Puerto de Las Nieves is a picturesque fishing village on the north coast of Gran Canaria. Filled with charm, Canarian character and atmosphere, it has become a popular place to visit in recent years and has been renovated into an attractive resort, ideal for a day trip or if you want to go island hopping as the ferry to Tenerife departs from its harbour.
The Paseo de los Poetas is particularly pleasant; a lovely promenade lined with seafood restaurants, craft shops and galleries. It starts at the cute, quaint, little harbour and is a great place to enjoy a stroll in the sunshine. At sunset the views are simply breathtaking, with Tenerife’s Mount Teide in the distance as well as stunning countryside and pristine sea waters.
A local delicacy is served here and is too good to miss: the caldo de pescado, a stocky fish soup. Visitors are drawn to this picturesque village for its serenity and surroundings rather than the hustle and bustle of a popular mainstream resort.
The village’s rich history can be seen in the tiny chapel by the main square, known as Ermita de las Nieves, which features a real treasure – a 16th Century triptych (a piece of artwork in three different segments) depicting the Virgin and Child, painted by the famous Flemish artist Joos van Cleve. During the Fiesta de la Rama, a copy of this triptych is carried in a procession to the parish church of Agaete and exhibited there.
At the southern end of this village you will find the Dedo de Dios (God’s Finger). This is a 30 metre (100 ft) slender pinnacle of basalt rock rising out of the ocean, directly in front of the impressive cliffs, which are crowned by the Pinar de Tamadaba (an extensive pine forest). When Tropical Storm Delta hit in 2005, the Dedo was damaged but it still makes for an extraordinary sight and is a great photo opportunity.
