Playa de las Alcaravaneras is a beach of golden sand stretching for 1000 metres. It’s also flanked by two sailing clubs, so it’s usually a prime spot for yacht-watching.

If you’re seeking warmer climes, you can take a short rental car drive to the south of Gran Canaria, which is generally the sunniest and warmest spot on the island. The Maspalomas region is home to many resorts, and the Dunes of Maspalomas, sitting Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, is a cool site to check out on holiday. Playa del Inglés is a popular destination for gay travellers.

Many big annual festivals take place in Las Palmas. The Fiestas de San Juan (City Festival), which celebrates the founding of the city, is always a crowd-pleaser, hosting high-profile music stars. Held in February, the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is an internationally renowned, raucous event. Also popular are Las Palmas’s International Film Festival at the end of March, and the Theater and Dance Festival held in the summer months.

Gando International Airport, or Gran Canaria International Airport, is a convenient, hassle-free airport for picking up your hired car, and located 18 kilometres from the centre of Las Palmas.