It will be held from October 24 to 27 and its route, divided into four routes, will allow you to discover some of its most emblematic natural enclaves, its culture and flavors, as well as having local producers to promote the island's cheeses and wines.
The thirteenth edition of the Gran Canaria Walking Festival, the international hiking event organised every year by the Gran Canaria Natural & Active association, sponsored by Turismo de Gran Canaria, kicks off this Thursday with the participation of 179 participants, of a variety of nationalities, and a cumulative total of 500 hikers who will take part in the four routes designed and which will run until 27 October to discover the wildest and most unknown side of the island. This proposal has become a very useful platform to promote the natural offer of the destination and, in this edition, it presents an increase of 28,6% in the number of people who have registered to take part in the four days.
The Councillor for Tourism of Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo, explained during the press conference of the presentation, held at the headquarters of the Councillor for the Island Council, together with Lourdes Pérez, President of Gran Canaria Natural & Active, the manager of the same association, Barbara Svehlakova, and the Councillor for Tourism of Valsequillo, Naira Hernández, that “the Gran Canaria Walking Festival returns as a consolidated event to celebrate its thirteen years of existence and does so, once again, with a proposal of the highest quality and the intention of once again offering an unforgettable experience to its participants. In addition, it allows us to highlight and make known among hikers and nature lovers from all over the world some of the most spectacular landscapes of Gran Canaria, as well as its gastronomy and its historical and ethnographic heritage, through a tour of the geography of the island.”
For her part, Lourdes Pérez, president of the organising entity, highlighted the interest shown by the participants throughout the year and pointed out that this initiative has “an enormous relevance in offering fundamental support for entrepreneurs, from accommodation businesses, gastronomy or many others and for proposals both small and medium-sized, and which are the majority in the rural and mid-mountain environments of the Island, so it allows us to put in value that other offer that is very attractive for a significant part of our visitors”. The councillor, for his part, added that “our diversity and our endemisms, together with an open and welcoming society has allowed our natural wealth, that of the inland municipalities, those of midlands and summits, with their network of trails, to be one of our growing tourist attractions. It is a segment of the sector that is growing significantly and more and more people are asking for it. At the same time it has been a boost of economic dimension for the entire summit and for our people to get to know our territory and value it. Furthermore, it fits perfectly with our interest in distributing the wealth generated by tourism across the island's 21 municipalities."
The manager of Gran Canaria Natural & Active, Bárbara Svehlakova, highlighted the value of this initiative among hiking and nature lovers, the respect for the landscapes and natural environments, the opportunity to get to know these areas with guides and specialists and finally the sustainable nature of the initiative. It not only allows you to discover its natural and emblematic enclaves, its culture and flavours. Having local producers to promote the cheeses and wines of the island, to get to know its establishments full of charm and history, is also an event that has an important commitment to the environment thanks, among others, to companies such as Smurfit Westrock that offer sustainable packaging for our picnic and tasting and recycling points”, she explained before thanking the support of the town councils of Valsequillo, Tejeda and Moya to promote rural tourism in their municipalities.
This annual meeting, whose celebration has been key to the recognition of the island as a favorite region in Europe for hiking by the German magazine Trekking Magazine, is a unique opportunity for those who want to discover the most beautiful and spectacular places in Gran Canaria, its gastronomy and its rich archaeological and ethnographic heritage, as well as the rural accommodation integrated into the Gran Canaria Natural & Active association, where you can rest and taste the most traditional products from each of the areas included in the programmed routes.
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The routes
In its quest to offer a different and renewed experience, this year's festival presents four new routes designed to immerse participants, once again, in the lush nature, as well as the rich heritage and cultural heritage of the island. These four routes will delve into municipalities such as Moya, Valsequillo, the village of San Nicolas and Tejeda, places where you can witness the diversity of landscapes and contrasts that Gran Canaria offers to all those who venture into its numerous trails. In addition, hikers will be able to visit several of its accommodations full of history and linked to Gran Canaria Natural & Active, where the end of the route will take place.
