Las Niñas dam, a perfect day in nature

The Presa de Las Niñas or Las Niñas dam is one of the best recreational areas of Gran Canaria. It is located within the municipality of Tejeda and is ideal for a barbecue day, picnic or even camping. If you want to visit this place, it is always better to do it after rainy days. We were lucky that the day we took these pictures it had rained a lot, so it seemed like we had been teleported to Switzerland. Here we tell you everything you need to know if you want to visit this wonderful place on the island.

Las Niñas dam, Tejeda

The Las Niñas dam is located in the interior of the Nublo Rural Park and in the Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria. As it is located at an altitude of 900 metres, it can get quite chilly in the winter months. Therefore, we recommend that you bring warm clothes.

Its maximum capacity is 374 people. And, bear in mind that at weekends there are usually quite a lot of people who come to spend the day. Here, as well as spending the night camping or in your camper van, you can make use of the barbecues and picnic areas. On the other hand, if the weather is fine, many people even practise different water sports in the Las Niñas reservoir.

As a general rule, we do not recommend visiting Las Niñas in summer, as it may not have water. Also, the surroundings will be less green and it will probably be quite hot. On the other hand, in the winter when we visited, you could even see waterfalls coming down the road from the village of Tejeda. This is shown in the following photo.

If you are in the area and want to know the best things to do in Tejeda, take a look at our detailed article with restaurants and trails.

Activities and services

From Las Niñas you can go on several hiking routes in Gran Canaria. The most spectacular is the one that links this dam with the Soria and Chira dams: the Tres Presas trail (three dams). When we did it, we started from Chira, but as it is a circular route, you can start wherever suits you best. You can also do other activities such as kayaking, paddle surfing, camping, picnics and barbecues. It’s a perfect place for everyone: family, friends, couples and even to go on your own to disconnect with nature.

As for facilities and services, it has taps with drinking water, security, public toilets and parking. There are also picnic areas where you can set up your picnic or enjoy whatever you have prepared in the grill areas. On the other hand, you should keep an eye on the forest traffic lights to find out if it is permitted to light a fire in the braziers, something that is normally prohibited during the different summer heat waves.

Camping areas

If you feel like spending the night in these wonderful surroundings, camping is allowed at the Las Niñas dam, both for huts and for caravans and vans. In total, there is room for more than 20 caravans. The area for huts is free, but the area for caravans has a designated car park.

If you are planning to camp, don’t forget to apply for your permit from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria (only in Spanish, sorry) and find out about the regulations. Bear in mind that you must apply for the permit at least 3 working days before the date you plan to spend the night. In any case, we recommend you to go early if you want to get a parking space, both to park your car and to find available tables. For the caravan you should have no problem if you have asked for a permit.

How to get to Las Niñas dam

The quickest ways to get there are from the village of Tejeda or from Puerto de Mogán. To get there by bus, the nearest bus stop is in Ayacata. As we see it, one of the most beautiful roads in Gran Canaria is the one that connects Las Niñas with the Mogán Valley. Especially after rainy days when everything is green. In any case, all year round, on this road you will see how the pine tree coexists with the Canary Island palm tree. Spectacular!

Fruits such as papaya, manga and avocado are also grown in the Mogán Valley. Take a look at the crops along the way and, if you want, you can stop at a fruit shop for a tasty souvenir. Be aware that the road is quite winding, so avoid looking at your mobile phone or reading in the car to avoid getting dizzy. At the same time, watch out for cyclists and motorcyclists, as this is one of their favourite roads. If you are visiting Mogán, we leave you with our article on things to do in Puerto de Mogán to complete your itinerary.

Video of Las Niñas Dam & Puerto de Mogán

Below, we leave you with a video that combines a visit to the Las Niñas dam and the village of Puerto de Mogán. If you want to see more videos about places to visit in Gran Canaria, subscribe to our channel!

Finally, if you want to discover more plans about things to do in Gran Canaria, in this blog you will find hundreds of options, also in nature. On the other hand, if you want to save time in planning your trip, we invite you to take a look at all our guides to Gran Canaria so you can get to know the most authentic side of the island on your own.