Welcome everyone to my article on Tejeda. My name is Monika and I’m originally from Lithuania but currently live in Sweden. Photography has been one of those things that I have loved sporadically since I was little, yet I never took it seriously. A few years ago, I was struggling with anxiety and I felt lost in life. Photography became a way for me to express my feelings, get out of my head and focus on creating something I felt proud of.
Now it is one of my biggest passions and I love it dearly. My passion for travel came partly from reading books and partly from moving to a different country as a child. Growing up in Lithuania was the only thing I knew, so when I moved to Sweden, a country that was different from what I was used to, I felt this urge to explore what else is out there in the world!
The inspiration for my trip to the Canary Islands was my mom. Gran Canaria is a popular holiday destination for Swedes, so after hearing about it for so many years from her colleagues and friends, my mom finally talked the family into spending our holiday there. And I am so glad she did! In total, we spent two weeks in Gran Canaria during the month of July, 2022.
We resided in Maspalomas, a tourist town in the south and home to the spectacular Maspalomas Sand Dunes. Fortunately, we were able to rent a car for some days, which allowed us to go on many various day trips and in this way explore most of the island. The size of Gran Canaria, as well as proper roadway connectivity, made exploring the island by car quite easy and comfortable. I definitely recommend hiring a car while you are here.
Spending a Lovely Day in Tejeda
We only spent a day in the Tejeda region as it was more of a spontaneous trip and having a car gave us the flexibility of traveling wherever, whenever. The goal of the excursion was to hike to the top of the famous Roque Nublo Natural Monument, as well as to explore the picturesque village of Tejeda. Now in retrospect, I wish we had spent more time in Tejeda because it is such a remarkable place and there is so much more to see in the region.
Both the region and village are absolutely breathtaking! As we were driving from the south towards the center of the island, we could see the landscape around us change with every kilometer. Sand dunes were quickly replaced by tall pine trees, and the naked mountains were all of a sudden lush and green. It felt like we were on a completely different island!
Before visiting the Tejeda village, I read somewhere that it was voted as one of the most beautiful villages on the island of Gran Canaria, so I was excited to see it for myself. And let me tell you, it is stunning! I was fascinated by the fact that anywhere you looked there were mountains surrounding the whole village. This is not something I ever get to see in my day-to-day life.
The village itself was a gem! Charming white houses everywhere, kind and helpful locals, amazing views of nature surrounding it and probably the best peppermint ice cream I have ever eaten. As the village is quite tiny, you can explore it by foot in an hour or so by just following the main street that goes through the village. It also has a small church and a museum that showcases Tejeda’s history. It basically has everything you would want.
Highlight of the Trip: Roque Nublo
I feel grateful to have had the chance to visit Tejeda and take photos of such a beautiful place. Hiking to Roque Nublo was probably my favorite activity. I have a slight fear of heights, so I am not sure what possessed me to want to hike all the way to the top, but I am happy I did. The trail itself was moderately difficult, especially due to the heat and amount of people who were there walking up and down the same narrow path.
However, all the sweat and nerves were worth it as soon as I saw the view from the summit of Roque Nublo. It was such a surreal feeling to stand at the top of a mountain, knowing that it is a creation of volcanic activity from millions and millions of years ago – while just below me trees and fields, and mountains and houses, stretched out for as far as the eyes could see.
In that moment I remember feeling tiny but also unstoppable. Though a few moments later the reality kicked in, reminding me of my fear of heights, so I quickly made my way back down while holding on for dear life to every piece of rock and every little branch! This hiking trail begins at the Degollada de la Goleta car park which you can drive to easily from Tejeda.
Why Stay in Tejeda for 2 or 3 Nights
If I got the chance to re-do our Tejeda trip, I would stay for two or three nights. Roque Nublo and the village of Tejeda are two of the most popular spots, so if you are solely going to see them, and you have a car, then one day is enough. However, the region has several fascinating historical and archaeological spots, like Cuevas del Rey, which is one of the largest artificial caves on the island and was used during pre-Hispanic times.
For those who like hiking, Pico de las Nieves and Roque Bentayga are two perfect spots for that, with the former being the island’s second highest peak and the latter being an archaeological monument. So, if you want to explore all of these places around Tejeda, you would need at least two days. If I ever come back these would be on my bucket list of things to do!
Need to Know Before you Go
As we resided in Maspalomas, I sadly do not have any recommendations for hotels or airbnbs in Tejeda. However, because the island is not too big and can easily be explored with a car, I would still suggest making a trip to Tejeda for the day, even if you are staying in the south. It is absolutely worth visiting no matter which corner of the island you are coming from.
As mentioned, and if you have the means, I would recommend renting a car. I did see buses in that area, so it is possible to use public transport to get to and around Tejeda. However, a car just makes the whole trip a lot smoother and provides you with more flexibility. If you decide to travel there in July like I did, or summer in general, be prepared for how hot it gets (over 30 degrees). Water, sunscreen and a hat will be your best friends.
If you happen to be a vegetarian like me, finding suitable food, especially in smaller villages like Tejeda, can be hard. The cuisine there is meat heavy, so I would suggest bringing snacks just in case. And lastly, while most people I encountered understood and/or could speak some English, I would still suggest learning basic Spanish. Knowing common expressions will make your trip easier and it shows you are interested in the place you are visiting!