It is a festival that attracts people of all ages, nationalities and levels of experience to share together their passion for hiking and their desire to explore an island full of hidden treasures.
El Thursday October 24 The first route will begin 'Under the shelter of Doramas'. This route begins in the middle of the northern midlands of the island, passing through the Doramas Rural Park, of great value for raising awareness of the importance of preserving laurel forests. The route will continue through the municipality of Moya and will reach the town of Fontanales, ending with a tasting of local cuisine in the Naturacanaria Country House.
El Friday October 25, the route will take place 'The Summit of Navigators'. Participants will begin the route very close to the highest point of Gran Canaria, on a route dominated by descents that will pass through the protected natural areas 'Paisaje Protegido de las Cumbres' and the 'Reserva Natural Especial de los Marteles'. This route is an opportunity to discover the trails that run through the municipality of Valsequillo de Gran Canaria, which has trails of great interest for its flora, fauna and heritage and which can be enjoyed from accommodations such as Tajinaste HouseThe route will end in Valsequillo where you will enjoy the flavours of local products.
El Saturday October 26 It will be a day to immerse yourself in the west coast of Gran Canaria, in the municipality of La Aldea de San Nicolás and its impressive cliffs on the route 'Discovering the village coast'. Starting at La Aldea Beach, the route will begin to reach the Dragon's Tail, a famous landscape on the island that can be seen from viewpoints such as the balcony viewpoint. On the way back, participants will be able to enjoy a stop at the beach for a refreshing swim in its crystal-clear waters. The route will end with a tasting of local products on the beach of La Aldea de San Nicolás, a place to enjoy the tranquility and which has nearby accommodations such as the Hotel La Aldea Suites which is the perfect base for exploring the ruggedly beautiful landscapes offered by the oldest part of the island.
El Sunday October 27 The last route of the festival will be held, 'Road to the summit', where hiking enthusiasts will be able to explore first-hand the impressive municipality of Tejeda, which is part of the Biosphere Reserve and a nerve centre for hiking on the island. Starting from the town of Tejeda, declared one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, participants will set off towards the Llanos de la Pez, seeing places such as the Caldera de Tejeda, a legacy of the volcanic activity that shaped the island's relief for millions of years. In this enclave of the island and under the shade of the pine forest, the closing ceremony of the hiking festival will take place.
In addition to the official sponsorship of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through Turismo de Gran Canaria, in this XIII edition, the association Gran Canaria Natural & Active has the valuable collaboration of the Valsequillo de Gran Canaria Town Council, the Tejeda Town Council and the Moya Town Council, as well as the support of the Aldea de San Nicolás Town Council, so that participants can get to know these impressive municipalities and taste their local products.
Regarding this edition, those who wish to be part of the Gran Canaria Walking Festival They will be able to enjoy a picnic and a snack lunch with local products at the end of each route in emblematic places. In addition, all routes also include transport from two points on the island, insurance, specialized hiking guides in several languages, gifts, so that hikers can discover the natural and cultural values of Gran Canaria.
Registration for this thirteenth edition of the festival is now available on the website: www.grancanariawalkingfestival.com with limited places. Participants can sign up for individual routes or choose the 4-route pack. With the Gran Canaria Walking Festival A door opens to culture, adventure, nature and active tourism. Join the experience!
Rest, discover, and enjoy
This triple "D" makes this experience unique and unforgettable, thanks to the 20 wonderful rural houses and its 5 cozy rural hotels, where you can be captivated by the essence of the island, disconnect, and relax. Rustic elegance, serenity and wonderful nature are the protagonists of each of the rural accommodations that are part of Gran Canaria Natural & ActiveIn addition, the island offers different wineries, museums, active tourism activities and cultural routes that will complete your experience in the nature of Gran Canaria.
For more information and registration: www.grancanariawalkingfestival.com
www.grancanarianaturalandactive.com