13 unique rock formations in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is a rich island – it is especially full of beautiful and unseen rock formations! Its’ volcanic history and unique climate have helped form some pretty incredible natural wonders.

You have to see them to believe them! Cool caves, rainbow rocks, unique ravines, rock windows, a mushroom, and even a dog – these are rock formations in Gran Canaria that nature has created!

Read more » 15 amazing Instagram spots in Gran Canaria, Spain

1. Los Azulejos (Rainbow Rocks)

Los Azulejos, also called Rainbow Rocks, is an area in the southwest part of Gran Canaria where you can enjoy some incredibly unique sights. Due to erosion, rocks in some areas have revealed beautiful rainbow-colored outcrops.

There are different minerals in different colors layered next to each other that look like someone has painted the mountain. However, it is all-natural and it is one of the most unique places in Gran Canaria. Just stop your car at the side of the road and walk around to enjoy the view!

Location: Los Azulejos (Rainbow Rocks) · Parking places

2. Roque Nublo

Roque Nublo is a name you should be familiar with if you are going to Gran Canaria. It is probably the most famous rock formation in Gran Canaria – a landmark sight in the mountains.

It is not even the highest point on the island, but because of the shape and the views, it has become one of the most visited and photographed places in Gran Canaria.

To get to Roque Nublo you will have to hike 1.5 kilometers uphill, however, it is very doable even for kids and elderly people. Just take your time – it is worth it! As you approach the rock there is a possibility to go next to it on the left side.

There is a small path. If you go there, you will find a rectangular-shaped platform pictured above where you can take some beautiful pictures from a unique angle!

Location: Roque Nublo · Rectangular platform · Parking places

3. Barranco de Las Vacas

Barranco de las Vacas or Las Vacas ravine is probably my favorite rock formation in Gran Canaria! It is a short trail (around 300 meters) that goes through a beautifully shaped and narrow ravine that has been formed due to erosion.

Getting there is quite easy and it will be a short stop! You can get there by car (parking places below), and then continue on foot. At first, you have to reach the bridge, climb over the road fence, and descend down to the bottom of the ravine.

Then go through the tunnel below the bridge and follow the ravine slightly uphill. It is only about 200-300 meters long so you will soon see all the beauty the ravine offers. I would recommend going early in the morning to avoid bigger crowds!

Location: Barranco de las Vacas · Photo location · Parking places 1 · Parking places 2

4. Ventana del Bentayga

Ventana del Bentayga is one of a couple of window-shaped rock formations in Gran Canaria and is definitely my favorite one! The word ‘Ventana’ means ‘window’ in Spanish, and it is the Window of Bentayga because you can see the Roque Bentayga cliff through it.

However, it is not easily reachable and will take about 45 minutes of climbing to get there. However, the views are absolutely stunning and it is totally worth it! To get there you have to drive to the ‘Escuela del Aserrador’ bus stop and park at the side of the road.

Then cross the road and start an uphill hike. At first, there are route markers and it is quite easy to follow the trail. However, the trail gets trickier when you reach the water reservoir. Right after you go past it you have to turn left (the turning point is HERE!) and look for a trail that goes straight uphill.

It will be a steep climb at times, but nothing extreme (in dry conditions!). There are multiple paths leading uphill, so you can do your best and just choose one, but we noticed that somebody has built tiny stone pyramids along the trail uphill so you can choose to follow that.

After you reach the mountaintop the trail is again quite easy to follow – just check the map and follow along to make sure you are on the right track.

Location: Ventana del Bentayga · Parking places · Trail turning point uphill

5. Cuevas del Rey

Cuevas del Rey or the King’s caves are aboriginal caves located next to a small village ‘El Roque’ not far from the prominent Roque del Bentayga cliff in the mountains of Gran Canaria.

These were probably my favorite caves in Gran Canaria! Mostly because of their location and great views, but also because of the vibes and atmosphere we got there while exploring the caves above a tiny village into the ‘nowhere land’.

I sometimes wonder how people even live in such inaccessible places!? When you drive to the village there are maybe 3 parking places right before the first house. That is where you can park your car or anywhere else where you can find a spot.

Then you have to walk in the village and turn left to a path leading straight up the cliff. There is a small path above the same houses you parked your car at. Then it is up to you how far you go and explore.

There are many caves that are accessible and some are too dangerous to get to. I especially enjoyed the ones that had the view of the village and the rock on the opposite side of the village! Read more about unique caves in Gran Canaria HERE!

Location: Cuevas del Rey · Parking places

6. Ventana de Morro / Ventana de la Gañifa

Ventana de Morro is another beautiful window-shaped rock formation in Gran Canaria! It is located just a few meters from the highest point in Gran Canaria – Morro de la Agujereada.

To get there you have to drive your car up to the very top of the Pico de las Nieves parking lot. It is another peak just next to the rock of the highest point in Gran Canaria.

From the parking lot, there goes a trail downhill in the direction of Roque Nublo. The start of the trail is HERE, but you don’t have to follow the trail downhill – you have to turn left and follow a small path parallel to the tarmac road just a few meters above you until you reach a rock shaped like a mushroom.

Go past it and then you will have a choice – you can go right and get to the Ventana de Morro rock formation or you can go left to the base of Morro de la Agujereada rock to get the best angle of the ‘window’.

If you have a photographer, he has to turn left, but if you want to climb in the window to sit there, then turn right. The best angle of the window where you can see Roque Nublo and even Teide volcano on a clear day is from around HERE.

