Hiking across Gran Canaria in 4 days

It is starting to become a tradition; every year I pick an island and cross it by foot. After Madeira, La Palma and La Gomera, I choose Gran Canaria for 2026. I walked the 80 km in 3.5 days in November, and I’d highly recommend it. Every day had something challenging and exciting. Here you will find everything you need to know if you are also looking forward to an adventurous island trekking.

The route

First of all, the route. Now, this is where it gets complicated, because there are several options. I created a hybrid by mixing and matching between them and even threw in a wild card.

Option 1. The Camino

This one starts in the south at Maspalomas and ends up in the north at Galdar. The pilgrimage is very popular and passes through many villages, making resupply and accommodation easy. It’s 67 km long and passed right through the middle of the island. Popular also means more people; not my cup of tea. 

Option 2. The GR131 – the official route

So, the GR131 is a long-distance hiking trail that connects all Canary islands. For Gran Canaria, the route runs (mostly) east to west, starting in Playa xxx, across the island to Puerto de las Nieves. Starting right next to the airport, making it easy if you
want to get straight at it from a flight. 

Option 3. The GR131 – The Cicerone guidebook variant

The Cicerone hiking guide describes this route as well for Gran Canaria and starts, like the Camino, in Maspalomas. It had to be noted that this guide was published before the GR131 route on Gran Canaria was established. Apparently, for the first 18km it follows a road up to the village of Ayagaures. Annoying, as you share the road with cars and road cyclists. Many blogs mention to skip this part, and start with the Camino route, before switching over to Ayagaures via a gravel road (this route I also found on Komoot), or switch to the GR131 at Tunte. Some blogs even mention to skip the first stage altogether and take a bus or taxi to Tunte. I’d say you miss one of (my personal) highlights. 

Option 4. My mix and match variant

I wanted to avoid the road walking, but also the more popular Camino route going north to Ayagaures. Having looked at the map, I saw that while the Camino follows the Barranco de Fataga, there was a path going into Barranco de los Vicentes. No numbers or signs were on the map, so it’s not part of the official hiking trails on the island. Great, no people! I highly recommend it, see also below for a more detailed description. From Ayagaures I followed hiking trail S7 to Tunte, where I joined the Camino. At Llanos de la Pez, the Camino joins the GR131 until xxx, where the Camino goes north, and the GR131 west, the latter I followed all the way to Puerto de las Nieves. My route was about 80 km in total, and it took me 3.5 days, arriving around noon on the last day. 

When to hike on Gran Canaria?

The best time would be between November and March. I hiked early November, with temperatures up to 26° C, and pleasant nights. Even at 1700 meters up, it didn’t cool down below 15° C. However, always keep an eye on the weather report, as sudden downpours or strong winds are always a possibility on the island. Given the exposure on the trail, I definitely would not do this late spring or summer, you’ll get cooked. 

Camping along the way

Wildcamping

Wildcamping is forbidden on Gran Canaria, but I had no other option on day 1. It goes without saying, that you pitch late, leave early and leave no trace. That includes toilet paper! A rule that seems to be unknown to most hikers here, given the amount of white paper I saw along the more popular trails. Pack it out, people! Along the trail there we quite some spots that I would consider for wildcamping, although some stretches are steep without any flat spots to pitch a tent. 

Official camp sites

There are 13 official spots on the island where you can camp legally (and for free!), but you do need a permit. These can be obtained from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria website. To create an account as a foreigner, you send an email to oiac@grancanaria.com with a copy of your passport. They will generate an account for you, and then you can easily book a spot. The permit will be sent to your email address. I booked Llanos de la Pez for night 2 and Llanos de La Mimbre for night 3, both close to the trail. There was drinking water, toilets and grill spots. And plenty of loud campers, creating a lively atmosphere.

Food and water

Let’s start with the obvious problem first; water. Apart from a trickling stream on the very last decent, there was no water to be found naturally. As the trail can be very exposed and warm, even in November, I carried up to 3 liters. Luckily you pass
through villages each day, so stocking up on water and food is not a problem. As mentioned, both official camp sites have potable water.

Navigation and signage

I always use my trusty app mapy.cz, and it contains all the aforementioned official hiking trails, as well as any path not part of the network. Just download the maps for offline use and you are good to go. In the Barranco de los Vicentes there are hardly any signs, sometimes there is a white arrow painted on the rocks. Here I had to check the map often, as the trail is not always obvious. When on the official hiking routes, you’ll find signs. Yellow at first, and when switching to the GR131 the classic red white stripes. 

