Combine a visit to a beautiful old aristocratic mansion with a shopping spree. Tourists come in droves to buy traditional crafts and souvenirs like jewelery, leather goods and local costumes. This early 17th-century building has a spectacular interior patio with a lovely wooden gallery and a dramatic exterior balcony covered with flowers and plants. You'll see it depicted on the front of postcards all over the island.
Puerto Deportivo Puerto Colón is one of the best and most luxurious marinas in the Canary Islands. It offers 350 berths, ramp, lift, crane, repairs, petrol, diesel, VHF radio, meteorological service, medical service and rescue service. The complex also houses a commercial center with stores selling all the best brand names. Alongside are a supermarket and a bar/restaurant. There are toilets and showers, a car rental office, a ship's chandler, a bank and public telephones. There is 24-hour security and the recreational yacht club (Club Náutico Puerto Colón) is next door.
Golf Las Américas is one of several high-quality golf courses on the island. It is located close to the tourist development of the same name, enjoys marvelous sea views and is protected from the wind by the surrounding mountains. The 18-hole course has been attractively designed with streams, gullies and small lakes to provide interest and variety for experienced players. It's a par 72 and offers practice facilities as well. The club house stands alongside a residential holiday development.
A whole range of Canary Islands arts and crafts are sold here; more than 1,500 different handmade articles at any one time. These traditional craft skills have been handed down from generation to generation and those craftsmen and women who supply this market are true professionals producing the best quality work. Hand embroidered linen items like table cloths are popular as well as leather goods, woodwork, pottery, natural silk, baskets and cutlery. Goods can be made to order.
So you think pearls just grow on trees? Well, they are actually grown on the seabed, and the whole process is laid bare before you here. Whether based on shells, glass or oysters, this is where they are turned into sparkling jewellery. Some are only accessible to deep pockets, but there are many smaller gifts to buy. Feel lucky? Then pay to dip for a shell and have the pearl graded, priced and served in a presentation pouch. There's also a play area and a cafeteria as well. - Colin Kirby