Free walking tours in Telde and what to see

Must-sees

Telde is one of the oldest towns on Gran Canaria, on the east coast between Las Palmas and the airport. Its founding core is the San Juan quarter, with the Plaza Mayor and the church of San Juan Bautista, whose main chapel holds a Flemish Gothic altarpiece framed by a Baroque one and a Christ made of maize paste using a technique from indigenous America. Next to it is the San Francisco quarter, with narrow sloping streets and low, tiled, whitewashed houses.

Telde also has a wealth of pre-Hispanic heritage. The Cuatro Puertas complex, on a mountain near the town, is a group of carved caves with a large chamber with four entrances. On the coast, the Tufia settlement preserves caves and dry-stone houses by the sea. For swimming, Melenara and La Garita are the best-known beaches, and inland the Barranco de los Cernícalos offers a green walk.

Free tours and guided visits

Telde has no regular free walking tour of the old town, so the most practical thing is to explore San Juan and San Francisco on your own. What you will find are adventure activities, such as canyoning in the Barranco de los Cernícalos, with guide and equipment included. Many Gran Canaria excursions leave from Las Palmas or the south and pass near Telde, so you can join those too.

How long to spend

A morning is enough for the San Juan and San Francisco quarters. Add an hour for Cuatro Puertas and another to look in at Tufia. If you want to walk the Barranco de los Cernícalos or go canyoning, set aside another half day. With a day and a half you see the main sights and still have time for a fish lunch on the Melenara coast.

Where to stay

The nicest choice is to sleep by the sea, in Melenara, Salinetas or La Garita, where there are apartments and the odd hotel with a promenade and restaurants. Central Telde has less tourist accommodation but is close to the historic quarters. If you are flying in or touring the island, Telde is a convenient base, as the airport and the motorway are a few minutes away.