Cardenas Real Estate Agent Blog - Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is a vibrant modern island with an extensive road network that allows tourists and locals to explore in relative ease. Of course some people are always eager to take up a challenge and test themselves to the limit. Last weekend 340 brave souls took part in the Gran Canaria Running Challenge from Puerto Mogan to the capital, Las Palmas, a distance of 75 kms.

There was none of this taking the easy option of using main roads, the runners used rough tracks to make their way up to the highest peaks, catching a little rain on the way, and back down through San Telmo park to reach the finishing line.

Give a big cheer for the winner, Alejandro Tejero, the 34 year old recorded a time of 8 hours, 38 minutes and 58 seconds. It was a close call at the end, second placed Antonio Calzadilla was a mere 19 seconds behind. There were several categories, the womens race was won by Cristina Quevedo in 11 hours and 16 minutes, quite a tough day though for everyone involved.

More info: http://www.burbujita.com/campeonatos/index.php?id=9&camp=4

By Cardenas News

For once it’s not just the salt you can feel in the sea air around Gran Canaria, there is a strong feel of excitement and expectancy as the island prepares for the ARC 2008, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. The biggest trans-ocean race is already fully booked with 225 boats and crew from all over the world, all fine tuning for the November 23 departure from Las Palmas.

The race was established in 1986 and has grown in stature and anticipation each year, as crews brace themselves for the 2,700 nautical mile trip to St Lucia in the West Indies, the expected crossing is between 15 and 17 days. Already yachts and catamarans have arrived to get in some practice, and to enjoy the friendly rivalry that goes with the race.

To take part a catamaran must be between 8.23 metres (27 feet) and 18.29 m (29 feet) long, cruising mono-hulls can be slightly longer, up to 25.91m (85 feet). Two weeks before the race start, a full programme of social events swings into action in and around Las Palmas, with the backing of the Gran Canaria tourist board. Barbecues, cocktail parties and mini boat races keep everyone happy, but a whole day is devoted to safety awareness and involves the coastguard.

As the crews put their craft through pre-race training, the magnificent sleek lines of the yachts and catamarans will be seen around the coast, and crews and the large world media presence will all get to see plenty of Gran Canaria to learn about its charms.

By Cardenas News

Gran Canaria is proud of its reputation as an island that attracts families, not just for the sun and beaches, but also for great entertainment. This August that reputation received a big boost when Palmitos Park re-opened to the public, bigger and better than ever.

When fire ravaged the south of Gran Canaria in July 2007, one of the hardest hit places was Palmitos Park, the iconic bird, animal and flower park that had been a magnet for families since it opened in 1980. Large areas of the magnificent gardens were destroyed and 70 animals were killed, leaving the park a mammoth task of re-building.

Just replacing what had been lost was not an option, the park owners decided to go a stage further and add new attractions to the park and make further commitments to long term nurturing of endangered plant and animal life with an uncreased bredding programme.

All the favourite colourful parrots are still here and featured in their own regular shows through the day, as well as similar displays from birds of prey and exotic birds. There is also an orchid house, cactus garden and butterfly house, plus plenty of food and drink stops. Car parking can cope with 600 cars a day and there is easy access by bus from the surrounding areas such as Puerto Rico and Mogan.

Maspalomas is in the heart of the tourist south and also boasts 2 large golf courses and excellent night life. It’s no wonder it is a popular and thriving area for people to settle down and make a new home.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Palmitos Park
• Barranco de los Palmitos
• Maspalomas
• Tel (34) 928797070
• Open 7 days a week 10 am to 6 pm
• Adults 22 euros, Children (3 to 12) 16.50
• On line booking  10% discount 

By Cardenas News - picture from Flickr, Isemantics

It’s a tough time for tourism as the financial squeeze is felt around the world, so people are looking to the travel industry to take a lead. A quick check on where the travel experts have chosen for their annual get together, will underline the ever constant attractions of Gran Canaria. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) are heading for Maspalomas from Monday October 6 to Wednesday October 8, and their presence will alert many potential holiday makers to Gran Canaria as the place to get away from the gloom and doom that is hitting them every day in the media.

Around 1,200 delegates are expected to head for the Maspalomas Conference Centre at Meloneras, from travel agents great and small. They couldn’t have asked for a better setting, just 700 metres from the beach, with 8 out of the 10 chosen delegate hotels within walking distance of the convention and 200 hotel rooms donated free by the Gran Canaria tourist board.

By Cárdenas News - photo from Flickr, Xosé Castro

We have a new shopping centre in Arguineguín with more than 1.200 m² shopping area and 200 parking spaces. The shopping centre has shops as Natura, Burbujita, Springfield, Women’s secret among many others and of course the supermarket Supercor from El Corte Inglés.

