Puerto Mogan Holidays

Visitors to Puerto Mogan, on the south-west coast of the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, soon realise why it's earned the nickname of Little Venice. It's got scenic canals, criss-crossing footbridges and is brimming with waterfront bars and restaurants. Watersports and beach-lazing take centre stage in this fishing village on the bay.

The sandy beach here's sheltered by towering cliffs. There are watersports for thrill-seekers, sunken wrecks for intrepid divers and hidden coves for the merely curious. A change of scenery can be found at Playa de Amadores, a Blue Flag award-winning beach just 20 minutes away by car.

Puerto Mogan's restaurants and cafés serve up a fine sample of Mediterranean classics with a Spanish touch. The Canarian speciality papas arrugadas is a must-try –these skin-on baby potatoes are served with a spicy mojo sauce. Come evening, bag a seat in a harbourfront tapas bar with a chilled glass of wine and watch the light fade over the water.

Within an hour's drive of Puerto Mogan, the island's capital, Las Palmas, mixes up the scene with museums, modern art galleries and a 16th-century cathedral. Take in the epic beach scene at Playa de las Canteras, then hunt for your favourite tapas bar down the maze of backstreets.