As you know well by now, at Palm Oasis Maspalomas we like to encourage our guests to discover the island of Gran Canaria. Many come on holiday here only to relax and enjoy our marvellous climate; others however want more than that, they want to blend in with the environment and get the essence of Gran Canaria.

These recommendations are for the curious ones who will discover incredible places to add to their visit tour.

Bandama Caldera

If you wish to admire Gran Canaria’s nature, you have to leave the tourist areas. A natural excursion we highly recommend is to go to Bandama Caldera. On your way there, before reaching this impressive volcanic crater with its 1000 m diameter and 200 m depth, you will come across vineyards where the famous grapes which produce Vino del Monte grow.

If you are of the adventurous kind, you can also go for a 30-minute walk down the crater following the outlined path. At the bottom of the crater, a particular type of fauna and flora can be beheld. What’s more, the bottom of Bandama Caldera is an archaeological settlement called Cueva de los Canarios (the Canarians’ Cave).

Bandama Caldera can also be reached by car and you can even go up to the Pico de Bandama the altitude of which reaches 574 m. This peak provides breath-taking views of the north and east coasts of Gran Canaria. If you are lucky with the weather, you may even catch a glimpse of Fuerteventura, the neighbouring island.

The Pico de Bandama and its crater were generated thanks to an explosive volcanic process that took place between 47 B.C. and 123 A.D. The last eruption was registered in the 70s and it is the most recent on the island. The Pico de Bandama and the Caldera have been declared Protected Natural Area in the “Natural Monument” category. Moreover, they are considered as places of geological interest.

Cueva Pintada (Painted Cave)

The Canary Islands are singled out for their beaches and fantastic temperature all-year-round, but also for their rich history. One of their impressive museums, in which one can learn everything about the aboriginal population that inhabited Gran Canaria before the arrival of the Spanish in the 15^th century, is the Museum and Archaeological Park of the Cueva Pintada in Gáldar.

The visit of the museum and park takes about an hour and a half; it includes a projection of panoramic 3D videos on the pre-Hispanic era and the conquest of Gran Canaria, permanent exhibition rooms with objects of the settlement and a walk by the remains of one of the biggest aboriginal settlements of our island. The highlight of the visit: la Cueva Pintada. This cave is a room where the walls are covered with geometrical paintings. Archaeologists believe these drawings could be a calendar.

The Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park reopened their doors on July 26, 2006 after 20 years of refurbishment of the area.

Information

Address: Calle Audiencia 2, 35460 Gáldar
Phone: +34 928 895 764 Fax: +34 928 552 402

Opening Hours

From September 16 to June 14:
◦    From Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm (last guided tour at 4:30 pm)
◦    Sundays and bank holidays from 11 am to 6 pm (last guided tour at 4:30 pm)
From June 15 to September 15:
◦    From Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm (last guided tour at 6 pm)
◦    Sundays and bank holidays from 11 am to 7 pm (last guided tour at 5:30 pm)

Categories: blog, Gran Canaria