Gran Canaria para
Tour of the Centre
- The Tour in 360º
The previously described routes mainly follow the coastline of Gran Canaria with the occasional incursion inland to explore specific towns and villages. We have yet to penetrate the central mountain range of the island. The starting point of this tour is the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria itself.
Firstly, the visitor must take the Carretera del Centro (the main road to the centre of the island), which runs between the districts of Vegueta and Triana. Five kilometres from the city we reach Tafira University Campus and shortly afterwards the Jardín Botánico Canario (Canarian Botanicla Garden) „Viera y Clavijo“ which houses a superb collection of the island´s native flora. The garden complex, which is open to the public, is an important botanical research centre and is deeply involved in reforestation projects around the island.
The main road becomes a dual carriageway some four kilometres further on, after passing through Tafira Alta. We next come to a turn-off at which will take us to the peak of the volcanic crater of Caldera de Bandama providing excellent panoramic views of the island. On the lower slopes of Bandama is the Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ( Las Palmas Royal Golf Club), Spain´s very first golf club, founded over one hundred years ago by the important British colony who settled on the island at the end of the nineteenth century.
The next stop on our tour is the attractive and peaceful village of Santa Brígida, noteworthy for its traditional Canarian architecture and palm tree groves. At the nearby volcanic crater of Caldea de Hoya Bravo we can contemplate a splendid example of the Dracanea draco Dragon tree species in excellent condition. A group of scientists from the island have recently descovered a new species of Dragon Tree which only grows on the island of Gran Canaria, a small number of which can be found clinging to rock faces around the island.
Santa Brígida holds a popular street market every Sunday where visitors can wander around flower and vegetable stalls.
A little higher now is the town of San Mateo which begins to have more of a feel of a mountain town. The town´s economy is firmly rooted in livestock and agriculture and it is a lively place to visit at the weekend when visitors from all over the island converge on its market, one of the most important in the island. The renowned San Mateo cheese is just one of the products on offer to the visitor at this event.
The road continues to climb and the scenery and flora after as we pass from one to another of the island´s three main climatic zones. The mountains become more dramatic and the sparse vegetation on the slopes gives way to the shrubs and trees typical of this area. Eventually we reach the Parador de Tejeda, which overlooks the Roque Nublo, one of the most emblematic symbols of Gran Canaria and situated at its very geographical centre. Nearby is the island´s highest point, the Pico del Pozo de Las Nieves, some 1949 metres above sea level.
The Parador de Tejeda overlooks much of the island´s pine forest cover and the area is fulll of ancient paths and tracks used originally by the native inhabitants of the islenad and later by the island´s conquerors and settlers. Many of these paths have been restored for use by walkers and they provide an excellent opportunity to contemplare the flora and fauna of the island´s mountains. Close by is the Centro de Interpretación (Interpretation Centre) de Degollada Becerra chich provides stunning views of the Caldera de Tejeda volcanic crater and cone, together with many other unique geomorphologic features which make up this dramatic setting. The Centre has a permanent exhibition devoted to the most significant natural and cultural features of the middle-western part of the island as well as guide books and other literature to inform the visitor.
From the Parador we can descend to the village of Tejeda which is well known for its cakes and confectionery made from almonds. Another road leads to Artenara, the highest village on the island surrounded by pine-covered mountain peaks. From this point we can take the turn-off for the North and head fro the coast at Moya via Fontanales or via Teror and Arucas. To reach Telde we can take the road which hugs the lip of the Caldera de los Marteles volcanic crater, 80 metres deep and with a flat 550 metres diameter at the bottom. This is the crater of a single volcano which emerged in the Quaternary era.
It is also possible to reach the southern tourist area of the island by taking the road to Fataga which continues on to Maspalomas. The island´s seductive scenery is enhanced by pine forests, the Presas (reservoirs) de Chira and Las Niñas and the ever-changing views offered by the twisting and turning of the roads. Areas covered in black volcanic ash; rich red soil in Firgas and Teror; dark grey spears of rock; rocky promontories streaked with green and ochre-coloured veins. The landscape of Tejeda, descrubed by Unamuno as a "storm turned to stone“; steep crags, hidden valleys: the variety of the scenery in Gran Canaria has to be seen to be believed. The ancient paths and tracks of the island are inter-connected in a complex spider´s web based around the four or five principal walking routes. The island´s secondary road system is similar as it is possible to link up one side of the island with another. Thus, it is possible to combine in a single day the beach with the mountains and the countryside, all of which gave their own scenery and climates, in other parts of the world separated by many kilometres from one another.
