Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria – is the third-largest and second most populated island of the Canary Islands 🌴🌴🌴

The Canary Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. The Canaries are divided into two groups: the western (made up of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro islands – with mountain peaks that rise directly from a deep ocean) and the eastern (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Graciosa and six islets of the Canary Ridge). The highest peak is Teide Peak – Pico del Teide (3718m) – volcanic peak located at the centre of Tenerife island, also classified as the highest peak of Spain. 🌋

I was told by local people that everyone needs to have a photo – sitting on the dog in front of the Cathedral de Santa Ana – which is the first church that was built in Canaria (the construction of it started around 1500). I couldn’t say no to this local tradition 🙂

Where did the Canary Islands get their name? 🤔

There are few different stories, but I was told that the name of Gran Canaria, known in Spanish as Islas Canarias, got their name from large dogs that once inhabited the island – The Presa Canario.
The story is that Mauretanian king Juba II, ally of the Romans, sent an expedition to the Canary Islands that found there “vast multitudes of dogs of very large size”.
Another story speaks about seals that used to inhabit the island, named by the Romans ‘sea dogs’.
Every story and legend has some grains of truth, so it is your choice on what you believe in.

The breathtaking Barranco de las Vacas  😍 one of the incredibly beautiful and hidden gems in Gran Canaria! Not easy to find but definitely worth checking out!!! 👌 Barranco de las Vacas means in Spanish „ravine of the cows”. The place is also known as Tobas de Colores or Barranco de Barafonso. This unique and scenic volcanic gorge/ valley is a a true geological treasure 😍 formed from porous volcanic ash, and over the years carved and smoothed by the force of the water, giving it this unique shape. 

Gran Canaria has a bit of everything. It is probably the most known for its beaches, the sun and sea. But there is so much more to it, as I said before this volcanic island is very diverse, it has a great variety of beautiful viewpoints, unreal moonscapes, windswept mountains and rock formations, mind blowing secret spots, ancient caves, jagged coastlines with crashing waves, beaches covered in soft sand, picturesque towns, flowers, banana and palm trees. 

Tamadaba National Park is a collection of valleys, hills, and mountains with the oldest and biggest pine forest on the island. The area is also part the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. There are many hiking and walking trails to choose from, and I can promise that wherever you go you will be gifted with the most stunning and divine landscapes and views.

Thank you July for  being my guide and documentographer of this incredible trip! 😍