Much Better Adventures

Adventures / Epic Treks

Hike the Length of a Volcanic Island

A challenging coast to coast hike through the heart of Gran Canaria, a tropical mountainous gem in the Canary Island archipelago

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Trip Ref #10258

Adventures / Epic Treks

Hike the Length of a Volcanic Island

A challenging coast to coast hike through the heart of Gran Canaria, a tropical mountainous gem in the Canary Island archipelago

DURATION

5 nights

LOCATION

Gran Canaria

ANNUAL LEAVE

4 days off work

SEASON

Oct-June

GROUP SIZE

Up to 14 people

MEETING POINT

Gran Canaria Airport

ACCOMMODATION

Guesthouse

DIFFICULTY

Challenging

You’ll need to be fit and capable of hiking for up to 8 hours a day up paths of moderate difficulty, with some steep, loose sections.

COVID-19 Information

Our local host has provided some important information about any changes to the trip, and additional safety measures in place, as a result of COVID-19.

Our COVID-19 Policy

Stomp to the summit of Pico de las Nieves, the highest point on the island at a hefty 1949m

Bask in a subtropical climate, traversing one of the sunniest islands in the world, and cool off in coastal rock pools

Cross the craggy sun-baked mountain ranges taking in cool pine forests, sunken calderas and sky-skimming ocean views

Included

Guides

Expert, English-speaking qualified mountain guides

Accommodation

5 nights in small rural guesthouses

Meals

Tasty food to munch on throughout

Transfers

Transfers from and to the airport

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Travel insurance

Personal expenses

The Area

Logistics

Starts

Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)

Arrive anytime on Day 1

Ends

Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)

17:00 on Day 6

Transfers

Arrive anytime on Day 1 and you will be collected and taken to the first guesthouse, a short 15-minute journey away.

At the end of the trip, there will be a free day in Agaete before transferring to the airport for 17:00, please book a flight departing after 19:00. If you would like an earlier or later transfer this can be arranged by your host. This will cost approx 20-30Euros per person depending on the amount of people per transfer vehicle. Your host will confirm the exact amount prior to departure.

Travel options

There are daily flights to Gran Canaria from major airports across the UK and Europe. If you choose to arrive early, there are regular buses across the island that you can use to explore.

What about all the carbon?

We mitigate 4x the carbon generated by all our customer flights annually through our partnership with Cool Earth.

Day 1

Guesthouse · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 5

Guesthouse · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 6

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Breakfasts each day will be continental style, consisting of tea and coffee, bread, toast, butter, local jams and honey and fruit juice. For lunch you'll make up picnic-style lunches to carry with you - your guide will seek out some delicious local products to complement your sandwiches and fruit etc. Make sure you pack a tupperware to avoid squashed sandwiches and excessive plastic use.

Dinners will be taken at the guesthouses and are a great time to try out regional specialities - those with a sweet tooth should try and seek out 'bienmesabe', a traditional dessert made on the island consisting of almonds and lemon zest. And don't miss the honey rum (ron miel de Canarias) to accompany it!

What is the accommodation like?

Local Guesthouses

You'll stay in small locally-owned and run guesthouses throughout. Each of them is chosen for their excellent reputation, location, beautiful decor and welcoming service. In Aguiemes you will stay at the Hotel Rural Aguimes, a traditional and charming place to begin the trip. While trekking there are a number of choices. The exact ones you stay in will be confirmed nearer the time based on availability and group size, some examples here:

  • Casa Rurales Guayadeque
  • Casa Rural Santiago de Tunte
  • Rural House Ayacata
  • Artenatur Artenara

On the coast, at the end of your hike, you will stay at Hotel El Cabo Agaete, a stone's throw from the beautiful mountain-flanked beach of Puerto de Las Nieves.

You will stay in twin-share rooms throughout. If the group is full and the guesthouses are at capacity there may be one night when you will share a 4-bed room instead. The options in the mountains are limited so while this is unlikely there is a small chance that you'll have more roomies for one night only!

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge - see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking - this is subject to availability and can be limited depending on guesthouse availability. If it is not available for every night, your host will let you know and reduce the price.

Day 1

Welcome to Gran Canaria

Start your Canarian adventure with a quick hop and step inland away from the built-up coast to the peaceful village of Agüimes. This was one of the first parts of the island to be colonised after the Spanish conquest of Gran Canaria in 1491 and the tiny streets are steeped in history. You’ll have dinner with your fellow adventurers and guide and hear all about the challenge ahead.

Day 2

Through the volcanic Barranco gorge

Hiking

5hrs · 16km · 850m up · 850m down

You’ll head off through the lower hills until you reach El Barranco de Gayadeque; this ancient gorge once housed a river that carved smooth walls into the steep rock-cliffs. Filled with caves, the gorge has been a hiding place for prehispanic mummies, pottery and inscriptions and its steep walls of up to 1500m are spectacular to walk below. Pushing on you’ll end up in a pretty whitewashed village with enough time to grab a beer and admire the views.

