WHAT TO DO
- The surroundings of the Tamadaba Trail
- What to visit in San Pedro, Agaete Valley
- What to visit in Agaete
- Tourist portal of the Agaete Town Council
THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE TAMADABA TRAIL
Tamadaba Natural ParK
The Tamadaba and Altavista Massifs make up one of Gran Canaria’s two Natural Parks. Located in the north-west of the island, it consists of the oldest materials in Gran Canaria, which were emitted during the First Volcanic Cycle some 14 million years ago. Towards the sea, the massif descends via steep slopes, deep ravines and rugged cliffs, creating a landscape of great beauty, highlighted by the impressive Roque Faneque, whose 1,008 metres drop vertically into the sea, making it one of the highest active cliffs in the world.
At the top of the massif, at an altitude of around 1,000 metres, there is a flat area covered by a dense forest of Canary Island pines (Pinus Canariensis), rising to a maximum altitude of 1,444 metres at Pico de la Bandera. This pine forest is one of the largest in Gran Canaria and, unlike the lower, more populated area of Agaete, this area is influenced by the Alisios winds, which provide it with a large amount of moisture produced by horizontal rain caused by cloud condensation at these heights, discharging all its moisture in this area and promoting the development of undergrowth with heather, ferns and fayas, as well as abundant lichens, mosses and fungi. Here we also find the local endemic species known as Tomillo de Tamadaba (Micromeria Pineolen, Mobenthamii and M. Lanata), a subshrub exclusive to this pine forest.
This Natural Park is a protected area, intended for public recreation and the conservation of natural resources, giving it not only recreational use, but also educational and scientific use. For your enjoyment, it offers two camping areas, a youth camp and a recreational area for outdoor dining.
Agaete VALLEY
San Pedro, Vecindad de Enfrente, Casas del Camino, Los Berrazales, El Sao and El Hornillo. Following this route, you can admire the beauty of its rugged landscapes along the road that winds along the right bank of the Agaete ravine. A parallel view is that of the Tamadaba peaks with their lush pine forests.
This valley is notable for its unique orange groves, tropical fruit plantations and coffee farms. It is also home to a wide variety of traditional buildings, some of which have been restored and others are in the process of being restored to provide accommodation for rural tourism. Of particular note is a rural health hotel in Los Berrazales, very close to the old mineral water spa, which is now closed.
El Sao AND El Hornillo
These two neighbourhoods in Agaete are located on the road that leads from the valley to Artenara, climbing up the right side of the ravine. The road was the usual route between the island’s midlands and the coast, and was used by, among others, the wives of the fishermen of Las Nieves, who would go to the fields with baskets of sardines roasted with gofio to exchange them for agricultural and livestock products. El Sao and El Hornillo are settlements, remnants of past civilisations; rural centres in a state of near abandonment, located at an altitude of 520 and 700 metres respectively.
El Sao is notable for its three water mills, which were the centre of the area’s economic activity, along with agriculture: the Molino de Arriba, the Molino de Enmedio and the Molino de Abajo.
El Hornillo, the first mid-altitude settlement in the municipality, is notable for its cluster of cave dwellings carved into the rocks of steep cliffs reaching up to 100 metres high, which contrast with the traditional dwellings of El Sao, known as rooftop houses. Access to the El Hornillo area is via a public path from El Sao, or by road, going up through the Caideros neighbourhood in Gáldar.
Los Berrazales
In the 1930s, in the Agaete Valley, specifically in Los Berrazales, there was the Los Berrazales spa and the Agaete water bottling plant. Both businesses were located one above the other and used water from the island’s peaks, which contained large amounts of iron, giving it healing properties.
In 1931, when the spa opened, it did not even have rooms for visitors to stay in, so they had to stay in nearby caves.
Guayedra RAVINE
Declared a Natural Site due to its valuable geological, natural and scenic features, this ravine is notable for its abundance of endemic flora and fauna. Historically, this ravine is of great importance, as it was the place chosen by Fernando Guanarteme, the aboriginal king, to go into exile after his cooperation as a mediator between the Castilians and the aborigines in the conquest of Gran Canaria.
