The Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria is a beautiful multi-day walking route on the main island of the Canary Archipelago. It’s the only Camino de Santiago route located outside of mainland Europe. The trail crosses the island from south to north offering a perfect combination of the beautiful coastal scenery and the spectacular mountain views. It’s a perfect Camino route to walk during the winter months.
The Camino de Gran Canaria route overview
- Total distance – 67 km/41,6 mi
- Number of days – 3-4 days
- Difficulty level – 5 out of 5
- Total ascent (over 3 days) – 2514 m
- Total decent (over 3 days) – 2354 m
- Max elevation – 1692 m
- Walking surface – 17 km/10,5 mi tar road/asphalt, 50 km/30,4 mi gravel road/footpath
- Average cost – 60 euros per person per day
Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria PDF files
To make your planning easier we’ve created 2 downloadable PDF files. The first file contains the walking stages of the Camino in Gran Canaria, and the second file has a list of places to stay along the route.
What is the Camino in Gran Canaria?
The Camino de Gran Canaria is a long-distance walking route on Gran Canary Island, one of the islands of the Canary Archipelago, Spain. It’s the only Camino de Santiago route outside of continental Europe and the only route that doesn’t end or start (like the Camino Finisterre) in Santiago de Compostela. The Camino connects the south of Gran Canary (Faro de Maspalomas) with the northwest of the island (the Church of Santiago de Las Caballeros in Gáldar).
The connection between Apostel Santiago (St.James) and the church of Gáldar dates back to 1481 when the first mass honoring the saint took place. Since 1965 the route on Gran Canaria is recognized as a part of the Camino de Santiago network.
How long is the route?
The Camino de Gran Canaria is 67 km/41,6 mi if you walk the standard route and 76 km/47,2 mi if you walk the Tejeda Variant (the alternative route, stage 2). You’ll need 3-4 days to complete it. We walked it in 3 days but it’s possible to split the route into 4 days or even longer.
Where does the Camino de Santiago in Gran Canaria start?
Most sources mention Faro de Maspalomas (Maspalomas Lighthouse) as the starting point of the Camino de Santiago on Gran Canaria. The route finishes at the Church of Santiago de Los Caballeros in Gáldar.
According to the tourist information office (inside Maspalomas lighthouse), the route starts at the exit of Maspalomas near Centro de Salud (Health Center). The first 4 km from the lighthouse are not marked. It’s up to you where to start walking. From the lighthouse, it’s 28 km to Tunte, and from Centro de Salud – 24 km. If you walk the Camino during the summer when it gets very hot by midday, skipping 4 km is maybe not a bad idea considering the challenging ascent on the first day. You can take a bus from Maspalomas Beach (bus station) to Centro de Salud. We walked from the lighthouse and besides the beautiful sunrise that we got to see right at the beginning the rest of the 4 km was quite ordinary. If you skip it you won’t miss much.
How to get to Faro de Maspalomas?
Step 1. Fly to Gran Canaria. There are low-cost direct flights to Gran Canaria from many European countries, e.g. UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, etc. It’s easy and cheap to get there.
Step 2. Take a bus from the airport (LPA) to Faro de Maspalomas (Maspalomas Lighthouse). There are 2 buses from the airport, #66 and #90. The 66 bus is direct, and the journey takes 25 minutes. It leaves daily every hour from 7.30 am to 8.30 pm. The timetable might change you can find the up-to-date timetable here. The 90 bus makes a lot of stops on the way, it takes 45 minutes. The price is the same 3,5 euros (paid on the bus by card or cash). The bus station is a 5-minute walk from the lighthouse.
There is a direct bus (#30) from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (from both Santa Catalina and San Telmo Bus Stations) to Maspalomas Lighthouse. It’s a 40-minutes journey, the price is 7 euros (paid on the bus by card or cash).
There are plenty of accommodation options at Maspalomas Beach. We stayed at Apartamentos El Capricho (they accept bookings only for 3+ nights). It’s a nice place on the beach, a 10-minute walk from the lighthouse, right on the Camino. I would recommend staying in that area. Maspalomas Beach is beautiful we could watch the sunrise and sunset from the beach every day. It was spectacular.
