Home » Spain - Island of Gran Canaria
Join us on our walking holidays in Gran Canaria and is available as a self-guided walking tour in Spain. At first glance on arrival, when compared to the beauty of La Gomera or La Palma, Gran Canaria is almost a fright, but don’t let that put you off! Dry terrain, poorly-planned building and farming in hot-houses. As you cross over to the north coast, near Galdar, the terrain opens up. At the end of the motorway, a true marvel appears: Agaete Valley with its veritable oasis of banana, pineapple and avocado plantations with tiny white villages, exotic palms and colourful bougainvillaea.
Begin walking in Gran Canaria as you start to explore the mountainous terrain on this extraordinary island. As is often the case, the north side of the island is lush and green, while the south is much more arid. Extremely vertical landscapes drop down into the Atlantic, with deeply carved ravines, high plateaus with pastures, bay laurel woods, fir forests and terraced farms with almond orchards and prickly pear cacti. Gran Canaria’s volcanic and sculpted terrain plummets from the heart of the island, la Cumbre – straight down into the sea. At the centre of the island, two peaks stand out: Roque Nublo and Bentayga, towering high above deep ravines. In pre-Spanish times, these 2 peaks were named by the Berber peoples who settled the islands, the Guanches.
In more recent times, an extensive network of paths and classic routes known as the Caminos Reales was developed. These footpaths form part of a demanding trek designed to make the most of the island’s surprising geography.
This walking holidays in the Canary Islands is also offered as an 8-day self-guided walking trip, with easier walking routes and accommodation at welcoming rural hotels.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
2019 Prices – For complete tour price breakdown please click the book now button and select your holiday tour date. Prices will then be listed.
Tour Code | Prices From (per person) | Book Now |
GranCan (7 Nights) | from £779 |
Hotel Rural Las Longueras (Agaete)
Hotel Fonda de la Tea (Tejeda)
Hotel rural Las Calas (La Lechuza)
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Hooked on Walking that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the chosen activity and for emergency evacuation and hospital care.
By plane to Gran Canaria where a transfer is provided to your first hotel
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Monday to Friday- 9am to 5pm
Saturday - Closed
Sunday - Closed
(Above times are UK Times - GMT)