Gran Canaria Walking Festival

IN THE SHADOW OF THE GUARDIAN

GRAN CANARIA WALKING FESTIVAL 2019

24 October

Thursday 24 October / Route 2

IN THE SHADOW OF THE GUARDIAN

Let yourself be dazzled by the magnificence of “Roque Nublo” on this route endowed with landscapes of breath-taking beauty.

The route starts in the area known as La Goleta. From this starting point, surrounded by pine trees, we will start our ascent towards “Altos de Hornos”, which provides a panoramic view of the summits and “Roque Nublo”.

From here, we will continue walking towards “Degollada de los Hornos” before heading down on the path named “La Plata”, which is part of the town of “San Bartolomé de Tirajana”.

Before reaching the stony stretch of the path “La Plata”, we will fork off to enjoy the views from “Ventana del Nublo” (the window of Nublo). From this viewpoint, if we are lucky enough to have blue sky, we will be able to see the islands of “Tenerife”, and even “La Gomera”.

After the “Ventana del Nublo”, we will start descending towards “Cruz Grande”, and from there, we will walk towards “Tunte”, the main town of the municipality of “San Bartolomé de Tirajana”. This place owes its name to an ancient aboriginal settlement, where, later, Hispanic settlers would come to live.

From here, we will observe the fantastic views of the “Caldera de las Tirajanas”, while making our way through rocky areas, stretches of pinewoods, stony paths and dream-like tracks.

We will enjoy a picture-postcard panoramic view from the "Hotel Las Tirajanas", which epitomises the beauty of the place.

During this stop at an altitude of 900 metres, we can taste the local cuisine in this rustic colonial-style hotel.

Technical data

Physical difficulty

Medium

Type of route

Linear

Distance

10 KM

Duration

3:30 - 4:00 h

Total elevation gain

230 m+

Cumulative negative difference in altitude

840 m-

Track

Link

Elevation Profile

Link

Pico de la Gorra-Cruz del Socorro-Vueltas de Adeje-Santa Lucía de Tirajana-Casa Rural el Olivar

Aboriginal name. It is believed it comes from the Tamazight language, from the word Nuro or Nugro. At first, people thought this place-name was Castilian and referred to the rock that was often wrapped in clouds (nubes in Spanish).
This enormous rock is situated at 1813 metres of altitude and it is the geographical centre of Gran Canaria. It is 67 metres high from its base, and it has, like Roque de la Rana, seven climbing routes. The first one (prepared by some Germans who work in Puerto de La Luz, the harbour of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), is known as “la alemana” (the German route).
 

Many places in the central heights of the island bear the name “Hornos”. This is because in the past, the Canarians made the most of pine trees by exploiting all their resources: leaves, trunk, resin, pine cones… Resin was burnt in kilns (hornos in Spanish) to obtain pine tar, which was used among other things to caulk wooden boats.

 

It is a pilgrimage route to Santiago (the Way of Saint James) that crosses the island from the northwest, in Gáldar, to the southeast of the island, in Tunte. This trail crosses the summit stretches, and paths that were historically used by the inhabitants of the midlands and high areas of Gran Canaria to barter.

This spot of the island heights is said to be the point where one goes from north to south or the other way round. In the mid-20th century, la Cruz Grande was a meeting point for hikers. The road was very busy because the apostle Santiago (James) is the patron saint of Tunte. Pilgrims came from different parts of the island to venerate the figure of Santiago The Small, so called because of its small size, which in those years was kept in the chapel named Ermita del Pinar.

Before the conquest, Gran Canaria was inhabited by aboriginals, as we can still see today thanks to the many cave houses around the island. After the conquest, this place kept its name, and became the main town of all the area of Las Tirajanas.

PICK-UP

Time

MEETING POINT

8:00 h

Alfredo Kraus Auditorium- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

8:00 h

Tourist information Office, next to the CC Yumbo Centrum- Playa del Inglés

ARRIVAL

Time

MEETING POINT

17:00 h

Alfredo Kraus Auditorium- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

16:30 h

Tourist information Office, next to the CC Yumbo Centrum- Playa del Inglés

Rocky places, pinewoods, cobbled paths and dreamlike trails

This route includes

  • Civil liability insurance
  • Accident insurance
  • Picnic
  • Guided route and interpreter of the natural, ethnographic and cultural values of the island
  • Transport to and from the start and end points of the route (from Las Palmas G.C or Playa del Inglés)
  • Specialised guided tours in several languages
  • Tasting Canarian products

Enjoy your experience to the fullest thanks to the free app specifically created for our Gran Canaria Walking Festival.

Program
GCWF '19

23 / OCTOBER / ROUTE 1

THE PALM GROVE RETREAT

The symbolic peaks of Gran Canaria will be our travel companions throughout this route where walkers are greeted by pine trees and endless beautiful palm groves.

24 / OCTOBER / ROUTE 2

IN THE GUARDIAN´S SHADE

Let yourself be dazzled by the magnificence of “Roque Nublo” on this route endowed with landscapes of breath-taking beauty.

25 / OCTOBER / ROUTE 3

THE SOUL OF THE FOREST

Clothed in all shades of green and alive with the chirping of birds, this route seems taken straight out of a fairy tale.

26/ OCTOBER / ROUTE 4

THE MAGIC OF THE PINE FOREST

The greatness of the pines of Gran Canaria will be revealed as we walk and the trees will witness our unforgettable experience as we set foot on their lands.

26 / OCTOBER / ROUTE 5

A WALK IN THE CLOUDS

This route will give you the opportunity to practise trekking in a single and unforgettable way, under the starry sky.

27 / OCTOBER / ROUTE 6

DRAGON VALLEY

Some irregular rock formations will take us to a world of fantasy and legend.

The price of each route includes: transport, picnic, guides, insurance, snack or tasting lunch and gifts.
See programme