The Gran Canaria Walking Festival brings together hikers from more than fifteen countries in an edition marked by nature and local flavors.

 

The 14th Gran Canaria Walking Festival concluded last Sunday with the "Descent to the emblematic Fataga" route, bringing to a close four intense days dedicated to hiking, nature, and local flavors. This year, more than 136 participants from over fifteen countries joined the adventure of exploring the island's interior and discovering its extraordinary landscape diversity.

 

Organized by the Gran Canaria Natural & Active association , and sponsored by the Gran Canaria Island Council through Gran Canaria Tourism, the festival has established itself as a must-attend event on the global active tourism calendar. Year after year, it continues to attract hiking enthusiasts from around the world seeking an experience close to the island's roots.

 

Four routes to discover an island of contrasts

 

The festival offered four carefully curated itineraries showcasing the landscapes, history, and traditions of Gran Canaria. These routes were designed and guided by the Climbo team, specialists in active tourism in Gran Canaria:

 

Artenara among pine forests steeped in history: a summit hike from Tamadaba to Artenara, where hikers enjoyed unparalleled views and the charm of one of the island's highest and most enchanting villages, Artenara. The experience included a tasting of delicious paella and local bread, courtesy of the Artenara Town Hall, as well as a visit to the Ethnographic Museum of the Cave Houses of Artenara.

 

 

 

Teror and its rural secrets: a day that combined nature, heritage and local gastronomy, with a warm welcome from the Teror Town Hall that offered hikers the traditional Teror chorizo ​​sandwich.

 

 

 

Caideros entre verdes caminos: un viaje por Santa María de Guía, desde su zona rurales al Área de Recreativa de Santa Cristina, con flavours de locales quesos con DOP hand de Proquenor, un feria de productos artesanales con artesanos locales del municipio y el mejor fin a una ropa vieja tradicional, pan locales y vinoses offered by the Ayuntamiento de Santa María de Guía.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Descent to the emblematic Fataga : the closing route, which took the hikers from Tunte to the Fataga valley, where the final event was held at the Finca Canarias Aloe Vera, an unparalleled natural environment where the hikers had an approach to the cultivation of Aloe and the products that are made with it.

 

 

 

Commitment to local products

 

One of the pillars of the Gran Canaria Walking Festival is its commitment to responsible and environmentally friendly tourism. This year, the continued collaboration with Smurfit Westrock enabled the incorporation of sustainable packaging with Flexográficas Canarias and recycling points throughout the event, thus reinforcing its commitment to environmental protection.

 

The organizers also sought to highlight the value of Canarian produce, integrating a wide range of local flavors into the experience. Participating brands and producers included Aguas de Firgas with its flavored drinks and Aquavia still water, Tirma with its quince jelly and ambrosias with Gran Canaria Me Gusta, Gofio La Piña with its Gofibits, Isola with its nuts, Quesos Bolaños with its cheese varieties, La Granja Escuela La Jaira de Ana, Grupo Félix Santana Melián with its papayas, Costa Caleta with its bananas, and Bimbo bread for the picnic during the hikes. Emicela also collaborated with the necessary products to flavor our hikers' breakfasts and lunches. Refreshing drinks from Ahembo were also available, including the classic Strawberry Clipper, which was a must on the route that departed from Teror.

 

And all these products were transformed into delicious dishes with a Canarian signature thanks to the culinary art of chef Alejandro de la Nuez and the logistical support of the Canarian company Eventos Aguaviva. 

 

Thanks to the collaboration of the Artenaray City Council, the Santa María de Guía City Council, as well as the support of the Teror City Council and the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, participants were able to experience firsthand the cultural and culinary richness of these municipalities, as well as enjoy tastings of their local products.

 

The next edition of the 15th Gran Canaria Walking Festival will take place from October 15 to 18, 2026.

 

About Gran Canaria Natural & Active

 

Gran Canaria Natural & Active is the official tourism brand of Gran Canaria, dedicated to promoting nature tourism and outdoor activities. The association brings together rural accommodations, active tourism companies, wineries, farms, interpretation centers, and craft shops, with the goal of offering authentic experiences that connect visitors with the natural, cultural, and culinary essence of Gran Canaria.

More information:

https://www.grancanariawalkingfestival.com

www.grancanarianaturalandactive.com