The municipality of Agüimes, whose principal demographic centre is situated only 2 kilometres from Ingenio and 29 kilometres from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is divided into three perfectly defined areas: the grazing or mountain area beginning at an altitude of 300 metres above sea-level, the agricultural area situated at 275 metres above sea-level (where the Historic Quarter of Agüimes is situated) and the coastal area which heads for the fishing village of Arinaga.
In Agüimes one must highlight its historic quarter with the Parish Temple of San Sebastián, a stone building with a certain cathedral-looking style and a façade which represents the one of the best examples of neo-classical Canarian architecture on the island. The temple was declared a Monument of National Historical Interest in 1981.
In the same centre of the Villa is is to be found the Casa de Los Camellos Hotel, a more than 300 year old building that belonged to an aristocratic family, and close by, in the Plaza de San Antón, is situated the Interpretation Centre of Agüimes, which allows the visitor to interpret the architectural and artistic characteristics of the Historic Quarter. Public opening hours: Winter, Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 15:00 hours and also on Mondays from 16:00 to 18:00 hours; Summer, Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 14:00 hours.
During four centuries the municipality of Agüimes was the domain of the Episcopal Chamber. Testimony to those times is the Episcopal Palace, which now houses the Agüimes History Museum, next to the Parque de Los Moros. At present the museum has eight exhibition rooms. In this building, both the access door as well as the stonework that frames it are worth a mention. From the building one must highlight all of its masonry (which comes from the only quarry in this part of the island), the gabled roof, as well as the beautiful treated woodwork. Public opening hours Tuesdays to Sundays from 09:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00 hours.
There exist two places of interest within the natural surroundings of the municipality: Temisas and Guayadeque.
Temisas, 9.6 kilometres from the centre of Agüimes with its beautiful landscape surroundings was declared Representative Canarian Hamlet by the Canarian Government. In Temisas we can contemplate an extraordinary mountain view, the Roque Aguayro (the Aguayro Rock Monolith) and the most important olive tree plantation of the Canarian archipelago, where the XVIII century Hermitage of San Miguel is situated.
Guayadeque is to be found at a distance of 3 kilometres from the centre of Agüimes. Guayadeque is a deep gully that divides the island and which has been classified as a Natural Monument and Property of Cultural Interest. Here we find the interesting troglodyte village of Cueva Bermeja (Bermeja Cave), the Chapel of San Bartolomé Apóstol, as well as welcoming restaurants built into the mountain rocks. Guayadeque also possesses an Interpretation Centre situated in a building dug into the sides of the gully. Public opening hours Tuesdays to Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00 hours; Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00 hours.
Among the beaches of this coastal municipality, one must highlight Vargas Beach which has been recognised as one of the best beaches in the world for the practise of radical windsurfing. It is for this reason that a world championship event is held here annually, the Vargas PWA Wave Classic Grand Prix, which attracts the most prestigious windsurfers in the world.
However, if the visitor wants to appreciate the marine sea-beds of Gran Canaria, Agüimes offers one of the most spectacular beaches for the practise of underwater diving: El Cabrón Beach, one of the marine areas with the greatest biological and ecological diversity of the Canarian Archipelago.
The municipality of Agüimes also has two more beaches, Arinaga Beach and Balos Beach, which although exposed to the trade winds, are very popular, especially in the summer.
For greater tourist information on the municipality we recommend you visit the Tourist Office situated in the historic quarter of the village.
