Gran Canaria's Center

After picking up your car, you might want to start directly into your adventure, and take a first tour to discover the island of Gran Canaria.

One of the most beautiful tours takes you from the south to the north, along the coastal highway. In the north you reach the much greener part of the island, and from here follow one of the most beautiful routes on Gran Canaria.

The following tour will take you to one of the most beautiful villages in Spain - Teror.

Have fun!

From the south, follow the GC-1 motorway towards Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Leave the airport and Las Terrazas shopping center behind you. After about 3 kilometers, the motorway divides. Keep on the left lane and follow the GC-3 towards Santa Brigida / Tafira (uphill).

Take the exit 3 Tafira GC4 and follow the road a few kilometers until you reach a village (Monte Lentiscal). Cross this village on the main road and follow the mountain road up to Santa Brigida.

What to see in Santa Brigida?

Visit the historic center (Calle Real, Calle de En Medio) and admire the traditional Canarian architecture of the buildings and the church of Santa Brígida.

In La Atalaya you can visit a pottery center. La Atalaya is located approximately 2.8 km away from the center of Santa Brigida. On weekends you can stroll around the street market and enjoy canarian dishes as well as getting authentic souvenirs.

Tip for a later return on the same route: Follow the sign "Bandama" in Monte Lentiscal. The volcance is one of the most visited attractions in Gran Canaria. From the summit you have a wonderful view over the entire north east of the island. And if you like wine , make a stop at "La Casa del Vino" (house of wine) with a panoramic view over the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

What to see in Vega de San Mateo?

From Santa Brigida follow the GC-15 to Vega de San Mateo. On weekends you can find here the much visited farm and handicraft market. In addition, you can shoot many beautiful holiday photos in the historic city center in front of the church. Worth a visit is the “Snow Fountain”, which is about 16 km  awayfrom the village’s center.

Follow the GC-15 to Cruz de Tejeda. You can take a break here or follow the signs to Tejeda.

What to see in Tejeda?

Tejeda is truly the most beautiful village of the island of Gran Canaria. Idyllically located in the center, you can enjoy food here with an insane view over the interior of the island, the Roque Nublo to the summit of Pico de las Nieves. You also find here the Abrahám Cárdenes museum with sculptures by the artist, the Rincón de Néstor Álamo and the church Nuestra Señora del Socorro. Also, an ethnographic museum, a center for medicinal plants.

Take the GC-210 to Artenara.

What to see in Artenara?

In the village of Artenara you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of Roque Bentayga from the viewpoint of Miguel de Unamuno.

Worth a visit is the Ermita de La Cuevita (chapel). About 11 km away from the center you get into the deeps of the Pinar de Tamadaba pine forest. Follow the signposts and drive into the forest. At it’s end, you reach the edge from which you can see on good days the island of Tenerife. In any case you get a great view over the fishing village Agaete.

Follow the GC-21 to Valleseco.

What to see in Valleseco?

Near Valleseco you should take a short detour to the Barranco de la Virgen (ravine) in the Natural Park Parque Rural de Doramas. This gorge is located about 10km from Valleseco’s village center. 2 km from the center of the village, you can visit the Valleseco Lagune. But the most notable attraction of Valleseco is the 18th-century German organ inside the church by San Vicente Ferrer.

From Valleseco follow the GC-21 towards Teror.

What to see in Teror?

In the basilica "Nuestra Señora del Pino", rebuilt after several demolitions in the 18th century, a wooden carved statue of the Virgin Mary with the child (Virgen del pino) can be found on a splendid Baroque altar. On weekends, you can stroll along the street and handicraft market in the historic city center, enjoying gastronomic specialties such as “Bizcochos lustrados”, grilled meats, gofio escaldado, chorizos parrilleros, marzipan, almonds, pumpkin tartlet, stuffed trout, flowering honey, cheese, Cistercian pastry biscuits and chorizos (terrine sausages). Museum lovers will find the Museo Casa de Los Patronos. If you have some time left, visit the Finca de Osario, which is about 1.5 km away.

Have fun with this itinerary through the island's interior of Gran Canaria!