Secrets of the Island: 20 hidden gems in Gran Canaria, Spain

Let’s discover the most amazing hidden gems in Gran Canaria, Spain! From secret caves and unique rock formations to natural wonders, and charming villages you won’t find in most travel guides – there is a lot to explore in Gran Canaria!

Gran Canaria is one of the eight inhabited Canary Islands—and definitely one of my favorites! It is often called a ‘miniature continent’ because you can find incredibly diverse landscapes and nature on this island.

After spending several months living in Gran Canaria, I got to explore all corners of this beautiful island so here’s my guide to the best hidden gems in Gran Canaria with descriptions, photos, and Google Maps locations for each spot. Happy travels!

1. Coffee plantations in Agaete Valley

Agaete Valley is one of my favorite places in Gran Canaria. It has it all – amazing mountain views, hiking trails, scenic beachside with black sand beach and waterfront restaurants, and, most importantly, orchards of tropical fruits and coffee plantations.

Yes, there are coffee plantations in Gran Canaria—one of the only places in Europe where you can find them! We visited one at Café Platinium deep into the valley, where we got a private garden tour, a coffee tasting, and a coffee roasting demonstration.

We didn’t book anything in advance—you just go there, and they’ll sort everything out. We arrived in the morning and got a private tour. This was my first time seeing a coffee plant! My biggest revelation was that inside a single coffee berry are two coffee beans!

After the garden tour, we got to sit at a table and try their coffee with cookies and jam. You can also buy all of that in their shop, along with many other locally produced products. We ended up buying some jam and a bag of their roasted coffee beans.

While we were drinking coffee, they started a coffee roasting demonstration, showing how it was done long before modern technology. It was really interesting—they let you touch and try everything.

Besides Café Platinium, other popular coffee plantations (and vineyards) where you can stop by for a tour are Bodega Los Berrazales (this is a popular spot!), and Finca los Castaños. I have the best memories of this wonderful valley in Gran Canaria!

I highly recommend doing the tour! However, if you don’t want to do it, you can simply stop by Café Platinium and drink a cup of coffee that was grown and roasted in Gran Canaria.

Location: Café Platinium

2. Cave restaurants in Guayadeque Ravine

Guayadeque Ravine is one of the largest and most beautiful valleys in Gran Canaria. And guess what? The valley was inhabited by the Guanches, Gran Canaria’s indigenous people, for many centuries long before the Spanish conquistadors arrived.

The cave houses have remained there until today. There’s an archaeological museum in the valley where you can learn about the lives of its past inhabitants. Or you can simply drive inside the valley and explore the caves yourself.

Some of the cave houses have been transformed into modern homes with electricity and running water (you can’t visit them), but others now serve as rental properties, shops, churches, and even restaurants.

We visited Guayadeque Ravine only because we wanted to try one of the cave restaurants. And, trust me, dining in a cave restaurant is one of the bucket list things to do in Gran Canaria!

Not only did we thoroughly enjoy the restaurant, but also the views of the gorgeous valley! Also, not many travel guides mention anything about cave restaurants, so this was one of my favorite hidden gems in Gran Canaria!

There are a couple of bars and cave restaurants in the valley, but the most famous ones are Restaurante Tagoror and Restaurante Vega. I recommend choosing one of these two cave restaurants as they have the highest ratings.

We chose Restaurante Vega, and it was such a delight!

They serve local cuisine and specialize in grilled meats, so you can enjoy everything from Canarian dishes to Spanish tapas and hearty grilled meat platters. Portions were big so we had to pack up the leftovers to take home. I’d really love to return here one day!

Location: Restaurante Vega

3. El Bufadero—lungs of the ocean

Located in the coastal town of La Garita on the east coast of Gran Canaria, El Bufadero is one of the most unique rock formations on the island.

In essence, it’s a naturally formed hole in the volcanic coastal rock that’s connected to the ocean. Each time the waves come and go, the water level inside the hole changes.

It looks like it’s breathing—it reminded me of lungs inflating with air and then deflating as you breathe out. When you see it in real life, you’ll understand, haha.

The ocean on this part of the island is wilder, so you need to make sure it’s safe to visit. El Bufadero is located right by the water, so don’t risk getting too close. There’s always that one wave that’s bigger than the rest, and everything can suddenly overflow.

If you come here, try to arrive when the tide is lower. There’s a large parking lot right by the ocean, so it’s very easy to get to El Bufadero.

Location: El Bufadero

4. Cuevas del Rey next to El Roque village

Nestled in the middle of the mountains, Cuevas del Rey, or the King’s Caves, is one of my favorite hidden gems in Gran Canaria. This amazing place is right next to the striking Roque Bentayga rock formation in the Tejeda municipality.

