Hiking on Gran Canaria

Arrive at Gran Canaria airport. A taxi transfer (approx 1hr) will be arranged to take you to Agaete, a verdant seaside town on the island’s rugged north-west coast. Check in at your accommodation, a former colonial mansion situated just outside the town amidst orange and banana plantations. Enjoy some relaxing time by the pool to start off your holiday.

Overnight: Agaete

Distance: 12.5 km | Ascent: 525 m | Descent: 650 m | Walking time: 4½ hrs approx.

Your first walk starts right at your hotel in Agaete. As you make your way up the barranco (ravine), why not take the chance to select a lightweight yet very strong walking stick from the fronds of bamboo all around you. Reaching the village of San Pedro, you start your ascent along the Camino Real to Montaña Bibique (645m), a rugged outcrop with fabulous views over the Agaete Valley. Continue to the vista point at Mirador Vuelta de la Paloma (850m), where you will enjoy views out over several valleys. Finally, you descend from Puerto de las Nieves on a narrow gravel path along the ridge, before taking a bus or taxi back to Agaete.

Please note: today’s route is not recommended if you are afraid of heights.

Overnight: Agaete

Distance: 13.5 km | Ascent: 825 m | Descent: 700 m | Walking time: 6 hrs approx.

A short transfer takes you to the start of today’s walk. This is a technically easy walk, which starts along a quiet tarmac lane with splendid views (first 2 km), before following historic footpaths up into the evergreen forest Pinos de Galdar. You then descend via Cruz de Tejeda to the highest village of the entire island: Tejeda, beautifully located on a terraced slope with both Roque Nublo and Bentayga in view. The ascents are long and steep at times, especially the section through the pinewoods. The descent is more gradual, following a stony footpath that zigzags along the slopes and through some orchards and kitchen gardens. You can shorten the route by asking your driver to take you 2 km further uphill at the start. An ideal lunch stop along the way is in Cruz de Tejeda, where there are 2 restaurants and a chic parador.

You will spend the next three nights in the idyllic mountain village of Tejeda, famed for its almond products. Your hotel is a comfortable and charming converted 19^th century inn.

Overnight: Tejeda

Distance: 12 km | Ascent: 800 m | Descent: 400 m | Walking time: 5½ hrs approx.

This walk traverses some of the island’s most dramatic and beautiful terrain, on steep slopes around Roque Nublo; a mystic and iconic rock tower that seems to teeter precariously on the edge of a plateau. This may not be Gran Canaria’s highest peak, but it is certainly the most easily identified, as it’s visible from almost anywhere on the island.

The walk starts directly from your hotel. After 1 km the tarmac gives way to steep paths which zig-zag 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 tranquil fir forest – to reach the col where you can catch a bus back to Tejeda. In case you miss the bus or want to walk a little more, you can take the historical road that leads back to Tejeda, with occasional stretches of asphalt (8km extra, 400m difference in descent, 2 extra hours).

Overnight: Tejeda

Distance: 13 km | Ascent: 500 m | Descent: 450 m | Walking time: 4½ hrs approx.

The ascent to the Altavista peak (at 1378 m) on the edge of the Nature Park Tamadaba is easy and very scenic. You will enjoy some great views across Gran Canaria, as well as neighbouring island Tenerife and its mighty volcano El Teide – the highest peak in all of Spain. You will be taken in the morning to the Degollada del Sargento mountain pass and picked up at the end of the walk in Artenara, where you can wait for the taxi while enjoying a refreshing drink or lunch on a sun terrace.

Overnight: Tejeda

Distance: 12.5 km | Ascent: 500 m | Descent: 325 m | Walking time: 5 hrs approx.

After a short 10 min 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) 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 tarmac. But the reward is worth it: a refreshing swim in the pool awaits!

Overnight: San Mateo-La Lechuza

Distance: 14 km | Ascent: 715 m | Descent: 715 m | Walking time: 5 hrs approx.

Today you have the choice of doing a shorter walk near the historic town of Teror, a longer route through ravines on the north side of Cumbre OR taking a rest day with an optional visit to Las Palmas. The walking routes are beautiful, and you’ll see all sorts of fruits, vegetables and even chestnut trees growing in the barrancos.

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 Castillan-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.

Overnight: San Mateo-La Lechuza

Your arrangement comes to an end today after breakfast, unless you have booked additional nights. Transfer to the airport for your return flight.