Thursday, February 26, 2015
WITNESSING wild dolphins gliding through the ocean from the sundeck of a catamaran is a holiday highlight I'll never forget.
With the sunshine glistening on their silky grey backs, a family of these joyful creatures performed an almost acrobatic display, leaping from the water in sequence within a few feet of our vessel.
Getting so close to dolphins can sometimes take hours at sea but we were in a spot where they can be found just a short distance from the shore.
The Atlantic waters around Gran Canaria are a breeding ground for bottlenose dolphins and this group could hardly be described as camera shy as they performed in front of our boatload of onlookers.
Gran Canaria, the third largest Canary Island, sits just 125 miles off the coast of Africa and, with yearround sunshine, it has been a favourite with the British for decades.
We stayed in Playa Taurito, a small beach resort perched on volcanic hills between the pretty towns of Puerto de Mog¡n and Puerto Rico in the south-west of the island.
Playa Taurito's dramatic cliffs are an amazing feature and provide a natural wind break for the familyfriendly black sand beach, making it one of the island's most sheltered spots.
Our base for the week, just a twominute walk from the shore, was the four-star Paradise Valle Taurito SplashWorld resort, one of First Choice's gold medal award winners.
“The Atlantic waters around Gran Canaria are a breeding ground for bottlenose dolphins and this group could hardly be described as camera shy as they performed in front of our boatload of onlookers”
Dave Marshall
It is all-inclusive, which is brilliant for families on a budget and a dream for parents of fussy eaters, with plenty of dining options from chips, pasta and lunchtime toasties to local fish, exotic salads and Spanish paella.
Guests also get unlimited access to the waterpark on the doorstep. But it is no ordinary waterpark - the Lago Oasis offers Gran Canaria's wettest and wildest fun.
There are kid-friendly splash zones with activity pools, mini slides and a pirate ship plus show-stopping white-knuckle rides including the Kamikaze, the Spacebowl and multichannel racers.
With so many watery activities for all ages, we visited almost every day. And with a cafe and land-based activities such as crazy golf, it is a great place to hang out.
If you prefer a more relaxing experience, the hotel boasts its own large freshwater pool, with a separate area for small children.
Situated in an elevated position on the cliff, it offers ocean views for guests stretching out on comfy loungers in the sheltered sun trap.
There are also plenty of other activities to enjoy on the resort including tennis, table tennis, yoga, squash, mini-golf, petanque, darts and a jogging circuit. Plus for youngsters there's a kids' club for four to 12-year-olds and teens' club for 12 to 18-year-olds.
The hotel's Wellness Spa boasts a steam bath, Turkish bath, sauna, whirlpool, plus a whole host of treatments to make sure you relax during your holiday.
The bright, contemporary suites come with air-con, satellite TV, fridge and huge balconies overlooking the sea and pool. Larger family rooms sleeping two adults and two children are also available.
Getting out and about is easy with plenty of excursions on offer from the hotel. Our Atlantic dolphin cruise was well worth the cost of £100 for the family. Sightings are virtually guaranteed and organisers promise a full refund if you don't see any dolphins on your trip.
Other jaunts include a 40-minute camel ride across the desert-like dunes of the nearby resort of Maspalomas.
You can also take a trip to the Moonlight Cinema in Meloneras, Europe's only permanent open-air movie theatre.
Visitors get to walk down a red carpet before being seated on plump sofas where waiters serve pizzas and cocktails while the latest Hollywood blockbusters are beamed on to a huge screen under the stars.
If you want to get out and about you can hire a car fairly cheaply (around £20 per day) and go off exploring independently.
Top road trips include heading north to the capital of Las Palmas where you can sample the local shops, bars and restaurants.
The city also has two bays with beautiful beaches - Playa de las Canteras and Playa de las Alcaravaneras If you love the outdoors, take on the challenge of Pico de las Nieves, the island's highest mountain.
Its cloud-piercing peak shoots 1,949m into the sky and is a romantic place to be when the sun has gone down with unparalleled views of the night sky. A short taxi ride from the hotel is the fishing village of Puerto de Mog¡n.
It is nicknamed "Little Venice" because of its sea-water channels linked by small bridges and little promenades, plus there's a marina full of boats.
The resort's colourful low-rise buildings are designed in typical Mediterranean style and decorated with ornate window boxes overflowing with bougainvillea and hibiscus.
On Friday mornings a classy market occupies the fisherman's quay.
It is a glamorous place for a daytime or evening stroll and there are plenty of places to stop for a drink or bite to eat.
We loved the delightful N'enoteca restaurant which is run by a husband and wife team who cook fresh Italian food every night.
It was so good we ended up sampling their homemade pasta, platefuls of cured meats and warm Italian breads on more than one occasion.
The gorgeously creamy swirls of tiramisu served in pots with lids also come highly recommended.
With its dramatic scenery, beautiful beaches and pretty villages, Gran Canaria is a great place to mix traditional island life with wet and wild adventures.
First Choice offers seven nights staying at the Paradise Valle Taurito SplashWorld Resort, below, on an all-inclusive basis from £512 per person.
Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes flights departing Gatwick on October and transfers.
To book visit firstchoice.co.uk or call 0871 200 7799.
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Kara Scott
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