This ancient cave complex, carved into a massive rock, towers above the small mountain village of El Roque. You can reach the caves by following a narrow, steep path from the village, over a village house, and up toward the rock. The hike is short but steep—so be careful!

Many caves are accessible from the path, though some seemed a bit too risky to explore. I especially loved the caves with views of the El Roque village – one of the most unique villages in Gran Canaria! We made some cool photos here!

It’s so cool that the Guanches once chose this as a place to live, and centuries later, a modern-day village stands in nearly the same spot. And, honestly, I get why they live here—the 360-degree mountain views from here are absolutely incredible!

Location: Cuevas del Rey

5. Ventana del Bentayga

Ventana del Bentayga or Window of Bentayga is a unique rock formation in the mountains of Gran Canaria. It is a scenic volcanic arch where you can see Roque Bentayga rock framed in the middle. Such a unique and magical place!

You can reach this rock arch via a 45-minute hike starting from a bus stop on GC-60 Road, and then following a path to Presa de Roque Elba water reservoir.

After you reach the water reservoir, you have to turn left and follow a path up to the mountain. There isn’t a distinct path but rather many smaller paths and stone pyramids all leading uphill. It is a steeper climb but nothing too dangerous.

After you reach the mountaintop the trail is again quite easy to follow. Just open your map and check that you are going in the right direction. The location indicated on Google Maps is correct. This short hike was one of my favorite hikes in Gran Canaria. Unbeatable views!

Location: Ventana del Bentayga

6. Puerto de La Aldea

Puerto de la Aldea is a small, picturesque fishing village on the west coast of Gran Canaria, known for its laid-back vibe and stunning coastal views.

The village features a wide pebble beach, a beautiful seaside promenade, a natural rock swimming pool called Charco de la Aldea, and a scenic fishing pier with views of the dramatic cliffs surrounding the beach.

Puerto de la Aldea is one of my favorite hidden gems in Gran Canaria, and the fact that there isn’t much to do in the village makes me like it even more. It’s simply a peaceful escape, far removed from the touristy areas in the south.

There are two beaches in the village, separated by a large rock. To access both, a pedestrian tunnel has been built through the rock, creating a picture-perfect frame for the dramatic coastline views (see photo above). The perfect photo spot, if you ask me!

Location: Puerto de La Aldea

7. Tufia

There are some charming villages on the east coast as well! One of them is the scenic and quiet village of Tufia. It is known for its whitewashed houses, which sit right next to the water, tightly packed into a small bay between volcanic coastal rocks.

The village is soooo close to the water that I’m pretty sure the houses get completely soaked during stormy weather and high waves. I admire their bravery and optimism, haha!

Tufia is a true hidden gem in Gran Canaria. Many locals consider it one of the best diving and snorkeling spots on the island—we saw quite a few of them in the water during our visit! Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this wonderful place is basically untouched by tourists.

We visited Tufia in the morning, took a stroll through the village, passed by its red-door chapel, and walked down to the beach to see the houses built inside the coastal rocks.

My favorite thing about Tufia village is those rustic wooden signposts you see in the photos. They are placed all around the village and look really cute. But you have to know Spanish to understand them.

After visiting the village, we did a short walk along the coastline to see Tufia and the bay from afar. There isn’t much to do in this place but sometimes it’s all you want – escape the rest of the world to a scenic place and do exactly nothing!

Location: Tufia

8. Jardín Canario

Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo, also known as Jardín Canario, is located just a short drive from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the northern part of the island. It is the largest botanical garden in Spain. An excellent place for nature lovers!

Jardín Canario is known for its vast collection of plants endemic to the Canary Islands. There are hundreds of plant species that are found only on these islands, and some of them are even endangered.

What surprised me is that entrance to the botanical garden is free!

It does have opening hours, but other than that, you can freely wander around the garden, which is built on terraces along the slopes of the Guiniguada Ravine.

The garden was founded back in 1952. It features a waterfall, a couple of ponds, bridges, viewpoints overlooking the ravine, a laurel forest, and my favorite spot—the Garden of Cacti.

If you love nature and have some free time (at least an hour), I definitely recommend planning a visit to this place. There is a parking lot right at the entrance to the garden.

The garden is a popular spot for locals to relax and enjoy nature. We arrived as soon as it opened, and there were already plenty of cars parked by the gate. By the time we left, the parking lot was completely full. People love coming here!

Location: Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo

9. Arco del Elefante

Okay, so this one isn’t easy—but it’s definitely a beautiful hidden gem in Gran Canaria! If you’re into hiking, chasing epic views, and have brought some hiking gear with you, then you might enjoy this unique spot.

