Gran Canaria - Central Tour

Our central tour begins at Tafira, a swish suburb of Las Palmas where you’ll find many of the best-preserved buildings on the island. Although principally a residential area, there are a number of bars and restaurants both on and off the main road to stop off at.

Definitely worth dropping by is the Jardín Botánico, or the Jardín Botánico Vieira y Clavijo to give it its full name. Here you’ll be able to stroll through a lovingly-tended collection of quintessentially Canarian plants. Moving on, another joy of nature is the Caldera de Bandama, a dormant volcanic crater – which will nevertheless ignite the fire in your soul. With a 1000-metre diameter and 200 metres deep, take a voyage to the bottom or enjoy the spectacular views from the peak – formed by the crater’s lava flow.

Next up is Santa Brigida. Coming across as an upmarket ski resort, minus the snow, you’ll soon see why some of Gran Canarias’s wealthier residents have made it their home. A little under 5km down, or more accurately up the road, lies Vega de San Mateo, commonly abridged to San Mateo. From its elevated location, you’ll start to savour the Central Massif – the mountainous heart of the island. Pick of the tops, however, goes to Pico de las Nieves, literally Peak of the Snows.

Tejeda is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, particularly at weekends. Perfect as a base for some hiking or merely to chill and be thrilled at the state-run Parador Cruz de Tejeda, a four-star hotel located in surroundings so picturesque it’s difficult to imagine a setting more photogenic.

Our tour of the centre concludes at Gran Canarias’s highest village, Artenara. As old as it is tall, many of the buildings here are actually built into the cliff face. You can’t but help but fall under its charm.