Barranco de Guayadeque, where hiking and eating in caves is possible

The Guayadeque Ravine (or Barranco) is a small natural treasure shared by the municipalities of Agüimes and Ingenio, in the southeast of Gran Canaria.


Here you can walk along spectacular trails, eat in a restaurant inside a cave or discover the archaeology of the area.
 

Eating in caves in the Guayadeque ravine

Here you’ll get the sensation of being in a fairytale place. Have a look at the famous cave houses in the ravine, natural grottoes that have been adapted as private homes, rural tourism houses and, of course, restaurants.


You can find the following establishments in this spectacular setting:
 

  • Vega
  • Tagoror
  • La Era
  • El Centro
  • Guayadeque

 

If you visit the place, you should try the abocado wine (a mixture of sweet and red wine, only in Gran Canaria), the cheese of Ingenio or the pure honey of Guayadeque, among other delicacies.

 

Hiking route through the Guayadeque ravine

This ravine is one of the most suitable in Gran Canaria for a circular hiking route of advanced level. It has 11 km of route, about 6 hours of duration and a difference in altitude of almost 1000 metres.


The path starts at the beginning of the ravine, very close to the first restaurant we come across. From here you have to cross the entire ravine on foot along a ditch until you reach the last restaurant, where you have to take a dirt track towards the Caldera de Los Marteles, even though we won’t reach it.


Just a few metres before that, take the return path along the crest of Montaña de Las Tierras with views of the ravine.

 

  • Distance: 11 km
  • Duration: 6 h
  • Circular route: yes
  • Picnic area: yes
     

Flora and fauna of the Guayadeque ravine

Along the way along the winding course of the ravine you’ll be fascinated by its wild landscape, formed by steep slopes covered by numerous species of autochthonous vegetation and a multitude of vertebrate species.
 

Flora of Guayadeque

  • Tabaiba dulce (Euphorbia balsamifera)
  • Cardón (Euphorbia canariensis)
  • King Juba's Euphorbia (Euphorbia regis-jubae)
  • Balo (Plocama pendula)
  • Acebuche (Olea oleaster)
  • Acebuche salvaje de Canarias (Olea cerssiformis)
  • Lajarilla de Gran Canaria (Helianthemum tholiforme)
  • Pataconejo fina (Polycarpaea filifolia)
  • Palo de sangre (Marcetella moquiniana)
  • Escobilla de Guayadeque (Kunkeliella canariensis)
  • Picopajarito colgante (Kickxia pendula)
  • Sabina (Juniperus turbinata ssp. canariensis)
  • Bejeque (Aeonium hierrense)
  • Bejeque rosado (Aeonium percarneum)
  • Tajinaste (Echium decaisnei)
  • Cerraja (Sonchus canariensis)
  • Cardo (Carduus tenuiflorus)
  • Mato de risco (Sonchus canariensis)
  • Sauce canario o sao (Salix canariensis)
  • Mocán (Visnea mocanera)
  • Barbusano (Apollonias barbujana)
  • Madroño (Arbutus canariensis)
  • Laurel (Laurus novocanariensis)
  • Dama de Guayadeque (Parolinia platypetala)
  • Petrosedum sediforme (Sedum sediforme)
  • Century plant (Agave americana)
  • Tunera (Opuntia maxima)
     

Fauna of Guayadeque

  • Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini)
  • Gran Canaria skink (Chalcides sexlineatus )
  • Boettger's wall gecko (Tarentola boettgeri)
  • Perez's frog (Pelophylax perezi)
  • Mediterranean tree frog (Hyla meridionalis)
  • European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
  • Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
  • Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
  • Aguililla (Buteo buteo insularum)
  • Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus canariensis)
  • Búho chico (Asio otus canariensis)
  • Barn owl (Tyto alba alba)
  • Common raven (Corvus corax)
  • Paloma bravía (Columba livia canariensis)
  • Atlantic canary (Serinus canaria)
  • Common linnet (Acanthis cannabina)
  • European greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
  • European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
  • Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
  • Curruca cabecinegra (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra)
  • Curruca tomillera (Sylvia conspicillata orbitalis)
  • Common blackbird (Turdus merula cabrerae)
  • Barbary dove (Streptopelia risoria)
  • Red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa)
  • Common quail (Coturnix coturnix)
  • Rock dove (Columba livia)
  • European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur)
  • Caspian gull (Larus cachinnans)
  • Plutonia tamaranesis
  • Hemicycla ethelema
  • Brosco grancanario (Broscus glaber)
  • Carabus coarctatus
  • Hegeter impressus
  • Cymindis cincta
  • Cucalán cabezón (Nesecinopus fortunstus)
  • Chinche correo pintada (Noualhieria quadripunctata)
  • Zapatero canario (Velia lindbergi)
  • Avispa de tabaiba (Ancistrocerus haematodes rubropictus)
  • Mariposa maculata canaria (Pararge xiphioides)
  • Esfinge canaria de las tabaibas (Hyles tithymali tithymali)
  • Pea blue (Lampides boeticus)
  • Saltamontes común (Calliptamus plebeius)
  • Arminda de Burr (Arminda burri)
     

Discovering the archaeology of the Guayadeque ravine

The Guayadeque Ravine Interpretation Centre offers detailed information about the different archaeological sites in the area, as well as the customs of the ancient aborigines who inhabited the ravine and other environmental information, which explains interesting particularities of this spectacular enclave.

 

  • Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00.
  • Address: Carretera del Barranco de Guayadeque (Agüimes)
  • Number: 928 172 026
     

How to get to the Guayadeque ravine

The ravine can be reached from the nearby municipalities of Agüimes and Ingenio, the distance to the restaurants being about 6-7 kilometres. If you’re coming from the island's capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, take the GC-1 motorway to exit 18 Carrizal-Ingenio and then head towards Agüimes and Barranco de Guayadeque.

 

VillaGranCanaria is an ideal destination for travellers seeking adventure and tranquillity. In this sense, there is nothing better than staying in  country houses that offer everything you need for an unforgettable holiday on the island.

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