We start from the village of Tunte, in the basin of the Caldera de Tirajana, which holds the image of St James in the village church. We start the route with a short ascent surrounded by the characteristic pine forest of the caldera until we enter the traditional and famous "subida de la plata", or La Plata climb, which is as beautiful as it is difficult.
This third route is actually the entire second stage of the Way of St. James, where hikers are invited to enjoy the summits of the island and, more specifically, the Cultural Landscape of Risco Caído and the Sagradas Montañas de Gran Canaria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.
Once we have crossed this emblematic pass in this area of the summit, we continue our route on an easier and more bearable path, which, along 8 km of winding slopes, will guide us to the Cruz de Tejeda.
Before reaching the Cruz de Tejeda, we can stop by the Ventana del Nublo (window on the cloud rock), located just after the plains of Pargana, which provides views onto the western part of the island of Gran Canaria, as well as a new perspective of the symbolic Roque Nublo.
This stage runs through a dry area at the beginning and with over 1000 m of elevation gain with rocky areas, and some parts of the route include paved areas, which are not technical stretches but require the hikers’ attention.
Make sure you have suitable footwear and you bring enough water to be able to walk without support for 2 hours, as the support vehicle will only be able to provide cover at one point during the first half of the day. Children aged 16 and above can take part as long as they are accompanied by an adult. It is important to bear in mind the duration of the routes.
Used as a trade route, this itinerary full of pine forests, tajinastes (Echium species) and verodes (Kleinia neriifolia) was very popular with mule drivers and country people who travelled from Tirajana to the centre and north of the island, carrying agricultural products on their way out and bringing more urban products with them on their way back.
In addition, during the Jacobean years, this path was also used to thank God for granting prayers, so many people from the centre and north of Gran Canaria would walk this path to reach the church and fulfil their promises.
This is one of the most emblematic natural rock arches on the island of Gran Canaria, a natural window that provides stunning views onto the western part of the island and part of its natural treasures: the area of Aldea de San Nicolás, the Integral Nature Reserve of Inagua and a different perspective of the Nublo Rural Park and its companion the rock of La Rana.
In the heart of Gran Canaria, the Cruz de Tejeda, famous for its Parador Nacional (state-run rural inn) since 1937, is the geographical epicentre of Gran Canaria, where many of the island's ancient paths lead to, and which is frequented daily by hikers. In the past, this crossroads was very famous for its location, which made it an almost obligatory stop for people crossing the island from the west side, heading towards the east side, or the capital.
The area also stands out because it is home to several kiosks where you can buy a variety of local handicrafts and gastronomic products.
TIME | MEETING POINT |
6:45 | Alfredo Kraus Auditorium- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
7:15 | Tourist information Office, next to the CC Yumbo Centrum- Playa del Inglés |
TIME | MEETING POINT |
18:00 | Alfredo Kraus Auditorium- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
18:00 | Tourist information Office, next to the CC Yumbo Centrum- Playa del Inglés |