Sports...
The variety of sports that can be practiced in Gran Canaria is closely linked to the mildness of the island's climate. The absence of extreme temperature variations makes it possible to practice practically any type of outdoor sport during any time of the year. It is for this reason that the island has become a winter training centre for many European sports clubs in recent years. These clubs come to Gran Canaria for a few weeks, especially during the winter months, to train their elite players and athletes, in order to get them into shape for their big competitions. Furthermore, many important regional, national and international sports events are held in various parts of the island throughout the year.

The island of Gran Canaria has a long tradition of spectator sports, such as soccer, basketball and motor rallies, in addition to autochthonous sports, such as Canarian wrestling, juego del palo (lit. pole game), and lateen sailing. It is said that sports is part and parcel of the Canarian character.

And for those who want to combine their vacations with sports activities, there are hotels that present specific sports activities or which have contracts with sports centres for certain services, including golf, tennis, paddling, sailing and windsurfing. The more adventurous types are catered for by professional centres that are specialised in the latest and more risky sports, such as gliding, paragliding, solo rock climbing, hang gliding, the island being the ideal place for practising these sports, by virtue of the presence of the trade winds and the special mountainous features of the terrain.

Have fun in the sea...

Gran Canaria is a veritable paradise for lovers of the sea and of all the activities that are linked to the sea. This fact becomes indisputable if one takes account of the fact that the island has been the cradle of some thirty world champions in the various forms of sailing sports and of six Olympic gold medallists, namely José Luis Doreste, Luis Doreste, Roberto Molina, Patricia Guerra, Domingo Manrique de Lara and Fernando León, not to mention the thirteen-time world windsurfing champion, Bjorn Dunkenberck .

The water temperature (which varies between 18ºC in winter and 22ºC during the rest of the year), the harbour infrastructure for yachting and the optimal sea and wind conditions make this island the ideal place for practicing sailing and other water sports all year round. In fact, water sports is the most important leisure activity on offer on the island.

The 236 kilometres of coastline provide the best conditions for practicing every kind of water sports. Winds that are ideal for sailing, sea currents that attract large schools of fish to the proximity of the coast and the exquisite sea bottom are the natural conditions that have created one uninterrupted sporting season on Gran Canaria, while, in the rest of Europe, all activities related to the sea come to a complete standstill in winter.

In order to take full advantage of these natural conditions, a comprehensive infrastructure as well as general and special services have been developed to cater for the various maritime disciplines. Practically every corner of the island has a company, club, association or centre that provides mooring for yachts, making it possible for enthusiasts to satisfy their desire to dominate the ocean, slicing through the waves, going on outings, catching prized fishing trophies or immersing oneself in the crystalline immensity of the ocean.