POSTS
Route around Gran Canaria
A circular itinerary that leads to the best hiking spots on the island of Gran Canaria.

The marked route is available here for online viewing and download in the gpx format.
- Las Palmas
- Agaete
- La Aldea
- Maspalomas
- Santa Brigida
- Las Palmas
Start | Las Palmas |
---|---|
End | Las Palmas |
Length | ~200 km |
Duration | 2 weeks |
Route Description
Las Palmas
The island capital and not that interesting. Only the Vegueta old town area and the long beach (plus promenade) in the north are worth seeing.
Continue:
By bus to Agaete
Agaete
A pleasant small town of mostly white buildings. The location is great for hikes up to the Parque natural de Tamadaba and into the Agaete valley.
Possible excursions:
- It takes only 20 minutes to walk to the Puerto de las Nieves, a charming little fishing village with a crowded beach
- Steep hike up to the Parque natural de Tamadaba where many additional routes begin
- Hike into the barranco (valley) de Agaete and visit the El Maipes necropolis.
- Take a short bus ride to Galdar, one of the oldest towns on the island. Galdar is built on the flank of a volcanic cone and home to the fascinating Cueva Pintada museum and excavation site.
- The Guayedra beach can be reached after a short hike and offers a more natural environment for swimming than the Puerto de las Nieves.
Continue:
By bus to La Aldea
La Aldea
This village is located in a very dry area and surrounded by mountains on most sides.
Possible excursions:
- One of the highlights of the island is GüiGüi beach. It can only be reached on foot or by boat. If you can get a ride to Tasartico then it is possible to hike from there to the beach (~1,5h) and to return on foot over the mountains to La Aldea (~4,5h). This will be strenuous, especially in the afternoon heat.
- A long hike (but very interesting because of the mixed landscapes) to the viewpoints on top of the montaña Altavista.
- Go up the montaña Viso and continue on the circular route
- About 5km to the west is the harbour (Playa de San Nicolas) with beaches and coastal paths
Continue:
By bus to Maspalomas
Maspalomas
The main beach resort town of Gran Canaria. Famous for its large sand dunes.
Possible excursions:
- A roughly 4 hours (one way) valley hike to the Necropolis of Arteara
Continue:
By bus to Santa Brigida
Santa Brigida
This area is a lot of fun to explore. There is just so much to see. Since the bus to the national park passes through it often, it is also a great location for visiting the center of the island.
Possible excursions:
-
The Caldera de Bandama (large volcanic crater)
and the nearby
Pico de Bandama (good viewpoint) are both located about 5km east of Santa Brigida. - Take a bus to the Cruz de Tejeda for visits of the national park area, with its countless walking routes.
- Many barrancos (valleys), like the Barranco del Valle de Casares can be reached on foot.
Continue:
By bus back to Las Palmas