Gran Canaria - Circuit

Some 4km/2.5mi beyond Gáldar we leave C 810 and drive on the old winding coast road. A signpost points the way to the Cenobio de Valerón, a complex of 298 caves under a natural basalt arch which is one of the most interesting relics of the ancient Canarians - and one of the most puzzling, since it is not known what function it served.

The pleasant little town of Agaete lies near the mouth of the Barranco de Agaete, the most fertile valley on the island.

The old coast road pursues its winding course along the slopes of the hill and then, at San Felipe, joins the modern expressway. At Bañaderos a road goes off on the right to Arucas, with a huge church built of dark-colored volcanic stone which is visible from a long way off. This Neo-Gothic church of San Juan Bautista was begun in 1909, but the last of its four towers was completed only in the late sixties.

C 810 runs northeast from Agaete and comes in 10km/6mi to Gáldar, a typical little Canarian town.

Gáldar's main feature is the Cueva Pintada, the walls of which are covered with colored geometric patterns. Nothing comparable has been found in any other cave in the Canaries.

This romantic 19th century garden is set in lavish plantations of banana and strelitzia. There is a grotto, an exotic summer house, statues and many rare plants.

From Playa del Inglés the coast road runs west and comes in 17km/11mi to Puerto Rico, with a small sandy beach which has been artificially built up.

Puerto de Mogán is the most westerly outpost of the great tourist centers in the southern half of Gran Canaria. It is worth having a look at this high-class holiday development, complete with boating marina.

From the center of Agaete a road leads 1km/0.75mi west to Puerto de las Nieves, from which there is an excellent view of the bizarrely shaped rock known as the Dedo de Deus ("Finger of God"). Here too are numerous fish restaurants where visitors can sample seafood fresh from the sea.