This guide includes a section detailing Gran Canaria's history, nine features covering aspects of the island's life and culture, ranging from the Canario habit of popping into a bar for a rum at nine in the morning to the expatriate sub-communities of criminals, businessmen and the idle rich, a region by region visitor's guide to the sights and a comprehensive Travel Tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. It also features top-notch photographs and nine maps.

Maps: Canary Islands; Northern & Central Gran Canaria; Las Palmas; Southern Gran Canaria; Fuerteventura; Lanzarote; Western Isles; Inside front cover - Gran Canaria; Inside back cover - Las Palmas. Introduction & History; Historic Islands; Decisive Dates; Island Myths; Indigenous People; The Conquest; Colonial Islands; The Struggle for Identity; Intrepid Explorers; The British Presence; Stepping Stone. Features: The Islanders; Expatriate Life; News and Gossip; Island Combat; Festivals; Island Food; Flora and Fauna; Water; The Verdino; Islands of Fir.; Places: General Introduction; Las Palmas; East of the Island; Central Summits; The North and West; Southern Beaches; Fuerteventura - The North; Fuerteventura - The South; Lanzarote - The South; Lanzarote - The North; The Western Isles. Picture Stories: Cesar Manrique's Legacy; Canary Birds; Parque Nacional Timanfaya. Information Panels: Columbus and the Canaries; Franco's Coup; A Major Port; Cave Dwelling; Rural Tourism; Desert Life; Lava Farmers. Travel Tips - Highlights: Getting Acquainted; Planning the Trip; Practical Tips; Getting Around; Where to Stay; Where to Eat; Nightlife; Shopping; Outdoor Activities; Sport; Language.