Arguineguín and the whole municipality of Mogan has now more to offer than ever being highly demanded as location for second home residences.

By Cárdenas News

The Transport Counsellor in Gran Canaria, Juan Ramón Hernández, has just signed the contract for the construction of the new motorway Puerto Rico-Mogán. The amount of the contract is 111,7 million Euros and the construction time will be 4 years. The works will start as soon as the land is made ready for construction.

The stretch will be ONLY 6,3 km. long and will have 2 dual-carriageways.

This means you will be able to reach Puerto de Mogán from Arguineguín safely and in NO MORE THAN 10 minutes!

No doubt that this, together with the currently attractive property prices in Gran Canaria (as in other places in Spain, many developers and also private sellers are struggling with their bank loans and have therefore reduced their prices significantly) promises a very interesting middle-term value increase for property investments in such an exclusive and charming place as Puerto de Mogán! 

Source: www.maspalomasahora.com

Marta has got many years experience in the real estate business across Europe and will be located in our office in Puerto Rico.

Marta speaks Spanish, English, German, Hungarian and Russian.

Take a look at our team at www.cardenas-grancanaria.com

By Cardenas News

Jose Maria Pereira Neves, is Prime Minister of the Cape Verde islands, so know a bit about great beaches and popular holiday destinations. But even the most experienced travellers are impressed by the unique attractions of Gran Canaria, and the visiting politician remarked that “this island has towering mountains and a landscape that is full of life”

The Prime Minister arrived on August 5 with his female companion, and personal security, and stayed at the Anfi Emerald Club in Anfi Tauro Golf & Luxury Resorts, near Puerto Rico. Staying for a week in a deluxe penthouse, the PM had views over the 18 hole championship golf course, one of several in the south. It was a mix of business and pleasure on this trip, the Prime Minister met Cape Verde consul officials, as well as several leading Canarian politicians. There have always been strong links between the island groups, both part of the larger area of Macronesia.

The main resort centres of the south, such as Maspalomas, Arguineguin, Puerto Rico and Mogan, are always popular for visitors from all over the World, and many choose to settle in the area. Cardenas Real Estate is a family firm established in the south since 1980, they know all the best places and can cut through the legal maze to make it easier to embrace the sun.

You never know who is visiting the Gran Canaria, politicians, celebrities and business leaders all have it down on their list of top places to relax. It’s hardly surprising, there is something for everyone in Gran Canaria, and it is a great place to live.

Even as Gordon Brown braves it out on holiday in Suffolk, Brits are jumping on planes and heading out of the UK at a rate of 1,000 every day, according to the Office for National Statistics. Talk of the credit crunch was expected to deter people from upping sticks and heading for sunnier shores, but it’s not, and Gran Canaria is perfectly placed to welcome new arrivals with open arms.

It seems that many factors are combining together to make people finally snap, and chase their dream of living in the sun. Foreign Currency Direct, did an extensive survey to find out what is driving people out of the UK. The cost of living was top with 51 %, and the UK weather came a close second on 49 % but it’s not just negative reasons fuelling the change, many people want a better quality of life for their family. There is so much interest in re-locating, that The Daily Express recently ran a major feature on the trend in their, Your Money pullout.

Gran Canaria has all the things that the British are looking for, great beaches, all year round sun, and a relaxed and friendly way of life. Making the big move will always be a tough decision and involve a big commitment but with the help of local experts like Cardenas Real Estate , you can avoid a lot of the stress and get experienced advice to make sure you find the right property from among their vast portfolio.

The World is shrinking every day as flights increase to link major cities with the sun, sea and sand that makes Gran Canaria such a popular place to visit and invest in property. As from November, there will be a weekly flight linking Moscow to Gran Canaria, spreading the word to 350 new tourists a week, that’s nearly 20,000 per year.

Gran Canaria has a very open and welcoming attitude to all nationalities, and the Russians can add the warm welcome to the many other qualities that are sure to impress them as they discover the island. Las Palmas council are thinking ahead and tourism councillor, Aday Ruiz, has been out to Moscow with representatives of Right Travel, the Canarian firm behind the flights, to smooth the way for our new visitors. The council estimate the new link could be worth 40 million euros per year in revenue for Gran Canaria.

Once our Russian friends have tasted life in Gran Canaria and fall in love with the island, like so many before, they will be pleased to know that Cardenas Real Estate are not only steeped in knowledge of the local property investment market, they also speak a wide range of languages including Russian. That’s one big barrier that can be removed straight away as Russian visitors look to buy a holiday home, welcome to Gran Canaria.

By Cardenas News