Blog Oficial de Turismo de Gran Canaria

Fifteen million years ago, the ocean used to spread its blue expanse right over the same place where the island of Gran Canaria stands today. Then, the island rose from the bottom of the sea as a result of the force of volcanic eruptions, as this archipelago was born from volcanoes. The subsequent building and erosional stages gave rise to an astonishing and complex geological environment which lies behind the rich landscapes and the environmental and ethnographic wealth that attract visitors from all over the world.

Christmas in Gran Canaria shines in its cultural, culinary and commercial offer, in addition to the island’s mild climate, nature and fusion of tradition and modernity.

I have lived on this peak for millions of years. I know because I have been keeping track of the suns and moons. I am the son of time and of an old volcano that is no longer here. The wind, the sun, the rain and the passing of the days have made me what I am: the prince and sentinel of a kingdom made of stone. But I am not alone. The pine woods and rocks that keep me company on these heights give shelter to beings that seem to be made of the same light that is now starting to draw its veil back. Hence, the lizards here are made of gold, emerald and sapphire.

The Mirador del Paso de Marinero viewpoint, also known as Mirador del Balcón, offers extraordinary views of the wildest areas of Gran Canaria and of the stars.

Silence reigns at these altitudes, broken only by the wind coming from the ocean and blowing up to the top of the cliff. No one wants to disrupt the dragon’s sleep, which has been dormant for millions of years. Indeed, when visitors arrive at the Mirador del Paso de Marinero (or Mirador del Balcón) viewpoint in La Aldea, on the west coast of Gran Canaria, they are often left speechless by the range of mountain peaks that plunge into the sea, and which certainly resemble the tail of a sleeping mythological titan.

The Camino de Santiago in Gran Canaria stretches along 66 kilometers and takes about 23 hours to complete. A large part of this trail was used by the ancient inhabitants of the island as a communication route from the south to the north and, later, it came to be used by herders who practised transhumance, -that is, the seasonal migration of livestock in search of better pastures-, and by pilgrims.

La Aldea de San Nicolás is one of those privileged places for anyone who wants to gaze at the stars and feel that they can almost touch them.