Day 1 Maspalomas – Montaña Negra: 26 km

I flew in a day before and checked into an all-inclusive hotel in Maspalomas. Did some grocery shopping and got alcohol for my stove.  In the supermarket I did see some gas cannisters, but as everywhere on the Canary Islands, only the punch- through ones. After breakfast, I was ready to go and leave this town behind me. So much fake facades, where holiday is synonymous with drinking and sunbathing. Deliberately I booked a hotel close to the dunes, and in the early morning I had the path to myself. I followed the dry riverbed out of town, where the hiking trail starts, below a graffiti-covered bridge and piles of rubbish. For about 2 km I followed the Camino route, before veering off to the left into Barranco de los Vicentes and I immediately was transported into another world. Following the path was tricky, sometimes it follows the riverbed, sometimes a path next to it, while cliffs on the right side were getting higher. Often I had to check my offline maps to see where the path was. Flash floods had created enormous piles of reed in the middle of the trail, making it like a bush-wracking adventure. I did not see a single soul in the entire canyon. I checked the map, I took a left and hiked up a path that merged onto a gravel road leading down to Ayagaures. After
crossing the first dam holding an artificial lake I had a late lunch at bar Pilancones, (keep an eye on the opening times! Also, try the beans!) and got some extra water. From the town I followed the hiking trail in the direction of Tunte. Just below Montaña Negra, slightly off the route I found a flat spot underneath some pine trees. With sunset at 6.15pm, it was time for dinner and an early night. 

Day 2 Montaña Negra – Llanos de las Pez. 17 km.

After a quiet night (like eerily quiet almost) and a coffee, I packed up, joined the trail again and did the last 200 high meters to the pass at 1167 meters. From here it was an easy descent into Tunte. This had me confused at times, all the signs say Tunte, but the place on the map is called ‎San Bartolome de Tirajana. Anyway, I just knew there was a bakery there called Paneteria de Tunte and I was ready for second breakfast! And I needed the caffeine and calories, as from Tunte there are some brutal ascents on the menu. From Tunte, I joined the Camino route and hiked up the first 300 Meter to Cruz Grande. Up to this point I was blessed by overcast weather, but the sun started peeking through, when I climbed upwards for 400 more meters. The path was awesome, with great views along the cliff. On top, the path mellows, and I took a break in the shadow of the pine trees. From here it got more crowded, and over wide forest paths I made my way to the camp side of Llanos de la Pez. I arrived in the early afternoon, plenty of time to enjoy a book in the sunshine. It wasn’t crowded, in the end there were only 10 tents, with plenty of space for everyone. 

Day 3 Llanos de la Pez – Llanos de La Mimbre. 23 km. 

After a rowdy night (some campers thought it was necessary to play loud music around midnight, so I did some complaining), I got up just before sunrise, made my coffee and got ready. This day would be up and down for most of the day, mostly along the ridge. The first part, after emerging from the forest, gives you amazing views on Roque Nublo and the deep valleys beneath, impressive in the morning light. In the distance I could see el Teide on Teneriffa. Second breakfast I had in Cruz Tejeda, after which a more challenging and exposed part of the trail starts. At least, when you have a fear of heights. Which I have. Torn between not wanting to look down but also wanting to enjoy the views I slowly and carefully made my way along
the drop, passing by ancient caves. After a forest still reeking of forest fires (fire was in 2019!) I passed through Artenara, where I stocked up at the supermarket. The next part wasn’t too exciting, but it easy going to the campsite of Llanos de La Mimbre.
When I arrived, around 4pm, it was still relatively quiet, but not for long. Being a Friday evening, plenty of cars, campers and bikers turned up. The sunset from the cliffs was impressive and when the campsite quieted down around 11pm, I slept like
a baby. 

Day 4 Llanos de La Mimbre – Puerto de las Nieves. 12 km

Up before sunrise, because this last day wasn’t much distance-wise, but the descent all the way to sea level from 1200 meters looked tricky on the map. And it turned out to be exactly that. The first few kilometres you amble along over wide forest paths,
but then you are not so much hiking down, rather trying to not fall of the cliff. The path is slippery with smooth rock and pine needles, and although the entire island had been bone-dry, here the path was wet. Great combination! Slowly I made my way
down, luckily I started early so every now and then I was still in the shadow of the cliffs. Along the way I got humbled by several trail runners flying past. Somehow I made it down into civilisation, and it took me almost 4 hours to reach the endpoint at
Puerto de las Nieves. I arrived at noon, and took a direct bus to Las Palmas, to a well-deserved shower.