You'll visit the Roque Nublo and want to know how to get thereIn this post we share with you everything you need to know about the Latest updates to the access system (January 2025)The Roque Nublo Natural Monument is one of the most representative symbols of the Canary Islands and, of course, from the island of Gran CanariaIt is located within the municipality of Tejeda and is one of the highest points on the island. This 80-meter monolith and its surroundings make up the Nublo Rural Park and in 1987 they were declared Protected Natural AreaBelow, we share everything you need to know if you want to visit this natural resource.
Below you can consult the index of contents that you will find throughout this article – guide to visiting Roque Nublo.
Roque Nublo Natural Monument, Gran Canaria
Without a doubt, the Nublo is one of the essential what to see in Gran Canaria and you should include it in your route around the island. It stands out because it is one of the highest points on the island and from where you will have spectacular panoramic views of the interior of the island. Specifically, the height of Roque Nublo is 1.813 meters above sea level. As for how long the rock is, it is one of the largest rocks in the world 80 meters high. From here, in addition to seeing one of the most beautiful landscapes on the island, on many occasions you will have views of the island of Tenerife and some beautiful sunsets.
El on the way to Roque Nublo es one of the routes hiking in Gran Canaria that you will have to do if you want to visit one of the most emblematic places on the island. However, keep in mind that there are important changes for 2025. Next, We share with you the different ways you can access it, either on foot or by shuttle bus.
Roque Nublo Route: how to get there on foot, the shortest route (news January 2025)
First of all, you should know that it is possible to make several walking tours to the same place. Roque Nublo Natural Monument. The start of the shortest trail is just in front of the old Degollada de La Goleta parking lot. However, ⚠️ IMPORTANT⚠️, Since January 2, 2025, this parking lot has been closed, as it will be transformed into a stop for shuttle buses.. Meanwhile, the The nearest parking lot will be in Llanos de la Pez or the I dance. From the Degollada de La Goleta are 1,5 km each way on foot (approx. 30 min). To this we must add about 30-40 minutes more on foot from Llanos de la Pez. If you like hiking, you can do this circular route around the Hornos Dam combining it with the ascent to Roque NubloThis way, you won't pass by the same place twice.
How to get to Roque Nublo by shuttle bus (from February 3, 2025)
- ✅ Mandatory reservations: From January 15, 2025 you can reserve your free place at this page (maximum 5 per user).
- (I.e. Regulated schedule: Access to the trail will be regulated every day from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.
- (I.e. Circular buses: A new Global line will connect several points, including Tejeda, Cruz de Los Llanos and Roque Nublo. Every 30 minutes between 09:30 and 18:00. Furthermore, the Bus number 18 that leaves from the Maspalomas Lighthouse towards Tejeda will now also stop at Roque Nublo.
- 🚗 Parking: The nearest parking lot is replaced by bus stops in Cross of the Plains and the town of Tejeda. Parking will not be possible near Roque Nublo.
- 💶 Prices: The fares for buses will be the same as for public transport in Gran Canaria. Users with flat-rate passes can travel for free if they meet the requirements.
- ☝🏻 exceptions: Residents of Tejeda and Artenara, visitors outside of regulated hours or Those arriving by trail do not need a reservation.
- 🥾 Duration of the trail: Once the bus drops you off, to go up to Roque Nublo you also have to walk along a path for 1,5 km (approx. 35 minutes up) and a little less on the way down.
Excursion to Roque Nublo and guided tour
If you do not have how to climb Roque Nublo, because you are not going to rent a car or because you find the new access system very confusing, You can go with a tour guided. In addition to saving yourself the stops and transfers of a public bus, you can visit this emblematic place with a expert guide. There is tour to Roque Nublo from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with very good reviews from other travelers. You have all the information about days of the excursion, prices and reviews in this page.
Curiosities of Roque Nublo
Once up there, you will come across one of the The most beautiful landscapes of Gran Canaria's summit. Ideal for taking photos and appreciating the Sacred Mountains from Gran Canaria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will also enjoy views of the nearby towns and landmarks. For example, Ayacata, Chira dam, Pico de Las Nieves and La Culata. Also to Pico Teide and the island of Tenerife, as we mentioned before. You can see it in the next photo right above the clouds.
