Gran Canaria is an amazing place for hiking. From desert-like landscapes to cliffs diving into the ocean to lush forests. The hiking opportunities in Gran Canaria are endless. In this article, I collected some of my favorite and the best hikes in Gran Canaria, to both narrow it down a little for you and inspire you to explore what this gorgeous island has to offer.
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Table of Contents - 10 amazing hikes in Gran Canaria
Hiking in Gran Canaria - Tips
Hiking is a very popular activity in Gran Canaria, which probably comes as no surprise with so much natural beauty and easy access to countless trails. Many hiking trails start from towns and can be accessed by bus. This opens up the opportunity for one-way hikes as well as circular hikes.
While you’re not too far away from a town on most of the hikes, it is still vital to always bring enough water. It’s also advisable to bring a packed lunch and some snacks.
Trails might be closed during dry and windy periods due to bushfire risks. This is a very handy website for checking the current situation and whether there are any restrictions or closed trails on the island. Also keep in mind that in summer, it can get very hot in the mountains, autumn to spring are the best months for hikes in Gran Canaria.
1. Agaete - Montaña Berbique
This is one of my favorite hikes in Gran Canaria, one I just don’t get bored of. It is a slightly longer and more challenging hike compared to most other hikes listed here, but trust me, the views are worth it! I particularly like this hike because it’s so natural and different from the others.
Specifications of the Agaete - Montaña Berbique hike
- (Almost) circular
- You can get to the trailhead by bus or by car. Take bus 130 or 103 from Las Palmas to Las Candelarias, or park in the same area.
- The hike is about 13,5 km (8 miles) long with a steep ascent about half way through the hike, and less steep descent on the way down
- Public toilets are available in Agaete and Lomo de San Pedro. There is also a bar next to the toilets in Lomo de San Pedro, and there are many bars and restaurants in Puerto de las Nieves.
The trail
The hike starts off flat through the Valle de Agaete (Agaete Valley) along the SL-4, until you reach Lomo de San Pedro. Pay attention to the map as for where you need to head up out of the ravine, the start of the path up is not very clear here. Just aim for the opening in the fence along the road.
From here, follow the road for a little while, there are public toilets at the small square with the bar.
Then the trail starts to become steep, head up from the town of San Pedro and head up the mountains along the SL-2 until you reach Montaña Bibique. While the map doesn’t show a trail to the mountain, you can continue until the viewpoint.
Now follow the S-90 or the GR131 back to Agaete or Puerto de las Nieves.
2. Guïguï Beach from Tasartico
Guïguï is known as one of the prettiest and most remote beaches of Gran Canaria. While it’s not quite off the beaten track anymore, it’s a beautiful hike there and a very nice beach to visit. I’d say it’s one of the most beautiful coastal hikes in Gran Canaria. Plus, the beach is virgin and far less crowded than the beaches in the southern resort towns.
Specifications of the Guïguï Beach from Tasartico hike
- There and back
- You can only get to the trailhead by car. Park at the parking lot just outside of Tasartico.
- The hike is less than 10 km in total (less than 6 miles), but it has quite some elevation gain.
- There are no public toilets, shops, or phone service along this trail. There is a small coffee place close to the beach, but I wouldn’t count on it always being open and stocked.
The trail
The hike starts with a rather steep uphill until you reach the pass. From here, it’s a less steep but longer downhill to the beach, with beautiful views over the surrounding mountains and coastline. On a clear day, you can see Tenerife, including Teide, as well.
The trail is really easy to follow, except for one bit in the beginning. Here people have stacked rocks to sign the trail, so keep an eye out for those when in doubt where to go. Besides that, just follow the trail and/or the signposts to Guïguï.
Guïguï consists of two beaches, Guïguï Grande and Guïguï Pequeño (Big Guïguï and Small Guïguï). This hike will get you to Guïguï Grande. If the tide is low, you can walk between the beaches. At high tide, this isn’t possible.
3. Caldera de Bandama
The Bandama crater is a very beautiful and green area, great for hiking. I love this one because it’s quite short, yet offers stunning views both over the crater (caldera in Spanish) and the surrounding landscape. So it’s perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in nature for a little bit but don’t want to do a very long or challenging hike. Those who do want to challenge themselves a little bit more can hike into the crater and back up as well.
Specifications of the Caldera de Bandama hike
- Circular
- You can get to the trailhead by car or bus. Park at the parking lot close to the viewpoint, or take bus 311 from Las Palmas to Bandama
- The hike around the crater is only about 5,5 km (just over 3 miles) and relatively easy, although it does involve some elevation gain and loss over the trail.
- There are no public toilets along this hike, but there are several restaurants around the trailhead.
The trail
The trail is quite easy to follow. It’s a little rocky and narrow in some places, but overall not a difficult trail. There are little ups and downs along the way, but no major ascents or descents, unless you decide to hike into the crater. There is little to no shade along the crater rim, so make sure to bring protection from the sun.
