San Agustin Holidays

San Agustin has got itself a rather good location on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria. This quiet place is tucked away on the south coast with a crowd-free beach and a relaxed nightlife, not to mention some great restaurants. And it’s teamed up with two very useful neighbours – Playa del Ingles, which comes with vibrant bars and clubs, and Maspalomas, with its famous Sahara-style sand dunes.

Even when the locals hit the beach at weekends, the dark-coloured sands of San Agustin have plenty of room for sunbathing. As for the water, the sheltered cove here means it’s nice and calm – perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving. And there are some great seafood restaurants on the promenade, which runs all the way to the dune-backed beach at Maspalomas.

Back in the day, the only way to get around Gran Canaria’s interior was by the Caminos Reales, ancient pathways used by the Guanche, or natives. These days, the old walking tracks are filled with hikers on their way to the island’s national parks and nature reserves. Route-wise, there’s a mix of easy and challenging.

Half an hour away in Fataga, there’s Mundo Aborigen – a recreation of an ancient Canarian village – where you can see life-size models of the native Guanche tribe. Plus, there’s always boutique shopping in the capital, Las Palmas, a 40-minute drive away.