Gran Canaria is one of the islands that make up the Spanish archipelago the Canary Islands. The islands are situated close to the west coast of North Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. Gran Canaria’s climate is spring-like all year around which attracts a high number of tourists.

The island can basically be divided in coast and mountains. Most people associate Gran Canaria with sunshine and beach tourism. Nonetheless, also the rural area away from the coast is worthwhile a visit. Those who are looking for tranquility and nature distant from tourist hotspots will find a true gem in the rural part of Gran Canaria. Staying in one of the so-called “Casas Rurales” is the perfect starting point to explore Gran Canaria’s places off the beaten track.

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Top 4 hidden gems of Gran Canaria

2 day trip to the hidden beach Güigüi

View near Tejeda

Apart from the coastal zones Gran Canaria consists mainly of mountains. Those offer lots of hiking and biking possibilities for outdoor-active sport-lovers. Nevertheless, you don’t have to do sports to enjoy the landscape. Simply renting a car and driving through the scenic mountain roads is a great experience too.

The rural and mountainous area of Gran Canaria is located in the center of the island. Once you head away from the coast towards the middle of the island you soon encounter steep and curvy roads that lead you to the mountains.

*In the course of my trip to Gran Canaria Casitas Canarias invited me and my friend to stay two nights for free in their apartments.

Transportation

I highly recommend renting a car to get around in the mountains. The villages are small enough to walk everything but you need a car to get from village to village. There are busses too but the public transport system in the rural area isn’t well developed. Especially for going to places off the beaten track a car is definitely necessary. You can rent a car for 20€ per day.

Caldera de los Marteles

Where to go

The scenery in the rural part of Gran Canaria is wonderful everywhere. Green mountains, charming villages and spectacular viewpoints are all around. I recommend doing a road trip to several places taking the roads that lead through the mountains.

Tejeda

Tejeda is a tiny mountain village located in the middle of Gran Canaria at 1.050 m above sea level. The views on the way to get there are stunning. No matter from which side you arrive to Tejeda, you pass by impressive valleys and mountainous landscapes. We stopped the car several times on the way to step out and admire the breathtaking landscape.

mountains on Gran Canaria
View on the way to Tejeda

The restaurant “El Almendro” in the center of Tejeda offers a lovely terrace. There you can enjoy the sunshine paired with an impressive mountain view and good food.

View from the restaurant “El Almendro” in Tejeda

The area around Tejeda is also a starting point for many hikes. From there you can head to the famous landmark Roque Nublo or Pico de Las Nieves. Both of them are mountain peaks which you can reach either by car or by hiking.

Recommendation:
Watch the sunset at Pico de Las Nieves at 1.949 m. It’s the highest point that can be visited on Gran Canaria and the view is accordingly amazing. You can even spot the peak of volcano Teide on the neighbouring island Tenerife. Volcano Teide is Spain’s highest peak at 3.715 m.

Sunset at Pico de Las Nieves with the view of Roque Nublo and volcano Teide

Teror

Teror is said to be Gran Canarias most beautiful and authentic traditional village. Featuring ancient architecture and mountain views it is definitely worth visiting. The village invites to explore the old town and its small and lovely shops.

Recommendation:
Visit Teror on a Sunday to experience the traditional Sunday market.

Teror

Arucas

Arucas is home of Europe’s oldest rum distillery “Arehucas”. You can book a factory tour which ends with a rum tasting. From banana rum to chocolate rum and the traditional Canarian honey rum – you can try all flavours and as much as you want.

Arucas

Recommendation:
Visit Mirador de la Montaña de Arucas for a beautiful view. This viewpoint is located on a hill near the center of Arucas. You can drive up the hill by car.

View from Montaña de Arucas

Santa Lucía de Tirajana

Santa Lucía de Tirajana is one of those villages where you can feel the authenticity of local life. The historic town features typical Canarian houses and is surrounded by mountains.

View from Santa Lucía de Tirajana

Santa Lucía is a small village and everything is reachable within a few minutes walking distance. I loved strolling through the streets while taking in the impressive mountainous scenery.

santa lucia de tirajana
Traditional houses in Santa Lucía

Recommendation:
Visit Hotel las Tirajanas to have a drink or something to eat. It’s located in San Bartolomé which is a 15 minute drive from Santa Lucía. The views from the terrace are gorgeous as you overlook the massive mountain range.

View from Hotel las Tirajanas

Where to stay

Casitas Canarias

Casitas Canarias is a provider of tourism apartments in rural areas on Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma. The apartments are situated in calm areas surrounded by nature. Each accommodation has some peculiarities that make it different from the rest. This is one of the characteristics that distinguishes Casitas Canarias from conventional holiday apartments. During my stay on Gran Canaria I was invited to stay in two different apartments which were both lovely and charming in their own way.

Finca Casa Nanita – Fontanales

During my time in the mountains I enjoyed staying in this calm finca to truly take in the tranquility and the beauty of nature. Finca Casa Nanita consists of three apartments in a quiet location on the country side near Fontanales. This place has a special history as it was one of the first apartments on Gran Canaria to open for tourism. The interior of the finca is rustic but cozy. Due to this combination you can imagine how people have lived there many years ago but it’s warm enough to feel completely comfortable.

The apartments can fit two to five people so they’re perfect for couples and families, as well as friends who travel together. Every apartment has a bedroom, a bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen and even a small living room with a TV. In addition, there’s free WIFI and heating as it can get pretty cold in the mountains. The bed is extremely comfortable and several blankets and pillows allow you to get super cozy at night.

All three apartments share a spacious terrace and a swimming pool with built-in jacuzzi. Separate entrances with individual seating areas provide privacy for all guests. This apartment is perfect for nature-lovers who like to step out of the door and hear the sound of birds singing. It is a place to disconnect from everyday life and spend some time with your loved ones. The terrace of Finca Casa Nanita is a peaceful and relaxing place to enjoy the mountain air. One of the things that I especially liked was that there are lemon trees and orange trees in the garden where you can pick fresh fruits.

Allureh – Santa Lucía de Tirajana

Allureh apartment

For the second night in the mountains Casitas Canarias hosted us in the Allureh apartment. This apartment is located right in the heart of Santa Lucía de Tirajana.

View from the balcony of Allureh apartment

The apartment consists of two storeys which include a spacious living room with a TV on the ground floor and a bedroom, a bathroom and a balcony on the upper floor. Besides that, there’s a big and fully equipped kitchen with a separate entrance. The highlight of this apartment is the private pool where you can relax on loungers and enjoy the sun.

While the outside of the building features historic walls, the interior is equipped with modern high-end furniture. It looks like the apartment has just been completely refurbished as everything seems to be new.

When the first sun-rays light up the balcony in the morning it’s inviting to get up and have a coffee outside. I truly appreciated the fully equipped kitchen as we could make our coffee in the morning to start the day right.

What I especially liked about Allureh apartment was the tranquility it provides despite being in the middle of Santa Lucía. The little patio provides privacy and sheds you from any disturbance from outside.

Overall, I truly enjoyed my time in the rural area of Gran Canaria and I hope to come back soon. The island is much more than just beaches, yet, tourists spend most of their time in the coastal zones. If you want to avoid tourist crowds and spend some calm days in nature, the rural area is a great alternative to the coast.

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