Gran Canaria - East to South Route

Telde lies roughly equidistant from Las Palmas and the airport. The second city of Gran Canaria with a population of around 100,000, Telde is also the oldest – recognized by papal decree way back in 1351. If you visit only one place in Telde, make that the Basilica de San Juan Bautista, a stunning Gothic church handily located on the main square.

Continuing on our tour east to south, we need to head inland briefly. But Valsequillo is well worth the detour. Noted for its gastronomic delights including cheese, strawberries and wine, you can buy these products directly at the regular markets or sample them in a good selection of bars and restaurants – if you can reclaim your jaw from the floor after you take in the amazing views of the surrounding countryside, that is.

Further south we’ll next encounter Ingenio, one of Gran Canarias’s more ancient towns. Perfect for a ramble, Ingenio seems a sleepy sort of place, until you discover it’s actually a hive of activity with the island’s embroidery industry based here.

After crossing the Barranco de Guayadeque, possibly the most fertile valley Gran Canaria has to offer, you’ll reach Agüimes. Small, yet perfectly formed, this town showcases the typically Canarian neoclassical architecture with the Parroquía de San Sebastián, the local church and the town’s finest example.

Our tour from east to south takes in Santa Lucía de Tirajana next. A village with charming whitewashed buildings demands your legs to be stretched. As does the equally lovely San Bartolomé de Tirajana, admired even more after a shot or two of their famous liqueurs or spirits, as we veer back again to the centre. Finally, Fataga offers the perfect end to this tour, as many consider it to be the most picturesque village on the whole of Gran Canaria.