La previous location is also becoming very fashionable to take a photo. If you have vertigo and are somewhat clumsy, we do not recommend it, since it is a bit dangerous to access. It is a few meters from the big rock. As we mentioned before, Roque Nublo and the Nublo Rural Park It is a must-see among the places to see in Gran Canaria. It is the best way to get to know the diversity of landscapes and microclimates that we have on the island of Gran Canaria. Besides, From the top you can enjoy one of the best sunsets in Gran Canaria.
The Frog and the Friar
It has always been said that the small monument next to the Nublo It is shaped like a frog. What do you think?
Likewise, next to it there is another monument that you will find on the hike up, it is the Roque del Fraile, since its silhouette resembles that of a friar In the next photo we see the Roque del Fraile to the left and in the background Las Nieves Peak covered by clouds. The Pico de Las Nieves is one of the highest points of Gran Canaria with 1.949 meters of altitude and you can combine a visit to its viewpoint with this day.
Tips for visiting Roque Nublo: trail
- As we told you before, the parking closed on January 2, 2025. Now you have to park in Bailico or in Llanos de La Pez and walk just over 2 hours (round trip).
- Bring enough warm clothing. Being so high you can be below zero in winter. The rest of the seasons of the year you may find yourself perfectly 8 degrees, except on heat wave and haze days, when we do not recommend visiting.
- Carries hiking shoes. The path is not very long, but it is steep and with pine needles in some places, which can be slippery.
- You can go with childrenThe trail is not very difficult, although With the latest changes we are talking about a route of almost 2 and a half hours. In any case, as it is a mountainous trail with ascents and descents, this activity carries its risks.
- If you are not used to curvy roads, you may get dizzy on the way. Both from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and from the south. Avoid looking at your phone or reading when you're on the road, open the windows and breathe.
- If you are going to see the sunset, it would be recommended bring headlamps for the way back. If you use your cell phone flashlight you won't have your hands free if you slip on the trail.
We leave you with an image of what happens to the majority of travelers who do not read us before visiting the corners of our island. They cover themselves with whatever they can from the cold weather and wear inappropriate shoes and clothing. It's better to change in the car than to sprain your foot and catch a cold.
Edible souvenir shop
Just before starting the walking tour, in front of the Degollada de La Goleta parking lot, there is usually a souvenir and local food stall. They also offer fresh orange juice, coffee, ice cream and cheese sandwiches, chorizo Teror or both combined. In any case, the trail is quite short and Tejeda is nearby with a wide range of restaurants.
Nublo Rural Park: what to do in the surroundings
Both next to the monument and throughout the Nublo Rural Park there are several hiking routes to enjoy one of the best natural spaces on the island. We recommend the route of Pigeon Puddle that goes through the Tejeda stock. Since you are in the interior of Gran Canaria and you have had to suffer all these curves, We recommend you visit Tejeda, one of the most beautiful towns in Spain. You have all our recommendations in the article about what to see in Tejeda.
It is also very close Cruz de Tejeda, from where different hiking routes start and you can make a stop to eat or have a coffee. Also, here is the parador de Cruz de Tejeda, hotel near Roque Nublo where we recommend spending the night to visit this area of the island. Do not search hotel in Roque Nublo, since there is nothing around.
Moreover, another of the rocks that you should know in Gran Canaria and which is very close to the Cloud is the Roque Bentayga. There is also a (short) path that will allow you to ascend to it. Many visitors confuse them because they are quite similar. Judge for yourself below.
Videos on how to get to Roque Nublo 2025
Next, we leave you with a more detailed video about how to go to Roque Nublo regarding roads, parking, trails, etc. taking into account that the The Degollada de La Goleta parking lot closed in January 2025. Subscribe to our YouTube channel y follow us on Instagram to keep up to date with all the news and other things to do in Gran Canaria.
We also share with you a video from a few years ago about Roque Nublo and the walking route. The visit coincides with sunset, although we reiterate that access will now be different.
Gran Canaria Guides
Finally, we invite you to take a look at other articles about places that you cannot miss on your visit to Gran Canaria.
Finally if you want save time planning your trip and learn more places like this with our help, We suggest you take a look at our travel guides to the island of Gran Canaria. We are not the official tourism website of Gran Canaria, but we were born and live here and We share with you what we would like you to share with us about the places we travel to: local advice, restaurants, less crowded places, etc.
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
Ruth, thank you for the useful information.
Please confirm if I have understood correctly – the bus to the Roque Nublo stop will not be running until 3 February 2025 and it will be bus number 18 running on a different route than at present?
