Valsequillo can be explored with different amounts of time: allow about an hour for a walk around the historic centre, while the hike in the Barranco de los Cernícalos is estimated to take four to five hours. There are also trails with designated difficulty levels, protected landscapes and evidence of the area’s long history. This lets you weigh up nature, hiking and culture as separate priorities for your stay.
Hiking trails by length and difficulty
Nine signposted hiking trails start in Valsequillo. Check the current trail conditions before setting out, as the network may change. For two hikes, both the length and difficulty level are specified: the trail through the Barranco de los Cernícalos is 5.5 kilometres long and is estimated to take four to five hours. Its technical and physical difficulty are both rated medium. The Tajinaste-Pasadera circular route covers seven kilometres. It starts in Tenteniguada and leads to the foot of the Caldera de Los Marteles. Its technical difficulty is rated medium, and its physical difficulty medium to high. These details help you compare trail length and physical demands separately.
A hike to the Caldera de Los Marteles starts in Rincón de Tenteniguada and follows the Tajinaste Route towards the crater. Along the way, it passes the bases of Roque Grande and Roque Chico. The Camino de los Alfaques combines landscape history with scenic views: this historic Camino Real, valued for its ethnographic significance, served as a livestock droving route and as a link between the highlands, the Caldera de Tenteniguada and the Caldera de los Marteles. From its highest section near Las Mesas, views stretch across the northwest of Gran Canaria and the mountain range of the Caldera de Tenteniguada.
Protected landscapes and nature
The Los Marteles Special Nature Reserve also extends across parts of the municipality of Valsequillo and covers 3,568.7 hectares. The protected area has a high concentration of endemic flora and fauna, including 23 plant species endemic to Gran Canaria and three reptile species endemic to Gran Canaria. The Caldera de Los Marteles is considered a spectacular geological formation of great scientific, educational and scenic value. The Ruta de Barrancos circular route also passes through protected landscapes: it starts at the Barranco de Coruña, heads towards Lomito del Tafetal, and its entire area lies within the Los Marteles Special Nature Reserve.
The Barranco de los Cernícalos offers a different experience of nature. Water flows freely there all year round, while large wild olive trees and Canary willow trees form a woodland habitat. Together with the stated route lengths and difficulty levels, this gives you a more concrete basis for comparison than distance alone: when planning, consider both the time the route takes and the landscape along the way.
Culture, buildings and traditions
The Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel was built between 1903 and 1923 on the site of a chapel established under the same name in the second half of the 17th century. Among the church’s notable works of art is a late-15th-century baptismal font from Seville. It is made of fired clay and decorated with green ceramic. The church also houses a sculpture of San Miguel Arcángel by Luján Pérez. It is considered the only known work depicting the saint standing over a dog. The Biblioteca Municipal Benito Pérez Galdós displays five religious sculptures from the Gothic-Flemish tradition, which have been declared Bien de Interés Cultural (Assets of Cultural Interest).
The historic Cuartel de El Colmenar complex is located in the Barranco de San Miguel. It was built in 1530 as temporary accommodation for cavalry troops. The Mirador de la Calle Sol offers panoramic views over the Barranco de San Miguel. In the area around Valsequillo, the Molino de los Pérez is considered the oldest mill of its kind in the municipality; it dates from the 18th century. Allow about an hour for a walk around the historic centre.
Intangible heritage is also an important part of local culture: in 2025, the Rancho de Ánimas de Valsequillo was classified as an intangible Bien de Interés Cultural in the categories of “social, ritual and festive customs” and “forms of collective socialisation and organisations”. The tradition has endured for a long time and has never disappeared. Traditionally, the Rancho makes four outings, starting on Christmas Eve; outside the season, there is the special activity “Ranchos de Levantisco”. Exact dates may vary from year to year.
The Fiestas del Almendrero en Flor take place every year in the first half of February at various locations in Valsequillo. The programme includes cultural, social, gastronomic and musical activities; the event’s format may vary from year to year. Another way to discover local culture is the “Quesos de Valsequillo” visitor route. It includes a visit to a farm, an introduction to milking and animal care, artisan cheese-making, and a tasting. Check availability in advance.
If you are looking for a hotel in Valsequillo, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay: hiking, historic sites or a seasonal event. For the tours, length and difficulty provide a concrete basis for planning; check local conditions before setting out on a hike.
Discover more destinations: Temisas, San Bartolomé De Tirajana, Risco Blanco, La Sorrueda, Casas Nuevas, Puerto de las Nieves, Tarajalillo, Moya
For the main travel overview: Gran Canaria.