Arco del Elefante is a stunning volcanic rock arch shaped like an elephant’s head and trunk, sitting on top of a cliff in southern Gran Canaria, not too far from Mogán.

To reach the arch, you’ll need to drive to the village of El Sao, located inside the Barranco de Arguineguín ravine. From there, park your car by the roadside and hike your way up through the village and then up the cliff.

At first, you’ll follow the village streets. After about 500 meters, you’ll come to a staircase that leads to a path through gardens and along water canals. From there, the trail continues above the houses and up toward the cliff.

Apart from some occasional spray paint and a few stone pyramids, the trail isn’t marked—so make sure to check your map and follow the direction!

The path is relatively short, but it’s full of loose stones, which makes it quite unstable and slippery. Going uphill was fine, but on the way back down, I was literally descending on all fours. I didn’t fall, but I slipped several times—this is exactly why you need good hiking shoes!

The arch sits on a rocky outcrop at the top of the cliff. There’s very little space next to it, but I managed to get a cool photo with a wide-angle lens. The views over the valley are absolutely spectacular!

The hike took us about 1 hour, but stay away from this trail when it rains!

Location: Arco del Elefante

10. Faro de Punta Sardina

I would probably argue that the northwestern coast of Gran Canaria is a massive hidden gem as a whole. Not many tourists venture this far, let alone explore the places around here.

One of my favorite spots in northern Gran Canaria was the Faro de Punta Sardina lighthouse in the municipality of Gáldar.

The area around the 24-meter-high red-and-white lighthouse offers picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean and the rugged coastline.

If you happen to be in the area in the evening, I recommend coming here for the sunset views. There is a paved road leading to the lighthouse and a wide parking lot at the end. The wind there is wild, but the view is amazing!

When we visited, the sun went down right behind the Teide volcano in Tenerife, haha! I’m sure the sunset is different depending on the time of year. But still, the colors were beautiful! It was one of my favorite memories from our travels in Gran Canaria!

Location: Faro de Punta Sardina

11. Agüimes, the village of bronze statues

Agüimes is one of my favorite hidden gems in Gran Canaria. This lovely town has one of the most beautiful old towns on the island, famous for its many bronze sculptures scattered throughout the streets.

The bronze camel statue hidden on Callejón de la Vegueta Street is the most famous of them all—everyone wants a photo here, haha! Luckily, the camel does look quite relaxed there and completely unfazed by the crowds of visitors.

We stopped by Agüimes Old Town for a short stroll through the streets to admire its colorful colonial architecture and check out the beautiful Parroquia de San Sebastián church, which sits right next to the town’s main square, Plaza del Rosario.

The main square also hosts a number of bronze statues all around it, including a donkey, two sculptures paying tribute to the Ancient Carnival, and sculptures of four men meeting on a bench inside the park.

Another one of my favorites was the Homage to Lovers’ Bench on Callejón del Reloj, featuring two lovers sitting together on a bench. If you’re looking for some Instagram spots in Gran Canaria, these bronze statues in Agüimes are perfect for that!

If you’re doing a road trip around Gran Canaria, I highly recommend stopping by Agüimes for a short stroll through the old town, saying hi to the camel and the donkey, and relaxing at a café next to the central square.

You can combine a visit to Agüimes with a visit to the Barranco de Guayadeque, one of the most beautiful ravines in Gran Canaria which I already mentioned above. The ravine is home to many aboriginal caves, including Gran Canaria’s famous cave restaurants.

If you can, stop for a short visit during the day at Agüimes and then go on a trip inside the valley to have lunch at one of the cave restaurants. I recommend Restaurant Vega – they serve delicious Canarian and Spanish dishes, and we really liked it!

Location: Agüimes – Sculpture of Camel

12. Museo Etnográfico Casas Cueva de Artenara

Gran Canaria has favorable conditions for living in caves. The Guanches—the island’s aboriginal inhabitants—as well as some of the early Spanish settlers, both lived in caves. So, exploring some of Gran Canaria’s caves should definitely be on your bucket list!

One of the best places to go to see how people lived inside caves is this wonderful ethnographic museum of cave houses in Artenara, the highest village on the island. This cave museum was one of my favorite hidden gems of Gran Canaria.

The best part? When we visited, the entry was free, but we left a donation at the entrance.

This open-air museum consists of several caves, each serving a different purpose—the kitchen cave, the bedroom cave, the workshop cave, and more. Together, they form a complete home for an entire family.

The Artenara cave houses showcase how early settlers adapted to life on this volcanic island. Living in caves was both practical and affordable, as the rock naturally provided walls, a ceiling, and a floor—the only thing missing was a door!

