Guanabara Park Apartments

Holiday in Jul 08 with my husband and really enjoyed Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria. Lots to do for the adventurous but also relaxing for those who want to chill.
The commercial centre is great for bars and restaurants and caters for all so your not too young or too old for Puerto Rico.
The beach is ok and you will find a sunbed because the locals sit on the sand on towels as the sunbeds are 12 euros for 2.
Guanbara park was great, it catered for our needs and the location was brilliant as it was away from the noise and crowd but not too far in the taxi (3 mins - 3 euros) or 25 mins walk which is not too bad.
15 mins walk to the beach which is ok as it is quite breezy there so won't feel the heat too much when walking, however can feel very hot without the breeze in July.
Not great if you can't walk much as it is very hilly.
We didn't find it too expensive, thought food and drinnk was reasonable and foudn great places to eat.
The apts was ideal but had no AC and have to pay for a fan. Also have to pay for the TV.
The pool at the apts was excellent and the sunbathing area was great.
The food wasn't brilliant at the apts but there are plenty of places to eat around the apts. Its ok to have a quick snack.
Issue with flight with Thomas cook because they are usually during the night both ways and we were delayed on the way there and on return.
Overall we had a great time and would recommend to anyone. We would go back.

1 reader found this review helpful

On arrival receptionist was less than helpful, took us 15 minutes to find the apartment with the inadequate maps and signs.
Firts impressions of the apartment were good, the apartment was clean spacious and reasonably well equiped for self catering, a separate bedroom with twin beds and a large wardrobe.
From our point of view there were to many stairs from our apartment to the main pool, reception & restaraunt area, so if stairs are a problem consider an upper level apartment or other accomodation with lifts.
If you are self catering there is a 'supermarket' on sight which is ill equipped but sell some essentials like water which for those of you who don't know, you can't drink from the tap and it is worth that bit extra if you are considering carrying shooping up the hill from another shop. Taxis are cheap (just ask receptionist and they will call one for you)but it can mount up over a week.
Food on sight is good and value for money compared to eating out, only fault with the menu is it didn't change while we were there.
Pool and surrounding area is quite small, not a lot of loungers, so if that's what you want get there early.
Entertainment was actually quite good, a bit cheesy at times but the entertainments manager was a good host and did keep things going.
Good if your on a budget, worth considering, just remember it's up hill, mind you so is most of Gran canaria.

1 reader found this review helpful

I have been back a week. The room was basic and clean. But the food at the pool bar was a bit bland. It is not for families with young children as there is nothing to do and the apartments are situated in the hills.
The best bit of staying at the Guanabara Park was the evening entertainment which was hosted by Paul the entertainments manager and also the pool. One thing i will give a 10 out of 10 for is the cocktails, ( which i had plenty of). I have ben to these apartments twice and this second ime was not as good as the first, but that was mostly due to the company i had.
This is mostly suited for couples or large groups of friends.

Have stayed here twice on my many visits to puerto rico. Apartments are basic but clean and a fine size for a couple. Nice bar serving snacks and friendly staff. No lifts and a lot of stairs but apart from that i cannot fault them and as i say i have been many times and stayed a lot of different apartments. In a quieter area which is good as its peaceful but only a 15 min walk, 3 min taxi to the night life and even less to the beach. Id definitely stay again!!

just got back from a fantastic holiday staying at the guanabara park. me and my partner had a fab time and couldnt belive how great the weather was. the apartments were very clean and were kept like this through out our stay. the view from our balcony was just great lookng out to sea. up by the pool area was also clean and plenty of sun beds for everyone so no need to reserve them with your towels lol. we would deff go back to puerto rico but maybe stay in another hotel near to the town that hill just kills you walking back up lol. overall had a wicked holiday.

