Gran Canaria is surely one of the last remaining European Paradise islands, situated in the Atlantic Ocean, some 200km away from the coast of Africa. It is the third largest of the Canary Islands, neighbored by Fuerteventura and Tenerife. The capital, Las Palmas, is situated in the northeast of the island. Gran Canaria is the island of contrasts, bursting with culture, an unbelievably beautiful coast and spectacular sunny beaches, the perfect destination all year round. From its cold climate in the north, to the sunny south, this perfect holiday island has everything even the most demanding traveler would wish for: a great specter of climates, lush forests, exotic flora and fauna, volcanic craters, as well as a strange sediment of snow at the highest peaks.
There are a lot of myths and legends surrounding the Canary Islands, with some even claiming that the islands are actually the lost nation of Atlantis. It is believed that the islands were first inhabited around 500 BC, but there are several theories about the origin of its early settlers. One of the widely accepted theories is that the natives of the Canary Islands, widely known as the Guanches, had originally come from the north of Africa, and that they are descendants of the Berbers. The Guanchos lived in mostly caves in large communities, which we can see from the primitive tools found in caves around the island. It is also believed that the Guanchos used stone to build small shelters, which they would cover with a roof made out of branches and leaves.
