Fataga: the Valley of a Thousand Palms in Gran Canaria

Halfway between the beaches of the south and the summits of Gran Canaria, the GC-60 road dips into a ravine lined with palm trees and whitewashed houses. This is Fataga, the village everyone calls the Valley of a Thousand Palms, a must-stop for anyone driving up to Tejeda without rushing, and one of the inland corners that fewest tourists see despite sitting a stone's throw from Maspalomas.

What is the Valley of a Thousand Palms

Fataga belongs to the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and sits on a wide ravine running down from the summits to the coast, in the south of the island. The popular name comes from the Canary palm trees that cover its slopes in terraces, one of the largest concentrations of this endemic species in the whole archipelago. The village itself, with narrow streets and white houses topped by pitched roofs, keeps a rural feel that has already vanished from most of the south coast, just half an hour's drive away.

What to see in the village

A stroll through Fataga takes little more than half an hour: the church of San Bartolomé on the central square, cobbled streets climbing between fig and almond orchards, and makeshift viewpoints between the houses, with the ravine opening up below. Several bars and restaurants serve simple Canarian cooking (potaje stew, goat meat, local cheeses) on terraces overlooking the valley, a regular stop for tours heading up to Tejeda.

The Arteara Necropolis

A few minutes down the ravine, towards Arteara, lies one of the largest aboriginal burial sites in the Canary Islands: a field of stone mounds among the palm trees where the island's early inhabitants buried their dead, used for centuries before the Castilian conquest. The site has a small interpretation centre and is explored on foot, usually with hardly another visitor in sight.

The Degollada viewpoint

Climbing from Fataga towards Ayacata, the road gains height and offers one of the most photographed views in southern Gran Canaria: the Degollada viewpoint, where the Fataga ravine falls away in terraces of palm trees until it fades into the coastal haze. Worth a stop, even for just five minutes.

Getting there without driving

The GC-60 is narrow and winding in places, so not everyone fancies taking the wheel. The full-day tour of Gran Canaria's highlights reaches Fataga after visiting Arucas, Teror and Roque Nublo: pick-up from the south and Las Palmas, 8 hours and €44 per adult, lunch included.

What else to see nearby

1. Ayacata: almond trees in bloom in January and February, with the wall of Roque Bentayga behind them.
2. Roque Nublo: the monolith that symbolises the island, the last stop on the same tour.
3. Tejeda: a village perched above the caldera, famous for its marzipan, fifteen minutes away.

Tips

1. Visit mid-morning on a weekday: weekends bring heavy traffic up from Las Palmas and the south.
2. Book a table if you want to eat in Fataga in high season, the terraces with views fill up fast.
3. Wear comfortable shoes to walk down to the Arteara Necropolis, the path is unpaved.
4. Pair the visit with Ayacata and Roque Nublo: both are under twenty minutes away by car.

FAQs

Why is Fataga called the Valley of a Thousand Palms? Because of the density of Canary palm trees covering the ravine, one of the largest concentrations of this endemic species on the island.

What is the Arteara Necropolis? An aboriginal burial site with hundreds of stone mounds, a few minutes down the ravine from Fataga.

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

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