Barranco de Guayadeque (Guayadeque Ravine)

A deep, lush ravine on the eastern side of Gran Canaria designated a Natural Monument and part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2019. Guayadeque has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years, with hundreds of cave dwellings carved into the volcanic rock cliffs — many still in use today. The ravine features cave restaurants (the most famous being Restaurante Vega — literally built into a cave), a cave chapel (Ermita de San Bartolomé), and an excellent interpretation centre (Centro de Interpretación de Guayadeque) documenting the pre-Hispanic Guanche burials found in the ravine. The S-30 trail is an 8 km route along the ravine floor with minimal elevation change, making it accessible to most walkers. The ravine's microclimate supports a unique ecosystem with endemic plants including cardones, tabaibas, and Canary Island date palms. The village of Agüimes at the ravine's entrance is a beautifully restored historic town worth visiting.