Hiking routes are another reason why the Canary Islands receive millions of tourists every year. In this article, we suggest 3 essential hiking routes in Gran Canaria.
Years ago, tourism on the island of Gran Canaria was centred on the beaches and other leisure activities. Nowadays, other tourist attractions have become popular on the island, such as the royal paths scattered throughout the length and breadth of the island's geography.
One of them is the large number of trails in Gran Canaria, where you’ll be able to contemplate spectacular and very different landscapes.
Today we recommend the 3 best hiking routes in Gran Canaria so that you can explore the best landscapes of the island and discover the best kept secret of the island, its natural heritage.
The 3 best circular hiking routes in Gran Canaria
1. Three dams route
This is one of the easy hiking routes in Gran Canaria, with a beautiful route between the Chira and Soria dams, passing by the Las Niñas dam.
Most of the route runs through the area of the Arguineguín ravine. There you’ll be able to see slopes, unique rock formations and lots of native flora and fauna such as lizards, pitas and aloes.
This is an accessible path if you walk in the direction of Soria, as this way almost the entire walk is downhill. If the hike is done in the opposite direction, it can be really tough. The only stage of these hiking routes in Gran Canaria, where you can find some uphill, is the first one, the departure from the Chira dam.
Once you reach the highest part of the route, it will be well worth it; the views are breathtaking. This route isn’t well signposted, but it’s very easy to follow the path in the direction of the dams, as you can see them at all times.
As you walk towards the Soria dam, you’ll discover different villages on the island of Gran Canaria. If you continue onwards, you’ll reach the village of Soria, a good reason to stop for lunch and recharge your batteries with an authentic Canarian meal. Once you have taken a break, you can continue on to the next dam, Las Niñas.
The route is long, but if you like the countryside and are used to hiking routes, this one won’t leave you indifferent.
2. Los Cernícalos Ravine Route
We now move on to one of the most popular hiking areas, El Barranco de los Cernícalos.
It’s located on the border of the municipalities of Telde and Valsequillo, and is part of the Los Marteles Special Nature Reserve. One of the great attractions of the area is that it’s one of the few places on the island where water flows all year round.
A good place to start these hiking trails in Gran Canaria is from Los Arenales, where you can find pure nature in the course of the Barranco de los Cernícalos ravine, after a short asphalt road.
If you follow the watercourse, you won't get lost. The route, perfectly prepared for this type of route, is very striking due to the numerous waterfalls that you’ll come across.
The last stretch (about 500 metres), before reaching the final waterfall, is the most difficult part of the route, but the reward on arrival is well worth the effort.
3. Route Agaete - Guayedra
This is a simple route that starts in the village of Agaete, next to the local police station. The route is about 10 kms, and runs along the royal road to Guayedra, the road from Agaete to La Aldea and the descent to the beach of Guayedra.
The views are amazing, you can see the Las Nieves pass perfectly. The route is pleasant, and the scenery is varied. The return, along the road to the lime kiln, is a direct route to Agaete.
If you’d like to explore any of the routes we recommend or others, ask for more information about hiking in Gran Canaria at our reception.
Enjoy the best circular hiking trails in Gran Canaria
If you want to enjoy the trails that run through the island, don't hesitate to stay in our Dunas Hotels & Resorts that we have for you: Suites & Villas by Dunas, Don Gregory by Dunas, Maspalomas Resort by Dunas or Mirador Maspalomas by Dunas.
This is the moment to live a whole natural experience thanks to the hiking routes in Gran Canaria and take away unforgettable memories of the island.
