Explore the town of Tejeda, with its pretty white-washed houses and amazing views. See the little Museum of Local Traditions, the Medicinal Plants Centre and visit the Dulceria Nublo, the island’s finest purveyor of artisan almond cakes and pastries. With a hire car you could visit the delightful town of Teror, with its lovely Canarian houses with their traditional pine balconies and courtyards, see the beautiful church (the holiest on the island) built from basalt and visit the bustling Sunday market, where the all manner of local delicacies and fresh produce is on sale from stalls set up around the main plaza. Or go to the capital Las Palmas to see the imposing Cathedral, Christopher Columbus’ “House”, and the excellent and fascinating Canarian Museum, which displays a unique collection of relics from the pre-Spanish “Guanche” era, including well-preserved mummies, beautiful pottery and a plethora of “stone-age” tools and implements. If you are interested in the island’s flora, we highly recommend a visit to the impressive Botanical Gardens in Las Palmas, which showcase an amazing collection of the archipelago’s endemic flora. Gran Canaria also boasts Spain’s oldest golf course (par 71). If you are feeling really active, you could explore the island on horseback or join a group for multi-adventure (climbing, abseiling and archery) or for kayaking, canyoning or bungee jumping, which all take place at various locations within an hour of Artenara.
Even on our Original Car-Free Escapes there is some scope to explore independently if you don’t feel like walking, and options are provided in the handbook.