You can also head to the viewpoint before or after the hike, on the planned trail on Komoot, it’s included at the end of the trail.
4. Teror to Santa Brigida
This is another relatively short and easy hike, giving you enough time to explore both towns as well. Most of this route is part of the “Vamos pa’l Pino” trail, which is a hike that ends up at the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pino in Teror, dedicated to La Virgen del Pino whose statue can be found inside the basilica.
Specifications of the Teror to Santa Brigida hike
- One way
- You can take bus 216 (faster) or 229 from Las Palmas to Teror and one of several buses from Santa Brigida back to Las Palmas.
- The hike is about 10 km (6 miles) long and fairly easy with quite some walking on the road. In the Barranco, there are some ladders that you’ll need to pass, but it’s not very complicated.
- There are public toilets and plenty of cafés, restaurants, and stores in both Teror and Santa Brigida. On Sundays, there are markets in both towns.
The trail
This hike starts with the beautiful and lush Barranco de Teror. Once you reach the end you will see a hiking signpost, follow the route to Santa Brigida. About halfway through the hike, you’ll pass the Santo Pino crater, from where you’ll have beautiful views over the crater and the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, you can see Las Palmas from here.
Hiking from Teror to Santa Brigida is a little bit easier as there is less uphill. Teror is slightly higher up than Santa Brigida. But if you would like to do the ancient pilgrimage walk from Santa Brigida to Teror instead, that’s possible as well. Just note that the official trail does not go via the Barranco.
5. Barranco de Azuaje
The Barranco de Azuaje is another beautiful and lush area and this is another one of my favorite hikes in Gran Canaria because of that.
In the Barranco, you’ll find the ruins of the Balneario de Azuaje, which was a very popular spa hotel at the end of the 19th century. The minerals in the springs here were believed to have medicinal properties.
Firgas is a lovely town in Granaria worth visiting as well, so I recommend spending a little time exploring the town before starting the hike.
Specifications of the Barranco de Azuaje hike
- One way
- You can take bus 204 from Las Palmas to Firgas and several buses from San Andrés back to Las Palmas.
- This hike is about 8 km (5 miles) long and starts with a relatively steep descent. The hike through the Barranco to the coast is fairly flat.
- There are public toilets and cafés, restaurants, and stores in Firgas.
The trail
The trail starts from the Las Madres viewpoint in Firgas. Follow the trail down into the barranco, to the ruins of the Balneario de Azuaje. This part of the hike is quite steep, but then it becomes almost flat.
The trail is generally very easy to follow, just keep an eye on the map around the farms where, at certain points, it’s not so clear on which side of the barranco you should be walking.
If you feel like doing a longer hike, you can also follow the S-62 trail from Firgas to the Barranco de la Virgen. This trail includes several waterfalls and will connect with the other one at the Balneario de Azuaje.
6. Bentayga to Tejeda
Bentayga is an iconic rock shaped by volcanic activity in Gran Canaria. While it’s less popular amongst tourists than Roque Nublo, it’s not less pretty, nor was it less important for the indigenous Guanches. There is a small museum at Roque Bentayga where you can learn more about this sacred area.
Tejeda is a very nice town which is the perfect place for a coffee or fresh orange juice and some delicious local almond specialties before making your way home. This area is especially beautiful when the almond trees blossom (normally around February).
Specifications of the Bentayga to Tejeda hike
- One way, although it’s not a very long hike, so you could also decide to make it a there-and-back hike if you prefer to go by car.
- You can take bus 18 from Maspalomas to Bentayga. If you’re coming from Las Palmas, you’ll need to change buses. Note that there are several different routes for bus 18 which are a little confusing. I find this schedule the easiest to read and understand.
- This hike is less than 7 km (just over 4 miles) long and besides a climb up Bentayga, is mostly downhill to Tejeda.
- There are public toilets at Roque Bentayga and at the bus terminal in Tejeda and plenty of cafés and restaurants along the main road.
The trail
Once you get off the bus, follow the small road toward the (free) museum (Centro de Interpretacion) and then the hiking trail to Betayga Rock. Follow the same route back to the bus stop and a little further until you see the hiking trail GR-138 on your left. Follow this trail to Tejeda.
7. Ayacate to Cruz Grande
This hike includes a lot of different landscapes and views over one of Gran Canaria’s icons: Roque Nublo. In fact, you can extend the hike to include Roque Nublo as well, just be aware that this requires some extra planning as you need to make a reservation for a specific time slot to visit Roque Nublo.
Specifications of the Ayacate to Cruz Grande hike
- One way
- You can take bus 18 from Maspalomas to Ayacata. Note that there are several different routes for bus 18 which are a little confusing. I find this schedule the easiest to read and understand.
- This hike is about 10 km (6 miles) but can easily be extended by including Roque Nublo or continuing to Tunte
- There are a few bars in Ayacate. Other than that there are no facilities along the route, just lots of nature. If you decide to continue to Tunte, there are plenty of cafés and restaurants there, but at Cruz Grande there is nothing.
