Las Breñas is a mountain village at an elevation of about 150 metres above sea level, situated on the foothills of Los Ajaches. Its white houses, no more than two storeys high, are considered an example of Canarian architecture. The village also has two clearly distinct sides: the Camino Natural de Lanzarote (GR-131), which passes through Las Breñas, and a local culture expressed through folklore, memorials and patron-saint festivities. This means you can plan your stay around the landscape and outdoor activities, as well as the village’s history.
Hiking, cycling and landscapes
The Camino Natural de Lanzarote is 71 kilometres long and divided into five stages. The route is suitable for hiking and, along a very large part of its course, can also be cycled. The Yaiza–Playa Blanca stage leads to Las Breñas and includes a section of more than 1,500 metres that runs alongside a road. This is a feature to take into account when planning the stage, in addition to the overall length of the route.
Alongside the long-distance trail, Las Breñas has paths for both short and long walks. Mountain biking is also among the sports practised in the village. A walk through Las Breñas gives you a sense of its harmonious urban landscape. Together, these offer options at different scales: a long-distance trail divided into stages, walks of varying lengths and mountain biking.
The Camino Natural leads from Las Breñas to Poblado del Terminillo, where numerous archaeological remains have been found, including rock inscriptions and precisely engraved stones. Another nearby landscape feature is the Salinas de Janubio. Salt production is now the only activity that remains at the salt flats.
Folklore, memorials and festivities
The Encuentro Folklórico Víctor Fernández Gopar is held in Las Breñas every year. It commemorates Víctor Fernández Gopar, known as “El Salinero,” a master of verse writing and of the craft of constructing and managing salt flats. A sculpture unveiled in Las Breñas honours his life and work. It weighs 90 kilograms and is 2.40 metres tall; a replica stands in the square of his hometown.
The Parranda Janubio is also part of the village’s cultural identity. It was founded in 1986 at the initiative of local residents at the Las Breñas Teleclub. Its repertoire consists mainly of traditional Canarian music. The annual folklore gathering and the history of the music group offer different insights into local culture: one through a recurring event, the other through the origins and repertoire of a parranda.
Las Breñas also holds patron-saint festivities in honour of its patron saint, San Luis Gonzaga. The main day is 21 June; the week of festivities includes Canarian stalls and markets.
Plan your journey
A 2017 tourism information source lists intercity buses from Arrecife to Playa Blanca that pass through Las Breñas. It also lists route 6, which runs between Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca. Before travelling, check the current route and timetables.
The village’s features can appeal to different travel interests: its architecture and character, walks and the GR-131, or the culture surrounding El Salinero and San Luis Gonzaga. This lets you consider Las Breñas in terms of the specific things that matter to your stay.
Discover more destinations: Las Casitas De Femés, Playa Blanca, Femés, Uga, El Golfo, El Barquito
Return to the main travel overview: Yaiza.