Most of the well-priced places to stay near Faro de Maspalomas accept reservations only for extended stays, from 3+ nights. If you want to stay only 1 night you’ll have to book one of the expensive hotels or stay away from the beach.
Places to stay near Faro de Maspalomas
| Eden Meloneras by TAM Resorts (1 night), 500 m from the lighthouse | Caybeach Meloneras (1 night), 1,4 km from the lighthouse | Hotel Los Calderones (1 night), 2 km from the lighthouse |
When is the best time for walking?
The Canary Islands have a different climate from mainland Spain. Gran Canaria is one of the driest islands even during winter months there is not much rain. In my opinion, cooler months, between November and March, are the best time for walking the Camino de Santiago Gran Canaria. It’s warm but not too hot, there is not much rain, and it’s not too busy (except during the Christmas holiday). You don’t have to book accommodation and buy plan tickets long in advance. It can be a last-minute trip. Camino de Gran Canaria is a perfect option if you want to walk the Camino de Santiago in winter.
During the summer months, it gets very hot and it’s very busy so expect to pay more for accommodation as well as plan your trip long ahead.
How difficult is the Camino in Gran Canaria?
The Camino de Gran Canaria is a challenging walk with steep and long ascents and descents every day. It’s highly recommended to be in good walking shape. If would compare every day on this Camino with the first day on the Camino Frances, the walk over the pass from St.Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles. If you’re not walking fit I would recommend starting training for the Camino a couple of months in advance.
Is the route well-marked?
It’s marked but not as well as the main Camino de Santiago routes on continental Spain. There are yellow arrows painted on rocks and trees here and there. Most of the time you follow the wooden signs pointing in the direction of the next town on the route. On the last day, you start seeing typical stone route markers with distances that you usually see in Galicia.
Where to get the Credential?
There are several places in Gran Canaria where you can get a credential. It’s free of charge.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
In Casa Galicia Calle Salvador Cuyas, 8 (Las Canteras Beach). It’s an association of the Camino de Santiago in Gran Canaria. They are open only on Thursdays between 6.30 pm and 8 pm. You can get some information on the Camino de Santiago Gran Canaria from them if you speak Spanish. We got our Credentials here. E-mail info@casagalicialp.org Phone +34 928 263 627.
Maspalomas
At the tourist information office in Maspalomas Lighthouse for free. The office is open daily from 10.30 am to 5 pm. You can get your first stamp at the office as well. It’s the most convenient place to get your credential for the Camino de Santiago Gran Canaria. We got a Credential here after losing one. Phone +34 928 772 445.
At the tourist information office Las Dunas, C/ Avda. de Tirajana, 1, Playa del Ingles. It’s open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri from 9 am to 4 pm. Phone +34 928 765 242
At the tourist information office Anexo II, Centro Comercial Anexo II Paseo Marítimo, Local 20, Playa del Ingles. It’s open Mon to Fri from 9 am to 4 pm. Phone +34928768409.
There are more places where you can get a credential including the tourist information offices in Tunte, Tejeda, and Galdar. If you don’t get a chance to obtain a physical credential you can download one HERE and print it.
Where to get stamps?
On the Camino de Gran Canaria stamps can be obtained at your accommodation, tourist information centers, and restaurants along the route.
Here is a list of the places where we got our stamps.
Before the walk
- Casa Galicia in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- The tourist information office in Maspalomas lighthouse (it’s better to get a stamp the day before you start walking the office opens only at 10.30 am).
Day 1
- Centro de Salud in Maspalomas. You can get a stamp early in the morning which is a better option if you don’t have time to get one at the tourist office.
- Los Giles Bar in Fataga
- The tourist information office in Tunte.
Day 2
- The information office in Cruz de Tejeda
- Hotel Rural El Refugio in Cruz de Tejeda
Day 3
- At Bar Lomo El Palo, 9,3 km from Cruz de Tejeda
Do you get the Compostela for the Camino de Gran Canaria?
No, you don’t get the Compostela for completing the Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria but you can get a certificate for completing the route. The certificate can be obtained at the Church of Santiago de Los Caballeros in Galdar at the end of the Camino. Like with any other Camino in order to get the certificate you need a Credential (pilgrim’s passport) with stamps collected along the route.
Are there albergues on the route?
No, there are no albergues (public or private) or hostels on the Camino de…
