GC-130

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

9/10

Road Scores

Asphalt Quality 9/10

Route Quality 10/10

Landscape 9/10

Description

Beautiful road, although the asphalt is a bit old in some spots. It connects Telde (practically on the sea) to the highest part of the island. Wide road, often with two lanes, full of long, smooth curves and challenging hairpins. Along this road are two of the most panoramic points of Gran Canaria: Pico de las Nieves, the highest point of the island, and the Caldera de Los Marteles, impressive especially after the rains. It must absolutely be driven uphill from Telde. Watch out! Its main feature — namely, connecting the sea to the highest point of the island — can also be its problem. You may end up crossing through the clouds (though the view as soon as you go above them is breathtaking) and the temperature can vary a lot from bottom to top.

Included Points of Interest

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