WE LOVE WALKING

Although the routes that are part of the Gran Canaria Walking Festival are not very difficult, hikes can be complex, especially without the right equipment or without the right physical condition. Participants who take part in the Gran Canaria Walking Festival do so at their own risk and responsibility. The organisers or sponsors of this event shall not be held responsible for any accidents or injuries that may occur during the activities. By registering for any of the routes offered by the Gran Canaria Walking Festival , you accept the terms to participate in this event, and confirm that you have the physical condition and adequate equipment to participate. Participants must follow the instructions given by the guides assigned to each group at all times. The decisions taken by the organising entity and the guides to ensure the safety of the participants and the correct organisation of the event are not to be argued, as they are responsible for the participants’ safety during the activities. If any of the guides considers that a participant is not properly equipped at the time of starting the activity, they may not allow said participant to carry out the activity. Any medical problem that could affect your participation in the Gran Canaria Walking Festival must be informed to the technical secretariat in charge at the time of registration. This information shall be treated with complete confidentiality. If any of the hikes should be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, the organisers shall offer another hiking route, if possible. In the event that a route has to be modified for reasons beyond the control of the organisation, participants will not have the right to make any claim.

Gran Canaria has an almost circular perimeter with its summit located in the centre of the island. This gives rise to its conical profile, furrowed by deep ravines distributed in a fan shape and by large depressions, the calderas. However, there are great differences between the gentle north-eastern terrain and the abrupt land relief of the southwest.

The weather in Gran Canaria is mild all year round and, depending on the orientation or altitude, there are different microclimates that divide the island into three bioclimatic regions: the NE is characterised by the Canary Trade Winds, known as the Humid Island, the SW on the contrary is dry, so it is known as the Dry Island, and above 1500 m we find the summits. This diversity is what creates the changing landscape of Gran Canaria and is what has given the island its nickname: the Miniature Continent.

The weather in Gran Canaria is mild all year round and, depending on the orientation or altitude, there are different microclimates that divide the island into three bioclimatic regions: the NE is characterised by the Canary Trade Winds, known as the Humid Island, the SW on the contrary is dry, so it is known as the Dry Island, and above 1500 m we find the summits. This diversity is what creates the changing landscape of Gran Canaria and is what has given the island its nickname: the Miniature Continent.

The island's geography is crisscrossed by an intricate and unique network of foot trails that range from easy forest trails, royal roads or bridle paths, to tracks and paths reserved for expert hikers.

The size of the island and its rugged terrain give rise to a wide range of beautiful short distance and steeply sloping trails. Depending on their layout, these routes can go "from coast to summit", can have a light slope, be almost straight and go through ravines, or be more winding and steep, and run through different land features.

You don't need specialised technical equipment. We recommend solid and waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support, and only using sports shoes for short walks. Except in areas free of vegetation, the use of delicate fabrics or short garments, shorts, tops, etc., is not recommended. Apart from the small, but sufficient 30-litre rucksack, the most recommended accessories are telescopic walking sticks or poles to comfortably walk up the steep slopes and a mobile phone for safety.

Hiking in Gran Canaria is an activity open to all kinds of mountain lovers, and anyone interested in enjoying nature. It is not an activity limited to great specialists or high performance athletes. However, we must provide a series of recommendations in order to ensure your hike through Gran Canaria is peaceful and safe.

• Avoid long-distance routes or upward slopes during the hottest hours of the day or in adverse weather conditions, and do not forget that you must have the appropriate equipment.

• Plan your route according to the characteristics of your group and the weather forecast of the day, taking into account the length of the itinerary, its duration and difficulty.

• Inform family members or another contact person of the route you are going to take and the estimated time of return.

• Carry a mobile telephone with you. The number for emergencies in the Canary Islands is 112. It has full network coverage and offers 24-hour service.

• Avoid walking at night, in poor visibility, and on the right side of roads. Do not walk alone.

• Do not drink from springs, except from those marked as drinking water springs.

• Avoid grabbing and eating seeds or fruits taken from the native flora since they can be toxic despite their appetising appearance.

• Avoid getting lost, accidents and environmental deterioration by not taking short cuts or going off the roads.

• If you suffer from respiratory or cardiovascular diseases or are sensitive to certain substances, mites, pollen or other allergens, it is recommended that you carry with you the prescribed medication, and that you have a sports license, health insurance or accident insurance policy.

• Help us prevent forest fires. Do not smoke in the woods or light fires in wooded areas or the underbrush on hot, dry and windy days. Help us preserve the nature of the island.

• Do not litter, even if it's organic waste.

• Respect the marked trails, it helps to preserve the natural environment. Please respect the natural and historical heritage of all rural areas.

• Avoid disturbing the country residents or damaging their properties.

For each route, it is necessary to have at least 50 registered participants in order to carry out the activity. If the pre-registration period ends or if Gran Canaria Natural considers that the minimum quota will not be reached, the route shall be cancelled. In this case, the organising entity shall only refund the full registration fees to the participants, and shall not be responsible for any additional costs such as the cost of plane tickets, accommodation, etc.

If participants notify their decision to cancel their participation, the full registration fees shall be refunded, provided the organising entity is notified before 11 October 2024.

After the afore-mentioned date (11 October 2024), the fees paid shall not be refunded, except only in exceptional circumstances such as hospital admission, which must be accredited by the health institution.

Nevertheless, the organisation allows changing the name of the registration to another person through the registration system.

The organising entity reserves the right to the image of the Gran Canaria Walking Festival, as well as to the use any audio-visual, photographic and journalistic material of the event. Any media or advertising project must procure the prior express written consent of the organising entity. In case the consent is not obtained, the organisation may take any legal action deemed appropriate.

When carrying out the registration in any event of Gran Canaria Walking Festivalparticipants give their consent to the organization for use their personal data and image for sporting and commercial purposes.

As established in Ley Orgánica 15/1995, de 13 de diciembre, de la Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal (the Data Protection Act), participants have the right to access to the data in case they want to correct or delete information. In that case, you should request it sending an email to info@grancanarianaturalandactive.com