Isla de Gran Canaria Off the Beaten Path Tips by Pijlmans

Long (20 km) hike over the highest top.

Start: Cruz Grande. Here we parked our car. Bus 18 goes here too. Finish: Santa Lucia. To go back you could take bus 34 followed by bus 18 from San Bartolome. When we finished the hike, the last bus had left, so we arranged for a local to bring us back by car. There are no taxis in Santa Lucia.

The path is partly marked with little piles of stones.

From Cruz Grande, follow the road about 50 m in the direction of San Bartolome and go into the path to the left (Riscos de Tirajana). After a steep part, you reach the plateau Pargana where you walk north-east through the pine-forest.

After 45 min, before the path goes downhill to the direction of the road Ayacata-Pico de las Nieves, you reach the plateau Los Hornos. Here, at a concrete pole, leave the path to the right and walk uphill north-east through pine-forest. Follow the ridge.

You will see two round, green military objects on the mountain and after that you will reach the Mirador (panorama point) at the top.

Follow the asphalt road from the mirador. At the end of the street at the entrance of the military complex, follow the street to the east, to the radio mast station Roque Redondo.

Go straight where the road goes to the left, leave this path after a few minutes again where it bends to the right. An unclear path to the north goes through a small pine-forest, turns and goes over the lava-ashes to a lower part at the south side of a small volcano crater.

Go downhill at the southern slope and follow the path to the south, ignoring branching paths. You will pass the small wooden cross Cruz del Socorro. Walk straight here (do not follow the path to the left at the cross). Again ignore a branch to the left and you reach a Camino Real, and pass the white Risco Blanca.

Follow the concrete path next to a house, close to the village Altos de Taidia. Ignore the sandy path to the left, keep left at the path after 150m and walk straight to Santa Lucia.

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This short hike takes you from Agaete in the northeast of Gran Canaria to a small deserted lava-beach.

Start and finish: the square at the church in Agaete. Buses 102 and 103 go from Las Palmas to Agaete.

The hike is about 7 km and starts at the church in Agaete. Follow the main road to Puerto de las Nieves. After about 600 m you see a house with parts looking like giant eggs. Follow the road to the right of this house and turn left onto the Camino Real (paved King´s Road) after 50 m.

The Camino Real ends at the main asphalt road that connects Agaete and San Nicolas. Follow the asphalt road to the right. On the right after about 400 m, behind the safety-fence of the road, you find a path going downhill. Follow this path to the beach. Here you can relax and swim if the sea is not too wild.

After this nice rest, follow the path back to the main road, back to the Camino Real. Instead of taking the Camino Real, cross the asphalt road after about 30 m and go uphill. Follow this path to the top, the views along the way are amazing.

From the top, follow the small path to the north, downhill. Keep the water-reservoir to your right and walk back to the center of Agaete.

A more detailed description of this hike can be found in the hiking book mentioned in my general tips.

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The walk takes you to Caldera de los Marteles, which is the crater of a volcano. This hike is approximately 15 km.

Start and finish: Montana de las Tierres, the remnants of an old volcano. Get there by car from Ingenio and Aguimes.

Follow the asphalt road uphill from the Montana de las Tierras, and continue/follow the unpaved road.

Leave the road, cross the empty channel of the brook and walk to the west (just before the path goes to the right, uphill to the village Lereta).

Keep right at the Cruce de Oliva, at the old olive tree, and walk parallel with the bottom of the pass. Piles of stone mark the road, go uphill.

Follow the path to the right at a farm, uphill (private property, it is marked where you are allowed to walk).

Go left at the crater Caldera de los Marteles (away from the asphalt road), following a private road westward. Follow the unpaved road to the left where you arrive at the main asphalt road.

Leave the road at a very small wooden cross (Cruz del Socorro), to a path on the left and walk straight on, south-east.

At a sharp curve to the left, you will pass an old Camino Real (paved King´s Road) that follows the mountain ridge Lomo Guaniles. At a higher part, turn left and follow the path downward into the valley.

At the next crossing, follow the Camino Real, that branches to the left and slowly but then steeply goes downward. This road will eventually take you back to the Cruce del Olivo, from where you walk back to the start.

A more detailed and better description of this hike can be found in the guidebook mentioned in my general tips.

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Start and finish: center of San Bartolome.

The hike is approximately 14 km. Signs and little piles of stones (at the Camino Real) mark the route.

Go up the stairs next to Hostal Santana, cross the street and the Centro de Salud, go left into the Calle Bellevista, go left at the asphalt road.

Walk past the drive of a hotel, after 200 m go right into the Camino del Pinar, follow the road to the left. The road goes uphill, past a pig(poo) farm (Granja), follow the main road uphill.

You walk past the western slope of the Morro de las Vacas and pass the spring Fuente del Solapon, keep right at the Degollada (pass) de la Manzanilla (see picture, follow the sign Degollada de Cruz Grande).

At Cruz Grande, walk around/through the pass and go right into the path that is not accessible for cars. Go left into the restored Camino Real (paved "kings´s road") that takes you back to an asphalt road in San Bartolome, go left after 200, steeply downhill.

A much better and detailed description can be found in the walking guide described in my general tips.

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The youngest volcano crater of Gran Canaria, next to the village Bandama (halfway the capital Las Palmas and Santa Brigada).

You can make an exciting walk from the top of the crater to the bottom, and back. Explore the bottom of the crater, where once the hot lava was swirling. There used to live people down the crater, the remnants of old farms are still there.

At the side opposite to the entrance, a cave can be found, but you´ll have to look for it well. Some lonely orange trees occupy the middle of the crater. We saw a donkey there as well...

Buses 311 and 312 connect Bandama with Las Palmas. Close to the Mirador (panorama point) de Bandama.

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