2 readers found this review helpful

Room had a great view of the harbour, and the balcony is in sunlight all afternoon and evening; however, it gets too hot to make use of it until quite late! Accomodation is basic, but you know that when you book. Pigeons and collared doves are a bit of a messy nuisance, but you get used to it!
There are facilities to cook, including oven, kettle, toaster, coffee maker, pots & pans, etc. but we didn't use much as the food in town was reasonably priced and more fun than eating in! It is also easy to buy tomatoes, ham, croissants etc. for a light meal if you prefer not to cook.
No double beds only twin, which is nothing more than a small inconvenience, but the rooms are clean and tidy with showers that do exactly as you ask them to!!
Towels changed regularly, sheets less often we suspected, but the maid was friendly, hard working and even washes up if you leave anything out, bless her.
Prices on site are not that good, but once in town and the competition bites you can drink cheaply and eat very reasonably. many of the staff on site are not exactly grumpy but also not the most friendly. The 'entertainments manager' as well as the entertainment leave a lot to be desired - a bit too Hi-de-Hi for my liking, but keep people of a certain age and others of a certain alcoholic disposition happy!
Small-ish swimming pool, but lovely, and plenty of sun beds most of the time.
Yes, Guanabara Park is up a hill but it's the sort of easy walk you need to keep down the weight gain when on holiday - going down, that is! Going up needs a taxi more often than not - 3-4 euros a pop, so cheap enough. Reception, or bar staff, will always call a taxi for you, too.
Do go to Mogan - yes, it has a lot of German influences now, but it is lovely, and do go by ferry. 10 euros return trip and really enjoyable. Also, go to Maspalomas faro. Great shops (really expensive brand name shops, in the main) and lovely restaurants. Buses go pretty regularly, but they don't come back after about 5.30. Instead of paying for a taxi back, though, get a taxi to Playa des Ingles (stay a while if you like) and then catch a bus back to Rico, saving around £10-12.
Rico itself is pretty damn good. The better shopping is at the Shopping Centre, and yes, everywhere you go you be invited into bars, resaturants, shops etc. and it can be a nuisance but only if you let it. Just politely say no and carry on. The real nuisances are the reps trying to get you to go to Anfi. Apparently it is very nice, but I wouldn't go on principle, having been approached over a dozen times. Mostly, a polite 'no thanks' does the job, and usually you get a polite acceptance. There is one git, with Birmingham-style accent, though on the north side of the beach who is as rude as you like if you don't sign up with him. Idiot.
You can pay 3-4 euros for beer in the restaurants, but we found a lovely little bar selling pints of San Miguel for just one euro between 1.00 and 7.00 each afternoon. Grrrrrrreat!!!!!!
There is a good choice of food, ranging from their idea of English, to Spanish, to Italian, Chinese et al and their is some variation in price so shop around.
Main taxi rank is south of the park south of the Shopping Centre and the Bus Station is to the West of that.
I dunno what else to say - but if anything comes to mind I'll pop back and do an update if that's possible.
Just go - we had a fantastic time in Rico.

fantastic appartments freindly staff couldnt fault it at all going back in november 2008 for 2 weeks would highly recomend to anyone loved everything about theses appt very clean towels changed every day and also bedding i give this hotel 8/10. I love puerto rico have been several times even went for my honeymoon and these are the best appt i have been in they make you feel very welcome and are very helpfull. if you get a chance go to guanabara apartments you wont be dissapointed

We have jusr returned from a family holiday at Guanabara Park, which we all thouraghly enjoyed!
Staff where all friendly, entertainment was good!
The hotel was immaculately clean, pool lovely and facilities all good.
The only dowm side to the holiday was the mountain that you had to walk down in order to go to any shops or the beach etc. however it is less than 3 Euro's for a taxi.
Reccomend this hotel for everbody, after all your holiday is what YOU make it!!!

I know it was quite a long time ago that I visited these apts but I would just like to say that I had a fantastic time. The staff were friendly, the food at the pool side bar was delicious and the entertainment was never ending. I think there was something going on every day and night and unless its changed now, it was a massive plus. I played in darts and table football tournaments etc and remember there being fashion shows, parrot shows, game show night....you name it! Lovely pool, lovely gardens. Abit of a walk but it keeps you fit! Would love to go back again!

My boyfriend and I arrived at the Guanabara Park on 21st April 2008 for one week. I was initially suprized at how clean the apartment was...everything was spotless and continued to be spotless for the whole duration of the week. The maid mopped the floors everyday, changed the towels, cleaned everywhere and even did our washing up! The rooms are basic and clean but well presented...exactly what you would expect for a 2-3* apartment! My only problem with the room was that the beds were slightly on the hard side. A bottle of water, sweets and toiletries were provided on arrival.
The pool area is nice and clean although, we did only spend one morning by the pool as we preffered Amadores beach, as it is lovely.
The view from the apartments are amazing, you can see the harbour...we sat out on the balcony (which was a good size) every night.
The staff at the apartments are nice and friendly and will phone for a taxi etc for you.
The apartments are at the top of a big hill, this wasn't a problem for us as we enjoyed the walking. It takes about 10 minutes to walk to Puerto Rico beach but maybe 20 to walk back. A taxi is only 3 euros though.
The resort of Puerto Rico itself is nice, although it is quieter than Playa Del Ingles on the evenings...which was fine for us. We had some lovely meals in the main shopping centre, and in the small shopping centre on the way down the hill from the Guanabara Park...I would particulary recommend the one called El Cenador. However, I would not recommend the Europa Centre.
Another place worth a visit from Puerto rico on the boat trip or by bus/taxi is Puerto de Mogan...its a very quiet, pretty town.
Overall, I would recommend the Guanabara Park and Puerto Rico to anyone who doesn't mind walking up the hills, as it was a great holiday that we both thoroughly enjoyed. The weather was also excellent...30 degrees at the start of the week and it hit 40 degrees at the end of the week!