WINTER sun, all-inclusive resorts and package holidays are synonymous with Gran Canaria.
But what many people might not know is that the island is also a luxury spa destination.
My new husband and I had booked to visit the Spanish island for our minimoon, just days after tying the knot in Devon.
And a long weekend of being pampered was the perfect way to decompress after our big day.
The popular European escape is not only home to mountains and sand dunes, it also has an array of stunning spa hotels.
Our home for the trip was the four-star Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa, nestled in the charming fishing village of Puerto de Mogan, on the south west coast of the island.
Many of the airy rooms there have balconies overlooking one of the complex’s two vast pools.
But it was the hotel’s Inagua spa that attracted us, with atmospheric colours, lights, sensations, sounds and scents for ultimate relaxation.
There’s a heated indoor pool with massage jets, sauna, aromatherapy steam room, outdoor hot tub and heated stone sun loungers.
Plus you can enjoy a salt therapy pool, which I spent many hours in soothing away the lingering aches and pains of pre-wedding stress.
My favourite part, though, was the treatments.
My Balinese massage was divine — the warm lavender and jasmine oils helped smooth out all the knots in my back.
Other options include a hot stone massage, a head and foot one, and a 90-minute anti-stress treatment.
Feeling suitably refreshed, we set off to explore the extensive grounds, which are laid out like a traditional Canarian village.
The 487-room property sits next to the ancient ruins of the town of Las Crucecitas and boasts sprawling botanical gardens with over 450 species of wildlife, including, fittingly, yellow canaries.
Aside from the spa, the jewel in the hotel’s crown is the food.
Guests can opt for the Tamarona Restaurant buffet, with fresh fish and steak aplenty.
Or, at the Michelin-starred in-house Los Guayres Restaurant, highlights include scarlet shrimp and locally-caught wreckfish, a white fish with a similar flavour to sea bass.
Breakfast is a plentiful affair, with cooked options as well as a waffles, churros and pancakes station.
I was particularly enamoured with the giant Nutella jar you could pump straight on to your plate and adorn with a chocolate flake, hundreds and thousands and dollops of whipped cream and honey — which you could scrape fresh from the honeycomb.
There is even a breakfast cocktail stand serving spicy Bloody Marys and a refreshing Buck’s Fizz.
We avoided sampling too many of these though as we wanted to explore nearby wellness-themed attractions.
First on our list was Gloria Palace San Agustín, where we spent a glorious afternoon at the Thalasso spa, which has a sea water circuit with 34 hydromassage stations.
The island also boasts a Perchel Beach Club, but unlike its Ibiza and Mykonos contemporaries, it’s family friendly, with a kids’ pool and climbing frame.
Friendly staff served us sushi as we lounged on day beds.
Later, we watched the sun set from an infinity pool, sipping frozen daiquiris.
If you fancy dolphin and whale-watching, head to Puerto Rico Marina and hop on the Spirit of the Sea, a catamaran with a glass bottom.
After motoring an hour out into the Atlantic Ocean, we were delighted to see a family of dolphins swim right up to the boat.
There are plenty of other gems inland, so hiring a car is a fun way to discover the white-washed mountain towns.
Our trip wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Maspalomas nature reserve, on the Atlantic’s edge — 400 hectares of rolling sand dunes, some as high as 40ft, make it feel like you’re in the Sahara desert.
Beware of the nudist beach though, which is easily stumbled upon.
The 5H Seaside Palm Beach Hotel is nearby and the perfect spot for lunch by the pool and a visit to its spa and wellness centre.
In a sensationally relaxing hour of Pantai Luar massage, I had my back pummelled with scented medicinal herbs heated in soft cotton bags and smoothed with aromatherapy oil.
It was such a perfect end to our Gran Canaria minimoon that we might do it all again for our honeymoon.
GETTING THERE: Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Gran Canaria from £18.99 each way.
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STAYING THERE: Rooms at the Hotel Cordial Mogan Playa cost at £185 per night.
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OUT & ABOUT: Dolphin and whale- watching trips from €38 (£32) adult, €20 (£17) child.
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