The heart of Gran Canaria (road version)

Basílica de la Virgen del Pino

It is one of the most religiously important churches in the Canary Islands. The **Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino** stands in the heart of Teror's cobbled old town. The venerated image of the Virgin is kept in a silver canopy in the Camarín — a treasure chamber holding centuries of devotional gifts, jewels, ex-votos and the **Green Cross** carved from the wood of the original pine. The sculptural works inside by José Luján Pérez, the leading island artist of the 18th century, are utterly captivating and well worth a visit. The basilica is the centerpiece of a town that is one of the finest examples of traditional Canarian architecture — whitewashed facades and intricately carved wooden balconies line the main streets around the square. On Sunday mornings a market fills the square with local cheeses, mojo sauces and traditional produce among the best on the island.

Latitude: 28.0595 Longitude: -15.5482

Artenara

Artenara repays the time spent getting there with one of the most beautiful views in the entire Canary archipelago. From the rim of the **caldera** at 1,270 metres, Roque Nublo rises in the distance, and on clear days you can see the cone of the Teide and the island of Tenerife on the horizon. The village itself is quiet and authentic — cave houses carved into the volcanic tuff, narrow alleys, and a handful of local restaurants serving Canarian cuisine and a goat cheese that is highly renowned and the winner of several contests. Don't miss the Chapel of the Virgen de la Cuevita, a small church set into a natural cave at the edge of the caldera, with the ravine opening up beneath your feet. The nearby Risco Caído archaeological complex is a **UNESCO World Heritage** site. Also very distinctive is the restaurant **Cueva Del Molino**, where you dine inside the rock: an experience that alone is worth the visit. Every road leading up to Artenara is a true driving pleasure: long sequences of hairpin bends among pines and eucalyptus with little traffic and open panoramas. The **GC-220** from Agaete, the **GC-210** from Tejeda and the **GC-21** straight from Las Palmas are all exceptional. Temperatures at altitude are noticeably cooler than on the coast — a welcome change on hot days.

Latitude: 28.0201 Longitude: -15.6466

Roque Nublo

**Roque Nublo** is the most iconic landmark of **Gran Canaria**: an 80-metre-tall volcanic monolith standing at 1,813 metres, with its smaller companion El **Fraile** on a wind-swept plateau. The view from the top of the approach trail embraces the entire **Tejeda** caldera, all the way to the coast, and reaches the **Teide **on a clear day. The approach trail from the road takes about 45 minutes on foot and is well maintained, gaining elevation among volcanic boulders and scattered pines. The plateau around the base of the monolith is almost barren, with a sparse forest all around. There are no facilities at the trailhead. The roads climbing from Tejeda to the start of the Roque Nublo trail are among the finest in the Canary Islands: narrow, endlessly winding, with sudden open panoramas and little traffic. The hike rewards the ride, and the ride rewards the hike!!

Latitude: 27.99 Longitude: -15.595

Pico de las Nieves

At 1,949 meters, **Pico de las Nieves** is the highest point of Gran Canaria and offers the most complete panorama of the island. On a clear day the entire island unfolds at your feet: green northern valleys, deep ochre erosion gullies to the south, the desert coast of **Maspalomas** and the interior of the caldera, while **Tenerife**, **La Palma** and **El Hierro** float on the horizon. The summit area is surrounded by fragrant Canary pine forests. A military telecommunications installation sits right on the peak, but the surrounding viewpoints are fully accessible. The road climbing up passes through the **Pilancones** pine forest and the cumbre plateau — the wide, elevated curves among pines and open heath are among the finest drives on the island. The air is noticeably cooler and cleaner at altitude, which makes this an excellent midday stop when it's hot. Park and enjoy the view. The summit is the geographic heart of the island, and from here roads set off in every direction: toward **Tejeda**, **Roque Nublo** or down to **Maspalomas**. It's truly easy, and almost obligatory, to slot **Pico de las Nieves** in as the final stage of your journey, to enjoy an unforgettable sunset!