The trail
The trail starts uphill: follow the S70 from Ayacata to La Goleta. Here, change to the S-51 to Llanos del Pez, or make a detour and visit Roque Nublo if you want a closer look than the views you’ll get during this hike. At the Llanos del Pez parking, change to S-50 to Cruz Grande, which is part of the Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria trail.
If you arrive early for the bus and feel like you could walk a little further, you can also continue along the S-50 to Tunte (San Bartolomé de Tirajana) and catch the bus from there.
8. Arco de Coronadero
This is a very different hike compared to the above ones, which are all hikes in Gran Canaria’s northern part. This hike is in the south and it’s a rocky desert hike. You’ll see plenty of huge cactuses along the way and from the archway you’ll have beautiful views over the mountains and the coast.
Specifications of the Arco de Coronadero hike
- Circular
- You can park at Bahia Feliz, or take any of the buses which stop here. From Maspalomas there are many options, if you’re coming from Las Palmas bus 30 is your best option.
- This hike is only about 9 km (5,5 miles) but does include a tricky climb up. It does look harder than it is as you’ll see when you’re on the trail, but I do recommend doing the hike in this direction as coming down this path would be more difficult than going up. Be aware that there is almost no shade on this trail and that it’s generally hotter in the south compared to the north. So bring sun protection and plenty of water.
- There is a little shopping center in front of the bus stop in Bahia Feliz and at the beach, you’ll find restaurants for food and drinks.
The trail
From Bahia Feliz. follow the trail past Presa del Conde. After about 3 km (just under 2 miles) there is a tunnel on your right, go in it. Grab your phone and switch on the light, it is quite a long and dark tunnel. Once you’re out of the tunnel, continue to the left and cross over to the other side of the barranco. Keep following the trail. Make sure to keep an eye on the map as the path where you need to go up is not very clear. Continue to the archway for pictures and nice views and follow the route down. This trail is much less steep and much easier to do on your way down. You’ll pass the tunnel again, from where you will continue the same way you originally came from back to Bahia Feliz.
9. San Agustin to Faro de Maspalomas
A very chill and easy coastal hike, perfect to combine with relaxing on the beach and/or a drink and a meal at one of the many cafés and restaurants along the beaches. This hike passes by the famous Dunas de Maspalomas and continues until the Faro de Maspalomas, a great place to watch the sunset.
Specifications of the San Agustin to Faro de Maspalomas hike
- One way
- Take any of the buses which stop in San Agustin. From Maspalomas there are many options, if you’re coming from Las Palmas bus 30 is your best option.
- This hike is only about 7,5 km (just over 4 miles) and mostly very easy along the coast. Only the trail through the dunes is a little more challenging as you’re walking in the sand.
- There are plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants along the trail. For public toilets the shopping centers are your best bet.
The trail
This hike between San Agustin and Playa del Ingles is super easy and you can walk along the boulevard for most of it, or opt to walk along the beach of course. The part that goes through the dunes is a little more tiring, as you’re walking through soft sand here.
The trail ends at the Faro, which is a great place to see the sunset. I like it more than the dunes since you can actually see the sun drop behind the horizon from here. Sit on the sand, or the stairs, or head to one of the cafés or restaurants for a drink or meal.
10.Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria
I saved this hike for last as it’s a different hike from the rest. This is a 3-4 day hike which crosses the entire island. It’s a similar pilgrimage hike as the Santiago de Compostela hike in mainland Spain, in the sense that you can start from anywhere you want and make your way to the trail. The official start of the trail is the Faro de Maspalomas though.
The standard itinerary is:
- Day 1: Maspalomas to Tunte (San Bartolomé de Tirajana)
- Day 2: Tunte to Cruz de Tejeda
- Day 3: Cruz de Tejeda to Galdar
It’s also possible to make a detour and hike via Tejeda, in which case it’s better to divide the hike over 4 days. This is something worth considering anyway since the first day is quite a long and challenging day with lots of elevation gain.
Along the way, you can stay at hotels or AirBnBs in the towns you’ll come across. There are no official “albergues” (youth hostels).
If you want, you can get a certificate upon completing the Camino. Make sure you have your credential with the required stamps to obtain it.
This was: 10 amazing hikes in Gran Canaria
Of course, this is just a small selection of the many hikes in Gran Canaria. Other beautiful hikes on the island include Los Azulejos, the Osorio Estate, Barranco de Cernícales, and the many routes between Cruz de Tejeda and Teror.
If you want to have a better idea of all the different hikes and trails on the island, I recommend downloading a hiking app like Komoot or Mapy.cz. Komoot is great if you’re looking for already planned hikes to follow, whereas I find Mapy.cz easier to use if I want to plan my own hike.
And for other things to do in Gran Canaria besides hiking, check out my guide with 25 amazing things to do in Gran Canaria.