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 on +34 928561397 or +34 670833384 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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