A palm grove of just over two hectares, an agricultural landscape and a winding descent to the sea give Cabo Verde on Gran Canaria a distinctive character. The Palmeral del Cruce de Cabo Verde-Los Dragos is considered an emblematic site on Gran Canaria. When choosing a destination, it is worth considering three distinct aspects: the palm landscape and its protected area, the history of agriculture, and cycling and hiking routes.

Palm Landscape and Nature Conservation

The Palmeral del Cruce de Cabo Verde-Los Dragos lies within the Reserva Natural Especial de los Tiles Special Nature Reserve. The reserve covers 91.5 hectares in the municipalities of Guía and Moya and protects one of the last remnants of laurel forest. Despite its small size, this remnant makes a significant contribution to soil protection and groundwater replenishment.

The Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) is the dominant species in the Cabo Verde palm grove. Date palms (Phoenix dactylifera), by contrast, are found almost exclusively in the lower section of the Barranco del Salado. The palm grove extends across alluvial terraces and colluvial deposits along the Barranco del Salado and the ravines of La Cañada, Moreto and Los Dragos.

Agriculture and the History of the Landscape

Agriculture remains the defining feature of Cabo Verde’s landscape. In the 1960s and 1970s, the north coast, the Costa de Lairaga and the coastal basalt plateaus—including Cabo Verde–La Cordillera—were almost entirely covered with productive banana plantations. Cabo Verde’s agricultural infrastructure has ethnographic value. The area’s character thus reflects both its present-day agricultural use and the memory of a time when banana cultivation shaped large parts of the coastal and plateau areas mentioned above.

Road and Hiking Routes

The road through Cabo Verde to Moya is narrow and winding. The GC-752 runs for seven kilometres as a winding descent from Moya through Cabo Verde to the sea. Along the way, it offers views of the Atlantic, the north coast and the town on the horizon. For a cycling trip, the route via Cabo Verde is recommended instead of the route via Los Dragos to avoid heavy traffic. Traffic conditions can change; check them before setting out.

A hiking route heads towards Cabo Verde before becoming a winding mountain path that leads to the bottom of the Barranco de Moya. Check the route before your hike, as trail conditions can change.

La Montañeta and Access via Trujillo

The archaeological site of La Montañeta is located in the vicinity of Cabo Verde. The Government of the Canary Islands designated it a Bien de Interés Cultural (Site of Cultural Interest) under Decree 14/2009. The GC-752 leads directly from Moya town centre to the district of Trujillo, providing fairly easy access to the archaeological site. Check road conditions and access to La Montañeta before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Los Dragos, San Bartolomé De Fontanales, San Fernando

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