Day 3

To the top!

Hiking

6hrs · 18km · 1000m up · 450m down

Setting off early today you’ll start to get a feel for the micro-climate that is Gran Canaria with its many different ecosystems. Passing first through some pine forests, then up a steep mountain pass, you’ll end up in the La Cumbre region, the highest part of the island. Last push to the summit of El Pico de Las Nieves (1950m), soak up that ‘top of the world’ feeling and check out the blanket of clouds below you.

Day 4

The Spanish Stonehenge

Hiking

7hrs · 23km · 600m up · 600m down

Today’s hike crosses the highlands as you make your way to the famous ‘Roque Nublo’. This 80 metre monolith has inspired painters, writers and composers and is a sacred spot rich with mystic claims and tales of worship and sacrifice. You’ll continue on the undulating track through lost hamlets before reaching the village of Tejeda, your overnight spot.

Day 5

What goes up must come down...

Hiking

5hrs · 18km · 400m up · 1300 down

Your final day in your boots and a totally different landscape to get acclimatised to again. Passing through the highest villages on the island and checking out the numerous cave-houses, you’ll head deep into the lichen-draped trees of the Tambada UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is one of Gran Canaria’s most biodiverse and pristine spaces. You’ll have a quick stop at a coffee plantation (yes, coffee beans can be grown in Europe!), have time to try some locally produced organic wines before continuing a mammoth descent to the sea. Ending in the fishing village of Puerto de las Nieves, make sure you jump in one of the many natural volcanic rock jacuzzi pools along the coast, locally called ‘Las Salinas’, a soak in these swim spots is the perfect end to your epic hike.

Day 6

Time to chill...

Wake up whenever you like today, you have the day to relax and explore this sleepy fishing-village or the nearby small town of Agaete. Eating fish for lunch is definitely a good idea (if that’s your thing), or just spending a couple of hours on the black-stone beach remembering that your weary legs could do with a rest having just carried you across an entire island. Mid-afternoon you’ll head back to the airport and say your goodbyes.

Please Note

All our adventures take place in wild places. Things can go wrong in wild places. Your perfectly planned itinerary may change a bit (or a lot) if the weather turns, someone gets hurt, or a volcano erupts. Usually though, changes make it all the better.

15% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 15% discount on us to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, Runner's Need, and Cycle Surgery.

Bags

Rucksack (approx 50ltrs)
Waterproof liner/drybag for rucksack

Clothes

Waterproof jacket
Breathable wicking layers
Fleece or similar
Buff or neckscarf
Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
Underwear & socks
Swimwear
Sunglasses
Sunhat
Something to sleep in
Hiking boots or shoes (worn-in)
Sandals

Other

Tupperware for lunches
Universal travel plug adapter
Passports (and visas)
Travel Insurance documents
Suncream
Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry paper to the guesthouse to dispose of)
Alcohol hand-gel
2 x reusable water bottle x1 ltr capacity

Optional

Ear plugs
Insect repellant
Energy bars and snacks
Walking poles

This trek requires a good level of fitness. You must be capable of hiking all day up paths of moderate difficulty with steep, loose sections. The walking is relatively straightforward, but the loose footing and long climbs will make the going quite difficult in parts. The views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile!

You will be carrying all you need for the hike as well as water which will, of course, add to the challenge - we suggest packing light, one change of evening clothes and some toiletries should be all you need really!

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

You can fill your bottles up at the guesthouses every day and will need to carry what you need for the day.

Gran Canaria enjoys year-round warmth and sunshine with very little seasonal variation. Summers are hot and dry while winters are just slightly cooler with the potential for a few showers. The island’s southerly location is on the same latitude as the Sahara, meaning it is much hotter than mainland Spain in the winter. However, it will get cooler at night and once in the high interior of the island the temperature can drop by a few degrees.

While hiking you can expect fairly consistent temperatures of 18-24 degrees and mostly clear skies. As you will be getting up pretty high there is, of course, the chance of some showers in the mountains but these are rare and short and sharp if they do occur. It can be windy on the top of the peaks also. The sea temperature will be approx 18-26ºC so very swimmable in the winter months.

There is no opportunity to store luggage at the first night's accommodation however your guide can arrange for you to send on a bag to the last night's guesthouse if you like. This can be arranged upon arrival - the cost for the luggage transfer is 80Euros but this can be split between the group so won't amount to much per person.

We’ve teamed up with the guys at World Nomads to offer insurance designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. To get yours sorted, click here.

We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book the trip, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

For current advice about travelling in Spain, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

All of our group adventures are especially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded.

"I cannot recommend this highly enough! The people on the trip were amazing. Easily the best trip I've ever been on!" Charlotte, 2019, Trustpilot.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

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Transferrable Deposits

Cancel up to 31 days before departure and we'll transfer your deposit into credit for a future booking.

Free Date Changes

Free date changes up to 31 days before departure.

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