Hi! I am happy to help, bus number 18 from Maspalomas to Tejeda will stop in Roque Nublo from the 3rd February 🙂 And there will also be some buses running from Tejeda town and Cruz de Los Llanos parking lot. If you pick up the bus in Tejeda or Cruz de Los Llanos I am not sure if there is another bus number, but it will be signed for sure 🙂
Hello! Thank you very much for this clarifying guide. I have a question about the weather. In the middle of August, what type of clothing do you recommend for climbing Roque Nublo? Long trousers and a coat? Would a sweatshirt be enough? I have some doubts about that… Thank you very much in advance.
Hello Sergio!! The ideal is that you look at the weather forecast for Tejeda before going up, because it can still be freezing cold, you might get roasted hehe. The most recommended thing on these dates is to also check beforehand if there is a fire risk alert, since access to trails (including Roque Nublo) is usually closed as it is an area that is difficult to evacuate and easy to get trapped in.
All the best
Hello good! I wanted to ask you to see if pregnant women can go up or not. Thank you so much
Hello!! The truth is that I think that depends on the physical state of the person, not on whether they are pregnant or not! In this post we share the technical data so that everyone can assess if they can do it 🙂
Good afternoon. I wanted to know if you can start the tour from the town of Tejeda itself instead of the parking lot.
Hi Carlos! By being able, you can... there must be some path. We haven't done it, nor do we know what it would be... maybe you can find a route on Google. We're sorry we can't help! Greetings.
Hello good day
I plan to visit Nublo next week between Monday and Friday depending on the weather
Is it a good time to be in the parking lot at 8:00 to start the route?
I suppose that at that time there are not many people on the route and the parking will be free.
I guess a sweater will be enough for warmth.
Leaving Las Palmas at 6:45 we will be in the parking lot around 8:00 I guess
All the best
Hello John! If you go during the week at that time you won't have any problems and you'll enjoy it a lot 🙂 Look at the weather forecast in Tejeda town and in Roque Nublo it will be similar, so you know how much coat to bring. A hug!
Hi, my question is whether the road that goes up from Maspalomas to Roque is very narrow. I'm counting on the curves, but what I'm afraid of is that it's very narrow or that there are many stretches with only one lane for both directions. Could you help me with this question? Thank you.
Hello Lara!! There are sections that are narrow and buses also pass here (not many), but as far as I remember, two cars pass (one in each direction), it is not a route that I usually take, sorry... In any case, if you want to go to Roque Nublo There are no highways to get to the top of the island… any road that leads inland will be similar! A hug and good luck!
Hello, this summer we want to go to Gran Canaria with our 2-year-old son. We are making a guide and we wanted advice if the day we go to Tejada we can climb Roque Nublo with the child or if the path is complicated.
Regards!!!
Hello Ana Belén! The path is not complicated, but there will be sections in which you will have to carry the child in your arms (even if he already walks well on his own). Think of it as a trail that takes half an hour up and half an hour down, a trail with a slope like the one we show in the photos and video. In any case, you can always try to go as far as you feel safe and if not go back the way you came. The entire Nublo Rural Park is worth it 🙂 By the way, we invite you to take a look at these articles in case you haven't seen them already:
https://localguidegrancanaria.com/senderismo-con-ninos-gran-canaria/
https://localguidegrancanaria.com/que-hacer-con-ninos-en-gran-canaria/
A greeting!
Ruth
Good afternoon, I had a question and it is from where the path to climb Roque Nublo begins, because from what I am researching according to what I have read on Google Maps in the Degollada de La Goleta Parking Lot. If so, can you confirm it for me?
Thank you very much!
Hello Tamara! The truth is that I don't know the name of the parking lot as such, but if you put Roque Nublo in your Google Maps GPS it will take you there. Normally there is a van selling groceries outside, the parking lot and path are clearly visible, you can't miss it. All the best!
Can you go up with dogs? To the cloudy Roque??
Hello Sylvelin! As far as we know, there is no prohibition on going with a dog. They also have the right to enjoy our trails! All the best!
There seems to be some confusion between the roques Bentayga and Nublo. What you see above is declared as Roque Nublo but there are identical views of Bentayga. Can you decide which is which?
Peter Matthias Kraus
Hello Peter! In this post we only show the Roque Nublo, the Roque Bentayga does not appear in any photo. The Roque Nublo is much larger than the Bentayga. From afar they can be confused, but we are sure that in this post you will be able to see the difference between the two: https://localguidegrancanaria.com/tejeda/
Regards!