Puerto Rico Holidays

Puerto Rico is one of Gran Canaria’s best-known holiday resorts, set in a sheltered valley on the island’s sunny south-west coast. Purpose-built for holidays, it has a compact, easy-going feel around the beach and marina, with apartment complexes and hotels rising up the hillsides on either side. The setting helps give the resort its warm, dry reputation, making it a popular choice for winter sun as well as summer breaks.

The main beach, Playa de Puerto Rico, is a small, sheltered sandy bay with calm water thanks to its breakwaters, so it suits swimming, sunbathing and relaxed days close to cafés and shops. Just along the coast is Playa de Amadores, a larger pale-sand beach often reached by taxi, bus or the scenic coastal walkway from Puerto Rico. The route between the two is a pleasant option when the weather is mild, with sea views along the way.

Much of daily life in Puerto Rico centres on the marina, beach area and commercial centres. You will find a wide choice of casual restaurants serving international food, Canarian dishes, seafood, steaks and familiar British favourites. Evenings are generally informal, with family-friendly bars, music venues, karaoke spots and pubs rather than a large clubbing scene. The main shopping centres are where many visitors head after dinner, although the resort also has quieter places for a drink by the harbour.

Popular things to do include boat trips along the coast, dolphin and whale-watching excursions, fishing trips and water sports from the harbour and beach. The resort is also well placed for exploring nearby places such as Amadores, Puerto de Mogán and the dunes of Maspalomas by bus, taxi or organised excursion. Inland trips into Gran Canaria’s mountains offer a different side of the island, with dramatic viewpoints and traditional villages.

Puerto Rico is a good fit for holidaymakers who want reliable sunshine, an easy resort layout at sea level, plenty of places to eat and drink, and convenient access to beach days and boat trips. Bear in mind that many accommodations are built into the hills, so check location carefully if steep walks or steps could be an issue.