I didn’t expect to like this place so much! The rooms are beautifully furnished with period-accurate furniture, decorations, and tools. Of course, it’s only a replica, but exploring all the little cave rooms was incredibly interesting and fun!

My favorite part was probably the patio of the cave house. It featured a flower garden, an oven, a small pond for turtles, a fireplace, and the most breathtaking views of the mountains in Gran Canaria—exactly what you’d expect from the highest village on the island!

If you have a little free time, I can’t recommend this place enough. Hopefully, you’ll visit on a sunny day when the skies are clear, so you can fully enjoy the panoramic mountain views. This place gets a 10/10 from me!

Location: Museo Etnográfico Casas Cueva de Artenara

13. Cueva de San Rafael

Located in the Telde municipality in the eastern part of the island, this hidden gem in Gran Canaria is perfect for those who love exploring abandoned secret places.

Often referred to as Cueva de San Rafael, this manmade underground space isn’t actually a cave—it was built as a water reservoir to store water for agricultural use.

The reservoir was part of the Finca San Rafael estate. It features an underground hall supported by nine massive stone columns accessible by a staircase.

To visit this place, we left our car near the church in the village and walked to the gate of the abandoned property (location below). The gate was open and there was nobody around, so we just walked in. The entrance to the underground reservoir will be on your right.

It’s definitely not a tourist attraction and will continue to deteriorate as nature slowly takes over. You should always consider the risks when visiting abandoned places. But I’m glad we got to see it and took some photos as a keepsake from this lost spot in Gran Canaria.

Location: Cueva de San Rafael – Entrance to the property

14. La Fortaleza de Ansite, the last Guanche’s stronghold

La Fortaleza de Ansite (Ansite Fortress) is a hidden gem and one of the most historically significant sites in Gran Canaria. I found exactly zero travel blogs mentioning this special place.

La Fortaleza de Ansite consists of a group of large rock formations filled with caves that served as the last stronghold of the Guanches during their battle against the Spanish conquistadors in the 15th century.

After this fortress fell, the Guanches lost control of the island, and Gran Canaria became a territory of the Spanish Crown. It was the end of years of fierce battles between the two sides.

We stumbled upon this place by accident while I was simply browsing through Google Maps locations in Gran Canaria. And guess what? You can visit this special place for free.

There’s also a museum dedicated to the site in the nearby village, but we skipped it and drove straight here. This place is open all day long—you can come and explore anytime!

So why come here? Definitely for the views and for the caves!

There are numerous smaller caves that the Guanches once used as homes, storage spaces, and even burial sites. We also found a large cave that tunnels through the entire mountain—quite an impressive spot with stunning views!

If you’re in the area, I highly recommend stopping by for a quick 30-minute visit. This is one of those hidden gems in Gran Canaria that doesn’t attract crowds. There is a large parking lot right next to the rocks and a walking path that follows around them.

Location: La Fortaleza de Ansite

15. Ventana de Morro and Mushroom Rock

Standing at 1,949 meters, Pico de las Nieves is the highest mountain in Gran Canaria and a must-visit spot on the island, especially since you can easily reach it by car.

At the top of the mountain next to the military base, there is a parking lot where you can stop by and see the whole of Gran Canaria below your feet. It is one of the most beautiful places in Gran Canaria!

On sunny days, you can see the entire island of Gran Canaria, as well as the Teide volcano on nearby Tenerife. This place is especially beautiful at sunset when the entire island is painted in golden hues—truly magical!

Many visitors come just for the views, but there are also unique rock formations hidden right next to the mountaintop—Ventana de Morro and the Mushroom Rock.

These formations are super easy to reach. There’s a small path that starts right at the parking lot. If you head down and follow it for just 1–2 minutes, parallel to the lot, you’ll reach both of these unique rocks in no time.

The Ventana de Morro arch is probably my favorite. It offers fantastic views and photo opportunities. If you frame the shot as we did, you can capture the volcanic arch, Roque Nublo, and even Teide volcano in the background! Pretty epic!

Location: Pico de las Nieves – Ventana de Morro – Mushroom Rock

16. Roque de Perro

Roque de Perro, or Perro del Bentayga, is a unique rock formation in the mountains of Gran Canaria that, if you look closely, resembles a dog (‘perro’ means ‘dog’ in Spanish).

Well, maybe not a dog, but some kind of animal’s head for sure!

The Roque de Perro rock is located at the feet of Roque Bentayga. The exact location is below. To get there, you’ll need to drive GC-607 road and park your car at the road bend next to the location I have linked below.

