Arucas: the volcanic-stone cathedral of Gran Canaria

Some towns in northern Gran Canaria move at a different pace: steep streets, dark stone facades and a hint of fermented sugar cane drifting from the distillery. Arucas is that town, known locally as "the cathedral" for its church, famous too for the rum it has distilled since the 19th century and for a botanical garden few tourists know about. Fifteen minutes from Las Palmas, it's an easy half-day visit with no mountain driving involved.

The Church of San Juan Bautista, Arucas's "cathedral"

Everyone calls it a cathedral, even though it's technically a parish church, and the neo-Gothic facade makes a convincing case. It's built from bluish volcanic stone, hand-carved by local masons; work started on 19 March 1909 under Catalan architect Manuel Vega y March. It opened for worship in 1917, though construction wasn't finished until 1977. It's a listed Cultural Heritage site, and alongside Teror's Real de la Plaza, one of the most photographed sights in the island's interior.

The Jardín de la Marquesa

On the edge of town, the Jardín de la Marquesa hides more than 500 plant species from five continents, laid out in a garden dating back to the second half of the 19th century. Paths wind between ponds, fountains and sculptures, with enough shade to escape the midday sun. It's one of the largest private gardens in the Canaries, and a visit takes just over an hour.

Montaña de Arucas: the best viewpoint in the north

On top of an extinct volcanic cone, a few minutes' drive from the centre, the Montaña de Arucas viewpoint gives the best panorama of the north coast: the town below, banana plantations running down to the sea and, on a clear day, the outline of Tenerife in the distance. You can drive or walk up, and there's a restaurant with a terrace at the top to linger over the view.

Arucas rum: Destilerías Arehucas

Sugar cane has been grown on Gran Canaria for over five centuries, and Arucas is where that tradition turned into rum. Destilerías Arehucas, tracing back to the 1884 Casa Gourié, is Europe's oldest and largest rum distillery, and it still makes here the bottles you'll see behind any bar on the island.

Getting there with an organised tour

If you'd rather not drive, the full-day tour of Gran Canaria's highlights starts right here in Arucas, with church entry included, before continuing to Teror, Roque Nublo and the Valley of a Thousand Palms in Fataga. It picks up from the south and Las Palmas, runs 8 hours and costs €44 per adult, lunch included.

What else to see nearby

1. Teror: the town of wooden balconies and the Basilica of El Pino, fifteen minutes by car. The same tour that stops in Arucas calls here too.
2. Firgas: its Paseo de Gran Canaria, with water running over tiles bearing the island's poems, is ten minutes away.
3. Roque Nublo: the monolith that symbolises Gran Canaria, the last stop on the tour that covers Arucas and Teror.

Tips

1. Park in the old town as early as you can: the streets are narrow and spaces near the church fill up by mid-morning.
2. Montaña de Arucas looks best at sunset, when the light falls over the sea and the banana plantations.
3. The Jardín de la Marquesa charges a separate entry fee and isn't open every day, check before you go.
4. Pair the visit with Teror or Firgas: all three towns are within fifteen minutes of each other.

FAQs

Why is the Arucas church called a cathedral? For the scale and neo-Gothic style of its volcanic-stone facade, though it's formally the parish church of San Juan Bautista.

Can you visit the Arehucas rum distillery? Yes, the distillery runs its own visits; TourCanary doesn't sell that ticket, so check opening times directly with them.

Can you visit Arucas without a car? Yes: the full-day tour of Arucas, Teror and Roque Nublo picks up in southern Gran Canaria and Las Palmas, and starts right in Arucas.

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More plans on the island? Roque Nublo, the symbol of Gran Canaria, and all our tours in Gran Canaria.