You will have to zoom in a little bit for a photo like the one above. Don’t believe anyone who says that it is difficult to reach these spots. It will literally take you 1 to 2 minutes to get to these spots from the parking lot.

Location: Ventana del Morro · Pico de las Nieves parking lot

7. Perro del Bentayga

Perro del Bentayga or ‘Dog of Bentayga’ is a rock formation in Gran Canaria that somehow resembles a dog. Maybe not a dog, but some kind of animal’s head for sure!

To get there you have to drive to Roque Bentayga and follow a road past it. You can park your car HERE and then it will be a 1-minute hike to the rock formation.

Just follow a trail straight up a small hill and continue to follow it until you reach the location of the rock formation in Google Maps. It is more than easy to get there.

Location: Perro del Bentayga · Parking place

8. Cueva de las Cuatro Puertas

Caves were definitely some of my favorite rock formations in Gran Canaria! Although the name of this place is Cueva de Cuatro Puertas and it sounds like a single cave, actually it is a complex of caves with ‘Cuatro Puertas’ cave being one of the most important of them.

This group of caves is located on the mountain Montaña Bermeja. You can drive up there by car and park very near the caves. Then you can follow a path around the mountain top and visit all the groups of caves which once were a place for aboriginal people to store goods and to live.

My favorite spot was Cueva de los Pilares – looks like a small village or like a big family lived there! It was a cool experience to see such historic places with my own eyes!

Location: Cueva de las Cuatro Puertas · Cueva de los Pilares · Parking places

9. ‘Dragon Tail’ rocks at Mirador del Balcón

Mirador del Balcón is probably the most famous viewpoint in Gran Canaria. But it is definitely famous for the views over the coastal cliffs that you can observe from a glass platform that has been built over the ocean.

The sharp peaks of the West coastline of Gran Canaria somehow resembled a ‘dragon’s tail’ for somebody, so the view is called the ‘dragon’s tail’.

This is one of the best places for watching the sunset as well as observing Tenerife island on a clear day. To get a nice overview of the balcony, you have to climb a rock next to the path that leads to the viewpoint.

Location: Mirador del Balcón · Parking places · Photo location

10. Morro de la Agujereada

It might be that when people hear the name ‘Morro de la Agujereada’ they have no idea what that is. Especially tourists, but let me tell you – Morro de la Agujereada sitting at 1956 meters above sea level is the highest peak in Gran Canaria.

It is a simple rock formation but at the same time, it should be recognized as the highest peak, because normally people only know about Roque Nublo, Pico de las Nieves, or Roque Bentayga as the famous rock formations in Gran Canaria.

You can’t climb to the top of Morro de la Agujereada (unless you are a rock climber or something like that and have proper equipment), but you can drive up there and see it up close. To get there you have to drive to Pico de las Nieves, which is the second-highest point in Gran Canaria – there is a parking lot up there.

From the parking lot, it is a short staircase to the viewing platform where you can observe Morro de la Agujereada up close as well as see over the whole island and even beyond. On a clear day, you will definitely see Teide volcano and Tenerife island as well.

Location: Morro de la Agujereada · Parking places

11. Ventana del Nublo

Ventana del Nublo is another window-shaped rock formation in Gran Canaria with a view of Roque Nublo. It is not the most impressive rock formation but it is quite easy to get to – the hike there is about 1.5 kilometers long, but very easy to follow – even for kids or elderly people.

That’s why many people come here to have a picnic with great views and get some hiking activity at the same time. To get here you have to drive to the Bailico camping spot in the woods – it is the best place to park your car.

Then continue on foot to the start of the trail to Ventana del Nublo. There will be different trails separating from this route but stay and follow the direction of the Ventana del Nublo path. The trail is quite easy with a few vertical meters.

Location: Ventana del Nublo · Parking places

12. Risco Palmés at Mirador El Toscón

Located next to the beautiful viewpoint of Mirador El Toscón stands a distinctive rock formation – Risco Palmés. It is a huge stone monolith that served as a sundial for locals – the shadow of it showed the exact time of the day.

It is a beautiful rock, but not so known as Roque Nublo or Roque Bentayga. However, if you happen to be in the area, I really recommend visiting this spot! And did you spot El Teide volcano far away peeking above the horizon!?

Location: Risco Palmés · Mirador El Toscón · Parking places

13. El Bufadero

El Bufadero is one of the most interesting and captivating rock formations in Gran Canaria for sure! We spent some good 15 minutes just staring at it. It looks like the lungs of the ocean when it is ‘breathing’.

There is a deep and wide circular hole in the coastline rocks that fills up with water and sometimes goes over the edges when the waves of the ocean come in. But when the waves retreat, the hole that is called ‘El Bufadero’ empties with a dramatic speed.

It looks like the lungs of the ocean filling and emptying as it ‘breathes’. Beware tho, that the rocks might be slippery and it is not advisable to go too close to it.

Location: El Bufadero · Parking places

14. Bonus! Roque del Señor Champiñon

In case you visit the highest point in Gran Canaria – Morro de la Agujereada – or you visit Ventana del Morro, you can include one more quite interesting rock formation in your Gran Canaria itinerary! Have you seen a rock that looks like a mushroom?

Yes, there is a rock named ‘Roque del Señor Champiñon’ or ‘Mr.Mushroom’ just before the Ventana del Morro window-shaped rock formation. It is a funny-looking one and I thought you might want to notice it while visiting the above-mentioned spots!

Location: Roque del Señor Champiñon · Parking places