Roque Nublo: The symbol of Gran Canaria

Shadow of Nublo
Altar of my beloved land,
There is snow and sun on the summit
Summit of my Gran Canaria

Nestor Alamo- “Sombra del Nublo”

What is Roque Nublo?

Roque Nublo in Gran Canaria is a geological formation product of a volcanic explosion and erosion after several million years. With its 80 meters of height; it is the third highest rock in the world and the one located at the highest altitude.

Located at 1,813 meters above sea level, almost in the geographic centre of Gran Canaria, in the municipality of Tejeda; its name comes from the fact that in many occasions the clouds are below their level, standing out above them.

“It is a tremendous commotion of the bowels of the earth, it seems like a petrified storm, but a storm of fire, lava, rather than water.”

Miguel de Unamuno

Why should I visit Roque Nublo Gran Canaria?

It is difficult to explain in words the sensation that it produces when you reach the stone platform that forms the base of this imposing geological formation; after having travelled a path surrounded by forests. No doubt you will have the feeling of having reached another planet. But it’s not just that: on sunny days you will discover a 360º panorama of the island of Gran Canaria, and even contemplate other islands; on low cloud days you will have the sensation of stepping on the sky. In any case, you will discover the exuberant nature of this beautiful island.

What will I discover in this area?

It’s not just the Roque Nublo. Next, to it stand out two other geological formations surprising for their beauty and uniqueness; They are called “the frog” and “the friar”, guess why?

But there is much more: going through the forests of Canarian pine, breathing the aroma of chamomile, anise and other shrubs and plants. Cross with small animals such as lizards and rabbits. Contemplate the majestic flight of hawks, kestrels or crows. Be amazed by the sight of the vertiginous volcanic calderas during the ascent …

How can I get to the Roque Nublo?

Virtually from any point of the island, you can get to the base of Roque Nublo by car (although the more adventurous do it by bike); from the different points of the coast it takes between an hour and an hour and a half to arrive. The most usual route is to go to the parking lot of La Goleta and then start walking the path.

Roque Nublo car park is free, but we recommend that you go early because it fills up fast and outside of it it is forbidden to leave the car. Once there; you only have to take the perfectly marked path that leads to the top. It is a walk of about 1.5 km with a difference of 166 m; It is considered an easy route but we recommend you to be careful, especially on rainy days since at certain points there are risks of falling due to slips.

For hiking lovers, there are longer routes that depart from different points in the area’s surroundings. You can view more information here.

If you are not too fond of hiking, you may have enough to reach this point. However, we recommend that you do at least the first 200 meters of the route and go a little way on the path that leads to the summit. It is worth it!

What do I need for the Roque Nublo hike?

The logical material for any type of walk: shoes and comfortable clothes and sun protection. In summer, the temperatures at the summit can exceed 25ºC. In winter they can descend below 5ºC, in any case, we recommend that you check the weather forecast before making the ascent. Hiking poles can be useful to make the journey easier, although they are not essential.

Finally; it is advisable to bring water, some “enyesque” to recover strength once you get up, the mobile phone charged 100% and, of course, a camera. As a curious fact: the telephone network at the summit is relatively good, so you can make a video call to your loved ones to show off where you are.

What else can I do?

There are many points of interest in the Parque Rural del Nublo. A few kilometres away is the Pico de las Nieves and, a little further, the magical Roque Bentayga. You can also take the opportunity to visit Tejeda and taste the famos “dulces de Tejeda”

Important: Respect the environment

Roque Nublo in Gran Canaria receives the visit of hundreds of visitors every day of the year and, unfortunately, some do not care about respect for the environment. To the list of material to carry we can add a bag to collect your waste. If you smoke, please be careful to throw ashes or cigarette butts to avoid the risk of fire.

Discover Roque Nublo with Sky Rebels!

At Sky Rebels, we propose a private guided tour that includes, among other essential points in Gran Canaria, a hike to the top of Roque Nublo; as well as a forest picnic. If you want to know more, get in touch with us.

Thanks for reading this article! We look forward to your comments and questions!