Plus appréciés Attractions à Ile de la Grande Canarie (Iles Canaries)

Feel the wind in your hair as you ride the waves in the blue sea at Pro Surfing Gran Canaria. Enjoy surfing and kite-surfing in the breath-taking waters. Allow the staff to pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the beach. Tourists can enjoy the various water sports that are offered along with tuition from experienced professionals.

A significant stone cross sculpture connecting the whole island is a central meeting point for many tourists. It is one of the highest points on the island of Gran Canaria surrounded by pine forests and offering spectacular natural views. There are small shops, restaurants and hotels with free parking in the surrounding area. The weather conditions may vary at this location sometimes foggy and at times extremely cold.

Perched on the slopes of the Guiniguada Ravine, the Viera y Clavijo Botanical Garden is a microcosm of the Canary Islands' diverse flora. The Swedish-Spanish botanist, Eric Ragnor Sventenius, is the founding father of these botanical gardens commonly known as Jardín Canario. For years, he roamed the islands, exploring distant corners, scaling precipitous slopes and venturing down undiscovered paths in a quest to compose an exhaustive collection of the archipelago's endemic species. There are leafy laurel trees, parched xerofila, palms, aeonium, and giant cacti among many others, beautifully arranged in awe-inspiring, thematic gardens that encompass the vast breadth of the islands' exotic botanical reserves. A popular tourist attraction, the Jardin Canario is also internationally renown for its preservation programs. In 1983, a seed bank for the Canaries' endemic trees was established here, and there's also a library, a herbarium, and laboratories. Spread over 27 hectares (67 acres), this vast, verdant enclave is a journey across Macaronesia and its bountiful, natural landscapes, replete with plants that are entirely unique to the Canaries.

Roque Nublo, or the Cloud Rock, is one of the world's largest free-standing rocks and Gran Canaria's most striking natural icon. Formed over 4.5 million years ago, this volcanic rock has been shaped by the elements over millennia into an 80-meter (262-foot) tall monolith at a height of 1,813 meters (5,948 feet) above sea level. Outdone by only the Pico de las Nieves, Roque Nublo is the island's second highest peak. Sweeping views of the surrounding countryside lay sprawled at its feet, like a patchwork quilt of pine forests and farmland arranged in deep, plunging folds. Often shrouded by a bank of clouds or icy mist, the enigmatic Roque Nublo is surprisingly accessible, and it is possible to walk right up to its base. Scaling its sheer face is another matter altogether, a feat braved only by experienced climbers with the right kind of equipment. Described by the Spanish writer, Miguel de Unamuno, as a storm turned to stone, Roque Nublo is a sight of striking beauty, rising from the ground like a defiant behemoth frozen in the guise of a jagged pinnacle.

Untouched by time, Puerto de Las Nieves is a quaint fishing village on the northern coast of Gran Canaria that is worlds apart from the crowded seaside resorts of the island. The village is authentically Canarian, with its pristine waters and spectacular countryside featuring wild cliffs stretching as far as the Tamadaba pinewoods. At its core lies the Ermita de las Nieves, known for its 16th-century triptych - a masterpiece depicting the Virgin and Child created by the renown Flemish artist, Joos van Cleve. Along the shore lies a stretch of sand, soaked in sunshine all year round and free from clamor. Fishing boats bob at the picturesque harbor from where extends the Paseo de los Poetas, a waterfront promenade lined with shops, galleries and seafood restaurants that serve local specialties like caldo de pescado - a hearty fish soup. Backed by the silhouettes of the Teide volcano in the distance and the Dedo de Dios nearby, the Puerto de Las Nieves is sheer majesty shot through with charm. Although diminished by the Storm Delta in 2005, the Dedo de Dios still makes for an awe-inspiring sight rising from the sea like a rebellious giant facing off against the rugged cliffs. At sunset, the scenery transforms into one of indescribable beauty as the golden rays set the countryside ablaze in a frenzy of color. Ferries to Santa Cruz de Tenerife depart at regular intervals from the harbor of Puerto de Las Nieves.

Formed thousands of years ago, the Bandama Caldera is a giant bowl of wonder and a reminder of the volcanic origins of the Canary Islands. The volcanic crater shelters a diverse collection of native flora and fauna, several of which are unique to the Canary Islands. 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) wide and over 200-meters (656-feet) deep, the caldera is a natural wonder that is easily accessible from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Bandama Caldera lies at the heart of one of the Gran Canaria's oldest wine regions, its bodegas and wineries havens of epicurean delights, while challenging hiking trails lead past scenes of natural splendor. Along the way are caves once inhabited by the island's natives, abandoned farmhouses and a secret bunker in the guise of a visitor's center. Hikers will find that there are several avenues to explore, the most popular beginning at the Pico de Bandama Viewpoint, leading down into the depths of the caldera. Other interesting sites include the pond of El Culatón and the cross of the Tres Piedras.