La Aldea de San Nicolás village is located at the west side from Gran Canaria, the less accessible area from the island. Why? Because it is far away from the other parts from the island and also due to its orography. This means that the road is full of curves. However, recently the road has been improved from the north and it takes less now to get there. It is only 1 hour drive from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the same from Maspalomas.
La Aldea de San Nicolás beach
Therefore, if you decide to visit this town and its coast, we guarantee you that you will teleport yourself to an authentic peaceful place. Moreover, at La Aldea de San Nicolás you could feel as another local and discover that this town still keep its essence. As a result, you won’t have any chance and you will have to try its local food and have a bath at its non tourist beaches. How nice! As you can see, the beach is mainly pebbles. However, there are some wooden tatamis for sunbathing and, when the tide goes out, some sand remains. Especially after passing through the tunnel that connects the beach with the pier area.
As you could see at the beginning of this article, the beach is mainly made of pebbles. However, it has wooden tatami mats for sunbathing and, when the tide goes out, there is some sand left behind the tunnel that connects the beach with the pier area.
In La Aldea, as well as eating delicious food and breathing in the peace and quiet, you can stroll around the village and spend the day on its beaches. You can also visit the “Charco”, where the well-known “Fiesta del Charco” is held. We will talk about this celebration at the end of this article.
To access the beach closest to the pier, you have to walk through a small tunnel. This is clearly visible from the main avenue of the beach. The following photo also shows a panoramic view, although the pedestrian tunnel through the mountain is somewhat obscured.
Restaurants in La Aldea de San Nicolás
We had a walk around the area and then we stopped to have an appetizer at Bar La Avenida. Actually, they treated us very well and they even brought some water for our dogs. The food offer is not that varied, but it is focused in Canarian food which is the most important. They have wrinkled potatoes (papas arrugadas), octopus, cheese, salad and calamari. We could appreciate that the food was from good quality.
Maybe the best thing about this bar is the location because of its views and quite terrace. They also have some indoor tables, but it is small and not that pleasant.
There is also a nice pizzeria named Salento L’Aldea in the village about 5 minutes drive from the beach. They have delicious pizzas and salads.
Do you have a favourite restaurant in La Aldea? Leave us a comment at the end of this article, we’d love you to share your recommendations with everyone.
El Charco festival
Bear in mind that the town’s most important fiestas take place on the 10th and 11th of September, so if you’re looking for peace and quiet, it’s best to avoid these dates. However, if you want to experience one of the best Gran Canaria pilgrimages, make a note of the 10th of September.
As for the well-known fiesta of El Charco, it takes place on 11 September. It begins with the explosion of a volador at 5:00 p,n the afternoon. Once the start is marked, all those present enter the puddle to simulate traditional fishing and splashing. This type of fishing was practised in pre-Hispanic times. If you dare to experience the festivities up close, you will be able to meet many locals in the traditional attire worn by the fishermen.
La Aldea de San Nicolás in video
Below we leave you with a video about the visit to La Aldea village, do not miss it! Activate subtitles for English and suscribe to our YouTube channel to enjoy more videos about Gran Canaria.
Guides to Gran Canaria
We hope you enjoy La Aldea de San Nicolás and let us know what you thought of it. If you want to know more plans like this to discover the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own, you have at your disposal all our local guides. Take a look at all the options and packs by clicking on the image below!
I am in la aldea. It is Thursday afternoon at 4p and it is like a ghost town. Nothing is open: museums, church, cinema, town hall, etc. And, no hours are posted so no way to know if they ever open. I tried asking people. They have no idea. Boo!
Hi Sherry! Yes, as we explain in the post, La Aldea is one of the most remote villages in Gran Canaria, here you will find peace and calm… if you want to visit cinemas, museums, etc. you have to visit Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 🙂 the charm of La Aldea is that it is a ghost town 🙂 Regards