If you're looking for a route to hiking in Gran Canaria Combining abundant nature, large water reservoirs, and the island's most fascinating historical heritage, this circular route through the Los Pérez Dam and Risco Caído It's a sure bet. It's a moderately difficult route that runs mainly through the municipality of Artenara (playing parts of Gáldar), delving into Troglodyte landscapes, pine forests and breathtaking views of two of the most beautiful dams on the island. We did it a month after some good rains and had the privilege of seeing the reservoirs completely full. We'll tell you all about it!
Circular hiking route: Los Pérez Dam and Risco Caído
Our adventure begins and ends in the very Los Pérez DamFrom the very beginning, the path offers us beautiful views of the water contrasting with the green of the pine forest, before leading us uphill towards one of the corners with the most history and magic in all of the Canary Islands: Fallen Cliff.
Technical data of the route
This is a medium-level route, ideal for an active morning. enjoying the summit and the upper midlands. Here are the technical data extracted from our GPS:
| Distance | 7 Km |
| Approximate duration | 2,5 h (walking-running) |
| Total promotion | + 550m |
| Level | Average (due to the accumulated elevation gain) |
| Circular | Yes |
| Rooftop dining room | No |
| Suitable for children | Yes, only if they are used to walking and climbing hills. |
⚠️ Safety notice: Hiking in nature carries its risks; remember to bring enough water, a hat, some warm clothing, and appropriate footwear. This is essential. Follow the track so you don't get lost. Note that There are no supply points along the routeTherefore, we recommend bringing some food.
Places of interest and nature along the route
En just 7 kilometers, this The area encompasses a wealth of scenic and cultural attractions.During the route we will pass through:
- Los Pérez Dam and Lugarejos Dam: Water is a major theme of the day. We will begin the We'll walk through Los Pérez and further on we'll come across the Lugarejos Dam. As we were saying, doing this route after a month of rain is spectacular because We could see them full of water, a landscape that makes you wonder if you are in Gran Canaria or in northern Europe.
- Cultural Landscape of Risco Caído and Barranco Hondo: We will begin our ascent towards this impressive troglodyte village, declared a World Heritage Site.A UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will pass through Barranco Hondo, which until the mid-20th century was one of the most important cave-dwelling settlements in the island's highlands. You will see traces of human presence in the form of agricultural terraces, sheds and ponds sculpted into the rock.
- An Aboriginal astronomical marker: The Risco Caído complex contains a total of 21 caves. One of them, with vault over 4 metersIt has a strategically placed opening through which sunlight enters (especially during the summer solstice), illuminating pubic engravings on the wall. A clear example of advanced knowledge of the stars that the ancient Canary Islanders had.
- Lugarejos Hamlet: During the walk we will also pass through the small town of Lugarejos, with its hermitage and pottery center, a point of great ethnographic value, vital to keep the pottery tradition of the area alive.
- Tamadaba Natural Park: In the final part of the route, we will walk alongside the immensity of the Tamadaba Canary pine forest, a protected natural area with unique views of the dams and this area of the summit of Gran Canaria.
Track of the route through Risco Caído and Los Pérez
To avoid getting lost at intersections or on the climb to the cave areas, we recommend downloading our track at .GPX formatYou can track it on your smartwatch or use it on your phone with apps like Guru Maps, All Trails, or Wikiloc. If it's your first time, here's how. How to easily follow a track step by step.
If you enjoyed this hike and want to plan your next one, check out our section on hiking trails in Gran CanariaAnd if you want us to tell on you plans each weekJoin our free newsletterYou can also join us in our daily life around the island on Instagram @welovegrancanaria!
Where to eat after the route
After those 550 meters of elevation gain, our bodies were craving some good Canarian food. We headed up to the highest village on the island to eat at the Cueva del Molino Restaurant, ArtenaraAnd what a great choice! We recommend ordering their grilled cheese and chickpea stew with chickenFor main courses, the Meat in sauce and cutlet They were incredibly tender and delicious. Basically, go hungry because everything we ate was amazing, including the grand finale: a powder cake Homemade. A 10 reward for a 10 route.
Video of the hiking route
To give you an idea of how immense the dams were, the lush pine forest of Tamadaba and the details of the troglodyte villageHere's the video of our adventure. Hit play and don't forget! subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Gran Canaria Guides
Finally, if you'd rather not stress about organizing your trip and want to explore the island at your own pace, relying on our local recommendations, you should check out our Gran Canaria digital guidesIn them, we include itineraries, our favorite places to eat, and hidden gems not found in traditional guidebooks. They are available in Spanish and English, and we offer different packages. Click on the image below to see them all!
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