Villages, viewpoints and volcanic landscapes line Gran Canaria’s rugged mountain spine. This tour takes you through some of the island’s most striking scenery, with stops in Teror, Tejeda and Fataga along the way. David, one of our local guides, says, “The legend of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in Teror still intrigues me. It dates back to 1481, during the Castilian conquest of Gran Canaria, and helped change the island’s destiny.”

Your first stop is Teror, where you’ll stroll along Calle Real de la Plaza, passing its traditional wooden balconies before reaching the mountain-framed Basilica of Our Lady of the Pine. Then it’s on to Tejeda, where whitewashed, red-roofed houses are scattered across the valley slopes. “Whenever there’s a list of Spain’s prettiest villages, Tejeda is near the top,” says David. “Its setting is hard to beat.” From here, you’ll continue through the mountains to Las Tirajanas viewpoint, where you can stop for photos overlooking the island’s vast volcanic landscape.

Next, enjoy a local lunch at a family-run restaurant in Fataga, set in the Valley of a Thousand Palms. You’ll have time afterwards to wander through the village, taking in its cobbled lanes, palm-fringed views and traditional Canarian architecture. Before returning to your hotel, you’ll visit an aloe vera plantation to learn about the plant’s medicinal properties and its role in local life.