Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria is a small town with sunshine almost every day of the year. It is the preferred destination among European tourists and among residents on weekends. While this is great, not everything is sun and sand, it also has some interesting restaurants and nightlife. Check these things to do.
When you plan your next visit to the south of Gran Canaria, take a look at this list of things to do in or near Puerto Rico. Have you done these things?
Enjoy the beaches of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is known for its beaches. It is always sunny and that makes it the ideal place to chug a beer or two, have a nap on the beach or simply roam around. You will find 2 beaches that are perfect for any occasion.
The first is the beach of Puerto Rico, as it is a non-natural beach and is surrounded by mountains, it prevents winds from arriving and is always calm. Always ready to be used, has a soft and natural yellow sand and is perfect for a tan or to get drunk and fall asleep.
On the other hand, you have the Amadores beach of Puerto Rico, recognized for its tranquillity, but above all for its crystal clear waters, cleanliness and white sand. To enjoy this beach even more, you can walk along the promenade from Puerto Rico to Amadores, which takes about 15 minutes on foot.
Do some water sport activity in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico was made for tourism, which gives rise to a wide variety of water activities. I think that almost every visitor so far will have rented a jet ski and has enjoyed riding the waves. The coastal views from the sea are incredible, you can see many caves and volcanic features.
If you want to go at your own pace, you can rent a Kayak to explore the cliffs and caves in the area. If you want to immerse yourself, there are always diving schools that offer specific courses and guided expeditions, and if you have your PADI Open Water, simply rent your equipment and dive.
The Sea Track is one of the novelties, where you put on a helmet and travel the seabed in half an hour. You can breathe calmly underwater and at the same time enjoy the marine fauna.
Take a boat trip
There is the option of taking a ferry bus that leaves from the port of Puerto Rico and takes you to the port of Mogán. The best thing is to get a round trip ticket, and you can go to Mogán for lunch and come back in the afternoon enjoying the sunset at sea.
Those looking for a little more adventure, can opt for a catamaran excursion to swim with dolphins. Finally, if your thing is to party, get on a party catamaran in which it is exactly what you expect, sun, drinks and loud music.
Go shopping in Puerto Rico
There are 3 main shopping centers in the Puerto Rico area. We have the old Puerto Rico Shopping Center, recently renovated and in the center of the valley. It is geared more towards international tourism, but in recent years we have seen some Spanish franchises appear. Not everything is tourism, if you are looking for different clothes or good deals on perfumes or jewellery, this is your place. Don’t forget the restaurants, it has some pretty authentic ones that have improved over the years.
Then there is The Market Puerto Rico, a shopping center with a sustainable and quality approach. There is the Spar Supermarket that I love because they carry products from all over the world, they have a natural section and a fairly complete beer and alcohol section. There is a specific selection of shops in the lower levels and the upper area has a gastro gallery where you can taste gourmet dishes from various cuisines. They usually put on live music, and it’s great place to go for drinks on a weekend.
The new addition is that of Mogán Mall, with a luxurious minimalist look that brings the big franchises to the south and a selection of stores without repeating their category. They have done a great job of creating an enjoyable experience. You also have multi-cuisine restaurants with a top-notch decoration – perfect for a romantic afternoon or evening out with friends. From the highway its adjacent building hosts McDonalds, and we have Hiperdino as their go-to supermarket. Do not miss the water fountain, the largest in the Canary Islands, a real spectacle.
Mogan Mall Entrance Mogan Mall Water Fountain
Take a picture at one of the Puerto Rico viewpoints
Those looking for something different from the usual beach and shopping centers can go up the both sides of the valley to take some photos with impressive views. On one side we have the Roque de Este viewpoint that gives views of the commercial center of Puerto Rico to the beach. The other is the viewpoint of Timanfaya street in the area of the Europa shopping center, where you can see the area of Mogan Mall and the part of the shopping center.
Then you have points that are not viewpoints themselves, but have generous views. Among them is the Parking of Puerto Azul with great view of the beach. Next one is located in AVD Las Palmeras, near the map point you’ll notice that there is a giant rock, get on the area next to it, and you will see views of the gardens behind the shopping center throughout the valley of Puerto Rico. To enjoy sunsets, you will have to go up to the Europa shopping center and drive to to end. When you reach a roundabout, there will be a small parking lot where you have to leave the car. Walk up the mountain where you see a flat terrain, it has views of the Amadores beach and Taurito, beautiful above all during the sunsets.
Go out to eat in Puerto Rico
When you are in Puerto Rico you will have to eat right? Many will say that it is Puerto Rico, purely focused on a tourism, synonym for bad food. While they may be right, some businesses are trying to change that image by providing good food.
Among those that I have personally tried, in the port area is the Don Quijote restaurant, it serves some delicious cuttlefish and squid with garlic! If you are looking for Canarian food, I definitely recommend Balcón Canario, the prices are normal, big plates, they keep adding new dishes, and they have won several competitions.
Lovers of Italian food can find Pinocchio Pizzeria and VIP Pizzeria, the latter a bit hidden, but could not be more authentic. Among them are added bars that have a charm, for example Bar La Parada offers great sandwiches, Bar Cocos also has them and the menu of the day is 10/10. According to surveys, the best coffee will be at Bar Los Danieles just before the Mogan Mall.
If you are looking to eat something exotic like Indian food, I recommend Delhi Darbar and Happy Valley, two restaurants that we order food from often.
Do not forget that there are many gastronomic offers in the new shopping centers and several cuisines to discover.
Relax in a Thalassotherapy Spa
There will never be a lack of a 5-Star Hotel in the south of the island and Puerto Rico is no exception. The good thing about these establishments is usually the attached services they offer. Very popular with many visitors is the Gloria Palace Amadores. There are establishments that offer massages, but I have not been in any particular one. I personally choose the community pool where I stay and the beach, which are both free.
Take the kids to Angry Birds Park in Puerto Rico
For parents and children, there is Angry Birds, a theme park as the name suggests about Angry Birds. They have a good selection of instructors trained in their field and the park is well maintained. A great place to leave them or even accompany them inside. The truth is that it is quite complete, has a sitting area, a food canteen (somewhat limited), but hey, great fun for kids.
To conclude, Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria has a wide selection of things to do. As soon as you spend the weekend in the south, you will get used to the sedentary lifestyle in the sun, and you will not want to leave. If the town proves to be small for you, it’s well-connected by the highway and bus systems, always allowing you to visit nearby towns that have their own charm.
