Hiking in Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Gomera

Just 300 meters from our hotel, we begin our ascent into the deep Guayadeque Valley, a designated natural monument renowned for its stunning landscapes, endemic flora, geological formations, and ethnographic significance. We hike to the valley floor along a flower-filled trail. Upon arrival, we discover a deep cave that serves as a traditional restaurant. After a short break, our minibus takes us to the island's peaks to reach our second accommodation.

For this second hike, we'll have the pleasure of walking in the heart of Gran Canaria, in the pine forests of the island's peaks. Spectacular panoramic views across the entire southwest will be a constant throughout our walk. We'll finally reach Roque Nublo, a striking 80-meter-high rock formation, a natural landmark of Gran Canaria, situated on a pilgrimage trail.

On our way back, we took a detour to a secluded natural viewpoint to admire the breathtaking views. A mosaic landscape unfolded before us, dominated by Roque Bentayga in the heart of the Tejeda Valley, cultivated terraces, and almond trees on the mountainsides. The descent behind Roque Nublo followed a path also frequented by sheep.

Before heading to our hotel, the minibus took us to Tejeda for some free time. It's a village classified as one of the most beautiful in Spain and known for its almond pastries. A real treat!

The route takes place on a section of the Camino de Santiago which crosses the entire island from South to North, from Maspalomas to Galdar, a distance of 66km.

We begin our hike from our hotel, taking the GR 130 along the ridge with magnificent views of the western valleys and, in the distance, suspended in the clouds, we glimpse Teide, the highest peak in Tenerife. Then we cross the reforestation pine forest at Llanos de la Pez to reach an arch, a geological curiosity formed by erosion, and a plateau for a moment of escape, isolated from the world. The view over the entire south of the island is breathtaking, with its many valleys...

deep ones have been dug out over the last few million years.

For the descent south, we take the path known as the “Camino de La Plata,” a beautiful trail used for both human and pastoral purposes by the ancient inhabitants of Gran Canaria to lead their animals in search of the best pastures depending on the season. Our minibus will pick us up at our arrival point in Cruz Grande.

Once again, we begin this hike from our accommodation, this time skirting the valley on its southern side. A short but steep climb awaits us to the Degollada de las Palomas pass. The sweeping views over the numerous valleys are as magnificent as ever at this altitude. Along the way, we'll see pre-Hispanic aboriginal caves, reminding us of the lifestyle of the island's first inhabitants. We'll then cross the pine forest to reach Artenara, a small troglodyte village in the Risco Caido Cultural Landscape, surrounded by sacred mountains. In the late afternoon, after free time to visit the ethnographic and archaeological museums, the minibus will take us to our third accommodation.

From our hotel on the northwest coast, in Puerto de las Nieves, a small fishing village, lies the deep, fertile Agaete Valley: coffee plantations and all sorts of tropical fruit trees carpet this wide valley in green. It is at the bottom of this valley, in El Sao, that we begin our hike with a climb up a narrow path lined with plants, where we learn about the rich endemic flora. We enjoy fantastic views of the Agaete Valley and Mount Teide (Tenerife). The return loop takes us through El Hornillo, a small village of cave houses perched on the cliff. There is an opportunity for a swim in the sea upon returning to the hotel.

After breakfast, we meet our guide for a briefing on the trip. Today's itinerary: Teide National Park. We begin by visiting the visitor center dedicated to the National Park. Facing the magnificent Teide volcano (3,718 m), we hike across plains and volcanic dunes. During this trek, we can appreciate the striking variations in color and shape of the volcanic rocks in the national park. A truly unique landscape awaits us.

We are going to the National Park visitor center.

After the visit, we descend to Agulo, passing through the red mountain where we have a picnic. We follow a "camino real", a stone path formerly used by the inhabitants to move around and transport goods to the seaside where these were loaded onto boats bound for England, among other destinations.

In Agulo, we have free time to stroll through the streets of this pretty little colonial town.

From the heights of the Hermigua Valley, we follow a trail through ancient terraces, isolated hamlets, and pastures. On a clear day, we enjoy a magnificent view of the island of Tenerife. The hike leads us to the seaside, where we can enjoy a refreshing swim, weather permitting. We then head to the port of San Sebastian to catch the ferry to Tenerife (approximately a 1-hour crossing). On Tenerife, we settle into an apartment in the south of the island. Dinner is at your leisure.