Roque Nublo is a volcanic rock, one of the largest in the world, a place of great importance for the island of Gran Canaria and its inhabitants.
Once considered a place of worship of the aborigines, today it is one of the main attractions of the island, declared a protected natural park in 1987. It is located 1800 meters above sea level and is 80 meters high.
Therefore, not only water and sea sports in Gran Canaria, but also hiking and walking among the numerous mountain routes. Among these is the path leading to the top of Roque Nublo, worth both the walk but especially the magnificent views.
Even on clear days it is possible to admire the imposing Teide, the volcano of Tenerife.
In this article we see all the tips to visit Roque Nublo, we will discover how to reach it and what are the best ways to get to the top.
Where Roque Nublo is located
Roque Nublo is located in the center of the island in the municipality of Tejada and is part of the Nublo Rural Park, the largest natural park in Gran Canaria.
How to get to Roque Nublo
You can reach the Roque Nublo by road 60 GC if you are coming from the south of the island; for example from Maspalomas it is about 40 km with a duration of 1 hour.
If you come from Las Palmas you have to take the GC 15 to Tejeda and then the GC600 to La Degollada de la Goleta, the journey takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
And for those who can't drive? Fortunately, you can also reach Roque Nublo by bus. From Maspalomas line 18 takes you directly to the big rock (Ayacata stop). From Las Palmas, however, the route is not direct, you have to take the 303 from San Telmo to San Mateo where you take the 305 to Tejeda. At this point you have 2 options, cab or bus 18. Find more information on the Gran Canaria transport site.
Finally, you can rely on organized tours of the island, a comfortable way to discover the wonders of Gran Canaria.
Roque Nublo: How to visit it
There are different routes to visit Roque Nublo, depending on how far you want to walk. Let's see the 2 main routes to reach the big rock.
Shortest route: 3 km
This is the simplest and shortest route and in fact it is the one chosen by most tourists who decide to visit Roque Nublo. Just enter in the navigator"Aparcamiento de la Degollada de La Goleta" and you will arrive at the parking lot from where the hike starts.
The route is about 1.5 km each way, it is quite simple, well signposted and suitable for everyone even for those with little or no trekking experience, calculate about 40 minutes to reach the top.
On the way, just before Roque Nublo, you will come across another important rock that looks like a friar, known in fact as Roque El Fraile.
At the top, a barren plain awaits you where the imposing rock rises. The panorama you can enjoy from here is something unique, besides the wonderful view of the island of Gran Canaria on clear days you can also see the island of Tenerife and its volcano.
Next to the famous Roque Nublo there is a smaller rock known as La Rana, seen from certain angles it looks like a frog.
Longest route: about 7 km
Those with more experience and lovers of long walks can leave their car in the parking lot of the village of La Culata. It is undoubtedly a longer and more demanding route, but also the less touristic and more suitable for hiking lovers.
However, the path is well signposted, you pass through the Barranco de la Culata and cross a pine forest until you reach the Planón del Nublo, the esplanade presided over by the famous monolith.
Roque Nublo: some tips
- Try to start the route early in the morning, it is easier to find parking and there will be less people on the road;
- Bring a jacket or windbreaker. Given the altitude, temperatures can be quite low;
- Wear sneakers or walking shoes. Absolutely avoid flip-flops;
- Bring plenty of water. I also recommend a snack to eat at the top while you take in the view.
Conclusions
We have seen in detail all the information necessary to experience Roque Nublo. To discover all the wonders of the island I recommend you read the article Whatto do in Gran Canaria.
