Gran Canaria, the third largest of the seven Canary Islands, lies at the gates of West Africa in the deep blue Atlantic. A "miniature continent" with different climates and many different landscapes in a very small space. Las Palmas is the capital of the island and metropolis of the Canary Archipelago. A contrast to the quiet and rural island.

Christopher Columbus landed in Las Palmas on his first trip to the new world in 1492 and spent one night in the residence of the Spanish military governor, named after the famous explorer Casa De Colón. Arucas is a small town in the north, the former wealth of which was created by bananas and sugar cane and is known for its rum factory, whose origins date back to 1884. It was here that the first large, steam-powered sugar factory in the Canary Islands came into being, making it one of the most important wineries in Europe.

In the very south of the island are the Dunas De Maspalomas, a gigantic, kilometer-long dune landscape and the freshwater oasis La Charca, which was placed under nature protection in 1987. The old Canaries created mysterious caves in the soft volcanic tuff on different floors. The Cenobio De Valeron cave complex was also discovered, consisting of 298 caves that lie under a natural basalt arch. Fascinating nature, the culture of the indigenous people and colonial past make Gran Canaria a sun paradise with many faces.