Hamilton Holiday Houses

The Captain's House, Apartment and Studio

Puerto de Mogan in Gran Canaria is known locally as the Jewel of the Canaries

Gran Canaria is the principal island in the Canaries, situated off the African coast at the level of the Sahara, about 120 miles into the Atlantic. There is a year-round sub-tropical climate with minimum temperatures normally around 18/20 degrees C in winter on the coast and very little rainfall. In the summer the temperatures can be up to 30 C degrees, but there is usually a cooling ocean breeze. Water temperature is up to 25 degrees C in summer.

Puerto de Mogan is tucked away on the south of the island, nestling into the cliff at the end of a deep valley with towering scenery going back inland. Although it feels a million miles away from the airport, the city of Las Palmas and the tourist centres of Maspalomas and Playa de los Ingles, it is less than one hour way from all of these by car, taxi or bus.

A pretty Venetian-style marina complex with houses, shops, bars and restaurants has been added to the original fishing village of Puerto de Mogan. The old village is situated just behind the marina and is still largely populated by Canarians. Its narrow alleyways and painted houses climb back up the hillside, as the streets quickly turn into steps. The local card school (men only!) meets in the village square every evening while their wives sit outside in the local café drinking coffee and watching their children play in the square. Apart from the road into the port, the village streets (including ours) are not accessible by car.

The coast road stops at Puerto de Mogan and turns inland to cut across to the north of the island through a magnificent mountain landscape formed by volcanic activity. Puerto de Mogan is very well placed to explore the island’s interior as the national park, with the most spectacular scenery, is at this end of the island. Car hire is available in the town, neighbouring resorts, and at the airport. Taxis are cheap and plentiful (the village cab rank is a minute away from the house and apartment) and there are good bus services around and across the island.

Boat trips, deep sea fishing and scuba diving are all available from the port and there is regular glass bottomed ferry service calling at resorts up the coast which goes every half hour during the day. You can also take a trip up into the mountains by car, taxi or bus where, at around 5,000 ft above sea level, you can experience a completely different climate and vegetation with stunning views and beautiful light, particularly at sunset. There are some good walking trails.

For a more relaxing time the golden sand beach is large enough for those who want a sun bed and an umbrella or those who prefer to lie on a towel at the water’s edge. The beach is shielded from the might of the Atlantic by a breakwater so that swimming is safe and perfect for children. The house roof terrace has wonderful panoramic views and with the awning drawn over the pergola you can always do as the locals do and take a siesta in the shade after a good lunch. The terrace outside the apartment has no view but is equally cool and relaxing.

There is good shopping, and for food there is a well-stocked Spar supermarket which has a wide selection of wine and food. They will deliver to your door. Tucked away down an alleyway just around the corner from us is a mini-market which sells all the basics and more, as well as delicious fresh bread daily from 8am.

There is a wide variety of restaurants in the port and the marina, serving great gazpacho soup, Canarian potatoes and Mojo sauce and other local specialities as well as every other type of cuisine (even Chinese!). Particularly noteworthy is the fishermen’s co-operative restaurant in the port that serves wonderful freshly caught fish. One of our favourite eating places is the tiny Italian cafe close to the house run by a lovely Italian couple who make exceptional pizzas and pasta dishes which you can either eat outside the cafe or take home.

Whilst visitors come to Puerto de Mogan for the day by the local ferry service, especially on Fridays when there is a tourist market, by 5pm most of them have left on the last boat. It is a family holiday destination during school holidays for a number of nationalities, but mostly Spanish, and it is also a year-round resort for Scandinavians and other northern Europeans escaping from the miseries of winter to blue skies and sunshine. Although there is a relatively small number of English visitors, most people, including the excellent local doctor, speak English.

For more information on Gran Canaria:   www.spain-grancanaria.com