Canary Islands. An authentic paradise in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of northeast Africa, that spreads across seven islands and several other islets on a blue, magnificent sea. A place to discover, undoubtedly.

With slightly over 600 square miles, Gran Canaria is the second largest of those islands, just after Tenerife, and the second most populated as well. Its capital city, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, sits on the northeast corner of the island, just by the peninsula La Isleta.

Upon arrival: Gando airport welcomes the tourist

The Gran Canaria airport, also known as Gando Airport, is one of the six highest-ranked air terminals of Spain, and besides receiving local travelers it also conveys traffic from stopover flights between Europe and South America. There’s plenty of airlines that fly carrying thousands of tourists every year from different countries up to Gran Canaria.

Its transportation facilities include several roads from many places in the island. There’s also a special bus that gives service at most towns in Gran Canaria. Taxi services are frequently requested, since distances between the airport and downtown Las Palmas are not too large.

Hotels and lodging

Canary Islands in general, and of course Gran Canaria in particular have developed large touristic infrastructures during the last decades. Each and every one of the seven main islands features highly developed lodging places, with 4- to 5-star hotels and everything the demanding tourists of today request.

Many hotels are located in Las Palmas, some of them just a few blocks away, and others even in front of the sunny beaches of La Cícer, Playa de Las Canteras o Playa Chica.

However, as any tourist says, the finest sands and gorgeous seas can be found only on the south coast of Gran Canaria. Maspalomas is one of the world-renowned touristic resources of the whole island. And there HD Hotels means an excellent lodging option, with plenty of services and only 5 minutes away from Playa del Inglés.

What to do in Gran Canaria

Wonderful landscapes and a perfect weather for any type of tourism, from quiet, relaxed beach sunbathing, to surfing strong riptides, forest hiking or biking to rappel mountaineering.

With an average temperature about 18 C in winter and 26 in the summer and more than 300 sunny days a year, Gran Canaria weather conditions are more than ideal for vacations during any season. Even in the midst of winter, Jan-Feb, the temperature does not go below 15 C during the day.

Besides the traditional sun worshipping and beach activities, these are some other options to enjoy nature in Gran Canaria:

• Golf: Eight class-A golf courses, four near Las Palmas and the other four in the south coast, not too far from Maspalomas.
• Rappel: This adventure sport is one of the most demanded by mountaineers, since Gran Canaria features many attractive rocky places.
• Hiking: A healthy practice that allows the tourist to know those intricate and remote places of the island. Thera are a dozen of hiking routes, called senderos around Gran Canaria.
• Biking: Lots of places out in the wilderness to go cycling.
• Horse riding: A different approach to enjoy beautiful landscapes.

Driving around the island

The GC1 is the Gran Canaria’s main highway and runs from the capital city Las Palmas in the northeast, to the cities and tourist places in the South, running parallel to the east coast, and rounding more than half the coastline down to Mogán harbor.

Parallel to the north coast, the GC-2 highway runs from Las Palmas to Agaete on the northwest corner, covering some 25 miles. Actually Gran Canaria is a relatively small territory and every place becomes near, especially if driving a car.

Many car rental agencies offer the service to tourists and local people, like TopCar outside Las Palmas.

Some advice for tourists arriving in Islas Canarias

Any newcomer to the Canary Islands will find these few tips pretty useful:

1. Sun protection is a must, especially during summer. Light clothes, hats and sunglasses should accompany the tourist anywhere outdoors during the day.
2. Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Bottled spring water is found at every kiosk and market across the island.
3. Caution must be taken when entering the sea. It becomes deep within a few meters in and big waves can be frequent. Canary Islands are located in the middle of an oceanic current, not to mention the winds that frequently blow. Usually beaches are signaled with color flags: blue, meaning safe for swimming; yellow, only for skillful swimmers; and red, where entering the sea is banned.
4. Electric power uses the standard European 220 voltage system. Care must be taken, otherwise ordinary 110V devices could be permanently damaged.

Standard tips in bars and restaurants are around 5% to 10% of the bill.

Go partying can become a routine if you don’t attend to special and outstanding clubs in world’s best cities recognized for their nightlife. So now we are going to talk about the best clubs where you can book and enjoy VIP areas and tables to avoid the crowds on the dance floors but, at the same time, be able to enjoy the music of the best DJs, the company of your friends and the exclusive drink service without waiting at the bar. Let’s take a look at the best cities to going out and their best nightclubs.

London

The United Kingdom’s capital has a large selection of the best and most exclusive and luxury nightclubs in the world. We are talking about Cirque Le Soir, Tape, Drama, The Box, Libertine, Cuckoo, Toy Room, Scandal, Reign, Charlie, Maddox and Mahiki Kensington. In addition, there is the possibility to book London Vip Tables in these clubs and enjoy the best night of your lives. Prices are around £1000 for 10 guests, and the service includes VIP access, bottle spend included in the minimum, designated hostess service for the duration of the party and a personal concierge, so we encourage you to treat yourselves one night.

Barcelona

What can we say about Barcelona? Without any doubt, one of the best cities in the world, if not the best, to go out at night and people are very cheerful. There are hundreds of clubs, but if we have made an exclusive selection, we choose Opium, Bling Bling, Pacha, Eclipse Hotel W, Otto Zutz, Catwalk, Shoko, CDLC, Café del Mar and Hyde. Of course, all of them have a Barcelona Vip Tables booking service where you can enjoy a special area for you and your friends and make that night something unique. Prices range between €250 and €1200 for 5 guests, depending on whether the table is (first, second or third row). The service include fast track entry, bar spend as per minimum spend included, designated hostess service and a personal concierge, so, it’s worth it!