Latitude: 27.9619 Longitude: -15.5717

Teror

The historic centre of **Teror** is one of the finest examples of traditional Canarian architecture on any of the islands. The **Calle Real de la Plaza** is lined with whitewashed facades and richly carved wooden balconies, each one different from the next, which together form one of the most photographed urban views on **Gran Canaria**. The **Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino**, the most important church on **Gran Canaria**, dominates the square with its warm yellow cantería facade and its Portuguese Gothic-style bell tower. Inside the basilica, important sculptural works by José Luján Pérez and the treasure room with centuries of votive offerings are absolutely outstanding. On Sunday mornings a market fills the plaza with local cheeses, mojo sauces and traditional products — among the best on the island. The mineral water from **Teror** is sold everywhere on the island; it is genuinely good. The town feels completely separate from the capital despite the short distance. You reach it through hills cloaked in pine forest along the **GC-21** or the **GC-43**. You can easily park near the town centre. Allow at least an hour: the basilica, the historic streets and a coffee on the square make this the most rewarding cultural stop among the towns of northern Gran Canaria.

Latitude: 28.0595 Longitude: -15.5482

Tejeda

**Tejeda** is the beating heart of the most beautiful roads on **Gran Canaria**. The village sits at around 1,050 metres in the ancient caldera, surrounded by almond orchards that burst into pink and white blossom every February. The **Fiesta del Almendro en Flor** transforms the valley for the whole weekend. The village square is small, authentic and well equipped: at any time of year the local craft shops sell marzipan, honey and almond products, and there are cafés for a stop with a view over the caldera. **Roque Nublo** and **Roque Bentayga** are both visible from the surrounding roads. The **Parador** at **Cruz de Tejeda**, a few kilometres above the village, offers a bar and eatery with one of the finest panoramas on the island. The local almond sweets are among the best on Gran Canaria: well worth buying. From whichever direction you come, **Tejeda** is probably the high point of the route: from **Maspalomas** to the south, from **Agaete** to the north-west or from **Las Palmas** to the north-east, the roads serve up spectacular climbing sequences of consistent quality. The village is the natural midpoint of any serious loop through the interior, so plan your route to pass through it rather than around it.

Latitude: 27.9944 Longitude: -15.6139

Mirador astronómico de Pinos

Built specifically for astronomical observation at around 1,400 metres of elevation, the **Mirador Astronómico de Pinos** is equipped with orientation panels and a sheltered viewing platform that minimises light pollution. On clear nights the Milky Way is extraordinary — the altitude, the clean Atlantic air, and the distance from the coastal resort lights make this one of the best stargazing spots on **Gran Canaria**. By day, the views over the pine canopy down to the ocean are exceptional, with **Tenerife** and **Teide** visible on the horizon. The surrounding **Tamadaba** pine forest is fragrant and atmospheric, and the walk around the site is rewarding even without a telescope. Plan this as a late-afternoon stop: linger until sunset, when the temperature drops, and stay for the stars before descending towards the coast. The road through the **Tamadaba** forest has tight bends, fresh air, and sudden openings with coastal panoramas. One of the few roads with excellent driving pleasure in both directions: find a way to include this stop on your travels.

Latitude: 28.05 Longitude: -15.55

Moya

A quiet town in the north with two things worth your time: the laurisilva of Los Tilos de Moya in the barranco below, and a genuinely local character that makes it an excellent coffee stop before heading into the central mountains. It is the birthplace of the Canarian poet Tomás Morales, whose family home is now a museum, and that gives the town a cultural dimension all its own. The church of the Virgen de la Candelaria and the view from the square over the deep green barrancos are simple pleasures. The access road that runs through Los Tilos, the **GC-700**, winds through some of the most lush and shady terrain on the island, a total contrast to the arid south. The forest is the main attraction here: 90 hectares of ancient laurisilva, a living relic, best explored on foot along the barranco trails. Moya is a rewarding detour from the coastal corridor of the **GC-2**. The village is quiet, genuine and unhurried. The road it sits on, the **GC-75**, is arguably among the most beautiful on the island and certainly among my favourites.

Latitude: 28.07 Longitude: -15.55

Mirador De La Atalaya de Artenara

The finest view from Artenara — and Artenara has several remarkable ones. From the edge of the village at 1,270 metres, the great caldera opens up before you: Roque Nublo rises in the foreground, Roque Bentayga off to one side, and on clear days the snow-capped cone of Teide on Tenerife appears on the horizon. Every road up to Artenara is a genuine riding pleasure: long sequences of hairpins through pine and eucalyptus with little traffic and wide-open views. Plan your descent along a different route, towards the Tamadaba forest or Agaete, rather than doubling back the way you came: you'll never be disappointed!

Latitude: 28.021 Longitude: -15.647