Rock Climbing in Gran Canaria

An excellent all year round climate and an exceptional volcanic terrain with magnificent high peaks provide Gran Canaria with ideal conditions for practicing non-winter mountain sports, of which rock climbing has become one of the most popular in recent years, causing a growing number of enthusiastic climbers coming to the island and climbing school sites and clubs appearing everywhere.

Volcanic eruptions and erosion created a paradise for all lovers of this sport, with rugged rock formations, vertical cliffs, gullies, crests, cauldrons, rock needles, cracks, chimneys, wedges, overhangs, etc. – everything a serious climber could wish for.

There are climbing sites to be found all over the island, although the most popular ones and also climbing schools are located in areas with good access possibilities and the best rock compositions such as Roque Nublo (the first climbing site to be developed on the island with 12 excellent routes and endless difficulties), El Palmés, El Toscón de Tejeda, Betancuria in Ayacata or Narices at the north face of Roque Bentayga (here are some climbing restrictions due to archaeological values).

There is also the rock circus of Ayacata, a sanctuary of traditional climbing with the biggest number of classical routes of different lengths and difficulty degrees scattered in the area or Tamada an ancient mountain massif with vertical cliffs in the northwest and many more fascinating climbing sites such as Costa Ayala, Bañaderos and Las Meleguinas.

The leading site for sports and boulder climbing in the south, La Sorrueda near Santa Lucia in the Tirajana gorge, together with Fatagonia and the southern gullies of Berriel and Ayagaures are the sites that attract the most climbers.

Climbing is allowed almost everywhere on the island, with the exception of some publicly owned places, military terrains or sites of special ecological sensitivity, which makes it important for all climbers to respect, preserve and disturb in no way the natural environment and habitats of those areas, where they practice their sport.

Be aware that sports climbing – as it is not a sport without any risks – requires certain regulative documents for your own security such as federation licence, insurance policy covering civil liability, accidents, etc. In order to be fully prepared, we recommend you to get in touch with the Canary Island Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing before your departure to find out about all the details.