Puerto Rico holidays

Puerto Rico began life as a tiny fishing village on the south coast of Gran Canaria, and in recent years its popularity has soared. Few visitors can resist its white-sand beach and easy-going charm, with all the shops, bars and restaurants you could need. If you’re on holiday with the kids in Puerto Rico, some of Gran Canaria’s best water parks and family attractions are a short bus journey away.

Where is Puerto Rico Gran Canaria?

Puerto Rico is on the southwestern coast of Gran Canaria, which is sheltered from cool northerly winds. This means it’s often a few degrees warmer here than northern Gran Canaria, which makes Puerto Rico an ideal base for winter holidays.

Just to the northwest of the resort is the dramatic Pilancones Natural Park (Parque Natural Pilancones). It’s famous for its beautiful mountain valleys, and is a great alternative to the busy bars of the coast if you want to get back to nature.

Things to do

Wander along the long curve of beach at the heart of Puerto Rico, lay back on a lounger and enjoy hours of Canaries sunshine. When you’re feeling up to it, white-knuckle water sports are the name of the game with high-speed jet skis or windsurfing to pick from. Kids and grown ups love the local water park, Aqualand, with its huge choice of swimming pools, slides and playgrounds. If you fancy getting out on the ocean, pay Puerto Rico’s marina a visit and set sail on the open sea for the day. When the sun sets, Puerto Rico’s balmy evenings were made for sitting outside a wine bar on the waterfront. 

Watersports galore

The gorgeous beach of Puerto Rico has plenty of watersports facilities that will provide guaranteed fun for all ages. These range from traditional banana boat rides to the brand new Jetovator, a jet pack (yes, an actual, real-life jet pack!) which gives you a chance to fly over the water and enjoy breathtaking views!

Dive and explore

If you want to create some fantastic holiday memories, you may want to have a go at diving. With a one-day PADI-approved course, you’ll be qualified to go below the water and discover what lies under the waves. With more advanced courses on offer, you can even brush up on your diving skills if you’re already open-water qualified.

Beach days

The beautiful sands in Puerto Rico have made it a popular destination for beach lovers. The rustic beaches are ideal for a family day out, too, giving parents a chance to lie back in the sun while children can play in this safe environment. With lots of things to do nearby, you’re never too far away from a refreshing drink or a delicious meal.

Where is Puerto Rico nightlife?

For clubbing, head to the Shopping Center, where you can watch excellent live shows or dance the night away at one of the clubs. Puerto Rico is also home to more family bars and quieter venues at the Europa Center, the other main nightlife spot at the resort.

Other attractions near Puerto Rico

One of the most impressive natural sights in Gran Canaria is the Dunes of Maspalomas, a dramatic sand dune system that looks like a small desert. In fact, when you look at a map of all the islands and where Puerto Rico Gran Canaria is, this might not be surprising, as they are all just a short distance from the vast Sahara Desert!

Puerto Rico is also a quick hop from the popular Aqualand Maspalomas waterpark and the Roque Nublo volcanic rock which dates back around 4.5 million years.

More travel guides

We also have travel guides available for destinations, including: AndalusiaBalearic IslandsBarcelona | Canary IslandsCosta Almeria | Costa Blanca | Costa Brava | Costa Dorada | Costa del Sol | Fuerteventura | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote | Maspalomas | Tenerife | Ibiza | Madrid | Malaga | Majorca | Menorca | Playa des Ingles | San Agustin

 

28 ℃

June and July for long, sunny days.

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4 hours

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Airport (LPA).

Puerto Rico is best for...

Families: Enjoy bucket and spade days on the beach and days trips out to the island’s best water parks, complete with slides and pools.

Beach lovers: Relax on Puerto Rico’s golden horseshoe bay, get drinks on the seafront or visit the water sports centre for some excitement.

Sailing fans: The resort’s lively marina is a fantastic place for a spot of boating, with a top sailing club and facilities.

Fast facts for Puerto Rico

Language: The language spoken in Puerto Rico is Spanish.

Currency: The currency used in Puerto Rico is the Euro (€).

Local time: Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria is the same time as GMT/UK time.

Fly to: Gran Canaria Airport. The transfer to Puerto Rico takes 1 hour.

Flight time from UK: The flight time to Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria is 4.5 hours.

Tourist Information: Further Puerto Rico tourist information can be found at https://www.grancanaria.com/turismo/en/.

Visa / Health: Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holiday to Puerto Rico.

Holiday destinations related to Puerto Rico:

 

Getting around Puerto Rico

By bus: Gran Canaria has a cheap and well-organised bus service running between the major resorts, as well as between attractions in the resorts themselves. You’ll find bus stops in Puerto Rico’s commercial centre and beach.

By car: If you’re interested in exploring the island, getting around by car is the quickest and easiest way. The airport has a choice of competitive car hire companies.

By taxi: Taxis are readily available and run on a meter, and are the best option for short journeys like getting back to your hotel in the evening.

Events in Puerto Rico

Easter mayhem: In February, the legendary Carnival comes to Gran Canaria for a week of mayhem before Lent. If you’re lucky enough to be on the island, expect a week of colourful parades, dancing and crazy costumes, plus the all-important election of Carnival Queen.

In summer: The city of Las Palmas throws its summertime festival, Fiestas Fundacionales, in June. Well worth the trip for anyone visiting the island, the festivities include concerts, parades and bonfires.

Firework fiesta: Never missing a chance for a fiesta, in August Gran Canaria celebrates the Fiesta de San Lorenzo, known for showcasing the biggest firework display in the Canary Islands.

Puerto Rico weather

Temperature: Average highs of 28°C in summer.

Best time to visit: June and July for long, sunny days.

Puerto Rico is situated on the south coast of Gran Canaria, one of the largest Canary Islands. The island is known for its spring-like weather all year round, with temperatures rarely dipping below 18°C even in winter. Summers are long and dry, peaking in the high 20s around August.

Best hotels in Puerto Rico

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