Storm in the Canary Islands (page 2 of 7)

Really pretty with the mist gradually lifting

So we’re having breakfast all bundled up in our fleeces, watching the rain trickle down from a hopelessly gray sky.

Pre-Thérèse doesn’t seem to have been much better than post-Thérèse

By the seaside, it was still okay!

Our mistake was renting too high up.

I think it's best to avoid the "high areas" for accommodation between December and April. 🤪

The meteorologists were right—the sun is shining this morning!



Too bad the temperature isn’t keeping up...

We’re getting ready quickly to make the most of this spring-like day and will soon head to San Bartolomé de Tirajana, a large town nestled on the southern slopes of the mountain range.

The streets are deserted. Either the area doesn’t interest anyone, or the vacationers staying by the sea haven’t arrived yet!





Given the lack of souvenir shops, I’m leaning toward the first option.

We’re now losing altitude and gaining a few welcome degrees as we take the scenic GC 60 road toward Fataga, a typically Canarian village.



The vibe here is way livelier, and it seems our German neighbors are particularly fond of the place.

It’s true—these white alleys dotted with cacti are absolutely charming!







The prettiest town we’ve visited on the island! !

What a beautiful blue sky 😎

After Tejeda, we stayed in Santa Lucía de Tirajana, not far from San Bartolomé. But we hesitated to take a trip to Fataga after a (failed 😏) hike... we should’ve!

Bad weather in the USA (March), the Canary Islands (March), southern Spain (March), not great in southern Portugal (March), but sunshine and t-shirts in Brittany (March...!) 🤪

Hopefully it’s not the same year!! 😏

And I think we’ll arrive at Roque Nublo at about the same time 😉

Bruno, there’s only one March per year (well, I think) 😏

Hey Agnès, shouldn’t we head back up to the Cruz de los Llanos parking lot? We’re gonna end up late for the hike departure!

Oops, you’re right! Let’s turn around!

The road’s pretty busy now. The late risers are finally out of bed, and the cyclists have already covered the kilometers down to sea level.

We weave between bikes, buses, and rental cars until we reach the restaurant we spotted.

We get there a little too late—all the sunny spots are taken. Oh well, shade it is with a sweater!

Full and happy, we get back behind the wheel to tackle the last winding kilometers to Cruz de los Llanos. The parking lot is huge—the authorities did a great job! We easily find a spot to leave the car for the duration of the hike.

Why park here when there’s a closer parking lot, you might ask?

Because the parking lot nearest to Roque Nublo was closed in 2025, it’s now forbidden to park on the side of the road, and the trail requires a permit!

Thanks to Muriel for warning me—I totally missed that little detail!

You can get the permit here (it’s free), and little hikers can save a few kilometers by taking a (paid) bus that drops them off at the old parking lot.

We choose to do the full route, though.



The hike starts with a long descent, then we follow the Los Hornos reservoir.





The trail then climbs up to the La Goleta viewpoint before we reach the employee checking permits.

He scans our QR code, and off we go toward the famous Roque Nublo!

Quite a few people are turned away—this new rule isn’t mentioned in older guides or blogs.

The big advantage of this quota system? Peace and quiet!

Even if you’re not alone, the hike doesn’t feel like a long conga line like it sometimes did before 2025!

I’m struggling a bit with the elevation gain, but it’s nothing too bad. That said, I wouldn’t call this hike a Sunday stroll (especially the long version). Moderate difficulty on my personal scale.

Our efforts are well rewarded at the top—both for the panoramic views and for the star of the island’s postcards: Roque Nublo.









The highlight of Gran Canaria—no cheesy pun intended!

We’re pretty wiped out by the time we get back to the car.

Luckily, our place is nearby, and we collapse in front of a cozy fireplace!



Maybe we should’ve made one last effort to climb up to Pico de Las Nieves?

We’ll find out later...

There’s only one March a year (well, I think so)

I think we can agree on that, but 5 countries in one month—I take my hat off to you!

Yes. 😊

I really hope it’s not the same year!! 😏

Ugh...😠

What a beautiful blue sky 😎

The most beautiful day of the trip until the second-to-last...

we hesitated to take a trip to Fataga

The village isn’t very big and is quite touristy, but it’s charming as can be.

Afterwards, if it had rained, I might not have felt the same way.

I really hope it’s not the same year!! 😏

Ugh...😠

Okay, I’ll shut up now 😕🏴‍☠️

Oh no! You know what they say—no love without teasing! ;)

Hello Agnès, I’m also heading to the Canaries... Gran Canaria was the first island we visited in the Canaries. We liked it, but then Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and especially Lanzarote—my favorite—convinced us it wasn’t the best 😅. The landscapes with the mist are nice, but hey, a bit of sunshine wouldn’t hurt either 😊.

Hi Isabelle, 🙂

We still have to visit La Gomera and Palma, but for now, the verdict on the most beautiful island leans toward....

Answer at the end of the travel journal! !😇

The only thing I can say right now is that our next trip to the Canary Islands won’t be in March! !

This spike is impressive! Great hike in any case

I spotted a viewpoint accessible via a trail on Google Maps.

Since the weather seems to be taking a turn for the worse from this afternoon through the rest of the week, I suggest we head there right now!

The closest parking is on the GC 600, a picnic area in the forest between Cruz de los Llanos and the entrance gate to the Roque Nublo trail.

The area is under construction, but it’s still possible to park there, which we don’t waste any time doing.

The weather is mixed—some sun, some clouds, but mostly a lot more wind, a wind that chills the air!

So we dress much warmer than yesterday before starting the planned hike!

The walk begins in the forest, nothing too complicated.

Then the trail starts to climb after the Bailico natural campsite.

We barely see anyone, even though this path is easier than the one to Roque Nublo!

Especially if you don’t follow the signs...

In fact, the sign tells me to turn left—a descent, meaning a climb later—while my GPS suggests turning right, which is more or less flat...

You know me—I go for the easy option!

This path is narrower and less clear, but it heads effortlessly toward our goal: the Ventana del Nublo.

The forest eventually thins out, and soon there isn’t a single tree left.

At the top of a small slope, the delicate stone arch comes into view, reminding us of another country...



The difference between Arches National Park (Utah) and Ventana del Nublo (Gran Canaria) is both the crowds and the price...

Crowds and dollars for one, near solitude and free for the other.

I’m completely charmed!

On one side, we can admire Roque Nublo, and on the other, Pico de Las Nieves.













Reluctantly, we turn back to head toward the other famous landmark in the mountainous part of Gran Canaria, Roque Bentayga.

This site was once home to a place of worship built by the island’s earliest inhabitants, but it’s the panoramic views that now draw visitors.

The start of the trail is a bit steep but still very easy.

Things get slightly trickier toward the end, making it inaccessible for those with mobility issues.

People prone to vertigo won’t feel very comfortable either.

I wasn’t expecting much—I’m really pleasantly surprised!













The views are stunning, there aren’t many people around, and it’s another great success on this last morning of relatively good weather.