Gran Canaria Tourist Guide

We return to the fork in the road we turned off at earlier, and head on up to the town centre of Santa Brígida. The countryside is very green around here, with the highest number of dragon trees in the Canaries. These century-old trees are botanical marvels, and some of them, such as the 300 year old example in Pino Santo, are still firmly rooted to the ground. Stay in Santa Brígida to visit the Wine House Museum and its little open air market, which just like other markets in neighbouring San Mateo, Teror and other hillside towns offers superb locally grown products each weekend. San Mateo is an emminently cattle rearing and agricultural municipality, nestling on the hills just below the summit area. It is well worth a visit, to try out their spectacular cheeses and other culinary delights, all in stunning natural surroundings, where water flows down the ravines such as La Mina, providing refreshing picture postcard images. Take a stroll around the town centre and have a good look at the perfectly restored ancient houses. And before completing the climb, take a detour through Valsequillo, a bordering municipality that is famous for it splashes of bright white blossom from its almond trees, its tasty strawberries and the bewitching spell of Tenteniguada, one of its finest spots. We go back where we came from and carry on up the GC- 15 towards Tejeda, a town that, since September 2015 has had the distinction of being “one of the prettiest villages in Spain”. This recognition is by no coincidence and is down to its unspoilt natural heritage, carved out of savage volcanic eruptions and the majesty of two totemic rocks for the inhabitants of Gran Canaria: the Nublo and the Bentayga. Tejeda sits below the Pico de Las Nieves, the highest point of the island and an exciting challenge for cyclists. Its 1,949 metres altitude are a priviledged watchtower surrounded by robust Canary pine trees, a fabulous species that is resistant to fire and when burnt Tejeda, a town that, since September 2015 has held the

award of being “one of the prettiest villages in Spain”.

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LEISURE GUIDE OF GRAN CANARIA