Do you know how to get to the Caballero caves from Artenara? The road offers breathtaking views, the rich shade of a pine forest and some more surprises.
Technical specifications
- Difficulty: moderate.
- Distance: 8.75 km.
- Travel time: 3-3.5 hours.
- Elevation gain: 431 m.
- Start: Artenara.
- End: Artenara.
- Date of realization (photographs): February, 2019 (before the fires that burned a large part of Gran Canaria in the summer of the same year).
Our route from Artenara to the Cuevas del Caballero and de los Candiles and back
Parking in Artenara
In low season it is easy to find free parking on the main road of Artenara. I have marked some of the spots where you can find free parking spaces on the map at the end of this post.
Before starting the route itself, we walked through the center of town, stopped at some viewpoints and went to the Ermita de la Cuevita (its name is 100% descriptive) 😉.
From there, up a flight of stairs, you reach the beginning of the trail.
There are other accesses by road but this is the most convenient if you have left the car in Artenara.
Walk under the pine forest
When you pass a small block (with burritos and all) the dirt road begins.
At first it is rocky but soon it becomes a wide and easy to ride on road that could pass 4×4 cars without problems.
The best of all on a sunny day (like the one we had) is that most of the route runs in the shade of the pine trees.
Yes, just like the song 😉.
When you reach the Cueva de los Candiles (our initial destination) you will see a sign that led to the Cuevas del Caballero a few kilometers away.
We had wanted to see these caves a couple of days before, just when we went down to the Barranco del Sao, and we still had time until lunchtime, so....
Caballero Caves
The path to the Cuevas del Caballero is still very easy to walk and protected from the sun by the treetops.
And when you reach them, you will realize that this "add-on" is soooo worth it for the views alone.
This viewpoint is a fantastic place to make a technical stop and recharge your batteries.
Cave of the Candiles
On the way back you can take the same wide road suitable for traction vehicles, or choose a small dirt path along the cliff (with a view but not dangerous at all).
For lack of knowledge, we did half and half (that is the route marked on the map at the bottom of this page), but now that I know it, I recommend you to do it in its entirety for the one that offers panoramic views.
Especially if you want to enjoy such a scenery during the whole journey.
And when you reach the stairs leading down to the Cueva de los Candiles, you have 2 options:
- If you are not afraid of heights, go down and reach the cave. Descending down that cliff is impressive, although inside the cave itself you see little.
- If you suffer from vertigo, save yourself the descent and wait for your companions to enjoy the view from above.
Reaching the Cueva de los Candiles is not dangerous, since they have installed ladders, ropes, handrails and wooden planks that allow you to reach your goal with little effort.
Do your legs tremble when you look down on an overlook or cliff?
Then you'd better save yourself the trouble.
Return to Artenara
We followed the path with views to the starting point, greeted the burrito and went down to the center of Artenara where we took the opportunity to try one of the most celebrated vegetarian restaurants on the island: the Biocrepería Riscocaído.
If you want to do the same, don't forget to make a reservation.
The place is tiny and tables are in high demand, especially during high season and weekends.
Itinerary on Wikiloc
Do you want to follow this route on Wikiloc?
You can see the route on the map in this link.
Warning: when we went down to the Cueva de los Candiles the GPS went a little crazy. But don't worry, the path to the edge of the cliff is very clear, you can't miss it 🙂
What to bring
- Food: if it is going to be a long day, remember to bring snacks, fruit, dried fruits...
- Water: I recommend carrying at least one and a half liters of water per person.
- A bag: to collect all the waste you generate. Please avoid littering this marvel.
- Sun protection: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses... The usual.
- Comfortable footwear: hiking boots with a hard sole that resists the erosion of the volcanic terrain.
Where to stay
Speaking of caves...
If you are in the area, why not live the experience of spending the night in a Canarian cave house?
I tell you all the details in the entry dedicated to Fagajesto (very close to Artenara).
Useful Links
- Rental of Casa Lola.
- Other hotel offers in Gran Canaria.
- Flight offers to the Canary Islands: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo and Vueling.
- 5% discount when you take out your adventure travel insurance with IATI.
On route through the Canary Islands? Take a look at these articles:
- Circular route around Roque Bentaiga and Cuevas del Rey.
- He sleeps in a Canarian cave house in front of the Sao ravine.
- Visit Lanzarote, the land of fire.
Map
Any questions about this route to and from the Cuevas del Caballero from Artenara? I read you in the comments 😉.