Roque Nublo

The Roque Nublo ("Cloud Rock") rises to 1,813 meters in the heart of Gran Canaria and is the island's landmark. The basalt monolith towers over 80 meters above its base and is located in the Roque Nublo Natural Monument in the municipality of Tejeda. For the indigenous people, it was a sacred place. When clouds and fog drift over the mountains, it appears to float in the mist, hence the name. The entire area is part of the island's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Our tip first: Check the temperature beforehand!

The altitude difference between the coast and the summit region is often underestimated. We've set off from Maspalomas at 27°C and arrived at the top at 0°C, in a T-shirt and shorts. That was definitely not the plan. So check the weather forecast online for the summit region beforehand, not just for your holiday resort. In any case, take a jacket, long trousers, and ideally a hat. There's often a strong wind at the top, and in the shade or with clouds, the air feels significantly colder.

The hike

The most popular route is the hiking trail S-70 from the Degollada de La Goleta. It's about 1.5 kilometers long and covers around 150 to 180 meters of elevation gain. It's not technically difficult, but it is a proper mountain hike on rocky paths and steps, so wear sturdy footwear. There's hardly any shade along the route and on the plateau. The round trip takes about two and a half to four hours depending on your pace and break time at the top. Take more water than you think you'll need. You'll be rewarded with expansive views, on clear days all the way to Teide on Tenerife.

Alternatively, there are longer routes from other sides, such as routes 70.2 and 70.3 or the ascent from La Culata. Those coming via these routes don't need a reservation, but need to allow more time.

New rules: What applies from 2025

The Roque Nublo was at times overcrowded, so access has been regulated. The key points:

• Reservation: If you want to use route S-70 via the Degollada de La Goleta during the day, you need a free reservation at reservasroquenublo.com. A maximum of 60 people per hour are allowed. You'll receive a QR codethat will be checked at the start of the trail. Usually up to five people are allowed per booking, children count.
• Time window: The reservation requirement is daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Check the current time window when booking. Outside this window, no reservation is needed, so if you arrive before opening, you can experience the sunrise, for example. In the winter months, however, a late arrival doesn't really make sense, as the sun sets early in the evening.
• Exceptions: Special rules apply for schools and active tourism providers.
• No parking at the start: Parking directly at the Roque Nublo is prohibited and will be fined. The small old car park at the Degollada de La Goleta is closed.

The measures are intended to limit visitor numbers, protect nature, and improve access by public transport. So plan your visit in advance: reservation, parking, and return journey.

Getting there

• By car: Use the park-and-ride car parks in Tejeda (town center) or at Cruz de los Llanos. From there, the shuttle runs to the start of the trail. From Cruz de los Llanos, you can also walk, the shortest route takes around 50 minutes. You can find more hiking trails at grancanariasenderos.com.
• Shuttle bus: A Guaguas Global shuttle runs on a circular route every 30 minutes between 9:30 am and 6:00 pm. Stops include Tejeda, Cruz de Tejeda, Degollada de Becerra, Cruz de los Llanos, and the Degollada de La Goleta at the start of the trail. From Cruz de los Llanos, the journey takes about 10 minutes, from Tejeda around half an hour.
• Line 18: Three times daily (outbound and return), it connects the south of the island, such as from Faro de Maspalomas, with the Roque Nublo and Tejeda. Timetables are available at guaguasglobal.com. Be sure to check the return times.
• From Las Palmas: There's no direct bus to Roque Nublo or Tejeda, so plan for a connection or drive to the car parks.
• Sunset: The shuttle ends at 6 PM, and the reservation time slot is one hour. This makes it difficult to plan a sunset at the top.

Checklist

• Check weather for the altitude, pack jacket, hat and long trousers
• Have reservation with QR code ready (digital or printed)
• Sturdy footwear, plenty of water, sun protection
• Plan journey, parking, shuttle and return trip in advance
• Nature reserve: take rubbish with you, stay on the paths

Our verdict

The Roque Nublo is definitely a must for anyone holidaying on Gran Canaria, but no longer a spontaneous trip. With a reservation, jacket and good plan, it becomes one of the island's most beautiful excursions.