Twould be a long oul’ walk all right, 1500 miles but thankfully the Camino in the Canaries won’t require you to walk to Santiago de Compostella in Galicia.
Of course, you soon find if you spend any time in Spain that the Camino is ubiquitous.
As are the providers, such as Camino Ways, who do all the heavy work for us.
While we eat, drink and chat our way to our destinations in mainland Spain and in the Canaries.
Which we found out on baking hot days (the way we like them) in Tenerife.
With their then recently launched Canaria Ways trails.
When we were blindsided (maybe the sun) by the sign we saw.
When taking one of our famous detours from the designated route… for the above, Camino Portugal.
See, I told you we were well and truly lost… unlike this local who knew her way around.
Gran old walk
The thing is that there is indeed a designated Camino route on the Canaries, but it’s in Gran Canaria.
And that the first Camino outside of mainland Spain has been in existence for as long as your pilgrim here has been alive, and that’ll be since 1965.
It’s a 66km itinerary, within our wheelhouse of 100km which we covered to get our certificate.
Tagged the Camino among the Volcanoes, you will be able to visit the Maspalomas Lighthouse and Oasis, the Arteara Necropolis (the island’s largest aboriginal cemetery, no us neither).
The whitewashed village of Fataga and the small hilltop town of Tunte, among other attractions.
There’s the Degollada Becerra (a viewpoint looking out onto a gorge and mountains) which we’re told is the most renowned skyline in Gran Canaria.
While our Gran Canarian amigos advise and insist we’ll be feasting out on the local cheese.
Which is called Queso de Flor with vino too we’d demand.
Not to mention the historic town of Gáldar with its Museum and Archaelogical Park.
With rock drawings, the Cueva Pintada, so we will mention it.
But the Canarians have been looking even further afield by pitching an immersive Camino throughout their islands.
The Canaries Camino
The Association of Canarian Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago has drawn up a new itinerary on Tenerife, a Camino de Santiago that also ends at the Temple of Santiago in Gáldar, Gran Canaria.
And it serves Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro.
Their Camino is divided into eight stages, totalling 172 kms, finishing at the temple in Gáldar.
With pilgrims, or peregrinos, gaining indulgences and collecting that all-important certificate.
Canarian pilgrims will start in Buenavista del Norte and Santiago del Teide.
And will visit towns such as Garachico with its natural volcanic rock pools, which was named the most beautiful town in Spain, and we’re not surprised.
You’ll also visit the Orotava Valley, towns such as Icod de los Vinos, San Cristóbal de la Laguna and the capital, Santa Cruz.
This way
Before taking the ferry to Gran Canaria, to the port of Las Nieves in Agaete.
And after 13 kilometres you’ll be there in the Plaza de Santiago.
In front of the Jacobean Temple of the City of the Knights of Gáldar.
And completed your Camino in the Canaries.
