Gran Canaria

DAY 1 : Depart UK, arrive Gran Canaria. (Transfer to Mogán)

We meet the team and board our transfer to the charming fishing village of Mogán, approximately a 60 minute drive through beautiful countryside and local villages. Mogán is, quite simply, stunning! It’s one of the most beautiful towns on the island, a charming fishing town nestled in a cove with a stunning sheltered beach and wonderful restaurants. It has a real air of stillness and one of the most tranquil fishing ports we have ever visited. Enjoy a walk around the marina, which hosts a wonderful close-knit sailing community due to its unique enclave and natural beauty,  watch the boats and soak up the sea views in one of the many beautiful bars, or take a walk through the streets of the old quarter… today is for us to unwind.

There are a plethora of coastal restaurants so we can choose or favourite and sit and watch the sun dropping into the Atlantic sea. This really is the perfect start to your getaway and to the very unique adventure that awaits.

DAY 2 : Trek to Güigüi beach

How could we come to this magical island and not take the opportunity to trek to Güigüi beach?! Tucked away on a remote section of coastline, this is a little slice of paradise and we get to enjoy the wide and beautiful beaches practically to ourselves.

After an early departure from Mogán, we launch into the highlands on the wildly acclaimed roads of Gran Canaria and you’ll see for yourself why so many car commercials feature these roads! Remote, often single lane, hugging the impressive volcanic cliffs, the views we’ll experience just on the drive are captivating. The landscape is arid, yet full of desert palms and huge euphorbias, with traditional white washed villages dotted along the way.

At the start of our trek we have an immediate insight into what Gran Canaria is all about; we begin in a banana plantation set against a red rock landscape, more reminiscent of that of a sci-fi movie, which beckons to be explored. We follow a rugged trail, winding through huge (and much photographed!) cactuses, swathes of wild plants and flowers and impressive boulders, that finally brings us to the high pass, from the top of which the views of the wild west coast of the island are awe-inspiring. Its jagged coastline mimicking dragons’ teeth looks raw, yet incredibly beautiful.

Now, it’s time to descend, making our way down into a deep canyon, passing remote, tiny unmanned farms. Güigüi is one of the most important parts of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria and when we finally arrive at the black and gold volcanic sands of the beach you’ll be left wondering which continent you are really on!

It’s time then to relax and enjoy a well-deserved picnic and a walk along the beach with its pounding waves that demand our attention. Our trek back up and over offers a whole new perspective on the walk in and, in all, it’s a truly wonderful first day of trekking. Now we’ve had our ocean fix, we will begin to head inland for some really wild scenery… but not before we are transferred a short distance to La Aldea de San Nicolás, our base for the night.

Trekking time: approx. 6 hrs

Approx. 12 kms & 1,200m ascent / descent.

(BLD)

DAY 3 : The abandoned villages of Pino Gordo and Vigaroé

After an early breakfast, we set off to the neighbourhood of Molino de Agua where an old dirt track starts that leads us up to the water tunnel of Pino Gordo. With bare feet, we walk through the water tunnel and once we reach the other side; paradise awaits us! The lush palm grove of Pino Gordo will be our backdrop for the next hour as we hike up to the first abandoned hamlet with its old fruit trees and overgrown agriculture terraces. A steep and rocky climb then brings us to a mountain pass where we are rewarded with spectacular views reaching as far as the Crater of La Caldera de Tejeda and the pine forests of Tamadaba.

A well-deserved short break to not only catch our breath, but take in more of the island’s incredible vistas, then we hit one of Gran Canaria’s ‘lost mule paths’, El camino de Lo Picachos, which gently follows the curves of the ravine of Las Garabateras and Los Picachos into the abandoned hamlet of Vigaroé. During our descent to the lake of El Caídero de La Niña we follow the bed of the steep-sided, rocky ravine, passing pre-Hispanic caves, palms and giant boulders.

We head back to La Aldea to relax for the evening.

Trekking time: approx. 5-6 hrs.

Approx. 16km & 900m ascent / 650m descent

(BLD)

DAY 4 : Trek to the Tejeda caldera and explore cave dwellings in Mesa de Acusa

We start this morning’s trek at the fertile plateau of La Mesa de Acusa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we’ll have time to explore a series of interesting pre-Hispanic cave settlements nestled in the cliffs that surround the plateau. History combines with beauty here, as we wander along the old camino real which links Acusa Seca with Artenara; the only real village in the whole municipality.