Artenara
Located in the western peaks of Gran Canaria, at an altitude of 1,270 metres, Artenara is the highest village on the island, providing an excellent vantage point from which to admire beautiful panoramic views of Roque Nublo, Bentayga and, ultimately, the entire Tejeda basin.
Artenara is one of the municipalities on the island with the greatest difference in altitude, as the municipal territory descends from 1,773 metres at the peak of Los Moriscos to sea level on the west coast of the island at Punta de Las Arenas.
Risco Caído
The Risco Caido site is one of the most spectacular groups of ancient Canarian caves on the island. In some of them, a large number of rock engravings related to female sexual representations (pubic triangles) have been identified. The relationship between these caves, the engravings, as well as the bowls and channels, seems to respond to a fertility cult, also serving as an astronomical marker. It is possibly related to the sanctuaries mentioned in the historical chronicles, called almogarenes.
The cultural landscape of Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 7 July 2019.
Further information: https://riscocaido.grancanaria.com/en-GB/
Juncalillo
Urban centre belonging to the municipality of Gáldar, Gran Canaria. It stands out for being the highest hamlet in the municipality and is closer to Artenara than to Gáldar.
It is located in a very terraced area on the large slopes of the Barranco Hondo ravine, where the predominant houses are cave dwellings.
Notable features here include the Cruz de Valerón, Los Galeotes and La Montañeta landforms, and the aboriginal settlement of El Tablado, which belonged to the Guanartemato de Gáldar.
WHAT TO visit In San Pedro, Agaete VALLEY
Los Berrazales WINERY
Los Berrazales Winery is located in the heart of the Agaete Valley, at the foot of the Tamadaba cliffs and beneath centuries-old Canarian pine forests. It is situated on the La Laja Estate, which is over 200 years old and also famous for its oranges, coffee and tropical fruits.
Five hectares of land are dedicated to growing Washington Navel orange trees. Another five hectares are vineyards of the Muscat, Malvasía Blanca, Listán Negro and Tintilla varieties. The remaining two hectares are used to grow tropical fruits, notably mangoes, avocados, guavas, persimmons, bananas and its star product, Agaete coffee, the only coffee in Europe dating back to the late 19th century, renowned for its aroma and organoleptic quality.
Listán Negro grape varieties planted and cultivated using traditional methods by the Lugo-Jorge family, with the aim of reviving the agricultural and wine-making traditions of the area, result in a unique product. The care and attention put into their production result in red and white wines imbued with the aromas and flavours of the valley. The vineyards’ location, almost at sea level but in the hollow formed by the Agaete Valley, protects them from the salinity of the sea breeze.
In its short history, Los Berrazales Winery has already won important awards in the Canary Islands. Its semi-dry white wine won the Agrocanarias Gold Medal in 2011. Its sweet wine won First Prize in 2010 and Third Prize in 2009 at the Gran Canaria Island Wine Tasting. It is worth noting that its semi-dry white wine scored 89 out of 100 in the prestigious 2010 Peñín Guide, and its four white wines were among the highest-rated in Spain in the 2012 Peñín Guide. More recently, at the 12th edition of the Gran Canaria Island Wine Tasting held in 2017, Los Berrazales Barrica was considered the best young red wine in Gran Canaria, receiving the Gold Medal, and Los Berrazales Dulce won the same award in the semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet liqueur category. In the dry white wine category, Los Berrazales won the Bronze Medal.
Guided tour of the coffee plantation, tropical fruit plantation and winery, Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Camino de Los Romeros Street, 35489, Agaete
Information and reservations:
- Telephone: +34 628 922 588
- Email: lugojorge3@hotmail.com
- Website: https://bodegalosberrazales.com/
Los Castaños ESTATE
The Los Castaños Estate is located in the Agaete Valley, the only place where coffee has traditionally been grown in Europe since various plants of the Arabica Typica variety arrived in the early 19th century.