Marbella

Marbella! The jewel of La Costa del Sol, near Malaga, one of the most beautiful areas in southern Spain. We can only imagine a fantastic night strolling through its beaches, marinas and, of course, dancing in its most exclusive nightclubs where the jet set meets every season of the year, not only in summer. If you are looking for the best clubs in Marbella, here you have them: Olivia Varele, Starlite, Aqwa Mist, Tibu, Mirage, News Cafe, Funky Buddha, Nikki Beach, Opium Beach, Nao, Plaza Beach and Sisu. The Marbella Vip Tables cost about €850 and €2500 for 10 guests depending on the club you choose and the services included, which can vary a lot. This is real luxury!

Ibiza

We leave the jackpot to the end: Ibiza! No matter which club you choose: Pacha, Ushuaïa, Amnesia, Hï Ibiza, Privilege, Ocean Beach, Es Paradis, Lío Ibiza, Destino Ibiza or Blue Marlin. You can book Ibiza Vip Tables from € 250 per person and you will live an unforgettable night in the best party island in the Mediterranean.

Have we convinced you to spend a VIP night in London, Barcelona, Marbella or Ibiza? Think of your birthday party, a bachelor or bachelorette party or a special anniversary and we are sure that the answer will be an emphatic YES!

Peru is one of the most popular trips in South America, where you will find the Inca ruins, the historic cities, the wild nature of the Amazon, incredible landscapes of valleys, deserts and beaches, along with one of the best cuisines in the world, with the ceviche as a star dish, which make this trip exceed all your expectations.

What to see in Peru?

There are many interesting and beautiful places to visit in Peru such as Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Arequipas or Valle de Colca.  The impressive Andes mountains are cut by footpaths left by ancient civilizations shape dramatic landscapes that can only be explored on foot. This is why Peru is a dream destination for trekking through its staggering arrray of trails winding through Inca ruins and lost cities.

Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is the country’s most recognized trail. In just 26 miles it manages to combine beautiful mountain scenery, lush cloud-forest, subtropical jungle and, of course, a stunning mix of Inca paving stones, ruins and tunnels. The final destination of the trail just cannot be beaten: Machu Picchu, the mysterious “Lost City of the Incas”. You can make this inca trail in 4 days or in 2 days.

Salkatany trail

Salkantay trek is a high altitude 46 mile in Cusco region considered to be a less touristy alternative to the famous Inca Trail. It takes you through some incredible nature areas of the Andes with breathtaking scenery and amazing wild life. Salkatany trekking includes a visit to Inca sites: Llacpata, Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes.

Required documents

Depending on the country of origin, more or less documents are requested to enter Peru, and some ports of entry, including land borders, require you to fill out an Andean Migration Card.

Passport

To enter Peru, it is an essential requirement to present a valid passport. Make sure your passport has been stamped on arrival, or you may not be able to enter Peru again. Foreigners must always carry photo identification with them while in Peru. A passport photocopy is acceptable.

Visa

Most of the countries of America –including the US- and Western Europe do not require a tourist visa to enter Peru. Tourists can stay for 183 non-extendable days. For longer business, study or work stays it is necessary to previously request the corresponding visa to the Peruvian consulates.

Currency

The “Nuevo Sol” is the official currency of Peru. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Peru, but you will always get a better rate paying in soles than in dollars, and soles may be necessary for low-cost purchases. Credit cards are accepted in most of the cities in the country, and bank machines are plentiful there. When visiting other parts of the country, be sure to carry enough cash. Most prices are negotiable in Peru. Learn the going rate and negotiate fairly: Americans have a reputation abroad for overtipping and overpaying.

Health advice

The sanitary conditions in Peru are good, especially in the cities. In recent years, the supply of health services has been modernized and increased, both hospitals and clinics provide adequate care, but it is always advisable to have health insurance for your trip.

Vaccines

There are no mandatory vaccines for entering Peru, although routine vaccinations are wise for Peru, including vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, flu, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and polio. If you wish to visit the Amazon region of the country, the Ministry of Health recommends vaccination against yellow fever – at least 10 days before the trip to be effective.

Watch out the sun, the altitude and the weather

Visitors to Peru need to take precautions with the altitude. Walk slowly, keep very well hydrated, get as much sleep as possible, and eat lightly to minimize negative effects. Oxygen is available free of charge at most hotels to help. Drinking coca tea and, especially, chewing fresh coca leaves can help deal with the effects of altitude. Also, UV rays are very strong above sea level, so wear sunscreen and a hat, even if the day is cloudy

The best season to visit the country is between September and December. In Peru it is usually very cold in the morning and then very hot at noon. Try to wear many layers of clothing so that you can take off as you need. And carry a backpack to carry the jacket, the scarf just in case.

Safety tips

Standard precautions apply for most of these destinations, including the need to be wary of pickpockets in crowded tourist. There are some neighborhoods in Lima that are best not visited by tourists, especially at night areas –check the Peruvian Government Website for further advice… When traveling to and from the airport, it’s wise to keep valuables out of sight, for example, underneath your legs instead of on an empty seat.