Puerto Rico

Among the various tourist resorts of Gran Canaria, Puerto Rico is very special. Here you will find nothing to see; it is a purely touristic conurbation where practically every building is a hotel, aparthotel, residence or flat. Moreover, the town cannot be described as pleasant: many of these buildings we would not hesitate to call ecomonsters, because of their Brutalist-like architecture and above all because they were built practically eroding the surrounding mountains.

Speaking of surrounding mountains: orography is the main characteristic of Puerto Rico, which was built astride and on the flanks of three mountains that reach down to the sea. The result? Winding roads, where it is difficult to switch, and uphill to boot. Easy to get down to the city and the sea, a little less easy to get back up to the hotel.

So why choose Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria? Simple: because it is perfectly located for exploring the south of the island, halfway between the delightful Puerto de Mogan and the incredible dunes of Maspalomas. What’s more, Puerto Rico is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in Gran Canaria, that Playa Amadores you see printed on every souvenir shop postcard. Finally, it is a perfect destination for those who want to avoid the excesses of Playa de Las Americas but still enjoy a holiday where you can have fun in the evenings.

Beaches of Puerto Rico

There are two beaches in Puerto Rico: the city beach, known simply as Playa de Puerto Rico, and the beautiful Playa Amadores. There’s no comparison between the two, Playa Amadores wins hands down, but don’t disdain the city beach. Its location makes it a popular destination, especially for those staying in these parts who don’t have transportation.

Playa de Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s city beach is located next to the marina, from which a small jetty separates it. However, boats will not bother you, as there is a path bordered by buoys that guides them into the open sea, passing far from the bathing area.

The beach faces south and is only a few hundred metres long, although it is very deep: it goes inland for up to 50 metres. This has also allowed the construction of two bathing establishments, where sunbeds and umbrellas can be hired. If, on the other hand, you prefer the free beach, no problem: a good portion of the beach remains unequipped.

Facilities such as public toilets, showers and a lifeguard service are available for all bathers. Behind the beach there are a number of restaurants, bars, cafés and tapas bars, behind which there is a pedestrian promenade that encircles the entire beach and reaches the harbour, which is very pleasant, especially in the evenings.

Playa Amadores

Absolutely one of the most beautiful beaches in Gran Canaria, Playa Amadores is located to the west of Puerto Rico. If you are staying in the city, you can also reach it on foot by taking the pedestrian road that runs from Puerto Rico’s sports harbour alongside the GC-500 road, practically skirting the sea.

As soon as you arrive, you will be amazed by this crescent-shaped beach, with the sea turning magnificent shades of blue and resting on fine sand. The bad news is that the sand in question is not natural but imported from the Sahara, as is often seen on other beaches in the Canaries. Nevertheless, the result is absolutely perfect: postcard-perfect sea and golden beach, combined with all the services available such as sunbed and sunshade hire, pedalo and canoe hire, public toilets and sea rescue service.

In addition, behind Playa Amadores there is a beautiful pedestrian promenade lined with several souvenir and beach shops, as well as a number of restaurants serving local and international specialities and numerous bars and cafés. Parking is also very convenient, also behind the beach separated by a garden, although in high season it is easy to find it full.

Where to stay in Puerto Rico

Looking at it from the map, Puerto Rico may seem small, and indeed it is; what many people don’t appreciate is the fact that the town climbs up the sides of several rock formations, so it’s all ups and downs! For this reason, if you don’t have a hire car, we recommend accommodation that is more or less flat, so that you can get around easily and not have too much trouble getting to or from the beach. If, on the other hand, you have a hire car, the problem does not arise. On the contrary, we almost recommend staying in a hotel or flat high up, in a dominant position, so that you can enjoy beautiful sunsets.

As for the nightlife, it mainly takes place around the Centro Comercial Puerto Rico, located about 10 minutes’ walk from the beach. In this case, consider whether you prefer nightlife or evening entertainment, and stay near or far from this area accordingly.

Recommended hotels in Puerto Rico

We offer a selection of hotels at Puerto Rico to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Puerto Rico, sorted by number of reviews.

Apartments and vacation homes in Puerto Rico

If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Puerto Rico. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Puerto Rico are in high demand.

How to get to Puerto Rico

Getting to Puerto Rico is very easy, as it is located at exit 62 of the GC-1 road, the main road infrastructure of Gran Canaria that runs along the entire coast on the east and south sides, from Las Palmas to Puerto de Mogan. The GC-1 also passes by the airport, so once you pick up a rental car you will arrive at your destination without any difficulty.

From the capital Las Palmas Puerto Rico is about 70 kilometres, which is a 50-minute drive; from theairport the distance is 47 kilometres, which is a half-hour drive, while from Maspalomas it takes about 20 kilometres, which translates into a little more than 15 minutes by car. From Puerto de Mogan, the distance is also about the same, although one travels in the opposite direction.

Although longer and more complicated, you can also get to Puerto Rico by public transport. From Las Palmas, precisely from the Estaciòn San Telmo a couple of kilometres south of the port, bus number 91 departs, making 13 intermediate stops, including at the airport and Arguineguin, and arriving in the centre of Puerto Rico, at the bus station, located a few steps away from the post office and the tourist office, along Avenida de la Cornisa.

From Maspalomas, on the other hand, you should take bus number 39, which makes several stops in town, including along Avenida Touroperador Tui and at the intersection of Avenida de Francia and Avenida de Tirajana. The bus journey takes between 30 and 40 minutes depending on traffic.