The most populated and visited island among the Canaries is Gran Canaria

"K2T Wisata"

The most populated and visited island among the Canaries is Gran Canaria, mainly due to its breathtaking and incredibly diverse landscape. Naturalists head for the Parque Rural del Nublo on the flanks of Pico de las Nieves, to track down the largest number – and amazing variety – of endemic species in the archipelago. However, the biggest card id the seemingly endless beach – in fact about 17 km long – of Maspalomas on the south coast.

Shared by four resorts, Maspalomas’ natural highlights is a spectacular protected area of undulating sand dunes dotted with oases of palm trees. These dunes are home to many rare palnt species – as well as nudists enjoying the idyllic seclusion – and can only be crossed on foot or by camel, an enlightened measure.

Las Palmas, the sprawling capital and port, dates back to 1748 and its old quarter of Vegueta reverberates with the memories of four stopovers by Christopher Columbus en route to the Americas. The Casa de Colon (in the governor’s palace where he stayed in 1502) outlines the great navigator’s expeditions. Yet Las Palmas is as feisty, dynamic and forward-looking as Santa Cruz, impressively straddling the Guiniguada ravine and the Isleta peninsula for 10 km, with a buzzing city beach. Like Santa Cruz, Las Palmas too has a museum, which pays homage to the archipelago’s indigenous inhabitants, the Guanches, who were still in the Stone Age when the Spaniards arrived. Little is known of their origins and primitive other lifestyle other than their mummification techniques.