After parking your car, you’ll have to follow a small path for 1 minute through the bushes until you reach its exact location on Google Maps. There is a small clearing with the Dog Rock and views of the surrounding mountains.

Not a must-visit place but a cool spot to check out if you’re nearby!

Location: Perro del Bentayga

17. Caldera de Bandama

Located near Las Palmas de Gran Canaria city, Caldera de Bandama is a beautiful 1,000-meter-wide and 200-meter-deep crater of a volcano that formed during the island’s most recent volcanic activity.

This is not such a secret place anymore, however, there are plenty of travelers who only visit the big mountains in the heart of the island and skip such special places as this beautiful crater. I’m just here to encourage you to not skip this place in Gran Canaria!

On one side of the crater is a larger hill called Pico de Bandama—standing at 569 meters, it is the highest point on the rim of the massive volcanic crater. The top of the hill offers stunning views of the surrounding area.

The best part? You can drive all the way to the top of the Pico de Bandama! A parking lot near the summit is just a few meters from the viewpoint.

From this viewpoint, you can see the perfectly circular shape of the Bandama Crater, as well as the views of the surrounding area, including Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the island’s capital.

The view is absolutely beautiful, and you should include this place in your Gran Canaria itinerary. If you have more time, I highly recommend hiking around the rim of the crater—one of my favorite hikes in Gran Canaria!

To do this hike, you can park your car at the summit of Pico de Bandama (though that adds some extra elevation gain) or along the northern side of the crater. We parked our car next to the road and started the hike there.

The hike passes a golf club and follows the rim of the crater. If you only hike around it, it’s a 3.5-kilometer route, but it will be more if you hike inside the crater or climb up to the Pico de Bandama summit. We completed the circular hike in about an hour.

Location: Caldera de Bandama

18. Puerto de Sardina

Talking about hidden gems in Gran Canaria where you can escape the crowds, Puerto de Sardina definitely deserves a mention.

The coastal fishing village of Sardina is located in the northwest of Gran Canaria, in a rather remote spot. The village is known for its laid-back vibe, sandy beach, and colorful houses lined along the seaside promenade.

It’s the kind of place where time slows down, and you can truly unwind. Can you imagine sitting on a bench atop the seaside cliff, watching the ocean waves crash against the beach and shoreline?

And not a sight of the tourist resort crowds or those usual cheap souvenir shops.

However, there are some vacation rentals so if you are looking for an authentic experience far away from tourist resorts, this might be the place for you. Sardina is especially magical at sunset when the ocean, the sky, and the whole town are painted in golden hues.

Location: Playa de Sardina del Norte

19. Cactualdea Park, largest cactus park in Europe

Cactualdea Park is one of the best places to visit in Gran Canaria for nature and plant lovers! Located in the southwestern part of the island, it is known as the largest cactus park in Europe.

We came here after a road trip to Mirador del Balcón—the most iconic viewpoint in Gran Canaria—and since it was along the way, we decided to stop by. There is an entrance fee to visit the park.

At first, I didn’t know what to expect from this place, but wow—it was epic! I’m a big fan of cactuses, and they have over 1,200 species of cacti and other succulents inside the park!

Besides the large cactus garden, there’s also a replica of a Guanche home, a mini zoo with animals, and a restaurant where you can relax on a terrace right in the middle of the park.

Even at the entrance, we were greeted by a big family of ducks with about ten little ducklings as well as a beautiful peacock. They just roam freely around the area and swim in the fountains. So cute!

It was a rainy day when we visited, so we didn’t spend too much time here, but we made sure to walk all the paths through the cactus gardens.

Overall, this isn’t a must-visit place, but if you happen to be in the area and have some free time, it’s a great spot to visit. However, if you have kids, I’d definitely recommend it—they’ll love all the animals and the open space to run around!

Location: Cactualdea Park

20. Mirador El Toscón in the Valley of Tears

Mirador El Toscón is one of the most unique viewpoints in Gran Canaria. It is hidden in a more remote part of the mountains where not many cars pass by because the road leading to this place is not the easiest to manage, it is narrow and winding.

However, if you make it here, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the Roque Palmés rock formation next to the viewpoint and the scenic Valley of Tears (Valle de Las Lágrimas) stretching out to the west below.

My husband was up for a challenge and took on the winding roads, and I’m glad we did. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place. On a clear day, you can even see Teide volcano on Tenerife Island peeking over the horizon.

The viewpoint itself is located on a rocky outcrop next to the mountain village of El Toscón de Tejeda and features a white altar with a bell and a cross. I really liked this hidden gem in Gran Canaria. Unsurprisingly, we were the only ones there.

Location: Mirador El Toscón