Overview: the rock everyone wants to photograph

Roque Nublo is the most photographed natural monument on Gran Canaria. It is a basalt monolith, about 80 metres tall, at roughly 1,800 metres above sea level in the middle of the island. It is what is left of a huge volcano that exploded millions of years ago. Fire and time did the rest.

Next to it stands a smaller rock called La Rana, "the frog". On the way up you pass Roque Fraile. From some angles it looks like a praying monk.

The name means "cloudy rock" in Spanish. Old documents from Tejeda use other names, such as "Nugro" or "Ñugro". Some researchers think these names have Berber roots. Some local people still use the older name today.

How a rock got a waiting list

For years the car park at the start of the trail was a free-for-all. Hundreds of rental cars and coaches stood on both sides of the road. They blocked the rescue route and the trail wore away under thousands of boots. At peak times up to 2,000 people were on the site at once.

Since 3 February 2025 a new system applies. The island government (Cabildo de Gran Canaria) wants to keep the number of visitors at about 300 at any time. The reasons are real: rubbish, damaged ground and disturbed wildlife. From a nature point of view, the rules are long overdue.

I still find it a little strange. You now book a free ticket for a rock that has stood there for millions of years. And the system is still a pilot project, so the rules can change. Slots can be full, and in the short Canary dusk there is no comfortable way back without a bus. So do not just turn up on a whim.

Booking: what applies today

• When: The S-70 trail from Degollada de La Goleta needs a booking between 09:00 and 17:00. Outside these hours you do not need one. But plan for the short dusk and for no buses after closing time.
• How: Book online on the official site. It is free (reservasroquenublo.com, and grancanariasenderos.com at the time of writing). Check the site before you travel, because rules and links change.
• Group size: Maximum five people per booking. Children count too.
• At the trail: You get a QR code by email. Show it at the checkpoint at the start of the trail.
• Exceptions: Residents of Tejeda and Artenara do not need a booking. The same is true for hikers who arrive on other routes (70.2 and 70.3). People with disabilities are also exempt and may stop at the old car park for a limited time.
• Fire risk: At red alert level for forest fires, bookings are switched off automatically.

My tip: skip the queue and look from a distance

I have lived on this island for more than 20 years. My honest advice: you do not have to stand in the crowd to enjoy Roque Nublo. The rock looks wonderful from several other places, and there is no booking and no limit.

The best one is the Mirador Degollada de Las Palomas, on the border between Tejeda and Valleseco. From here you see Roque Nublo and also Roque Bentayga. The local people before the Spanish conquest saw Roque Bentayga as a holy place. The viewpoint is free, parking is free and nobody checks your QR code. It lies on the old royal path between Cruz de Tejeda and Artenara, where you also find archaeological sites such as the Cuevas del Caballero.

Even better, in my opinion, is the hike from Cruz de Tejeda to Artenara. It follows the old Camino Real. The views of Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga keep coming back, and there are far fewer people. For views and impressions it beats the circular walk around Roque Nublo. You can do it without any reservation. Plan how you get back from Artenara before you start.

Two more spots are easy to reach by road: the Miradores Degollada de Becerra and Cruz Grande. A short photo stop there usually has no waiting time. The official Mirador Roque Nublo at the trail follows the same access rules as the summit area. So it only makes sense if you have booked anyway.

Getting there: transport connections

• By car: The old car park at Degollada de La Goleta is closed for good. Parking at the roadside is fined. Use one of the two official car parks: Cruz de Los Llanos (the easiest, about 10 minutes by shuttle) or the centre of Tejeda (about 30 minutes by shuttle).
• By shuttle bus: The shuttle runs in a circle: Tejeda – Cruz de Tejeda – Degollada de Becerra – Cruz de Los Llanos – Degollada de La Goleta (the start of the trail) – Ayacata. It runs in both directions about every 30 minutes, from around 09:30 to 18:00. A ticket costs about 1.40 euros (prices are in euros, the local currency). Card payment is possible.
• By regular bus: Global line 18 connects the south of the island with Roque Nublo. It runs several times a day from the Faro de Maspalomas via Ayacata to the Roque Nublo stop and on to Tejeda. A good choice if you stay on the south coast and have no car.
• By bike: The GC-60 road between Tejeda, Cruz de Los Llanos and Ayacata is popular with road cyclists, but hard. The road is narrow, with many bends and a lot of climbing. In high season there is also bus traffic. Start early in the morning.
• On foot: The classic route is the S-70 trail from Degollada de La Goleta, about 1.5 km. It is easy to walk, but needs a booking from 09:00 to 17:00. Routes 70.2 and 70.3 need no booking, but they are longer and harder.

Nearby attractions

Roque Nublo Images