We begin the first stage of the Way of St. James at the emblematic Faro de Maspalomas. The lighthouse is located on the south coast of the island, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. We continue in the direction of the Charca de Maspalomas, a small coastal lagoon and protected natural area, from where we can gaze at the impressive views over the dunes of Maspalomas. Once we have skirted the lagoon, our route goes on for 5 km along the promenade next to the canal, which runs through the interior of this southern enclave.
This route is approximately half of the itinerary of the first stage of the Way of St. James, which begins in Maspalomas and ends in the village of Tunte. According to tradition, it recreates the route followed by Galician sailors in the 15th century, who brought an image of St. James to build a chapel dedicated to the saint on the high lands of Tirajana. By this gesture, they intended to show their gratitude to the Apostle for having helped them overcome a storm at sea.
This route is quite flat and runs along a forest track for 16 of the 17 km, making it an undemanding route in terms of physical preparation and technical elements required.
Take sun cream and plenty of water with you as the main difficulty of the route lies in its length and the pronounced heat along the Fataga ravine. Children aged 16 and above can take part as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
Accompanied minors from 16 years of age can participate, it is important to take into account the duration of the routes.
Along the route there are majestic palm trees and some native willows that will guide our way. As landmarks, we can find the "Faro de Maspalomas" at the beginning of the stage, one of the most emblematic architectural elements of the island of Gran Canaria and the "Arteara Necropolis".
The lighthouse was inaugurated in 1890 after a challenging building process that took 28 years. It is now one of the most emblematic architectural elements of Gran Canaria, with a visual perspective that extends over almost the entire south coast of the island thanks to its height of 55 metres.
Its construction began in 1861, in a southern part of the island which was uninhabited at the time, and which today is one of the tourist hubs in Gran Canaria.
Located in the hamlet of Arteara lies the largest aboriginal cemetery in Gran Canaria, both in terms of size and number of burials. The "Necrópolis de Arteara" is located on a stretch of land covered with karst (volcanism-induced landforms) which provides a striking contrast with the palm grove just a few metres from the site.
There are several burial mounds in the area, the most important of which is the Túmulo del Rey (King's Burial Mound), which is located in a strategic place that is illuminated by the sun during the equinox.
Once we have reached the end of the canal, we enter the Fataga ravine, known as the "Valley of the Thousand Palm Trees", beginning an uphill stretch towards Arteara, along a forest track that will guide us through the desert-like vegetation and arid landscapes of the southern part of the island.
At the end of this section, we reach Arteara through its necropolis, one of the largest in Gran Canaria, ending our first stage in the beautiful palm grove known as Palmeral de Arteara, after having covered the first 17 km of the Way of St. James.
The Faro de Maspalomas will guide our way to the largest necropolis in Gran Canaria, bringing us closer to the shadow of the majestic palm grove of Arteara.
We leave the valley of the thousand palm trees behind us to discover the charming village of Tunte.
We continue our way through pine forests along the traditional Ruta de La Plata, or La Plata Route, to the Cruz de Tejeda.
From the Cruz de Tejeda we enter the pine forest of the Caldera de los Pinos de Gáldar, meeting a landscape of green and volcanic contrasts, until we reach various villages that herald our arrival in Gáldar, the final stage of the Way of St. James.
Immerse yourself in relaxation, explore the coastline, discover new routes and get into the most captivating nature.
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