PUERTO DE LA ALDEA

The little harbor town of Puerto de la Aldea, sheltering under a mountainous cape to the north, was long the only practical means of reaching San Nicolas de Tolentino just inland. The puerto has a small selection of fish restaurants and a promenade, with distant views of Tenerife, leading south along the rocky beach. Behind, among pine trees, is an extensive picnic area, with tables and seating.

Beyond, in the barranco bed, lies a freshwater pond, or charco the finishing point of the famous bajada de las ramas ('bringing down of the branches)  celebrated each September In a ceremony of pre-Hispanic origin, local people would bring down palm branches and beat the water with them in the hope of rain, or possibly as a fertility rite. In 1766 the local bishop was excommunicated for tolerating the bajada. Nowadays, it is more of a water festival, with much excited leaping and splashing in the charco, brandishing bunches of vegetation and dancing to the band.

Fishing harbor and eating at waterside restaurants. If you continue strolling to the very end of the harbor, the views out to sea from the (not very high) terrace of the EI Faro (The Lighthouse) bar/restaurant make it a pleasure to linger over a drink. Diversions include a trip in the Yellow Submarine , a genuine submersible (free bus service from major resorts). You can gaze at the splendours of the deep for 40 minutes out of your very own porthole.

For the more active, the choice extends from diving day or night or learning to dive, to sailing (monohull or catamaran, with or without a skipper) and deep sea sport fishing for marlin, tuna or barracuda. Shark fishing is also popular here. Trips usually last for about six hours and the price includes bait, tackle, rod and reel Spectating passengers pay a reduced price.

Puerto de Mogan also has an excellent sandy beach. If you want some exercise followed by a quiet swim, you could walk along the road (looks closed, but is not) from the village to the next beach westwards at Veneguera There are plans to build an urbanizacion there. Puerto de Mogan the most westerly resort in Gran Canaria and, some say, the loveliest