General Description of Puerto Rico

An exceptional microclimate, a tree-shaded, traffic-free promenade, 2 marinas and a beach have made Puerto Rico a popular package-holiday resort with the emphasis on sun, sea and sustenance. Nearly everything has been built since the 1960s, in a simple modern Mediterranean style, with plain white blocks crawling up parched escarpments. The resort exists entirely for tourists; it is generally safe, clean and well maintained, with tumbling flowers and the inevitable Canary palms and cacti, but there is little here of historical interest or beauty and you have to search for any true Spanish flavour. The whole area is also very hilly with many steps and steep ascents and, although only about 2 mls across as the crow flies, the twisting, winding roads of the town make real travelling distances longer, about 4 mls from E to W and 1 ml N to S.

Market/Suitability

Families and couples with a preference for a compact, modern, purpose-built destination offering a good range of facilities and vibrant nightlife. Summer attracts younger crowds who are out to live it up and enjoy poolside parties, so don't expect too much sleep and peace in high season. Popular with British and northern Europeans. Those with prams or mobility problems might have difficulty with locations farther up the steep hillsides.

Location/Contact

Location: On the SW coast, 45 mls SW of Las Palmas, 10 mls W of Playa del Ingles. 28 mls SW of airport.
Position: Shoehorned into a steep cleft between barren cliffs.

Accommodation

Mainly mid-range reasonable-quality apartments and villa complexes, with the majority in the 1- to 2-key rating and middle price range, virtually all with pools. Many take bookings through tour operators only. Fewer hotels, some of good quality, many located in developing areas on the ridges and in neighbouring valleys.

Beach

A small, gently shelving, man-made cove with fine, light-coloured sand and clear water, packed with rows of loungers; can get crowded; suitable for children. Various water sports on offer. Larger, attractive man-made beach of Amadores, 1 ml NW along the coast, can also get quite crowded.

Shopping

The main commercial centre is compact and borders on tacky, offering a plethora of shopping opportunities which are good value but not necessarily good quality; predominantly supermarkets, souvenir shops, electronics shops and a host of duty-free outlets. A second, almost identical commercial centre on the W hillside offers much the same.

Entertainment

Daytime: minigolf, tennis, bowling, wind surfing, sailing, water-skiing and fishing.
Nightlife: choice of bars, restaurants and discos, mainly located at the 2 commercial centres. Many apartments and hotels provide regular evening shows.

Eating Out

Pavement cafes and restaurants to suit most budgets, including the inevitable fast-food joints, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, German and international; British breakfasts available in abundance. Many restaurants serve slap-up meals for the masses which are easy on the pocket but not necessarily good quality.

Public Transport

Regular buses serve the area, as well as various points along the coast, including Las Palmas. Taxis are cheap, but can be a little difficult to flag down; better to call for one. Hire cars are plentiful and roads usually well marked; parking is easy, with parking tickets required (cheap) from ticket machines on some main streets.

Local Excursions

The island's 538 sq mls can be explored by tour bus, jeep or hired car. Various theme parks include Sioux City, Wild West theme park, Aqua Sur water park, Camel Safari park, Palmitos animal park and crocodile park. Organised cruises aboard yachts or old schooners or a day's sailing around the whole island. Las Palmas, a sizeable city and port, offers the best shopping opportunities and has some good duty-free bargains; La Vegueta is the historic quarter where Columbus called en route to the New World.

Serving Airports

Gran Canaria (LPA)
Flight time from the UK: 4 hrs