One great catamaran trip is the Spirit of the Sea dolphin and whale tour which leaves from Puerto Base harbour. It is best to book online (just click the above link for more details and booking options) because during the busy months (ie – now!) the boat does get full.

If you are keen on fishing you might like to go sport-fishing on the Barakuda Dos sportfishing boat in Puerto Escala. For just 60 euros a day you can bottom-fish for stingrays, sharks, red snappers and more, or troll for blue marlin and tuna (depending on the season) and that includes beer, soft drinks and a simple lunch

There are a couple of other catamaran trips to choose from but if you want to see the boats for yourself, simply head down to Puerto Rico and wander around Puerto Base and Puerto Escala. There are two harbours in Puerto Rico and it’s a good idea to walk around collecting leaflets from each stall, and then you can peruse them at your leisure over a chilled sangria in one of the harbour bars until you have made your catamaran choice.

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I once had to take a cab to Tauro (behind Puerto Rico) because my flight was delayed and I arrived at 1 o’clock in the morning which is well after the time the buses stop running and it was 60 euros. Ouch!

If you want to get the bus, the bus stop is the other side of the main road from the airport (go through the tunnel to get over) and you will need the number 66 to get to Faro Maspalomas (the last stop) and then the 33 or 39 to go the rest of the way.

How to Get to Your Hotel from Puerto Rico Bus Station

The bus station in Puerto Rico is near a taxi stand so if your hotel isn’t in the vicinity of the main shopping centre (check before you go) you can get a cab. Remember a lot of hotels in Puerto Rico are on the top of the hill so you won’t want to lug suitcases up the steep hill in 30 degree heat!

Some of the bus drivers speak English and almost all of them speak a tiny bit. Enough to answer you about when the next bus is due or where to catch your next bus. There are timetables on each bus stop anyway. You can find out more here: http://www.globalsu.net – this site is the official Gran Canaria bus website. It’s in Spanish but you just have to choose your departure point and destination from the drop-down menus and click “ir” for the info to come up.

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Photo by Puamelia

Well there are a few nice Irish bars there to choose from as well. You might like to visit The Blarney Stone if you are staying near the Europa Centre. This one is on the middle floor. In the main shopping centre, there are Molly Malones, The Harp, The Shamrock and Dicey Reillys. A lot of these do Irish breakfasts and meals as well as just the evening entertainment and if you like listening to live Irish music you won’t be disappointed. Flanagan’s Apple is behind Puerto Base harbour and that’s a nice Irish bar as well.

Sometimes it is good just to wander around and head into any appealing or lively-looking bar but it is also nice to have a general idea of where these places are so you can head to the right area. Irish pubs are never boring and if you are looking for Irish pubs in Gran Canaria there are lots to choose from!

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If you’re staying in San Agustin, Playa del Ingles, Meloneras or Maspalomas, there is no harbour in those areas so you’ll need to get the bus to Puerto Rico. There are various dolphin trips and you might want to check out both harbours (there is one on either side of the beach) – Puerto Escala harbour and Puerto Base harbour.

Do You Always See Dolphins?

One of the most common questions is “do you always see dolphins?” and that’s a good question because the dolphins are wild animals, so it’s not like going to the zoo! The answer is no and this is where you have to be careful because different boats have different policies. If the captain doesn’t manage to find the dolphins (or a whale) some boats will let you repeat the trip for free and others won’t, so ask at the desk when you book! Also, some dolphin boats have a glass bottom and others don’t. This isn’t vital but it does make the trips more fun.

Dolphins, Gran Canaria

Most dolphin boats have a multilingual tour guide and you can buy soft drinks, beer and snacks like chocolate or crisps. You might want to bring your own though. Also bring a camera or camcorder and perhaps a jacket or sweater unless it’s baking hot. Tips are never compulsory on dolphin trips and some boats leave a bucket by the exit when you get off. If you want to drop a euro into the bucket for the crew, you can. Others come round with a bucket but you don’t have to tip.

How Long is the Dolphin Trip?

Most dolphin trips range between 2 and 3 hours. Sometimes the dolphins are right in front of the harbour so it takes about 10 minutes to get to them. Other times you might have to go out 9 miles and this obviously takes a lot longer.

When is the Best Time to Do This Trip?

Choose a day when the sea looks calm, especially if you have a delicate stomach! The dolphins don’t care about the weather so if you have a dull, cloudy or drizzly day, this might be a good day for the trip, since all the dolphin boats have covered seating areas and you can enjoy the views without getting wet. If you are doing a Gran Canaria dolphin trip in the winter, take a sweater or coat with you. It might be 22 deg C and sunny but the air can be nippy out at sea.

What About Sea Sickness Pills?

Visit a chemist before your trip and ask for “biodramina con cafeina” – take one half an hour before the trip and another two hours into the trip. I don’t often get seasick but taking these guarantees I’ll feel fine. There’s nothing like seasickness to spoil a boat trip and if you like boat trips you might want to do more than one during your holiday!

You can usually find a trip easily enough but they do get busy in the summer months. If you want to ensure places on one of the good boats and if you need a pick up from Playa del Ingles or Maspalomas it is best to book your dolphin trip online before you go.

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It’s close to the Europa Centre (a couple of minutes walk) and you can walk to Amadores beach in ten or fifteen minutes but it is also located in a quiet, peaceful street.If you want to go to the main shopping centre in Puerto Rico you can walk down in twenty minutes or get the bus or a taxi down for a couple of euros.

The swimming pool has massage jets and there’s a billiard table too, as well as a barbecue grill and a sheltered lodge. You can contact the owner, Bernardo, to ask about booking but be warned this is a popular place to stay and he’s booked up until March 2011.

All the apartments have a VCR, satellite TV, toaster and coffee machine and the bedding and towels are changed twice a week. I used to live five minutes down the road from Finca E and it’s in a really nice location. Some people prefer big hotels but others like a more personal touch, which is why Finca E might appeal to you.

You can call Bernardo at Finca E on +34 928561397 to ask about availability and prices, or send an email to fincae@web.de, but do remember he’s fully booked until March 2011.

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However, if you are searching for the best restaurants in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, I’d like to add Rhodos Palace to the list. This is a great Greek restaurant which is in the Passarela Centre (opposite the Puerto Escala harbour). It is open every day from 6pm and the food is excellent. So is the service.

Best Food and Drink

The mixed starters for two is reasonably priced at 9.50€ and the moussaka is wonderful. Try the red Nemea wine. It’s nicer if you have it slightly chilled. At 16€ a bottle it isn’t expensive either.

You can watch the sunset from the restaurant. One tip though is to sit in the middle somewhere. There is a noisy Irish bar next door and if you sit too close to it you will hear the TV/music/shouting etc!

Greek food makes a nice change from Canarian cooking (which you should also sample if you are on holiday in Gran Canaria) and Rhodos Palace sets a great standard for it.

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A lot of residents here like to go to La Taberna Puerto Rico for a special occasion but the prices are really reasonable compared to UK prices so you might like to check it out when you are next on holiday in Gran Canaria.

I recommend the beef wellington – yummy!!

If you are staying in Puerto Rico, La Taberna is in underneath the Timanfaya Apartments, which is in Avenida Veneguera. There is a better map here.

It is best to make a reservation because they are often full. You can call on +34 928725453 to reserve your table.

Bon appetit!

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