Island of Gran Canaria

Day 1 Arrival in the Canary Islands

On arrival to Gran Canaria airport, a private taxi transfer is included (approx 1hr) to your hotel in Agaete, on the island’s rugged north-west coast. Arrival at your accommodation, situated just outside the town amidst pineapple and banana plantations, with time to relax by the pool to start off your holiday.

Day 2  On the Camino Real via Mirador Vuelta de la Paloma 6.5 miles 10,5km, 525m in ascent and 650m in descent, 4.5hrs walking time.

After a delicious breakfast, you start your first walk right from the hotel entrance. All over the Canary Islands, the shortest route is by way of the nearest Barranco (at least, in the dry season) and you walk up among bamboo-like fronds of rice. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to select a light-weight yet very strong walking stick, which may be very useful throughout the trip.

In the village of San Pedro, you start your ascent along the Camino Real to Montaña Bibique (645m), a rugged outcropping at the top of steep cliffs, with fabulous views over Agaete Valley. Then you walk further on, to the vista point at Mirador Vuelta de la Paloma (850m), where you look out over several valleys. The descent from Puerto de las Nieves follows a narrow gravel path along the ridge. Bus or taxi back to Agaete.
Please note: If you are afraid of heights, you should do the route there-and-back. Plan to retrace your steps from the Mirador back to the hotel.

Day 3  From Agaete to Tejeda 10 miles 16km, 1300m in ascent and 700m in descent, 7.5 hrs walking time.

Views of an impressive summit of La Cumbre on the way to your next accommodation, where you’ll spend three days at a comfortable hotel situated in Tejeda, high up in the mountains. After a short taxi transfer (10min), you walk up the valley to reach an elevation of 485m, then go straight on up along the ancient Camino Real through a remote ravine. After 2 hrs walking, you’ll have done 555m in ascent! From the village of Fagajesto, you encounter a section on a tarmac road, but the route is free of traffic and you walk along a high ridge surrounded by pastures, barns, flocks of sheep and dairies where cheese is made. Stop to rest a bit before you begin the second steep ascent of the day, following footpaths through the fir forests near Galdar to reach an elevation of 1715m.

Then you start your descent to the crossroads at Cruz de Tejeda. Time to stop for some refreshment – a cold beer or some hot chocolate – before you walk down off the ridge, where 25-degree temperatures will have you stripping down to your T-shirt! When Misty and cool up high, temperatures are Agaete may be some 15 degrees warmer. The rest of the descent, to Tejeda, takes you down the south side of an extinct volcanic crater, with views of the sea. To make the walk a bit easier, we recommend riding with the luggage transport to Fagajesto (you save 2-3 hrs walking time and some 600m in ascent).

Day 4  Around Roque Nublo Walking route: 8.1 miles 13km, 840m in ascent, 460m in descent, 5.5 hrs walking time.

This walk traverses the gorgeously steep terrain around Roque Nublo, a rocky outcropping teetering on the edge of a plateau. This may not be the highest peak on the island but it is certainly the most easily identifiable, as it’s visible from almost anywhere on the island. The walk starts directly from your front door. After 1km the tarmac gives way to steep paths which zigzag up toward Roque Nublo.

The peak’s volcanic origins become evident higher up and you gaze hundreds of meters down steeply eroded ravines. On the descent, you follow a different route – through a peaceful fir forest – to reach the col where you can catch a bus back to Tejeda. If you miss the bus, or just feel like walking further, you can continue down along the old Camino Real (some sections surfaced in tarmac) back to the village (this adds 2 hours and 7,25km to your walk, with 450m extra in descent, 75m extra in ascent).

Day 5  Walk from Tejeda via Altavista 8.43 miles 13,5km, 425m in ascent and 375m in descent, 4.5 hrs walking time.

After 3 long walking routes, today you do one of the loveliest walks on this program over Altavista ridge, at the edge of Tamadaba Natural Park on a huge extinct crater (caldera). You’ll walk all day in the sun, with clouds below you and sweeping views all the way to Tenerife. The same bus which takes you to the start of the walk in the morning will pick you up in the afternoon in Artenara.

After the walk, you’ll have time to visit the Spice Centre in Tejeda, for insight on the island’s traditional use of medicinal plants. There are a botanical garden and laboratory, and you’ll have the option of sampling different spices. Tejeda also has a small ethnographic museum and cultural centre with ongoing exhibits. This evening, enjoy the sunset from the hotel (roof-top) terrace, with the silhouette of Bentayga Peak in the background.

Day 6 From Tejeda to La Lechuza 7.8 miles 12,5km, 500m in ascent, 700m in descent, 5 hrs walking time.

After a short 10min transfer to La Culata (elevation 1225m), you begin a walking route which takes you up over la Cumbre toward the green north sector of the island. The first part of the ascent (up to Roque Nublo, by way of yesterday’s route) gets you to 1620m. Then you follow the ridge for about an hour, enjoying views to Gran Canaria’s highest peak, Pico de las Nieves (1951m). Your descent follows footpaths and rural tracks all the way to your accommodation. Unfortunately, to reach La Lechuza there’s no way to avoid doing the last 2.5km on the tarmac. But your reward is great: a swim in the pool awaits!
Optional ascent to Pico de las Nieves adds an additional 6km and 2.5hrs walking, with an extra 285m in ascent/descent.

Day 7  Walking route OR Visit to Las Palmas 9.6 miles 15,5km, 715m in ascent/descent, 6.5 hrs walking time.

Today you choose between a long, demanding walk through ravines north of la Cumbre OR a day trip to Las Palmas. The stunning part of the walking route, aside from the stupendous views, is the variety of vegetation found in the barrancos, where all sorts of fruit, vegetables and even chestnut trees are grown. If you decide to visit Las Palmas today, you start off with a walk to San Mateo (45min, 2.75km, mostly downhill) There, you catch a bus to Las Palmas de G.C. which drops you off in the historic town centre known as La Vegueta.

In addition to the town’s interesting Castilian-style colonial architecture, you also have Santa Ana Cathedral and the Casa de Colon, where Christopher Columbus was a lodger for a time before undertaking his long journey overseas. There’s also the Museo Canario, with the island’s best collection of archaeological artefacts. At the end of the day, bus back to San Mateo and walk/taxi back to your hotel.

Day 8  Departure