Gran Canaria offers a variety of landscapes, routes and plans to enjoy the characteristic nature that identifies the island.
If you do not want to focus your entire stay in Gran Canaria on the sun, the beach or our pools in Dunas Hotels & Resorts taking a hike around the island along the paths and trails, it’s a great option. You will enjoy the island, its good climate and its wide variety of flora and fauna.
Los Caminos Reales were recently rehabilitated to be reopened to the public. These ancient routes were in the past the only way to travel the interior of the island. They start from La Cruz de Tejeda and radiate in all directions. Nearly 700 square kilometers of the island are protected land, and most Caminos Reales lead to these points. Some of them are very accessible and easy to walk, others present a bigger challenge within areas where you even have to climb to make the journey.
When walking along Los Caminos Reales, it is very important to be properly equipped, both for long hours of hiking and for the diversity of climates throughout the different areas of the island and times of day. You must bring a good pair of walking shoes, warm clothing, food, plenty of water, sunscreen and something vital, a well-marked map of the route. Something we also recommend is to be connected to a mobile phone, as well as going to such routes always accompanied. The scenery is spectacular but also irregular, so the journey along the paths is not always easy.
The Camino Real par excellence is La Cumbre - West Coast.
It runs from Artenara to La Aldea. It is one of the most beautiful and ancient Royal Roads of Gran Canaria. In the olden days, before the modern road was built, this trail was the only link between Artenara and both the west and northwest coasts. It’s about twenty kilometers long, and it can be crossed in seven to eight hours. The slope is important, being the lowest at zero - sea level - and the highest point at 1,900 meters. The trail is in good conditions all the way, so its difficulty is low for anyone who is used to doing this kind of routes.
The diversity of the landscapes is breathtaking all along the way, because of the views as well as the history of the mountain ranges of Gran Canaria. The landscape changes from rain thick forest to dry desert places. Nevertheless, if you trail it in winter the whole area is usually very green.
As we say, this is another way to explore the island of Gran Canaria, its past, its history, but also its present and its current image.
