Cruz de Tejeda
Description
The geographic and, for some, emotional heart of Gran Canaria. At around 1,450 metres above sea level and perched on the rim of a caldera, Cruz de Tejeda sits at the crossroads of several of the island's mountain roads, all of them spectacular, with Roque Nublo rising up before you and the panorama opening out in every direction. The stone cross at its centre is surrounded by craft stalls selling almond-based products from the orchards below: every February the almonds blossom white and pink in one of the island's most celebrated natural events.
The Parador at the mouth of the pass is an elegant traditional stone building where you can stop for a coffee or a meal with views over the caldera. Along the road you'll often find stalls selling almond sweets, honey and local products among the finest on the island. Cloud formations frequently wrap around the rim of the caldera, creating a dramatic, ever-changing light that is well worth waiting for.
Cruz de Tejeda is the natural climax of any ride through the interior. The GC-150 arrives both from the North, through a pine forest, and from the South, from Pico de las Nieves; the GC-60 comes in from the West and climbs all the way from Maspalomas, passing through Tejeda with tight hairpins and dizzying drops, and the GC-15 is the connecting point for all the roads climbing up from the East.