During the 50 years of the farm’s existence, its owner, Ceferino Jiménez, has shaped it based on the predominant crops in the valley, where coffee trees grow alongside mangoes, papayas, avocados, oranges, grapefruits and other types of tropical fruits.
Currently, 80% of the farm is dedicated to coffee cultivation, mainly the Arabica Typica variety, although it has a recently cultivated area of the Geisha variety, the most prized worldwide, making it a pioneer in Europe in its cultivation. In addition, Los Castaños Estate is a pioneer in:
- To be the first plantation school in Europe.
- Representing Spain in the World Barista Championship with his Arabica Typica.
Guided tours, tuesdays, thursdays and fridays at 11:00 a.m. Saturdays and sundays, please inquire for information.
Information and reservations:
- Address: Camino de Los Romeros Street, 35489, Agaete
- Telephone: +34 608 149 011
- Email: info@fincaloscastanos.com
- Website: https://fincaloscastanos.com/en/
WHAT TO visit In Agaete
El Maipés Necropolis
The Maipés Archaeological Park in Agaete is located in the municipality of Agaete, in the north-west of the island of Gran Canaria. El Maipés is a malpaís or volcanic lava flow that preserves a cemetery with around 700 tombs of the ancient Canarians, some of which were built over 1,300 years ago.
Visiting hours:
- Winter timetable (october – march): tuesday to sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Summer timetable (april – september): tuesday to sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Information and reservations:
- Address: Chapín Street, 35480, Agaete
- Telephone: +34 928 171 777 / +34 664 696 718
- Email: museosyarqueologia@arqueocanaria.com
- Website: http://www.arqueologiacanaria.com/maipes_de_agaete/maipesdeagaete.html
Las Flores Garden
This garden was created in the 19th century by the Armas family, owners of the aforementioned garden, who were keen to plant seeds brought from all over the world, especially from America, creating a tropical garden with more than 100 tropical species that have acclimatised perfectly to the location. Among these species are macadamia, güiro, mamey and camphor trees. At one time, this garden was the setting for long walks and meditation by prominent poets and writers from the island, such as Saulo Torón, Tomás Morales and Alonso Quesada.
Puerto de Las Nieves
Impressive cliffs rising from the sea to the Tamadaba Pine Forest, highlighting the view of the Dedo de Dios (God’s Finger) or Roque Partido (Broken Rock), a rock formation detached from the whole, is the most characteristic view of this port. Puerto de las Nieves is the ideal place to take a dip in the clean waters of the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy all kinds of water sports, such as surfing, windsurfing, diving and sailing.
BEACHES IN THE municipALITY
- Juncal Beach or Puertito beach: bordering the municipality of Gáldar, this is a pebble beach with calm waters. It can only be accessed on foot.
- La Caleta or El Turmán beach: bay located between El Juncal and Las Salinas. It is a rocky cove with moderate waves. Access on foot via a path from El Turmán.
- Las Salinas: located at the mouth of the Agaete Ravine, with pebbles and moderate waves. Access on foot from Paseo de los Poetas Avenue. In this area there are three natural pools connected by tunnels, which not only serve as a leisure area, but also allow diving enthusiasts to observe the local marine flora and fauna.
- Las Nieves beach: a pebble beach with calm waters located opposite the current pier. Easy access.
- Pier beach: located to the left of the old pier, with stone and sand and moderate waves. Easy access.
- Guayedra beach: located at the mouth of the Guayedra Ravine, this is a pebble and black sand beach, open and with strong waves. Access is possible by vehicle or on foot.
- Sotavento beach: access via the Guayedra Ravine, located to the left of Guayedra Beach, with sand and stones, strong waves and windy conditions. Access by off-road vehicle and on foot.
- El Risco beach: located in the El Risco neighbourhood, this is a sandy, gravel and pebble beach with strong waves and easy access.