Cruising off the coast of the Gran Canaria has always been fun but this boat tour makes it even better. You can now hop off at any of the ports the Blue Bird boat docks in and wander around before hopping back on when the next one sails into port.

The itineraries vary and cover four coastal towns in the southwest – Arguineguin, Anfi del Mar, Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogan. So you can tick off sleepy fishing villages like Anfi, bubbly seaside spots like Puerto Rico and Arguineguin or more dashing towns like Puerto de Mogan.

Each has its own charm – and nowhere can the colour of a town be better appreciated than during the weekly market. In Arguineguin, it's every Tuesday, while in Puerto de Mogan, there are two. Monday is the farmers' market while Friday sees the town come to life for the ethnic and gastronomic market – African drums, wooden wind chimes and Canarian cheeses are among the stall buys.