Gran Canaria villa holidays - activities & sights

Gran Canaria is a golfer's paradise, with a climate virtually tailor-made for the sport as well as some tempting world-class courses. The sunshine means that whenever you're here, you're pretty certain to be able to play every day; and since most courses are modern they provide plenty of challenge. Top of the list are El Cortijo near Las Palmas, and Spain's oldest club - the Real Club de Golf in nearby Bandama. For golf with a view, you can't beat the Maspalomas Club de Golf set beside the magnificent sand dunes or the lush Salobre course close to Puerto Rico. All offer 18 holes and comprehensive facilities, and at El Cortijo the floodlights mean you can play in the evening too. Look out for hotels featuring our golf symbol, as many offer reduced green fees.

If you're into watersports, Gran Canaria offers ample opportunity to enjoy some serious fun on the sea. The warm waters and weather favour all types of pursuit from sailing to scuba diving, and if you just want a one-off adrenalin rush, many beaches offer parascending, jet skis and water-skiing. For windsurfing beginners, Puerto Rico is a fine spot, whilst divers can enjoy a wonderful underwater world of subtropical fish, shipwrecks and caves, together with instruction from diving schools at all the principal resorts. Sailing and deep-sea fishing are also hugely popular, with sailing schools in most resorts and game-fishing boats leaving from all the main harbours to fish for species like swordfish, tuna and blue marlin.

Originally built as a stage set for a 1970s western, the Wild West theme park of Sioux City near Puerto Rico offers an all-action day out that's perfect for kids. Complete with its own cowboys, Indians and sheriff, you'll enjoy a bank robbery, saloon fight, OK Corral battles and cattle stampede shows - all with fake bullets! There's also the chance to taste a real Western barbecue and saloon cuisine. For a different kind of fun, the famous Holiday World centre in Maspalomas is open during the day and evening, offering more traditional rides, a big wheel and a laserdrome, where all the family can battle it out with laser guns. The majority of major attractions are open during the evening.

Playa del Ingles has a large sandy stretch of beach whilst Maspalomas is home to the famous sand dunes. Playa Amadores has a man-made beach and that of Puerto Rico is popular with families and watersports enthusiasts. There's a small area in Patalavaca where there are two sandy beaches with a typical Canarian atmosphere.

A stay in Gran Canaria wouldn't be complete without a trip to the wonderful 3 km of golden sand dunes at Maspalomas. Situated next to the resort's restaurants and shops, yet a world away at the same time, these fantastic dunes are part of a nature reserve and make a wonderful sight as they wind their way down to the sea. Up to 10 metres in height and made of fine, ground shells, the best way to enjoy this Saharan-like landscape is by taking one of the popular camel safaris. Once aloft, you'll ride sedately up and down the dunes and maybe even enjoy a stop for mint tea as well.