The popular tourist hub in the south of Gran Canaria is marked by the seaside dunes of Maspalomas. The area is just a fraction of its former self, 1.5 square miles, and flanked by resorts. To the west of the beach there are two icons to explore. Faro de Maspalomas […]
Monthly Archives: February 2019
21 posts
On a cloudy morning at sea level in Gran Canaria, I wondered if it would be the wrong day to drive up into the highlands, would there be any views? Hoping that the progressive warmth of the day would break the clouds, I never realized that the sheer elevation of […]
The serpentine and scenic winding road laden with hairpin turns ascends up towards the highest point in Gran Canaria, viewed from the mirador Pico de las Nieves. It isn’t physically demanding to summit the Peak of the Snows which showcases Morro de la Agujereada standing 6,417 feet tall. All you […]
A volcanic eruption 4.5 million years ago created one of the biggest crags in the world, a sacred place of ancient worship. The Rock in the Clouds stands 220 feet tall, a monolith atop a plateau surrounded by staggering beauty. With an altitude of 5,948 ft Roque Nublo is the […]
At the center of Tejeda volcanic caldera a standalone pinnacle jutting 4,639 feet high, a guardian over the Big Ravine. Roque Bentayga is the third tallest point in Gran Canaria located within a biosphere that covers 46% of the island. In the ravine you will find many Canary pines and […]
In 1478 the Spanish began their conquest of Gran Canaria under Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. One of the first developments on the archipelago was Plaza Santa Ana and inside the square the first church of the Canary Islands was built. Located in the neighborhood of Vegueta within the capital […]
Perhaps the best island in the Canary archipelago to play archeologist, Gran Canaria boasts some incredibly preserved aboriginal sites. Cuatro Puertas, or Four Doors, is a complex of caves dug into the old volcanic cone Mount Bermeja by hand five hundred years ago. The hill standing 1,500 feet outside Telde […]
A massive underground explosion only 2,000 years ago produced a maar in Gran Canaria, the magnificent volcanic crater Monumento Natural de Bandama reaching 700 feet deep and spanning 3,300 feet wide was born. The name of the caldera stems from a Dutch merchant of the 1500s, Daniel van Damme. He […]
Spain’s largest botanical garden resides on the island of Gran Canaria within in the lush Guiniguada Ravine. El Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo, simply known as the Canary Gardens, was established in 1952 and spans 67 acres. The garden is located in the capital of the island, Las Palmas de […]
You would think that Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands were named for the infamous yellow Tweety birds which dwell there, but in reality canaria is derived from the Latin word for dog. When the first Europeans arrived on this island it was filled with large dogs, pictured on the […]
Just a mile off the coast of northern Fuerteventura is a small islet with no roads that was once inhabited solely by sea wolves. Also known as monk seals, the thriving colony would decline and all but disappear except for occasional visitors, as the Spanish conquistadors arrived on the 15th […]
El Cotillo is a charming coastal village in northwestern Fuerteventura with a laid back vibe, perfect for those looking to get away from the tourist masses. Today the little city has a few restaurants and hotels, but its history dates back to the 17th century when it maintained a trade […]
Driving through Betancuria’s snaking mountain roads, I noticed the town of Vega de Río Palmas from above for its river of green, so uncharacteristic in Fuerteventura. Winding down into a small village, park at the trailhead of Presa de las Peñitas for a truly distinct hike on this desert island. […]
The legend of the heroic giant Mahan, standing 22 feet tall and in his mouth 64 teeth, dates back to pre-Hispanic times. He died fighting the Norman conquerors and was buried up on Cardon Mountain Natural Monument in Fuerteventura. The indigenous people believed that mountains were a link between sky […]
Deep in the desert of Fuerteventura there is a star reserve with such scarce light pollution that it attracts astronomers from all over the world. The mountainous drive on FV-605 into Pájara twists and turns to almost 1,000 feet above sea level, whether you are visiting day or night, the Astronomical Viewpoint Sicasumbre […]