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The oldest of our excursions bares the name of the company Presa Canaria and tours the centre of the island. We take a leisurely climb, stopping at various places of interest before arriving at the highest point of the island, Pico de las Nieves. On our descent of the mountains we pause for some traditional Canarian aperitifs and appetizers before arriving at the restaurant, part of our organic finca overlooking the lake or Presa of Chira, where we have lunch and entertainment. This tour is unique in offering live Canarian music, and passes through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery Gran Canaria has to offer.
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| PRESA CANARIA :: INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR (LONG) |
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TELDE
Leaving Playa del Ingles we take the main road north before turning off to make our first stop at Telde. Here we visit the church of San Juan set in the picturesque plaza, shaded by four hundred year old trees and surrounded by small bars and typically Canarian houses. We spend about half an hour in Telde, guests are invited to explore this old quarter of town or just enjoy a drink in one of the bars and soak up the atmosphere. |
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CALDERA DE LOS MARTELES
From Telde we take the 'Hunters road' into the mountains. This road takes us to the true interior of the island where farms and curious cave houses are to be seen among the almond trees and olive groves on our way to the Calera de los Marteles. The Caldera de los Marteles (crater of the swallows) is at an altitude of 1539m, we stop here to see this geological feature and enjoy the spectacular views across the north of the island to Las Palmas and beyond. |
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PICO DE LAS NIEVES
Ascending still further through the pine forests high in the mountains we soon arrive at the Pico de las Nieves the highest point on the island (1949m). From here it is possible to see all the way to the Dunes of Maspalomas in the south, the highest peak in Spain Mount Teide (3718m) on Tenerife and the Roque Nublo (1804m) a famous landmark. |
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AYACATA
Our route takes us through some of the greenest countryside on the island, where we see the highest lake on the island 'Presa de los Hornos' and many locally named landmaks such as Chicken rock, the Praying Monk and the Frog, before we arrive at Ayacata. We stop at the restaurant La Cumbre where guests are invited to sample local liquors and other specialities. |
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CHIRA
Lunch is at our restaurant which is part of an organic farm overlooking lake Chira. In this beautiful relaxing setting, guests are welcomed with live Canarian music and an opportunity to try drinking local wine from a Spanish 'Porrón'. The entertainment continues inside the restaurant with more music, dancing and demonstrations of local culinary delights, while guests enjoy Sangria and dried fruits and nuts before helping themselves to the buffet lunch cooked in our traditional stone ovens. Also on offer are many typical Canarian products and curiosities that guests may like to purchase as souvenirs or gifts for friends. |
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FATAGA
Fataga set in the Valley of a Thousand Palms is the next visit on our trip. A short walk gives our guests a taste of life in a small Canarian village before we take the road through the orchards of Fataga down this impressive valley, often referred to as the Grand Canyon of Gran Canaria. |
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DEGOLLADA DE LA YEGUA
We pause briefly at the Degollada de la Yegua a viewpoint offering superb views of the Valley of a Thousand Palms and the Dunes of Maspalomas, before returning to the hotels by about 6.00 in the evening. |
