Discover Arucas: architecture, gardens and local experiences

Arucas can be explored through several distinct facets: architecture in the Historic Centre, the history of stone masonry, gardens, and tours and markets. If you are looking for a hotel in Arucas, these themes provide a practical basis for assessing the destination according to your interests.

Church and Historic Centre

The Church of San Juan Bautista is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. Its Late Neo-Gothic design emphasizes verticality, stone and light, and is richly ornamented. The stained-glass windows are also among the church’s artistic details: they were commissioned from the French firm Mauméjean.

The Historic Centre of Arucas was recognized as a Conjunto Histórico Artístico in 1976. The Centro de Interpretación del Labrante offers a distinct way to explore the history of local stone masonry, showcasing its development and history in Arucas. The Museo Municipal de Arucas is housed in the former Mayorazgo House, built at the beginning of the 19th century. The centre therefore brings together different historical connections: the recognition of the townscape in 1976 and a museum building from an earlier era.

The tourist office is also housed in a historic building. It housed the town’s first school in 1835 and later served as a police station for much of the 20th century. Former police cells have been preserved in the office and are open to visitors. The tourist office also offers groups the guided tour Un paseo por el Centro Histórico de Arucas, including school groups and cultural associations.

Tours and gardens

The Arehucas factory was inaugurated on 9 August 1884. A guided tour of the Arehucas distillery includes the ageing cellar, the rum-making areas, the bottling plant and a tasting. The guided tour of the banana plantation at Hacienda La Rekompensa, by contrast, focuses on the history and cultivation of Canarian bananas, as well as their varieties. Products made from Canarian bananas can be sampled afterwards. While the Arehucas tour includes rum production and bottling, the Hacienda tour focuses on the cultivation, varieties and products of Canarian bananas.

The Jardín de la Marquesa is home to one of the most extensive collections of tropical and subtropical plants, including endemic species and varieties introduced from abroad. The garden also includes a small Romantic-style palace, built in 1880. The botanical collection and historic building give the garden its distinct character.

Traditions and markets

For Corpus Christi in Arucas, hundreds of volunteers create more than 40 carpets in the Historic Centre, along a route of over one kilometre. They use salt, sawdust, flowers and natural earths from the island. The specific designs may vary.

The Saturday market is currently held in Parque de La Paz, behind the Church of San Juan Bautista. It takes place every Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm and offers fruit and vegetables, local cheese, honey, bread, flowers and other typical island products. If you are planning your visit around the market, check the current opening times in advance.

Another market is the agricultural and livestock market at the Cabildo’s Granja Agrícola, at the Arucas turn-off from the GC-2 on Gran Canaria’s north coast. It takes place every two weeks. Around 65 agricultural and livestock vendors sell their products directly to consumers. Unlike the Saturday market, this one focuses on direct sales by agricultural and livestock producers.

Getting around and travelling to Arucas

CPO Arucas is the first permanent orienteering course in the Canary Islands to be approved by FEDO. When travelling from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the main road connection to Arucas is via the GC-2 motorway. This adds sporting orienteering and a named road connection to the city’s cultural and horticultural attractions.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Trapiche, Telde, Tejeda, Balcon de Telde, Ojos de Garza, San Lorenzo, Lomo Quiebre, Valleseco.

For the main travel overview: Gran Canaria.