Gran Canaria is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe. In 2001 the island received more than 3 million tourists. There are many reasons that explain this popularity. The main one might be the combination of microclimates, unique in the world. The landscape, the winds, the sea and the geographic situation on the 28th parallel, 60 sea miles from the African coast, defines the climate on Gran Canaria, island of volcanic origin and rich in contrasts.

"Mini-continent" is perhaps the best qualified word to express the variety of landscapes in Gran Canaria, completed with a tourist infrastructure of first category. Both making the island attractive to visit at any time of the year. In fact, most tourists come in the winter time, which is high season here, avoiding the low temperatures in their home countries.

The capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is the largest city of the islands and it is the cultural and economic heart. A certain cosmopolitan air makes it different from the other cities in the archipelago.

The beaches and the cliffs, the fishing ports and the marinas, the trade winds and the richness of the seabed, the warm and sunny days, the spectacular sunsets, but most of all the CLIMATE, known as one of the best in the world: these are the factors that bring about the attraction of the coast of Mogán. This is already the favourite tourist destination for millions of people.

Many of them are taking a step forwards and establishing their second home in Mogán, settling for the quality of a better life, and their own health: there is no doubt that our climate allows to live better and longer here than in any other place.

Arguineguín , village and fishing port par excellence, is the largest population set in the township. Its history dates back to the aboriginal period, when it was the most important settlement in the south of the island. Near it, strong combats between the local inhabitants and Norman and Castilian conquerors took place. Nowadays, sailors and locals live together with people from all over Europe. A huge variety of shops, supermarkets, banks, a street market on Tuesdays and a large number of bars and restaurants, where fresh fish from the area is served, complete the offer of this spot.

Patalavaca , situated between Arguineguín and Playa de la Verga, provides an important infrastructure for tourism with hotels and apartments of different categories, all of them on the seafront. Thanks to its southwest-facing orientation, you can enjoy beautiful sunsets, decorated on clear days by Tenerife its Teide (Spain's highest tip) in the background.

In Playa de la Verga , the Anfi del Mar marina, its fine sandy beach, its water sports installations and all sorts of facilities for leisure and fun activities make up one of the top quality tourist complexes in the whole archipelago.

Puerto Rico development, with a surface of 338.000 m 2 , has large green spaces, promenades, restaurants, swimming pools, tennis, squash and fronton courts, mini-golf courses and a big water park. Its marina, the biggest of the island, has 531 berths for all types of leisure boats, including luxury yachts.

There is a very internationally famous Sailing School, birthplace of several winners of Olympic gold medals, which offers official courses for all levels. It is possible to practise almost all water sports throughout the whole year, thanks to the excellent weather with an average temperature of 22ºC (monthly average). Diving, water parachuting, windsurfing, sailing, jet ski and water-skiing, apart from unforgettable sea day trips, make up a complete offer.

Puerto Rico has also two big shopping centres where you can find all kind of shops, banks, restaurants, discos, pubs, etc. Besides, the optimum public transport system links up all sets in the south as well as the island's capital.

A promenade of around one kilometre in length links Puerto Rico with Playa de Amadores. This new beach of white sand and 30.000 m 2 has a commercial area, surrounded by 40.000 m 2 of garden area. It is also planned the development of a large leisure area with swimming pool, a restaurant, a mini-golf course, a park and a heliport.

Not far from Amadores, we find Tauro Beach . A natural beach and scarcely populated, Tauro is an ideal place for sunbathers who prefer a calm rest. The surroundings were used for plantations in the past an are now part of an ambitious project of a golf course, artificial lakes, detached houses and first class hotels and apartments as well as a small shopping centre, a Canarian village and ample green spaces spanned over a surface of a million and a half square meters.

Next to Tauro, Playa del Cura offers the visitors a wide range of hotels and apartments and a small shopping centre, all of them situated very near the sea. Its beach of dark sand and its coves make it a perfect place for those who are keen on angling. The ravine Los Frailes , the beach of Medio Almud and the beach of Tiritaña are part of the virgin zone in the township's territory. Tracks are the access to these places - cars are better left next to the main road.

The ravine of Taurito , situated 4 kilometres from Puerto de Mogán, is a deep valley surrounded by high mountains. The richness of its environment is combined with a nice beach of fine sand, well protected from the winds. An artificial lake of sea water covers a surface of about 11.000 m 2 , surrounded by green spaces, tennis courts and amazing cliffs.

Puerto de Mogán is a fishing spot that with its exceptional enclave and natural beauty, has given rise to one of the most beautiful urbanisations within the Canary Islands. The development of the harbour is set on reclaimed land with constructions of low density, trying to imitate the popular architecture of open spaces and it is intended for high quality tourism. It was built between 1981 and 1988.

The marina has turned into a meeting place for the numerous lovers of international navigation and it is equipped with 225 berth places, water and electric current supplies as well as connections for satellite television. Together with the traditional fishing harbour, this is an unforgettable place. The complex consists of a hotel with swimming pool, an apartment complex not higher than 2 floors and bars, restaurants, shops and services of all sorts. The whole development is embedded in a rich tropical garden, that grows from its streets and terraces and hangs from its roofs. The quality of the complex, its architectural style and the atmosphere of the marina compose the special touch the harbour of Mogán counts with.

In the end of the valley of Mogán, the new urbanisation, Playa de Mogán , is being developed, with a surface of approximately 450.000 m² and approximately 4000 new tourist and residential beds. Among other projects there are plans for the construction of 4 hotels and two complexes with bungalows in the 3-4 stars category, now being 2 of these buildings already advanced and planning to open during the year 2003.

The improvement of the beach, which will be provided with more sand of superior quality, is one of the changes planned for a better infrastructure in this project. Everything has been planned with foresight and the urbanisation has been equipped with enough suitable services. There are, for instance, 800 public parking spaces and a minimum of 1200 private ones within the complexes, according to the municipal laws that regulate the building on every plot. Most of the urbanisation consists of pedestrian areas, without access for vehicles. This gives an idea about the character this urbanisation will have, favouring high quality tourism, not overcrowded, with spacious areas for leisure and amusement, green areas with indigenous flora, etc.

The coastal road ends in Puerto de Mogán, even though there is another beach further north. Veneguera , in a valley of high natural value, can be reached only from the inward part of the island.

Pueblo de Mogán (Mogán Village), a farming village located around 8 km far from the coast, preserves all its Canarian identity: typical white houses of ingenuous and charming architecture spread around the church in the centre of the village.

The luxuriant valley offers fantastic panoramic views of mountains, as well as the excellent and desired tropical fruits, like mango, avocado, papaya or guava of red pulp, among others. This valley, with its steep ravines, and the beauty of its nature, forests, mountains and dams, really is worth a visit.