Gran Canaria’s best walking routes

And one of the best ways to discover this Canary Island is on a walking holiday in Gran Canaria, with a great network of trails crossing the island. Still less well-known for hiking than some of its neighbours, you can also enjoy these spectacular walks without the crowds – here’s our pick of Gran Canaria’s best walking routes.

The landscape around Punta de La Aldea is some of the loveliest in Gran Canaria, with shrub-covered hillsides and sweeping coastal views. And it makes a fantastic introduction to the unspoiled western corner of the island, with the Tabaibal de la Punta trail leading from the El Almacén area.

The Village of San Nicolas seen from El Viso

Climbing past the old quarry known as El Muelle, you can spy rare plants and wildlife as you walk, examples of some of the Canarian flora and fauna thriving in this often arid terrain. But one of the highlights of the hike is the views as you climb, looking out to the Andén Verde cliffs and over the sea.

The highest peak in Gran Canaria, Pico de las Nieves stretches 1,949m above sea level, with some of the most spectacular panoramas out across the island from the summit – expect to see Mount Teide on Tenerife on a clear day. A more challenging hike, you can choose different starting points depending how much of an adventure you want, but Caldera de los Marteles is a great option.

From this volcanic crater, you’ll enjoy an ever-changing landscape as you pass through pine forests, rocky terrain and alpine vegetation as you climb this ruggedly beautiful peak.

The volcanic history of this area has shaped every aspect of the islands, so you shouldn’t miss a chance to explore more closely. The extraordinary Caldera de Bandama is around 200m deep and 1km across, with a circular walk leading around the rim, as well as trails leading into the caldera of the volcano itself.

Caldero Bandama

Formed around 5,000 years ago, the caldera is the perfect spot to learn more about the island’s geology, alongside seeing the plant life which flourishes in the rich volcanic soil, such as eucalyptus trees and colourful spies of the tajinaste flowers.

The Camino de Santiago (not to be confused with its more famous namesake on the Spanish mainland) is one of the historic caminos reales, or royal highways which cross the islands and were once the main route to get around.

Camino de Santiago, Gran Canaria

The complete route stretches for around 41 miles, travelling through valleys and forests, and past historic villages as you cross between the south coast and north coast. Happily, there are also shorter sections to try, rather than committing to the entire route, including a five-hour walk from Llanos de la Pez to Montañón Negro in the heart of the island. Discover lava caves and volcanic landscapes as well as paths through the forests, with views of the surrounding peaks including the 80m tall Roque Nublo as you walk; the best photos are from the Ventana del Nublo viewpoint.

Close to Gran Canaria’s north-western tip, this walk has a little of everything, from history to hills and coast as you follow the route from Playa de la Caleta to Juncal beach itself.

Crossing a small ravine, you’ll climb into the foothills of Moriscas Mountain, with some dramatic views across more ravines and cliffs.

Juncal beach

This area was once home to the island’s original inhabitants, with evidence of prehistoric cave dwellings and temples still to be found here. After soaking up the views from Roque viewpoint, the route leads down towards the beach for a welcome swim (if conditions permit), before winding back through the countryside past whitewashed houses to the starting point.

One of the most famous natural landmarks on Gran Canaria, Roque Nublo stretches 80m tall, sitting 1,813m above sea level. The second highest peak on Gran Canaria, this was an ancient place of worship for the Guanches, the island’s indigenous inhabitants, and is now a protected site.

Starting from La Aldea, the trail passes through pine forest and volcanic landscapes until you reach the monolith, considered one of the biggest natural crags in the world. Soak up the spectacular views from the top, where you can even see some of the neighbouring islands on a clear day. The perfect spot to sit and contemplate Gran Canaria’s remarkable landscapes before heading back down once more.

This ravine is a lush explosion amid the often arid mountainous region in the heart of Gran Canaria, with plants, flowers and trees thickly carpeting the cliffs and rocks rising up from the valley. Once a key site for the Guanches, who lived on Gran Canaria before the Spanish conquered the island in the 15th century, it’s also home to cave dwellings, burial sites and other evidence of this ancient culture. The circular walk itself follows the valley floor, with routes following the path of a seasonal stream – it’s easy to reach from the car park at the end of the valley, and an easy option to enjoy the dramatic scenery without any challenging climbs.

The unspoiled Tamadaba Natural Park in the north-west of Gran Canaria covers 7,500 hectares, packed with Canary Island pine, mountain peaks and some wonderful views across the Atlantic to Tenerife. And with a network of trails throughout the UNESCO-listed site, it’s easy to choose something to suit your own preferred level of difficulty as you discover some of the wildlife living here while enjoying the beautiful surroundings. The 15km circular walk through the natural park takes around six hours, plus you can also climb up from the village of Agaete, or choose the shorter 3km Bajada al Faneque route, which begins in the pines themselves.

Discover our range of Special Interest walking holidays, with walks across Spain and the Canary Islands.