Artenara is famous for having the biggest troglodyte, or cave dwelling, community in the Canaries, with the community using the caves for everything from housing to churches, stables and storage rooms! A massive collapse of an ancient magma chamber formed the 20km wide Tejeda Caldera, and Artenara is perched on Risco Chapin, one of the calderas enormous walls.

Once we’ve gotten our fill of the historical aspects of this amazing spot, we’ll follow the Risco Chapin trail,  dotted with colourful wildflowers, which leads us to the geographic centre of the island: Cruz de Tejeda. On our way we pass the cave temples of Cuevas del Caballero and Cueva de Los Candiles, both often used in the past for fertility rituals, but for us, a great stop for a lunch break!

We’ll be collected and transferred to the fascinating cave village of Acusa Seca, for some time in this wonderfully intriguing and unique accommodation in El Hornillo.

Trekking time: approx. 5-6hrs.

Approx. 18km. 600m ascent / descent.

(BLD)

DAY 5 : Roque Nublo & Pico de Las Nieves (1,950m)

The goal for today is the spectacular rock pinnacle ‘Roque Nublo’! Luring tourists like a beacon, this 90m-high spire dominates the island’s highlands and can be spotted from as far away as the coast. We start our trek on the well-trodden path that undulates along the rim of La Caldera de Tejeda before it drops dramatically to the charming village of La Culata, situated just below one of the world’s biggest monoliths: Roque Nublo.

The steep and rocky platform which hosts the imposing tower of Roque Nublo looks unassailable from La Culata, but there are breaches in its cliffs that make our ascent more than comfortable. Here we have a picnic lunch, before continuing our trek by circumnavigating this massive monolith to appreciate it from every side. After, overlooking the South and West of Gran Canaria, we hit a path that zigzags uphill, on bare rock, past pines until it reaches El Montañón and Los Riscos de Tirajana where wild flowers provide more vibrant scenery between March and June. We hike on narrow edges, feeling on top of the world at times as we peer over the tops of the tall pine trees that climb to obscure the views. The summits of Pico de Las Nieves and El Campanario are well worth a stop if we can, as the views reach as far as the Maspalomas sand dunes, Tenerife and sometimes even the island of La Gomera.

Trekking time: 7-8hrs.

Approx. 23km. 1,000m ascent / 450m descent.

(BLD)

DAY 6 : Tamadaba Biosphere Reserve

Today we leave the highlands and descend to the Atlantic coast. We wake up in one of Gran Canaria´s most charming troglodyte or cave villages: El Hornillo. It’s located in the ravine of Agaete, below the towering massif of Tamadaba. This massif houses Gran Canaria´s best preserved humid pine forest and the second biggest cliffs in Europe, all packed together in one great nature park. Passing the islands highest village, and several small lakes and dams, it doesn’t take long before we drop steeply into the lichen-draped forest of the Tamadaba UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Once we have reached the remote forested uplands of Tamadaba we pass on to the drier side, where spectacular cliffs are the scar of a giant landscape landslide that turned Gran Canaria’s west coast to its current formation. In La Finca de Firma, we start our vertical descent to the sea, and the delightful coastal village of El Risco. We’ll then head to the bustling and vibrant Las Palmas for our last night, to enjoy delicious tapas and the fun atmosphere of this beach town.

Trekking time: approx. 7-8hrs.

Approx.  18km. 400m ascent / 1300m descent.

(BL)

DAY 7 : Transfer south of Las Palmas for departure flights home

Depending on flight times we’ll either have the morning or often the full day at leisure (with the option to jump into a local taxi and head to the stunning Maspalomas sand dunes to watch the sun rise!) otherwise if you prefer we’ll head on an early morning transfer to the airport to check in for our departure flights home.

However, if you’d like to have a full extra day here and depart tomorrow (or later!) please do let the office know on booking. There are so many options, spending longer at Maspalomas, you can try your hand at kite surfing, grab a surf board, or take a leisurely dip! Las Palmas and the Old Town are also just a wonderful place to meander, soak up the sun, and enjoy the last bit of your holiday!

(B)