destino gran canaria

Discover everything Gran Canaria has to offer, from sport activities to walking tours around natural treasures, Gran Canaria has the rural experience you are looking for.

Activities in the nature

Trekking

Trekking

Gran Canaria has an almost circular perimeter with its summit located right at the centre of the island. This results in a tapered relief furrowed by deep ravines in fan-like array and large depressions, the volcano craters. Nonetheless, there are significant differences between the smooth north-eastern relief and the abrupt south-western terrain.

Gran Canaria enjoys peaceful weather throughout the year, and, depending on its orientation or altitude, gives rise to different microclimates that divide the island into three bio-weather sectors: the Trade Wind Canary Region or Wet Island to the northeast, the Dry Island to the southwest, and the Summits above 1500 metres. Such diversity yields Gran Canaria’s changing scenery, and earns it the name of Miniature Continent.

Knowing the different peculiarities of Gran Canaria’s relief and microclimates is essential to fix an adequate itinerary and select the right footwear and garments to take along.

Trails

The island’s geography is furrowed by an intricate and singular network of footpaths that cover easy forest ways, royal or horseshoe paths, and trails for expert trekkers.

The size of the island and its rough terrain give place to a myriad of beautiful short and highly uneven itineraries, ranging from coast to summit to almost straight (as they border ravines), winding, and steep, and all that goes in between.

Gear

No technical gear is required. Mountain shoes - solid, waterproof, and with proper ankle hold - are recommended, whereas sneakers may be left for short walks. Except for vegetation-free areas, delicate knitwear and short garments, tops, shorts, etc., are not a good choice.

Apart from the small but adequate 30-litre rucksack, you should carry telescopic trekking poles to deal with steep slopes in comfort, as well as a mobile phone for safety reasons.

Recommendations for trekkers

Trekking in Gran Canaria is open to any mountain aficionado or person interested in enjoying nature. It is not restricted to specialists or highly-trained sportspeople. Nevertheless, we provide below a series of recommendations to make your outing a safe and trouble-free one.

Personal recommendations

- Avoid outings of great length or upward gradient during the hottest hours of the day or in adverse weather conditions, and always remember to carry proper gear.
- Plan your outing in accordance with the physical conditions of the participants and the weather forecast for the day, also considering the length, duration, and difficulty of the trek.
- Let relatives or acquaintances know of your itinerary and estimated time of arrival.
- Carry a mobile phone with you. The emergency number within the Canary Islands is 112, with full 24-hour coverage.
- Do not walk the right side of the road, at night, or with low visibility. Do not walk alone.
- Do not drink water from springs, unless there is a sign indicating that the water there is fit for human consumption.
- Avoid the ingestion of local seeds or fruit, which may be toxic despite their inviting appearance.
- Avoid losing things, accidents, or deteriorating the environment by not taking shortcuts or leaving the trails.
- When suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, or if you are sensitive to certain substances, acari, pollen, or other allergens, carry your prescribed medication, as well as a sport licence and medical or accident insurance.

Environmental recommendations

- Help us prevent forest fires. Do not smoke or light fires in woodlands during hot, dry, and windy days. Help us preserve the island’s natural environment.
- Do not litter, and this includes organic material.
- Always remain on the marked trail, as this helps preserve the natural surroundings. Do not damage the natural and historical treasure of rural areas.
- Do not disturb the local population or cause any damage to their property.

Thank you for helping us preserve our Miniature Continent on your Gran Canaria holiday!

Links:

Nortetrek Canariaventura Cycle Gran Canaria

Tags:

Sports Fauna Flora