As you probably know, Gran Canaria is one of those places where you can do basically whatever you want! Due to the wonderful weather in Gran Canaria, you have the chance to enjoy every corner of the island during the whole year! So, what about climbing in Gran Canaria?
At Villa Gran Canaria, we have proposed you many different plans for your Gran Canaria holidays, like the best tours, the most romantic plans or the best hikes in Gran Canaria. We want to improve your experience in the island as much as possible and that is the reason why we are going to tell you all you need to know about the best rock climbing and bouldering in Gran Canaria!
The best spots for climbing in Gran Canaria
Climbing in Tamadaba, Gran Canaria
Tamadaba is the main sports climbing zone in Gran Canaria. It is located in the heart of the Tamadaba Natural Park, one of the best places in Gran Canaria — very close to Artenara village in the north of the island. Tamadaba is one of those landscapes almost pristine which holds one of the best preserved pine forests in the whole Canary Islands— apart from the best climbing spot in Gran Canaria with around 400 routes of medium difficulty and up to 40 metres.
All the routes in this area are well-equipped and although they are of medium difficulty above all, there are routes some suitable for beginners. New routes are added constantly and except some narrow routes, Tamadaba is climbable during the whole year. There is also a campsite quite close to Tamadaba, but you need a special permission from the Area de Medioambiente del Cabildo de Gran Canaria to camp here.
Climbing in Ayagaures, Gran Canaria
Ayagaures is a climbing spot located at the south of Gran Canaria. This spot lies in a quiet valley between a dry river bed and many reed plants. It is right behind the second reservoir — so if you go by car, you must park it at the beginning of the second reservoir and then continue walking along the edge of the reservoir. Finally, you will get to the base of the crags.
In the mornings, you have the chance to climb in Sector Lacteo, and in the afternoon, you can change to the opposite Main sector and in Arriba. These routes are very technical, so you will need a good feet technique — it is the key to climb in this area. If you are a beginner, don’t worry — although you haven’t done much technical stuff in your overall climbing experience, you can practice in Ayagaures.
Climbing in Fataga, Gran Canaria
Fataga is one of the best climbing spots in Gran Canaria and the whole Canary Islands. You can climb the basalt walls of this astonishing valley in the south of the island. It is located close to Fataga village, a beautiful place full of whitewashed houses and tiled roofs.
This area is known as the Valley of 1000 Palms. The red walls of the valley contrast with the green of the palm trees, and they offer a great number of routes for climbers of all abilities. This wide variety of routes makes Fataga one of the favourite spots for climbing in Gran Canaria.
While the area has around 75 routes, Fataga is one of the most popular due to its year-round climbing conditions. We strongly recommend you to practice climbing in the valley outside the hot summer months because it is extremely hot. Nevertheless, even in the hottest summer months, the afternoon shade makes the feature-packed crag of Fataga, up to 30 metres high, a pleasant climb.
Climbing in Salto del Perro, Gran Canaria
Salto del Perro is a climbing crag located at the south of Gran Canaria. This amazing rock offers spectacular views for the climbers. Routes in this area tend to be difficult. If you dare to climb this crag, we strongly recommend you to arrive there early in the morning or even better if you go on cloudy or colder days during the winter months to have lower temperatures in Gran Canaria. Furthermore, you can climb if there is a light rain.
It is a 15 minutes’ walk from the parking and the access to the crag takes approximately another 15 or 20 minutes. The rock in the area is loose in some sections — that is the reason why they recommend wearing a helmet. Salto del Perro hosts one of the undoubtedly hardest climbing routes in Gran Canaria — Maneras de Vivir. The first ascent of this route was carried out three years ago, in 2016 by the expert Canarian climber Samuel Calvente.
Tips for climbing in Gran Canaria
Pay attention to our general tips to enjoy this climbing experience in Gran Canaria even more!
Best season to climb in Gran Canaria
Apart from summer months, you have the chance to practice climbing in most of the crags during the whole year thanks to the wonderful Gran Canaria weather.
How to get there?
There are direct flights from all the capital cities in Europe to Las Palmas airport. Once you are in the island, it’s a good option to rent a car.
Where to sleep?
Depending on your trip itinerary, there are several options to find the best place to stay in Gran Canaria. We offer you our accommodations in Las Palmas if you want to visit the North crags, our accommodations in Playa del Inglés for the South crags, and our accommodations in the centre of the island.
Other activities in Gran Canaria
You will also find many other outdoor activities, including sports like paragliding, diving, mountain biking, surfing or hiking.
We hope that you have enjoyed our post about climbing in Gran Canaria and that it has been enough to awake your adventurous spirit! If you have any doubt or you need any further information, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime! We will be pleased to help you J
